GREENVILLE, PA – Thiel College welcomed nine new faculty members for the 2008-09 academic year, which began Aug. 25.

The new faculty members are:

• Mercedes Gutiérrez García, assistant professor of languages. García holds a bachelor’s degree in English philosophy from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a doctorate in contemporary American literature from Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia in Spain. She most recently served as a visiting assistant professor of Hispanic studies at Oberlin College in Ohio. Garcia is a native of Spain.

• Cory Grewell, assistant professor of English. Grewell holds a bachelor’s degree from The Master’s College in California, a master’s degree from California State University Bakersfield and a doctorate from Northeastern University. A native of Billings, Mont., he was most recently a lecturer at Gordon College in Massachusetts. He is a member of the Modern Language Association, the Medieval and Renaissance Drama Society and the Milton society, among others.

• Cynthia Sharrer Kreisel, assistant professor of history.  Kreisel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, a master’s degree from the University of California, Riverside and a doctorate from Rutgers University. She has held teaching positions at Mission San Jose High School, The College of New Jersey, Rutgers University and most recently at Rutgers-Newark. A native of St. Louis, Mo., she is a member of the American Historical Association and the Society for French Historical Association.

• David Lineman, associate professor of chemistry. Lineman holds a bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s of education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate from Duquesne University. He has taught chemistry at the Hermitage School district since 1998 and served as an adjunct professor of chemistry at Butler County Community College since 2004. A Greenville native, Lineman is a member of the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh and the American Chemical Society.

• Jewerl Maxwell, assistant professor of political science. Maxwell holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, history and public affairs from Muskingum College and a master’s and doctorate in political science from Miami University. He most recently served as a visiting instructor at Emory & Henry College. Maxwell is a native of Pittsburgh.

• Toni Mild, lecturer, education. Mild holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Clarion University and a master’s of education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. She has 12 years of experience in the education field; she most recently was special education supervisor in the Laurel School District.  She has also served as assistant special education supervisor, learning/emotional teacher support and Title 1/emotional teacher support at the Sharpsville School District. Mild is a native of Greenville.

• Chaelon I. O. Myme, visiting scholar in neuroscience. Myme holds a bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College and a doctorate from Brandeis University. He has served as an adjunct professor at Framingham State College and a visiting assistant professor at Oberlin College. A native of Belleville, N.J., Myme has received the Boston Area Neuroscience Group Travel Award and twice was awarded the Excellence Award at the Brandeis Graduate Student Symposium.

• Noah Salvaterra, instructor, mathematics and computer science. Salvaterra holds a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University and a master’s and doctorate from Indiana University. He most recently served as an associate instructor at Indiana University. An Indiana native, Salvaterra is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and the American Mathematical Society.

• Bryan Wagoner, lecturer, religion. Wagoner holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and literature from Gordon College, a master’s of divinity and a master’s of sacred theology from Yale University, and a master’s from Harvard University, where he is currently finishing his doctorate in religion. Wagoner spent the 2007-08 academic year as scholar-in-residence at Thiel and has held numerous teaching fellowships and research assistantships. Wagoner is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Colloquium on Violence and Religion, the Karl Barth Society of North America and the North American Paul Tillich Society.

New adjunct faculty include Kathleen Christiansen, English; Alecia Eppley, mathematics and computer science; Curtis Frank, chemistry; Florence Gordon, mathematics and computer science; Nicole Grewell, environmental science; John Harvey, philosophy; Rebecca James Hecking, interdisciplinary/physics; Karen Kollar, English; and Amy Schafer, health and physical education. 

Thiel College, located in Greenville, Pa., is a liberal arts, sciences and professional studies college related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

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