Faculty & Staff

• Incline Village/Reno
• Las Vegas/Henderson

Incline Village/Reno Faculty

Beth Taliaferro Bouchard

• Professor, Department Chair
• B.A., Social Sciences, University of Arkansas
• M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Colorado.

Beth Bouchard has twenty-two years of experience in education as a public school classroom teacher, curriculum specialist, elementary school principal, and college and university instructor. Her last position was the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Florida Department of Education.   In addition to her administrative duties, Bouchard also teaches in the Teacher Education program.

Keli Brown

• Assistant Academic Director, Reno/Tahoe Field Experience Coordinator, M.A.T. Academic Advisor Teacher Training
• B.S., Early Childhood Education, University of Nevada, Reno
• M.A., Educational Leadership, University of Nevada, Reno

Keli Brown has seventeen years of experience working with children and adults in educational environments including early childhood, experiential outdoor education, and private K-8 programs. Keli has extensive knowledge in Emilia Reggio, Montessori and Waldorf pedagogies and curriculums and has taught second through fifth grade using Waldorf methods. In addition to being an administrator, advisor, and instructor in the Teacher Education program, Keli is currently working on her PhD in Educational Leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno.

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Tanya D. Caron,Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Theater, UCLA
• M.A., Education, United States International University
• Ph.D., Literacy Studies, University of Nevada, Reno.

Tanya Caron joined the adjunct teaching staff in 2009, bringing with her a wealth of experience as an elementary mainstream classroom teacher, Reading Specialist, and English as a Second Language Specialist. Tanya is the founder and Principal Consultant for TESoLutions, a firm providing school improvement planning and teacher development focused on meeting the needs of English language learners.

Mavis Leathley, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor
• B.S., Education and Speech Communication, University of Nevada, Reno
• M.Ed., Admininstration and Speech, University of Nevada, Reno
• Ph.D., University of La Verne

Diverse and ambitious, Mavis went on to earn a Norwegian Degree from the University of Oslo in 1982, a TESOL Endorsement in 1992, and her Administration Credential in 1994.  In 2006, Mavis finisher her Ph.D. from the University of La Verne California. From 1991 to 1999, Mavis was an ESL Program Coordinator and an ESL/Foreign Language Specialist.  In 1998 Mavis obtained her first principalship and is currently the principal at Desert Heights Elementary School.  Mavis joined the SNC Adjunct Faculty in the Spring term of 2006, bringing with her 17 years of educational experience and wisdom to the classroom. In addition to classroom teaching and principalship, Mavis has lended her time to being a Washoe County School District Social Studies Curriculum Textbook Member (2001-2007), Tengo un Sueno Pre School Board Member (1997-2001), and a Bilingual Task Force Member (1995-1998).  Mavis has also been a member of the National Association of School Administrators (2001-Present) and the Washoe County Administration Association (1994-2001).

Marsha Kobre Anderson, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Dramatic Arts, Douglass College, the women’s college of Rutgers University
• M.A.T., English Education, Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey
• Ph.D., Higher Education Administration, University of Denver

Dr. Anderson has taught nearly 40 years at almost every level of education. She taught in grades 7-12 in Pennsylvania and Colorado before moving into teaching remedial courses to adult students in colleges, universities, and adult high schools. Dr. Anderson was assistant dean in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University from 1987-1992 and moved to Las Vegas in 1992 to be a grant writer for Clark County School District. In 1990, she started an academic editing and grant-writing business, The Document Doctor, and that continues to be her full-time endeavor.

Laureen V. Andrews

• Adjunct Professor, Online
• B.S., Education University of Nevada, Reno
• M.A., School Counseling, University of Phoenix, Gifted and Talented Endorsement

Upon retiring from her elementary and gifted and talented teaching positions with Washoe County School District, Laureen joined SNC as a supervisor of student teachers. She has been a Board member of the WCSD Gifted and Talented Advisory Council since its inception, and a member of the National and California Gifted and Talented Associations.

Brittany Culbertson

• Adjunct Professor
• M.Ed. Administration and Educational Leadership, Sierra Nevada College
• M.A., Teaching, Sierra Nevada College
• B.A., Communications, University of Nevada, Reno

Brittany joined Sierra Nevada College as an adjunct professor and academic advisor after completing her teacher licensure and MAT from Sierra Nevada. After completing her M.A. in Teaching, Brittany continued her education with SNC by completing her M.Ed. in Administration and Educational Leadership in 2012. Currently, Brittany is teaching Math in the Washoe County School District, while serving as a member of a 21st Century Learning Academy which will increase technology in the classroom.

Charlotte Curtis, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor
• Ed.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada
• M.A., Educational Leadership, St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California
• B.S., University of Texas

Dr. Charlotte Curtis is an adjunct professor with Sierra Nevada College. She has been associated with the college since 2008 as student teacher supervision, MAT adjunct professor and is currently a thesis supervisor. She is concurrently associated with the Nevada Department of Education providing leadership to state and federal programs for the past eighteen years. She has worked as the Nevada GEAR UP State Director for the past eleven years, and currently serves on the Nevada ACT State Council, College Readiness Task Force, College Access Challenge Grant Advisory Commission and National Council for Community and Education Partnerships Advisory Commission. Initiatives she has participated in include the National Governor’s Association Honor Grant High Schools, Nevada Public Education Foundation, Nevada’s School to Careers, Goals 2000, Improving America’s Schools Act and ESEA Title I School Improvement.

Sally D’Ault

• Adjunct Professor
• B.SC. Social Work, University of Nevada, Reno
• MAEd., Elementary Education, University of Phoenix, Reno
• MAEd., Administration and Supervision, University of Phoenix, Reno

Sally D’Ault has been a teacher with WCSD for 10 years.  She has taught Kindergarden – 4^th Grade and has tutored children in 4 – 6^th grade.  She holds a BSc from UNR in Social Work, a MAEd in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix and a MAEd in Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix.  She currently teaches First Grade at Dodson Elementary School in Reno.  When not teaching she enjoys spending time with her young family and traveling.

Amy Hope

• Adjunct Professor

Kensy Hutt

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Communication, Texas A&M University
• M.J., Journalism, University of North Texas

Nancy Kelly

• Adjunct Professor
• B.S., Education, University of Nevada, Reno
• M.Ed., Lesley College

Nancy joined SNC as an adjunct faculty member in the fall of 2009. She received her ESL endorsement from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2008. Nancy taught 29 years for the Washoe County School District. She retired and became an independent educational consultant. She is presently working at a variety of schools in the district as an instructional coach and teacher leader. She is currently working for Pearson as a professional developer and traveling all over the United States. Nancy is a member of the International Reading Association, and is on the editing board for the Reading Teacher. She is also a member of ASCD.

Michael Lauletta

• Adjunct Professor

Michael is in his 44th year in professional education.He has served in the capacity of secondary teacher and college adjunct professor, student teacher supervisor for student teachers, as a secondary counselor, and as a principal at elementary, middle and high school levels. He also was a district director of K-12 programs.

Deanna LeMay

• Adjunct Professor

Kari Michael

• Adjunct Professor

Elizabeth (Betts) Markle, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Management, National Louis University
• M.A., Library Information Sciences, Dominican University, River Forest, IL
• Ph.D., Education Leadership, Colorado State University

Dr. Markle has served as Library Director at three different institutions over the past 20 years. After 12 years at DeVry University, both in the Chicago area and Atlanta, she worked for Argosy University in Atlanta for four years before moving to Incline Village as Library Director at Sierra Nevada College. Her teaching experience includes teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate level, including online classes. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for SCELC (Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium). Here at SNC, Dr. Markle teaches Business Research for the Business Department and Education Research classes for the Teacher Education Department.

Justine Minczeski

• Adjunct Professor
• M.A., University of Colorado

Susan Moulden-Horton, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Physical Education, California State University, Chico
• M.A., Physical Education, Indiana University
• Ed.S., University of Nevada, Reno
• Ph.D., Education Leadership, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Dr. Sue Moulden-Horton has taught Physical Education in grades K-12 for 7 years in Nevada before becoming a school administrator in a small rural district in Nevada. After 5 years of middle and elementary administration, Dr. Moulden-Horton has been working for the Nevada Department of Education as the statewide School Improvement Grant (SIG) Coordinator. Most recently, she is teaching both online and on campus Health Education classes for Sierra Nevada College.

Kirsten A. Odegard

• Assistant Professor and Practicum Coordinator
• B.A. California Lutheran University
• M.A. San Diego State University

Kirsten Odegard has 36 years of experience in education as an elementary, middle and high school teacher in public and private schools, university and junior college instructor and most recently as a professional development trainer. She teaches in the Teacher Education program and coordinates practicum experiences for pre-service teachers.

Katie Rossi

• Adjunct Professor

Rod Smith

• Adjunct Professor

Phil Sorenson

• Adjunct Professor

Sheryl Watson

• Adjunct Professor

Toby Wiedenmayer

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Art, Humanities, and English, Washington College
• M.A.T., Sierra Nevada College

Toby moved to Reno, Nevada after coaching softball and field hockey at Randolph-Macon College in 2003. She completed her Teacher’s Certification at Sierra Nevada College in 2004 with a focus on secondary art and English. She began teaching at Rainshadow Community Charter High School in Reno, Nevada during her student teaching internship and has remained. Toby continued her education at University of Nevada, Reno, adding a Special Education Endorsement to her Teacher’s License. She is currently the Dean of Academics and Special Education Case Manager at Rainshadow Community Charter High School. Toby joined the Sierra Nevada College faculty as an adjunct in the Teachers Education Program in the summer of 2011.

 

Faculty & Staff – Las Vegas

FACULTY

Beth Taliaferro Bouchard

• Professor, Department Chair
• B.A., Social Sciences, University of Arkansas
• M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Colorado.

Beth Bouchard has twenty-two years of experience in education as a public school classroom teacher, curriculum specialist, elementary school principal, and college and university instructor. Her last position was the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Florida Department of Education.   In addition to her administrative duties, Bouchard also teaches in the Teacher Education program.

Jeanne Klockow, Ph.D.

• Professor, M.Ed. Program Director
• B.A., Governors State University
• M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Governors State University
• Ph.D., Instructional and Curricular Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dr. Jeanne A. Klockow, is currently serving as the Director for the Master in Education degree in Advanced Teaching and Leadership (M.Ed.) Program. Dr. Klockow created and developed the M.Ed. program, with a primary focus on advocacy and teachers as agents for change through active leadership. The primary purpose of the M.Ed. program is to encourage professionals to become leaders in their respective professional fields. Dr. Klockow also serves as a Professor in the Department of Teacher Education, where she teaches classes in leadership and educational theory. Prior to coming to SNC, Dr. Klockow served in other educational capacities including the Director for the Center for Teaching & Learning-Assessment and also Curriculum Developer for large environmental agencies.

Maria Meyerson, Ph.D.

• Professor, Graduate Research Coordinator
• B.S., Education, State University of New York at Buffalo
• M.S., Education, State University of New York at Buffalo
• Ph.D., Literacy Education, State University of New York at Buffalo

Maria joined the SNC Adjunct Faculty in 2007, bringing more than 20 years of experience in higher education to the classroom.  Currently, Maria has been appointed Director of Graduate Research of Teacher Education at SNC.

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Angela Geiger

• Adjunct Professor

Trudy Abell

• Adjunct Professor, Professional Project Director

Gretchen Alden

• Adjunct Professor

Jacquie Allen

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A., Communicative Disorders, California State University, Northridge
• M.A., Educational administration, California State University, Los Angeles
• Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Nova Southeastern University

Dr. Jacqueline Allen has thirty-five years of experience in education as a public school special education classroom teacher, special school assistant principal, area instructional coordinator, and area special education director.  She currently works for the Clark County School District as a Special Education Director, in addition to providing post-secondary instruction in special education.

Ginger Arruti

• Adjunct Professor, Online

Ginger Arruti is currently an online instructor for the Master in Education degree in Advanced Teaching and Leadership (M.Ed.) Ginger Arruti is one of the instructors for TLDR503 Practical Advocacy.  In addition to working for Sierra Nevada College, she also teaches French and Spanish for the Clark County School District. Ginger Arruti earned her Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish at the University of New Mexico.  Later Ginger Arruti earned her Masters in Education from Sierra Nevada College.

Marsha Anderson, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor, Thesis Chair

Robert Barnes

• Adjunct Professor

Allison F. Berman

• Adjunct Professor
• B.S., Education, University of Arizona
• M.S., Counseling, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Furthering her education, Allison received her endorsement certification in Gifted Education from Sierra Nevada College.  In addition, Allison has obtained endorsements in School Administration and Educational Media. Allison has been a classroom teacher, an adult educational administrator for TUSD in Tucson Arizona, a multicultural trainer for CCSD, a Religious School Director in Summerlin Nevada, a presenter for Gifted and Special Education Conferences for CCSD, and is the co-author of “Teaching with Dignity.”  Currently, Allison is the GATE Program Facilitator for the Northwest Region, an Itinerant Specialist for the CCSD Highly Gifted Program.

Kandace Birdsall-Harden

• Adjunct Professor
• B.A., Applied Arts and Sciences, San Diego State University
• M.Ed., Instructional and Curricular Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Advanced Studies Certification in Gifted and Talented Education, Sierra Nevada College.

In 2005 and 2006, Kandace received the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Award.  Currently, Kandace is a Literacy Specialist at Clarence Piggott Elementary School.

Bernadine Brunson, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor, Thesis Chair

Sandra Carmody

• Adjunct Professor

Nancy K. Cauley

• Adjunct Professor
• B.S. and M.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology University of Nevada Reno
• Ed.S. Educational Leadership University of Nevada Reno

Nancy Cauley has 22 years of experience in public education as a Speech Pathologist, Asst. Principal, and Principal at an elementary school in Lake Tahoe. She is an adjunct instructor for the MAT and MEd programs.

Sallie Chaffin

• Adjunct Professor
• B.S., Southern Utah State University
• M.Ed., University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Sallie brings more than 33 years of teaching experience to the classroom.  In addition, she supervises student teachers and works for the Professional Development Department at CCDS as an Alternate Route to Certification as a project facilitator and teacher mentor.

Maria Chairez, Ed.D.

• Thesis Chair

Deanna R. Davis

• Adjunct Professor
• B.S., Business Management, San Diego State University
• M.A., Higher Education Administration, New York University
• Ph.D., Workforce Education and Organizational Leadership, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

In addition Dr. Davis’s position at SNC, she also serves as the Director for Academic Enrichment at the UNLV Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO). She administers four federally funded TRiO projects (three Student Support Services, and McNair Scholars Program).

Dr. Davis has been an educator for more than 15 years. Her previous positions include serving as an elementary school teacher and counselor for San Francisco Unified School District.

Dr. Davis has made numerous presentations on educational issues on the state, regional, and national levels. Her professional affiliations include the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and TRIO Training Faculty. Dr. Davis also serves as a part-time instructor in the College of Urban Affairs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Brenda Daw, Ph.D.

• Adjunct Professor
• PhD, University of Las Vegas, Nevada

Heather Day, Ph.D.

• Thesis Chair