Ryan Wise, Ed.L.D.

School of Education Dean

Dr. Ryan Wise began serving as dean of the Drake University School of Education in April 2020.

Prior to his time at Drake, he was director of the Iowa Department of Education from July 2015 through March 2020. As director, Wise led with an emphasis on working together as an education system to make Iowa’s schools into places where adults can collaborate and students can thrive. He made it a priority to stay connected to Iowa schools, and visited 240 school districts statewide.

Dr. Wise was named Policy Leader of the Year by the National Association of State Boards of Education in 2017 and has worked in education at the local, state, national and international levels.

He began his career as a high school history teacher in Mississippi and Nebraska before moving to his home state of South Dakota to launch and lead Teach for America on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Reservations.  He also worked to eliminate educational inequity around the world as one of the founding staff members of Teach for All, a global network of education entrepreneurs.

Dean Wise earned a doctorate in education leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification in history and social studies from Creighton University.

He lives in Des Moines with his wife, Sacha, and their two sons, Weston and Graham.

Contact Information

Email: ryan.wise@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-3829
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 234

Lindsay Woodward, Ph.D.

School of Education Associate Dean

Contact Information

Email: lindsay.woodward@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-3006
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 230

Sally Beisser, Ph.D.

Levitt Distinguished Professor of Education

Contact Information

Email: sally.beisser@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-4850
Address: 2507 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office:

Education

B.A.: Iowa State University
M.S.:  Iowa State University
Ph.D.:  Iowa State University

Honors & Professional Memberships

Honors

• Madelyn Levitt Mentor of the Year Award, 2020
• The Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professorship 2017
• National Association for Gifted Children Teaching for High Potential Board, 2016
• Provost Ronald Troyer Research Award Fellowship, 2016
• Madelyn Levitt Teacher of the Year Award, 2016
• Inaugual Iowa Campus Compact Senior Faculty Fellow, 2013
• Iowa Distance Learning Innovation Award, 2009
• Iowa Distance Learning Point of Presence Award, 2008
• Oxford Round Table Debate, University of Oxford, 2008
• National Association for Gifted Children Delegation to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, 2006
• Iowa Talented & Gifted Distinguished Service Award, 2004

Professional Memberships

• Iowa Talented & Gifted Association (ITAG)
• National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
• National Association for the Social Studies (NCSS)
• Iowa Council of Social Studies (ICSS)
• National Association for the Education in Young Childhood (NAEYC)
• Delta Kappa Gamma-International Education Society
• International Society for Technology in Education (SITE)
• American Associate of University Professors (AAUP)

Prior Positions

• Ames Community Schools Extended Learning Program (ELP)
• West Des Moines Schools Extended Learning Program (ELP)
• Iowa State University Doctoral Scholar and Visiting Professor

Areas of Expertise

• Gifted and Talented Education
• Pedagogy and Classroom Management
• Service-Learning and Community Based Learning
• Health and Wellness among School Administrators
• Instruction Using Online Technology

Courses Taught

• Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Social Studies Methods
• Advanced Seminar: Ethics
• Doctoral Qualitative Research Methods
• Creativity and Gifted Education
• ITAG Conference Course for Credit
• Ohio - OAGC Conference Course for Credit
• FYS Courses - Make a Difference: Though Service-Learning, Money Matters: Financial Literacy Skills for College Students, Constructivist Teaching & Learning
• J-Term Global Engagement: Service Learning in Belize
• Honors Course - Service-Learning: Building a Legacy at Drake University

Matt Bruinekool, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – Author unknown

• Matt Bruinekool Vita

Contact Information

Email: matt.bruinekool@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-4507
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 211

Education

BS: University of Iowa
MS: Drake University
Ed.D: Drake University

Honors & Professional Memberships

I have been a member of the faculty at Drake since 1999 and the Director of the National Rehabilitation Institute at Drake University since 2000. Prior to that I served as the Technology Director for the Region VII RCEP and CRP-RCEP (now call the Region VII TACE) where I was responsible for the development of web-based educational training. I also provided face-to-face training to administrative staff of community rehabilitation programs and state VR agency counselors and administrative staff. Before my work with the TACE I served as Project Coordinator for the National Rehabilitation Institute, and worked in the field in various settings serving individuals with disabilities.

I consult to business and industry on organizational culture, work-life balance, the multi-generational workforce, strategic planning, and the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workplace. I consult to community rehabilitation agencies on workflow and the development of Information Management Systems to reduce overhead and improve services to individuals with disabilities.

I worked with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Iowa Workforce Development on two different system change grants that resulted in significant changes in how services are provided to individuals with disabilities within the state as well as the accessibility of services for individuals with disabilities.

I have been the Project Director for 5 Rehabilitation Services Administration Long Term Training Grants and in collaboration with Dr. Stensrud have secured over $7,000,000 for Drake University to provide scholarships to individuals interested in working in the state-federal sector of the Rehabilitation Counseling profession after graduation.

I currently serve on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Rehabilitation Administration, am President of the Iowa Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association, and a board member of the Iowa Rehabilitation Association. I am a past president of the Iowa Rehabilitation Association and the Job Development Job Placement Division of the Iowa Rehabilitation Association.

Areas of Expertise

My research agenda builds on the history of the National Rehabilitation Job Placement/Job Development Institute at Drake. Established in 1976 the Institute established the first Job Placement MS degree program in the country. In 1992, Drake faculty published “Demand-side job development: A model for the 1990s,” that revolutionized the frame of reference of rehabilitation counseling professionals. Today my colleagues and I continue to conduct research that evolves the demand-side model. I have focused on utilizing a sector-based model and building social capital within sectors through social networking.

Tied closely to the employment of individuals with disabilities is my interest in working to continually improve the quality of services that our state-federal rehabilitation program and its partners provide to individuals with disabilities so higher quality employment outcomes can be achieved. 

Courses Taught

The courses I typically teach are: Introduction to Counseling, Disability Policy and the ADA, Human Resource Fieldwork, Advanced Placement, Rehabilitation Administration, Program Evaluation, Strategic Planning, and Internship. I feel that my purpose as a professor is not to tell students what to memorize and regurgitate in the course assessments but rather to give them opportunities to open their minds, think, learn, experience, and grow as professionals. I believe that in order to be successful and enjoy your professional life you must develop a passion for it, and my role is to help students find and grow their passion. Without passion it is difficult to have a positive impact on the profession and the individuals with disabilities we assist need people who want to positively impact the world in which they live. Students in my courses spend a significant amount of time in the field connecting classroom dialogue with real world experience.  

Tom Buckmiller, Ph.D.

Professor of Education

Contact Information

Email: thomas.buckmiller@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-4989
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 203

Education

B.A.: Mount Marty College
M.A.: Iowa State University
Ph.D.: Penn State University

Honors & Professional Memberships

Principal, Sacred Heart Elementary (PreK-4) and Middle School (5-8), Yankton, SD; Board Member of South Dakota Christian Schools Association

Areas of Expertise

Native American education, nature of technology in education, non-public schools, critical pedagogy

Courses Taught

The Needs of Diverse Learners; Educational Management; Research, Evaluation, Planning and Measurement; Leadership and the Profession; Professional and Personal Seminar; Clinical I & II

Leah Shepard-Carey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Education - Graduate Studies

Contact Information

Email: leah.carey@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-3697
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall,121

Education

B.A. College of Saint Benedict

M.A. University of Minnesota- Twin Cities

Ph.D. University of Minnesota- Twin Cities

Honors & Professional Memberships

Honors

• Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship- University of Minnesota (2020-2021)
• Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) Fellow, University of Minnesota, 2019-2020
• 2018 Graduate Student Award-American Association of Applied Linguistics 
• TESOL International Association Research Mini-Grant Award, September 2018
• Curriculum & Instruction Outstanding Graduate Student Research Paper Award: Equity in Education, University of Minnesota, 2019-2020

Professional Memberships

• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
• American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL)
• TESOL International
• Literacy Research Association 

Prior Positions

• Adjunct Faculty at The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
• Invited Instructor for Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition Summer Institutes
• English as a Second Language Teacher (K-12 schools)
• Bilingual Head Start Teacher

Areas of Expertise

Leah's research and teaching spans the areas of language and literacy education. She is interested in culturally-sustaining approaches to education, multilingualism, and elementary literacy for younger multilingual children. She also focuses on critical approaches to teacher education. Her research has been featured in The Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, Linguistics and Education, TESOL Quarterly, and TESOL Journal.

Courses Taught

• Urban Trends in Literacy Education
• Educational Research
• Methods of Linguistic Differentiation for English Language Learners
• Interdisciplinary Literacy
• Various ESL and World Language education courses

Crista Carlile, Ed.D.

Faculty Affiliate

Contact Information

Email: crista.carlile@drake.edu
Phone: 515.371.1595
Address: 2507 University Avenue Des Moines, IA 50311

Office:

Education

B.S. Kansas State University

M.A. Viterbo University

Ed.D. Drake University

Areas of Expertise

• Standards Based Grading Practices
• School and District Leadership
• Systems Thinking and Continual Improvement
• Assessment Literacy

Courses Taught

• Theory, Research, and Leadership

Jill Johnson, Ph.D.

Professor

Contact Information

Email: jill.johnson@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.3992
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 132

Education

B.A., M.A., University of Iowa

Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Honors & Professional Memberships

Honors

• Director of Graduate Programs, Teaching and Learning
• Coordinator of Educational Programming in Ghana
• West Des Moines School Board vice President

Professional Membership

• International Literacy Association (ILA)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Prior Positions

Iowa State University

Areas of Expertise

• Comprehension
• Social Emotional Learning
• Literacy Conferences
• Elementary Writing Instruction
• Early Childhood Literacy Development

Courses Taught

• Effective Teaching
• Reading Research and Theory
• Writing Research and Theory

Robyn Cooper, Ph.D.

Professor / Director of Doctoral Program / Chair Leadership & Counseling Dept.

Contact Information

Email: robyn.cooper@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-4553
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office:

Education

B.S.: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
M.Ed.: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Ph.D.: Iowa State University

Areas of Expertise

Research Methodology; Youth and Adult Development; Epistemic Development; Wellness; Underrepresented populations in STEM; Leadership; and Campus Environments.

Courses Taught

Quantitative Research Methods, Advanced Quantitative Research Methods, Doctoral Foundations Seminar, Dissertation Seminar, Philosophies & Epistemologies of Education; Data Analysis in Educational Research: Educational Psychology for Teaching and Learning, Assessment of Learning, Educational Research Methods, and Student Development & Learning Theories.  

Michael Couvillon, Ph.D.

Professor of Education

Contact Information

Email: michael.couvillon@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-4690
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 130

Education

B.A.:  University of Nebraska-Kearney
M.Ed.:  University of North Texas
Ph.D.:  University of North Texas

Prior Positions

• Drake University – Des Moines, IA (Associate Professor of Education)
• Richardson Independent School District – Richardson, TX (Behavior Specialist)
• Region 10 Education Service Center – Dallas, TX (Behavior Specialist)
• Father Flanagan’s Boys Home – Omaha, NE (Teacher and Consultant)

Areas of Expertise

Emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD), functional behavioral assessments and behavior intervention plans, policy and standards on the use of time out seclusion, and juvenile justice.

Courses Taught

Introduction to Special Education, Introduction to Behavior Disorders and Learning Disabilities, Methods and Strategies for Exceptional Learners, Evidence Based Interventions for Students with Behavior Disorders and Learning Disabilities,  Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions, Characteristics of Students with Mild Disabilities, Consultation and In-Service Training, Professional Seminar in Special Education

Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp, Ph.D.

Professor of Education

“What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - and some of them many times over - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!” Alfred Adler

• Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp Vita

Contact Information

Email: bengu.tekinalp@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-2170
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 217

Education

BS: Middle East Technical University, Turkey
MS: Middle East Technical University, Turkey
PhD: Auburn University

Honors & Professional Memberships

I have served various state, national and international counseling organizations. I have served on the boards of Iowa School Counselors Association, Iowa Talented and Gifted Association, and Iowa Safe Schools. I have also taken leadership and board membership roles in North American Society of Adlerian Psychology, Theory and Research co-chair, American Counseling Association, International Committee; Counselors for Social Justice Ethics and Human Rights committee. I have also involved in various State initiatives and programs such as Iowa State of Education, Social Emotional Learning taskforce advisory, Iowa (formerly Iraqi) Refugee Support Project board member and Iowa Latino/a Education task force. I am on the editorial board of Journal of School Counseling, Journal of Happiness Studies, Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance. I have counseling experiences at various settings including university counseling center, a center for traumatized children and adjudicated adolescents as well as elementary and middle school settings.

Areas of Expertise

My research agenda evolves in three interconnecting areas of research: cross-cultural counseling, positive psychology and school counseling. I have conducted research and published journal articles and book chapters and books in resilience, happiness, gratitude, positive interventions, school counseling, and multicultural counseling and diversity. With an overarching humanistic orientation, my guiding theoretical orientation in practice and research is Individual (Adlerian) Psychology. Recently, I have been developing my expertise and research focus on mindfulness and contemplative practices, especially the applications in K-12 and higher education. Combining Adlerian concept of social interest and encouragement with mindfulness practices, I am working on identifying how we can overcome the perceived barriers (cultural, political, personal) and find ways to connect with “others” (actually other “me”s) to have a more heartful presence and full connection with other beings in life.

Courses Taught

The courses I typically teach are: Counseling Diverse Populations, Methods of Counseling, Theories of Counseling, Assessment in Counseling, Introduction to Counseling, Human Development and Life Span Issues.  My main philosophy of teaching is setting a safe environment of exploring and letting ourselves strive for learning, not perfection. Teaching is my element! I enjoy being in the classroom, exploring, discovering, and learning with my students.  I enjoy learning and trying new strategies as I strive to be more present for my students, to be more understanding, to be more caring, to share my knowledge and insight; and to create a better learning experience for my students. I approach teaching holistically. Learning is not only a cognitive process but it is also physical, emotional and spiritual. For this reason, I took many approaches to learning in the courses that I teach. We write poems about our lives.  We interview and try to connect with people whom we deem impossible to connect. We force ourselves to try something different, try to do things out of our comfort zones. We administer and take different psychological tests, including an IQ test, to develop empathy for how it feels to take a psychological test. We role-play counseling sessions. We experiment with different techniques from different theories. We have a simulation where students make and sell paper bags to understand survival in poverty conditions. In my courses we analyze cognitively and connect emotionally. We enjoy learning.

Shelley Fairbairn, Ph.D.

Professor

Shelley Fairbairn, Ph.D., is a veteran English as a second language (ESL) teacher and an associate professor in the Drake University School of Education in Des Moines, Iowa. Her teaching foci include preparing pre-service teachers to design effective lesson plans and assessments for K-12 students and empowering both pre- and in-service teachers to meet the needs of English language learners through linguistically and culturally responsive practice. Prior to joining the Drake University School of Education faculty, Dr. Fairbairn concurrently taught English as a second language courses for the Drake University International Center and served as a K-12 ESL teacher in two Des Moines area school districts.

Dr. Fairbairn’s international experience includes three years of teaching English as a foreign language in Jakarta, Indonesia and one year of teaching ESL and ESL certificate courses at the Regional Language Centre in Singapore. More recently, she has conducted teacher professional development sessions and workshops in China, Canada, and across the U.S., often with Stephaney Jones-Vo, co-author of Differentiating Instruction and Assessment of English Language Learners: A Guide for K-12 Teachers (Caslon Publishing) and Engaging English Learners through Access to Standards (Corwin). Her scholarly work has focused primarily on effective assessment and instructional practices for ELLs, but is moving into the realm of equine-assisted learning.

Contact Information

Email: shelley.fairbairn@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.1954
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall, 107

Education

B.M.E., M.A., Oral Roberts University

Ph.D., University of Iowa

Amber Graeber, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership

Contact Information

Email: amber.graeber@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.2618
Address: 2507 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps 204

Education

BA: Drake University
BSE: Drake University
MEd: University of Washington, Seattle
MEd: Iowa State University
PhD: Iowa State State University

Prior Positions

• Instructional Coach, Roosevelt

Areas of Expertise

• Curriculum and Instruction
• Assessment
• Social Justice Leadership
  Teaching and Le
• Project-Based Learning
• Leading Second Order Change

Courses Taught

• Personal and Professional Assessment Seminar
• Leadership and the Profession
• Instruction and Learning 
• School and Community in a Diverse Society 
• Planning Research, Measurement and Evaluation
• Clinical I & Clinical II
• Introduction to Qualitative Research

Matthew Hayden, Ph.D.

Professor of Education Director, SOE International Programs

Contact Information

Email: matthew.hayden@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-3040
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 115

Education

B.A., M.A., University of St. Thomas; M.A., M. Phil., Ph.D., Teachers College-Columbia University

Areas of Expertise

Ethics, moral philosophy, moral psychology, philosophy of education, sociology of education, educational psychology, cosmopolitan education, international education, early adolescent psychology, ethics of testing and assessment, morality of schooling, global citizenship, influence of educational philosophies and philosophy of human nature on teaching.

Courses Taught

Doctoral Seminar in Foundations in Education; Global Citizenship (Honors); Theories, Isms, and Folderol (Honors); Secondary Special Methods in Social Studies; Educational Psychology; Foundations in Education; Cyprus: Centuries of Globalization, Culture, and Education (J-Term Travel Seminar); Kosovo: Repairing and Rebuilding (Travel Seminar)

Todd Hodgkinson, Ph.D.

Professor

Contact Information

Email: todd.hodgkinson@drake.edu
Phone: W 515.271.4565 C 303.594.0924
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 125

Education

B.A., University of Iowa
M.A., University of Northern Colorado
Ph.D., University of Iowa

Honors & Professional Memberships

• National Council of Teachers of English
• American Association for Teaching and Curriculum
• National Association for Gifted Children
• Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted - SENG

Prior Positions

• English Language Arts Teacher and Gifted and Talented Coordinator in the public school setting for over 12 years
• Affiliate Faculty, Regis University, Denver, CO
• Adjunct Faculty, Kirkwood Community College, Iowa City IA

Areas of Expertise

• Curriculum theory and design
• Literacy education
• Gifted education
• Public school reform

Courses Taught

• Foundations of Education
• Writing Instruction for Intermediate/Secondary Grades
• Early Adolescent Growth and Development
• Teaching in the Middle School
• Methods of Teaching in Secondary Schools
• Methods of Teaching English Language Arts
• Effective Teaching I
• Foundations of Gifted Education
• Development and Administration of Gifted Programs
• Practicum in Gifted Education

Casey Holmes, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Teaching and Learning

Contact Information

Email: casey.holmes@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-4850
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall

Education

B.A., M.A.T., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Honors & Professional Memberships

Honors

• 2020 Graduate Student Association Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching
• 2019 National Technology Leadership Initiative (NTLI) Fellowship Award

Professional Memberships

• National Council for the Social Studies
• College & University Faculty Assembly
• American Educational Research Association
• Iowa Council for the Social Studies

Areas of Expertise

• Social studies education
• Secondary teacher education
• Critical citizenship education
• Media literacy

Courses Taught

• Student Development & Learning Theory
• Methods of Teaching in Secondary Schools
• Secondary Social Studies Teaching Methods
• Elementary Social Studies Teaching Methods

Michelle Krogulski

Associate Professor and Director of Student Teaching

Contact Information

Email: michelle.krogulski@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.1890
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 113

Education

B.S., Iowa State University

M.A., Viterbo University

Jerrid Kruse, Ph.D.

Professor of Education; Collier Baker Endowed Professorship

Contact Information

Email: jerrid.kruse@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-3912
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 131

Education

B.A., Augustana College

M.A.T., Iowa State University

Ph.D., Iowa State University

Areas of Expertise

Science teacher education; natures of science & technology instruction; epistemological belief instruction.

Courses Taught

Advanced Qualitative Research Methods; Technology and Organizational Leadership; Inquiry and the Natures of Science, Technology, & Engineering; Methods of Engineering and Technological Design; Elementary Science Methods; Secondary Science Methods; Educational Technology; Educational Psychology.

Kevin Lam, Ph.D.

Professor of Urban and Diversity Education, Director of Social Justice in Urban Education Concentration

Contact Information

Email: kevin.lam@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.2324
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 123

Education

B.A., University of California-Los Angeles

M.A., California State University-Los Angeles

Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign

Honors & Professional Memberships

Honors

• 2016 Critics’ Choice Book Award Recipient (for Youth Gangs, Racism, and Schooling:  Vietnamese American Youth in a Postcolonial Context), American Educational Studies Association

• 2013 Committee on Scholars of Color in Education, Early Career Scholars Fellow, American Educational Research Association

Professional Memberships

• American Educational Studies Association
• American Educational Research Association

Selected Publications

• Co-editor, The Selected Works of Antonia Darder: On Theory, Politics, and Struggle (Bloomsbury, 2025)
• Co-editor, The Critical Pedagogy Reader (4^th edition) (Routledge, 2023)
• Author, Youth Gangs, Racism, and Schooling: Vietnamese American Youth in a Postcolonial Context (Palgrave, 2015)
• Co-author, “The Indispensable Praxis of Antonia Darder: An Introduction,” in The Selected Works of Antonia Darder: On Theory, Politics, and Struggle (Bloomsbury, 2025)
• [Reprint] “Racism, Schooling, and the Streets: A Critical Analysis of Vietnamese American Youth Gang Formation in Southern California,” in Research and Reflections on Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement (Purdue University Press, 2025) 
• [Reprint] “Critical Perspectives in Youth Gang Formation in the United States,” in Oxford Encyclopedia of Race and Education (Oxford University Press, 2024) 
• “Beyond ‘Bread and Circus’: Reading and Teaching Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed,” in The Student Guide to Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed (2^nd edition) (Bloomsbury, 2024)
• [Reprint] “Theories of Racism, Asian American Identities, and a Materialist Critical Pedagogy,” in The Critical Pedagogy Reader (4^th edition) (Routledge, 2023) 
• “The Exigency of Radical Class Politics: A Personal Journey,” in On Class, Race and Educational Reform (Bloomsbury, 2023)

Areas of Expertise

• Vietnamese/Asian American Youth
• Youth Violence
• Critical Theories of Racism
• Critical Pedagogy
• Urban Education
• Cultural Studies
• Political Economy

Courses Taught

• Seminar on Communication, Representation, and Cultural History
• Philosophies and Epistemologies of Education 
• Leadership, Multiculturalism and Social Justice
• Urban Arts Integration
• Critical Theory and Pedagogy (independent study) 
• Critical Theories of Racism (independent study)
• Applications for Teaching in Urban Schools (honors)
• Cultural Proficiency II 
• Cultural Proficiency I
• Urban Education and Immigration (honors)
• Social Context of Urban Schools (honors)
• Youth, Culture, and Society (honors)
• Foundations of Education
• Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Gender

Tonia Land, Ph.D.

Professor

Contact Information

Email: tonia.land@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.2321
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 127

Education

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Iowa State University

Honors & Professional Memberships

• Department Chair, Teaching and Learning

Professional Membership

• Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• American Educational Research Association

Prior Positions

• Elementary School Teacher

Areas of Expertise

• Mathematics Education
• Technology Education

Her recent interests include supporting pre-service teachers in their reading of curriculum materials and developing teachers’ capacity to be responsive to children’s mathematical thinking.

Courses Taught

• The Teaching of Mathematics
• Educational Technology
• Mathematical Practices Equity in Mathematics Teaching
• Algebra and Geometry for Elementary and Middle School
• Measurement and Statistics for Elementary and Middle School
• Academic Research and Writing

Wade Leuwerke, Ph.D.

Professor

Contact Information

Email: wade.leuwerke@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-3943
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 213

Education

BA: Gustavus Aldolphus College
MS: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
PhD: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Honors & Professional Memberships

I am a member of the Behavioral Sciences Licensure Board in the state of Iowa. I have experience working with federal agencies providing executive and career coaching. I have worked with career development companies to examine the effectiveness and impact of their assessment tools. I also have experience working with colleges and universities to examine issues around student retention, student success, and career development while also working with programs to explore and document program effectiveness.

Areas of Expertise

I am currently working on the role of noncognitive factors in student success in school and college. Along with colleagues I developed the Student Strengths Inventory, a measure of noncognitive factors predictive of academic success and retention in college. The SSI has been used at dozens of institutions across the country and in Canada to identify at risk students and to then guide programming to support those students to be successful in college. I am currently working on a student success textbook for first year students to help them develop skills and attitudes to persist and graduate from college.

I have been researching and writing about different aspects of career development for my entire career. This work has included the influence of technology in the provision of career counseling, the role and use of computer based career development tools, measures of career development outcomes, and the ethics of online career counseling. I have also conducted research with students and colleagues at Drake University on the roles, responsibilities, and perceptions of professional school counselors. Career development is one of three areas of emphasis in the practice of school counseling, positioning counselors to have a tremendous impact on the college and career readiness of their students. 

Courses Taught

I regularly teach Methods of Counseling, Ethics for Counselors, College and Career Readiness, School Counseling Internship and Mental Health Counseling Internship. I strive to create meaningful learning experiences in class. This often occurs when students read before class and we use class time for discussion and projects. In Ethics for Counselors we explore ethical dilemmas and students work on a large project to explore the complexities of ethical dilemmas through a simulation of bringing ethical charges against a counselor for ethically questionable behavior. In Human Growth and Development students create an individual and follow their development throughout the lifespan. In Methods and Internship students practice their counseling skills and bring in real world counseling experiences from internship to discuss and build their skills through discussion with classmates.

Claire Muselman, EdD

Assistant Professor of Practice in Leadership, Human Resources, and Organizational Behavior

Contact Information

Email: claire.muselman@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.2620
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 219 and Aliber Hall 344

Education

Areas of Expertise

• Leadership
• Business Strategy
• Human Resources
• Organizational Behavior
• Insurance & Risk Management

Stephanie Oppel, PhD

Adjunct Instructor

Contact Information

Email: stephanie.oppel@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.2054
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office:

Education

B.A.: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

MPA: Drake University

Ph.D.: Drake University

Areas of Expertise

• Civility
• Employability Skills
• Career Pathways in Career and Technical Education
• Education Theory

Courses Taught

• Philosophies and Epistemologies of Education
• Doctoral Seminar
• Organizational Politics and Influence 

Randal Peters, Ed.D.

Associate Professor, Educational Administration

Contact Information

Email: randal.peters@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-2082
Address: 2507 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office:

Education

BS: Grand Canyon University
MS: Indiana University
EdD: Drake University

Honors & Professional Memberships

• Board of Directors, Higher Education Representative/Chair, Legislative Committee Member for Iowa Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (IASCD)
• Iowa Competency-Based Education Collaborative (Design Team/Peer Review Committee Member and Chair, Higher Education Subcommittee)
• Iowa Representative, Higher Education Summit--National Center for Innovation in Education
• Member, Iowa Council and National Council of Professors of Educational Administration
• Member, American Educational Research Association
• Member, National Wellness Institute
• Member, Academy of Management
• Associate Editor, Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society
• Associate Editor, Journal of Sport and Health

Areas of Expertise

School and community wellness initiatives/impact of physical activity on cognition and student achievement, standards-based assessment and grading practices, competency-based education and personalized learning, systems leadership and continual improvement, functions and structures of Educational Service Agencies, sustainability of parochial school models

Courses Taught

Advanced Leadership; Professional and Personal Seminar; Leadership and the Profession; School and Community in a Diverse Society; Managing Schools; Clinical Seminar I & II; Advanced Systems Thinking; Curriculum and Evaluation; Foundations of Education; Models, Theories and Instructional Strategies; Professional Certification Seminar I & II

Schares Stephanie

Adjunct Instructor, Education Teaching and Learning

Contact Information

Email: stephanie.schares@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-2736
Address: 2507 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office:

Education

B.A., Iowa State University

M.S., Lewis and Clark University

Honors & Professional Memberships

• Recognition of Excellence distinction from Education Testing Services in 2010

Prior Positions

• 6-8th grade Language Arts Teacher in Titonka, Iowa 
• Worked in Portland Public School district (in Oregon) in a variety of capacities: coach, tutor, middle and high school counselor, online credit recovery teacher, summer and night school adviser, mentor, ACT prep coordinator
• Currently serving at Ames Community School district as 7th and 8th grade Humanities Extended Learning Program Teacher and Ames High Assistant Track Coach

Courses Taught

• Social and Emotional Issues of the Gifted Learner

Molly Shepard, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Practice in Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Contact Information

Email: molly.shepard@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.2361
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 219 and Aliber Hall 342

Education

B.A.: Central College

MBA:  Loyola University Chicago

Ph.D.: Drake University

Areas of Expertise

• Leadership Theory and Applications
• Cultural Competency
• Program Evaluation and Assessment
• Systems Thinking and Continual Improvement
• Research Methods
• Study Abroad Programming

Courses Taught

• Leadership Development: Understanding Self and Others
• Leadership Development: The Psychology of Happiness
• Ethics and Leadership
• Research Methods
• Theory, Research, and Leadership
• Globalization 
• Concepts and Applications of Learning Analytics
• Needs Analysis and Evaluation
• Leadership at Sea (J-Term)
• Perspectives in Education from Finland (J-Term)

DeDe Small, Ph.D.

Professor of Education

Contact Information

Email: dede.small@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.3059
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 129

Education

B.S., Creighton University

M.S., University of Nebraska-Omaha

Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Minneapolis

Honors & Professional Memberships

• International Literacy Association
• ILA Special Interest Group - Children's Literature and Reading
• National Council of Teachers of English Children's Literature Assembly
• Literacy Research Association

Areas of Expertise

• Diversity in Children's Literature
• Reader Response Choice
• Reading Motivation
• Text Complexity

Courses Taught

• Literature of Childhood and Youth
• Communicative Arts in the Elementary Classroom
• Language and Literacy
• Reading in the Content Area
• Today's Children's Literature

Douglas Stilwell, Ed.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor

Contact Information

Email: doug.stilwell@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271- 3726
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office:

Education

B.A.       Buena Vista University
M.S.       Northwest Missouri State University
Ed.D.    Drake University 

Honors & Professional Memberships

Honors

• 2018 Iowa High School Athletic Association Administrator Award
• 2011 Drake School of Education Alumni Award

Professional Membership

• American Society for Quality Member
• Iowa Quality Center Board Member

Prior Positions

• Superintendent Urbandale Community School District
• Associate Superintendent/Director of Human Resources Urbandale Community School District
• Elementary Principal West Des Moines Community School District
• Elementary Teacher West Des Moines Community School District
• Elementary Teacher Storm Lake Community School District
• Elementary Teacher Estherville Community School District

Areas of Expertise

• Systems thinking and leadership
• Continual improvement
• Organizational trust
• Impact of fear in the workplace

Courses Taught

• Personal and Professional Assessment Seminar
• Leadership and the Profession
• Organizational and System Behavior
• Instruction and Learning
• Clinical Experience I and II
• Systems Thinking
• Advanced Leadership

Jennifer Thoma, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Contact Information

Email: jennifer.thoma@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.2599
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 119

Education

B.A., Wartburg College

B.A., University of Northern Iowa

M.Ed., Viterbo University

Ph.D., Iowa State University

Honors & Professional Memberships

• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
• International Reading Association (IRA)
• Literacy Research Association (LRA)
• National Staff Development Council (NSDC)
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Prior Positions

• Elementary Instructor, Ankeny Community Schools
• Elementary Instructor and Supplemental Reading Coach, Des Moines Public Schools
• K-5 Instructional Coach, Ankeny Community Schools

Areas of Expertise

• Literacy
• Early Childhood
• Technology Integration in a Professional Learning Community

Courses Taught

• Introduction to Elementary Reading
• Literacy Assessment and Instruction II
• Curriculum in Early Childhood
• Balanced Literacy

Lindsay Woodward, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Contact Information

Email: lindsay.woodward@drake.edu
Phone: 515.271.3006
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: Collier-Scripps Hall 117

Education

• B.A., M.A.E., Truman State University
• Ph.D., Iowa State University

Honors & Professional Memberships

• 2019 Drake Sabbatical Research Fellow
• 2016 Research Excellence Award, Graduate College, Iowa State University
• 2014 Teaching Excellence Award, Graduate College, Iowa State University
• American Education Research Association
• International Literacy Association
• Literacy Research Association
• National Council of Teachers of English

Areas of Expertise

My areas of interest involve adolescent literacy and technology in literacy education. My research focuses on the potential of digital tools to support effective literacy instruction, especially when situated in professional development for teachers. I am also interested in the nature of reading in digital spaces, particularly how secondary students locate and make sense of conflicting information. My work has appeared in such journals as the American Educational Research Journal, Reading Research Quarterly, and Teachers College Record.

Courses Taught

• Literacy Assessment & Instruction I
• Secondary Reading & Interdisciplinary Curriculum
• Academic Research and Writing
• Issues in Adolescent Literacy
• Secondary Reading Methods
• Models of Effective Literacy

Brian Coleman, Ed.D.

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

Contact Information

Email: bran.coleman@drake.edu
Phone: 515-271-3719
Address: 2702 Forest Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311

Office: CS 202

Education

B.S.       Illinois State University
M.A.      Northern Illinois University
Ed.D.    Roosevelt University

Prior Positions

• Superintendent, Cary Elementary School District 26, Cary, IL
• Principal, Briargate and Oak Knoll Elementary Schools, Cary, IL
• Science Teacher, Cary Junior High School, Cary, IL

Courses Taught

• School Policy, Influence, and Legal Issues
• Educational Leadership and the Profession
• Human Resource Dynamics
• Organizational and System Behavior
• Managing Schools
• Superintendent Clinical Seminar