Dr. Mark Shelley holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Urban Studies, with a concentration in Race and Ethnic Relations. He also attained Masters degrees in Cross-cultural studies (Fuller School of Intercultural Studies) and Educational Psychology (California State University, Northridge), and a Bachelors degree in History from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His work has been published in several academic journals, and he is a contributing author to Introduction to Sociology: A Collaborative Approach, now in its 2nd edition.
Kristen Taubman is from San Diego, CA and received a Bachelor’s of Social Work at Humboldt State University in California. After working in social services for several years, Kristen returned to education and received her Master’s degree in Social Work at San Diego State University in 2002. Kristen has over 15 years of experience in social work and the social service field working with a wide range of programs and services including therapy, case management and administrative work. Kristen is currently a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and recently left working in the mental health community to be a part of NAU-Yavapai’s Applied Human Behavior program.
Ian Derk grew up in Greeley, CO, which an episode of South Park described as, “The exact opposite of Hawaii.” He attended Colorado State University and taught English at a center for at-risk youth during his time at CSU. After Ian finished his B.A. in English, he started his M.A. in Communications at Arizona State University. While attending ASU, he worked with a research group that studied counterterrorism and public diplomacy. Ian’s thesis on the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s website earned him a mention by the Muslim Brotherhood, for they respectfully disagreed with parts of Ian’s thesis. Ian has taught at community colleges, universities, proprietary schools, and youth centers. He is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Morocco, ’07-’09), and he says his proudest accomplishment was helping a young Moroccan create a library for his youth center.
Dr. Brown has a multicultural, multinational education and perspectives. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Honors Geography and Resource Management at the University of Windsor, Ontario Canada, her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She also holds a 3 year Diploma in Urban Planning Technology from the University of Technology formerly the College of Arts Science and Technology, Kingston, Jamaica. Dr. Brown’s specialty is in the areas of the hydro-climatology, environmental change, sustainability and sustainable development. In 1999 Dr. Brown joined the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Arizona and spent the following 5 years as a Post Doctorial Research Associate in the University’s Center for the Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA), conducting research, outreach and education in semi-arid water resources. In 2004 she joined the Faculty in the Department of Geography at Indiana University Bloomington, as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Brown is currently the Lead Faculty for the Community Development and Sustainability Program at NAU-Yavapai, Prescott Valley Arizona. She is well published in multiple scientific journals, encyclopedia, and conference proceedings, and has a passion for education, community engagement, and stewardship in support sustainability.
Professor Curtis Kleinman graduated Summa Cum Laude from NAU with a Bachelor of Science in Spanish Education, only to follow it up with a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish, again from NAU, where he graduated with distinction. He has taught English in Argentina, and Spanish at NAU and Yavapai College, where he is now the Modern Languages Department Chair. Curtis also runs the Cuernecava study abroad program with Yavapai College.
Dr. James (“Dr. J”) Subach has a MS and Ph.D. in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona with a specialty in Medical Optics. He was a member of the research faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and a Visiting Scientist at the NASA Johnson Space Center. For almost 30 years he has operated his own consulting firm that specializes in business information systems, business agility issues, and now includes renewable energy technologies. He has worked across a broad spectrum of industries and small companies and those listed on the NASDAQ and NYSE. He was a Professor of Practice in the Electronic Systems Department at ASU where he was part of an alternative energy faculty. His responsibility was to bring business knowledge and methods to the department and the classroom. He has written for a number of business publications on the business use of technology. He is currently exploring the use of renewable energy as a component of regional economic development.
Professor Jeff Watson teaches Philosophy and Ethics courses for NAU-Yavapai. Jeff received his M.A. in Philosophy from Arizona State University, where he is now currently completing his Ph.D thesis on Emergentism in the Philosophy of Mind. As an undergraduate, he studied Linguistics and Political Science at the University of Arizona. Jeff is a member of the American Philosophical Association, where he has recently presented papers, including: “Harm and Reasonable Expectations”, and “Logic and Perceptual Content”. Jeff is a native of Arizona.
Kelli Jones has been an adjunct instructor at Yavapai College where she taught Introduction to Cultural Geography, the study of humans and their activities on Earth. With ties to NAU, she earned both her Bachelors and Masters in Education. Kelli then went on to earn her Masters of Advanced Study in Geographic Education from Arizona State University and interned with the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C.where she worked in the Education division helping create environmental literature guidebooks and planning events and activities for Geography Awareness Week. She is currently an active member of the National Council for Geographic Education and Teacher Consultant for the Arizona Geographic Alliance, supporting their mission to create a more geographically literate society.
Professor Russ Roberts is a full-time instructor for Yavapai College, as well as the Division Dean of Business and Computer Science. In addition to teaching a variety of computer courses in c omputer applications, computer programming, and introductory computer concepts, Russ is a Certified Facilitator for Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great Results.
Tiffany Antone teaches the NAU-Yavapai Master Student class and is the Student Activities Director/Social Media Maven. She was a Yavapai Honors student many moons ago, and has since gone on to get her AA in Acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, her BA in Theater from UCLA, and her MFA in Playwriting from UCLA. Tiffany is a director, producer, and published playwright, and has had her plays read/performed in LA, NY, DC and Minneapolis. She has taught writing, acting, and scene-study for UCLA and The LATC. In addition to her exciting position at NAU – Yavapai, she is the Education Coordinator for the Prescott Fine Arts Association and one-woman-team behind Little Black Dress Ink, a female playwrights producing initiative. She is also an editor and contributing blogger for the Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative.
John Irvine spent 20 years at Central Arizona College teaching Mathematics for fifteen years and serving within the academic administration for five years. He retired in 2010 after serving as Vice President of Academics his final three years. He taught every math course Central Arizona College offered including Math Education workshops for teachers. His bachelors degree is from Arizona State University and master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. He currently is teaching online mathematics courses and enjoying time with his family in Prescott.
Dr. Suzanne Waldenberger has a Ph.D. in Folklore, M.S. in History/American Studies, M.A. in Folklore and Mythology, and a B.A. in English Literature. She has taught at NAU, Central Arizona College, Pima Community College, and is currently an Associate Professor at Yavapai College. Publications include: “Gardens” in Encyclopedia of Women’s Folklore and “Barrio Gardens: The Creation of a Woman’s Space” in Western Folklore. She is also a former editor of FFC: Folklore Feminists Communication, a publication of the American Folklore Society.
Professor Joanne Oellers (YC class of ’83) hopes all of her students catch the Biology Bug. She is a true teaching generalist with experience in many diverse disciplines, including botany; zoology; natural history; anatomy and physiology, environmental, human, and introductory biology. For her Master’s thesis, she studied two rodent species and their relationship to the transmission of Sin Nombre Virus (a form of Hantavirus) at Grand Canyon.
Professor Dean Holbrook teaches math for Yavapai College and is the Science/Math Division Dean for the Prescott Campus. This is his 17th year at Yavapai after completing his degrees at the University of Arizona. He also oversees the Dual Enrollment Program at Yavapai College.
Professor Monika Moore is a UC Berkley graduate who went on to earn her Master of Science in Geography from Oregon State University. In addition to NAU – Yavapai, Monika teaches physical and cultural geography and meteorology at Yavapai College where she is also a study abroad advisor. Monika is a member of the Association of American Geographers & Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, as well as a Multicultural Club Co-Advisor at Yavapai College.
