WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 28, 2019 — West Liberty University welcomed new faculty to the Hilltop as the 2019 – 2020 academic year began. New faculty members, their titles and a brief biography include:
Associate Professor of Art Aaron Anslow resides in Washington, Pa. and was first introduced to clay at Bethany College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in visual art in 2006. While at Bethany, he studied art and architecture at Regents College in London. He also served as a Sergeant in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003-2005. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Fine Arts in ceramics at West Virginia University in 2011, focusing on both functional and nonfunctional ceramics and studying ceramics in China. Previously, he also taught at Bethany College, specializing in three-dimensional art. Anslow has shown work internationally in China, nationally in the Strictly Functional juried exhibition, and in Clay Times Magazine. He also owns and operates Earthsmith studio located in Bethany, W.Va.
Assistant Professor of Biology (Zoo Sciences) Diana Barber is now a resident of Wheeling, she formerly worked at the Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden in Evansville, Ind. She earned a doctoral degree in biology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne and an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in psychology. Barber is a professional member (fellow) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and has attended various AZA training schools at Oglebay Park. She also has a research fellowship at the Oglebay Good Zoo. Barber joined WLU’s College of Sciences this past January.
Instructor of Social Work Miranda Blackburn, currently on service with the Ohio Army National Guard and joining campus in the next few weeks. A licensed clinical social worker, Blackburn was previously employed as mental health administrator at the Noble Correctional Institution. She earned a bachelor’s of psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s in social work at West Virginia University. She resides in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
Instructor of Psychology Jessica Collins was born and raised in Wheeling. She earned a dual master’s degree in Social Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Ball State University in 2013 and went on to obtain her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University this year. She has provided clinical services to a variety of populations and most recently completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Oklahoma Forensic Center where she received training in forensic assessment. In addition to teaching in the undergraduate psychology and graduate clinical psychology programs, she will be assisting in Counseling Services.
Instructor of Professional Studies Harold Ellifritt works at WLU’s Highlands Center and is a graduate of the WLU Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Administration degree (BLA). He also earned the Master of Arts in Education degree, all at the Highlands Center. A retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, Ellifritt resides in Wheeling.
Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Nicole Ennis resides in West Liberty, W.Va. and has been a teacher and teacher leader in public education for 16 years, working as a preschool and special education teacher, reading specialist, principal and assistant superintendent. An alumna of WLU with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and special education, she also earned a Master of Arts in reading education from Marshall University and Principal and Superintendent Certification from Salem International University. She is a 2017 graduate of Robert Morris University with a doctoral degree in instructional management and leadership. Her research interest includes reading education, special education and school leadership.
Instructor of Physical Sciences Amanda Francis resides in Moundsville, W.Va. She was previously employed as a laboratory technician and an academic laboratory-instructing assistant here at WLU for 13 year, prior to becoming faculty. Also an alumna, she earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and also a Master of Arts in education, in 2005 and 2017, respectively. She is currently completing a doctoral degree in STEM education at University of Pittsburgh. She also is a co-director of the Ohio County Science Fair, held every spring for elementary age students.
Instructor of Education Ronald Hulewicz is a new resident of Wheeling after relocating from Tallahassee, Fla. where he was working on a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Florida State University. Previously, he taught fifth grade for three years in Hobe Sound, Fla. He received his undergraduate degree and his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Michigan State University. The South Florida native is also the new head coach of the Hilltoppers’ men’s tennis team.
Assistant Professor of Speech Pathology Ashley Krieger has been a speech language pathologist at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for the past 11 years. Her area of expertise is in the medical side of speech pathology, feeding and swallowing, and she has a fondness for the pediatric population. Krieger earned both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science in speech-language pathology at Duquesne University in 2006 and 2007, respectively. She looks forward to sharing her passion for the field of speech pathology onto her students. She resides in Pittsburgh.
Lecturer of Computer Information (CIS) Systems Louis Leonhart hails from Richmond, Ohio and earned his Master of Science degree from the University of La Verne in 2004. His previous employment includes retirement from the United States Army Band and working for General Dynamics as the regional manager of the Army’s Distance Learning System in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. He returned from Alaska to the family farm in 2007 and has since enjoyed employment as an adjunct CIS instructor at WLU.
Assistant Professor of Nursing Dr. Emmanuel Paragas Jr. was born and raised in the Philippines where he worked as an emergency room nurse for two years, and as a nursing instructor for four years. He also worked as an assistant professor of nursing in Saudi Arabia for two years prior to migrating to West Virginia in June 2018. He then worked as a Medical-Surgical Stepdown Registered Nurse at Ruby Memorial Hospital for about a year prior to joining WLU. He earned both his bachelor and master degrees in nursing at the University of Santo Tomas and his doctoral degree in nursing science at St. Paul University, all in the Philippines. His research interests include nursing interventions, cross-sectional, experimental, and mixed-methods designs, and meta-analysis.
Lecturer of Accounting Stephen Suhler is a new resident to Wheeling and relocated from the state of Washington where he was a licensed certified public accountant (CPA) for over 25 years. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington, Seattle and his MBA from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles.
Instructor of Biology Rachel Wiechman resides in Bellaire, Ohio. Prior to joining the faculty, she served as a general biology and microbiology laboratory instructor for the past 10 years at WLU. Wiechman earned both a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a bachelor’s degree in animal and veterinary sciences at West Virginia University in 2004. She completed a Master of Arts in biology degree at WLU in 2019. She also is co-director of the Regional Science and Engineering Fair, held at WLU every spring for students, grades 6 – 12.
Assistant Professor of Finance Dr. David Wolfe resides in Washington, Pa. and Orlando, Fla. He previously worked for the Hillsborough County Tax Collectors Office in Tampa, Fla. and joined the Hilltop last January. Wolfe earned his undergraduate degree in business economics from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from Stetson University, Fla. He earned a second master’s and a doctoral degree in financial economics at the University of New Orleans.
For more information, please call 1.866.937.8542 (WESTLIB) or visit westliberty.edu.