CAS Welcomes 12 New Faculty Members

Dr. Aihiokhai completed his doctorate in systematic theology at Duquesne University, his master of degree at Saint John’s Seminary, Camarillo, California, and his undergraduate degree at Spiritan School of Philosophy, Nigeria. Dr. Aihiokhai spent more than a decade working as a missionary in Nigeria and in that capacity was active in conflict resolution among culturally and socially marginalized communities. His work in the healthcare ministry along with parish ministry spans two continents, Africa and North America. Dr. Aihiokhai loves to travel, enjoys discussing global issues, and weightlifting. He is a dog lover. His best buddy is Hope, a Siberian Husky.

Professor Buck-Perry teaches introductory literature courses and particularly enjoys engaging students from a variety of disciplines in the critical study of stories, poetry, and drama. Her academic interests are as diverse as the literature presented in her classes. Specifically, her master’s thesis explored the unusual narrative constructions created by American women writers of the early twentieth century and she has presented papers on the work of Willa Cather and Sarah Orne Jewett. Her interests also reach back to the Renaissance and she regularly teaches workshops in Shakespeare and drama to secondary students.

Before being hired as an Instructor in Theology, Dr. Henrichs-Tarasenkova worked at the University of Portland as an adjunct instructor for 3 years and at Asbury Theological Seminary as an online adjunct instructor for a year. She completed her doctorate in Biblical Theology at London School of Theology/Brunel University, her master degree at Asbury Theological Seminary, and her  undergraduate degree at Warner Pacific College. She published her doctoral thesis entitled Luke’s Christology of Divine Identity with Bloomsbury Publishing and currently is working on an article for a theological dictionary and a commentary on the book of Ruth for a one-volume commentary on the Bible. Nina currently lives with her husband Peter and 4 sons Fedya, Petya, Sasha, and Misha in    Vancouver, but she was born and raised in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Besides spending time with her family and watching her boys play soccer, Nina enjoys organic gardening, cooking, mushroom picking, camping, hiking, spending time at a beach, and international traveling.

Prior to joining the Environmental Studies department as a Lecturer, Dr. Carpenter taught biology and environmental science at a number of local colleges and  universities. Her educational and research background runs the gamut of biological and environmental issues: salamander behavior, fungal systematics, lichen fire ecophysiology, salt grass phytostabilization in Owen’s Lake, and sewage treatment wetlands. Dr. Carpenter completed her doctorate in the plant biology group at the University of California, Davis, and received a BS in Zoology and a BS in Botany and Plant Pathology with a minor in Ethnic Studies from Oregon State University. When not teaching, or sometimes even when, Dr. Carpenter spends her time managing invasive species, growing delicious produce, planting pollinator gardens, and foraging for edibles. She also runs a small local high school environmental scholarship program.

Dr. Lauren Alfrey joins the University of Portland as an Assistant Professor of Sociology after completing her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Alfrey is a qualitative sociologist who studies and teaches on issues of race, gender, identity, family, and labor. She is currently writing a co-authored book for Cambridge University Press titled Geek Girls: Race, Power, and the Tech Industry, which documents the experiences of women who are gender and also racial minorities in the software and computing industries. Her dissertation, which she plans to revise for a second book, explores how White suburban workers and their families manage unemployment in the “new” economy. Dr. Alfrey is thrilled to call the city of Portland her new home – and when she isn’t working she enjoys cooking (and eating), reading fiction, gardening, running in the rain, and exploring the great outdoors with her husband and her American Eskimo dog, Yuki.

Brian has taught mathematics at 6 institutions across the country, but he feels he has found his home at University of Portland after spending the last  academic year serving the university in an adjunct capacity. While his formal background is in pure mathematics, Brian has had additional training in physics, statistics, education, German, creative writing, and improvisational comedy. A native of Chicago, Brian loves the Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, and White Sox. However, he does not miss the harsh winters. He particularly enjoys the natural beauty of Oregon’s coast and is excited to call Oregon home once again.

Joseph L. Jefferson is a trombonist-educator, who maintains an active performance  schedule as a soloist in Classical, Jazz, and commercial musical settings both nationally and internationally. Joseph earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from West Virginia    University, where he researched the Shout Band Tradition in the United House of Prayer; this research was published by ProQuest/UMI. Similar to his excellence in scholarship, Joseph continues to exercise his musical palate by performing in Pop, Neo-Soul, and Latin music genres. As a specialist in the areas of trombone and low brass, Joseph has served as a guest artist, clinician, and adjudicator for both high schools and collegiate music programs throughout the United States.”

Dr. Jakob Kotas comes to the Mathematics Department at the University of Portland having recently completed his PhD in Applied Mathematics at the University of Washington in Seattle. His work there focused on using mathematics– specifically, tools from optimization, operations   research, statistics, and data-driven decision-making– to model and solve real-world problems. A native of Chicago, Dr. Kotas completed his undergraduate and master degrees at Cornell University before moving to the Pacific Northwest. He also spent a year teaching physics at the Doha, Qatar campus of Weill Cornell Medical College.

Rachel Wheeler comes to Portland from Eugene, Oregon where she has been completing her doctorate in Christian spirituality at the Graduate Theological Union. Her interests include monastic spirituality and spiritual practices, widely conceived. Rachel’s most recent work has been an analysis of deceptive interactions in the sayings of the Christian desert fathers and mothers; she is at work presently preparing papers on  anxiety in contemplative practice and zero waste as a spiritual practice

Kristin Sweeney completed her Ph.D. in geological sciences at the University of Oregon and her undergraduate degree at Carelton College. Her research focuses on how sediment transport processes control the shape of eroding landscapes, with a particular geographic focus on the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, she was a postdoctoral scholar at the U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory, where she used historical aerial photos to analyze drainage network formation following the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. A native Portlander, Kristin enjoys road biking, hiking, gardening, ultimate Frisbee, and crossword puzzles.

Dr. Cesar joins the biology faculty as a visiting assistant professor on a one year appointment. She earned her doctorate in neurobiology and behavior from the University of California, Irvine, and her undergraduate degree in exercise and movement science from the University of Oregon. She has taught science courses to students at all levels, from middle school to graduate school. Christie has served on the board of a local charter school, helping to initiate its science program and support staff. Cesar (or “Dr. E.C.” as students nicknamed her) taught in the departments of biology and physical therapy at Chapman University in Orange, California. She is from Huntington Beach California and now lives in Portland with her husband, children, and their dog. She spends any free time wither her family, coaching youth sports, running, or with a good book.

Dr. Nelson-Marsh has served in many academic roles since completing her doctorate in Communication in 2006 at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 2016, she held a visiting professorship at Portland State University. Between 2005 and 2015 she served as Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Program for the Department of Communication at Boise State University. Her teaching and research focus upon identity and organizational culture as they influence processes of collaboration, conflict, and decision-making. Her research projects include a six-year ethnographic study of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the organization responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Internet  infrastructure. She is currently Co-Principle Investigator on a National Science Foundation grant studying  inter-organizational collaboration in Regional Transmission Organizations, the entities responsible for integrating renewable energy into the electricity system. Her work has appeared in various journals including Energy Research and Social Science, Management Communication Quarterly, and New Media and Society.