CSC welcomes new faculty

New faculty members in the School of Business, Mathematics and Science are Dr. Karla Abshire, John Atsu-Swanzy, Dr. M'bark Baddouh, Ruizhu “Rachel” Dai, Dr. Stephen Forsha, Dr. Diya Ganguly, Dr. Amir Manzoor, and Dr. William Soto. New faculty in the School of Liberal Arts are Brian Grob, Rachel McKinley, and Jessica Meyers. New faculty in the School of Professional and Applied are Brett Greenwald, and Jazlyn Reitz.

New faculty in the School of Business, Mathematics, and Science include the following.

Abshire earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Creighton University.

She said she is looking forward to a busy and exciting year. Her areas of specialty include geriatric physical therapy and modified exercise routines for people with disabilities.

She will teach Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Advanced Human Anatomy.       

Atsu-Swanzy, who has an All But Dissertation (ABD) status in a doctoral degree in Education Studies from National University, will teach Mathematics for Teachers. He earned a post-master's degree of Philosophy in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge in England, a master’s in mathematics, a master’s in math education from Rowan University in New Jersey, and a bachelor’s in mathematics from Thomas Edison State University. He has a New Jersey Teacher of Mathematics K-12 Certification.

His areas of interest include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and learning and academic achievement in the context of stress and academic burnout.

Atsu-Swanzy said he is interested in study abroad programs, and eager to serve and engage with students and partner with regional K-12 teachers.

He will teach Mathematics for Teachers.

Baddouh, who helped lead a Natural History Hike in Chadron State Park during move-in week, said he finds the geology of the region amazing. His areas of specialty include geology and geochemistry of ancient lakes.

He earned a master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor’s from Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Morocco. He looks forward to living close to where he conducted his doctoral research in Wyoming and the Black Hills where he has been teaching geology field camp since 2017.  

Courses he will teach include Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, Earth Science, and College Chemistry.

Dai earned an MBA with an accounting concentration from Texas A&M in Corpus Christi.       

She said she joined CSC because she would be able to teach while continuing her doctoral studies.

“The college and Business Academy demonstrated impressive growth potential. The environment is supportive and relaxed, with nice, caring, and friendly supervisors and colleagues. I’m excited to be part of its continued progress,” she said.

She will teach Business Ethics, Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Corporate Social Responsibility, Accounting 1 and 2, and Business/Econ Statistics.

Forsha earned a doctorate in Management from Webster University, an MBA from William Woods University, a post-graduate degree in Gaelic Literature from the University College Cork, and a bachelor’s from Northern Michigan University.

He is looking forward to teaching at a rural college with profession-focused business programs that value interdisciplinary collaboration. His areas of specialty include moral decision making, leadership, and Gaelic literature.

He will teach Management, Leadership, and Introduction to Business.

Ganguly earned a doctorate in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and a master’s and a bachelor’s in economics from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.

She said joining the CSC faculty allows her to expand her teaching portfolio and have a meaningful voice in program and curriculum development.

She said her research is at the intersection of behavioral economics, environmental policy, and climate change. Her work explores how people make conservation decisions, respond to environmental risks like PFAS contamination, and trade off individual and group welfare in resource allocation.

She will teach Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Agricultural Policy, and Managerial Economics.

Manzoor earned four degrees in Pakistan: a doctorate in Management Sciences from Bahria University, an MBA from Lahore University of Management Sciences, a master’s in information technology from Preston Institute of Management Sciences and Technology, and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology.

He said he was drawn to CSC’s commitment to developing knowledgeable and engaged leaders.

“[CSC’s] focus on excellence in teaching, applied scholarship, and service aligns perfectly with my passion for blending industry experience with academic teaching to prepare students for real-world success,” he said. “I look forward to collaborating with colleagues, mentoring students, and creating impactful learning experiences that connect academic theory with real-world application, particularly in the rapidly evolving fields of AI, data science, and business analytics.”

His areas of specialty and research include artificial intelligence, data science, business analytics, project management, cybersecurity, information systems, and technology adoption. He has published books, journal articles, and case studies on these topics, with a focus on integrating emerging technologies into business strategy and education.

The courses he will be teaching include Web Page Development, Principles of Information Systems, and Business Programming.

Soto earned a doctorate in biology from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and a bachelor’s in biology from California State University, Fresno.

Soto, who said he loves the Pine Ridge area, has training in host-microbe interactions, microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, invertebrate biology, evolutionary ecology, evolutionary biology, cell biology, molecular biology, and human physiology.

He will teach Host-microbe Interactions, Human Diseases, Immunology, and Microbiology.

Alongside the additions in Business, Mathematics, and Science, the college also welcomes several new faculty members in the School of Liberal Arts.

Grob earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting Pedagogy from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s in Theatre Performance from Utah Valley University. He said CSC feels like a perfect fit.

“It's not often that I feel as in sync with an institution as I do with Chadron State College. I'm excited for the opportunity to help build and expand the Theatre program,” he said.

He will teach Performance, Acting Pedagogy, Acting for Film, Scriptwriting and Screenwriting, Principles of Acting, First Year Experience, and Theatre Practicum.

McKinley earned a bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from Spring Arbor University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

She said she was looking for an open-enrollment institution that cares about students, and a team of faculty members invested in teaching and collaboration.

“As soon as I set foot on the CSC campus, I was hooked,” she said. “From the faculty members, to Dean Margetts, to the inquisitive students, everyone I met was genuinely curious and caring in a way I haven't seen for a long time in education. I knew right away that I wanted to be a part of the CSC community.”

Her specialties are English education and creative nonfiction, and she is particularly interested in writing about family and confessional writing.

Courses she will teach include Technical Writing, Creative Writing, Advanced Poetics, Digital Composition, and Teaching Methods for English education.        

Meyers joined the CSC faculty in January 2025. She earned a Juris Doctorate from University of Nebraska, and a bachelor’s in history from Colorado State University.

After working in the criminal justice system for eight years, she wanted to pivot to educating and inspiring the next actors in the system. Her areas of specialty include criminal and indigent defense and trial advocacy.

She will teach Criminal Law, Introduction to Law, FYI, Victimology, Criminal Procedures, Introduction to Criminal Justice, and Senior Seminar.

In addition to the Liberal Arts, the School of Professional and Applied Studies has welcomed new faculty who bring expertise in education and community engagement.

Greenwald earned a Master of Education from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, and a bachelor’s from the University of California in Berkeley.

He said he joined CSC because he loved the campus, the faculty, and small-town atmosphere.

Greenwald specializes in behavior management and functional skills with research experience in racial proportionality in early childhood Special Education.

Greenwald will teach Literature and Language Arts Programs in Early Childhood, Adolescent Development, Guidance Techniques in Human Relations, and Program Development and Management.

Reitz completed both of her degrees at CSC, a bachelor's in elementary education with a concentration in early childhood, and a master's in education administration with a focus area in principal (K-12).

She has spent most of her life in Chadron.

“Joining the faculty allows me to give back to my alma mater and my community by helping to instruct, support, and shape the next generation of teachers. I enjoy working with students of all ages, supporting teachers, and understanding the ways in which administration contributes to a school’s success,” she said. “I am eager to help students discover their passion and love for teaching. My goal is to provide them with a strong foundation to become positive, influential educators, while continuing to grow and learn as an educator myself.”

She is enrolled in a doctoral program in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Elementary Education.

Reitz will teach Introduction to Teaching, Language, Culture and Literacy, and Intermediate Reading/Writing.