New Faculty Directory

Gerald Aase

Gerry Aase is an associate professor of business administration with a focus in operations and supply-chain management. Introducing operations and supply-chain topics using a cross-discipline perspective is core to his teaching philosophy, while use of various tools and techniques for making data-driven decisions is common across his advanced courses. Aase previously held a position as visiting associate professor in the Driehaus College of Business, DePaul University, where he served as the inaugural director of the M.S. in business analytics program. He also taught a variety of classes including operations management, supply-chain management, quality management systems and data analytics.

Aase’s research focuses on process improvement, order picking and other warehouse-management issues encountered by various business partners. His supply-chain research has appeared in the International Journal of Operations and Production Management, the International Journal of Production Economics, the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, the International Journal of Production Research, and the European Journal of Operational Research.

Aase owns and operates several farms in Minnesota and Illinois. He and his wife recently sold their vineyard in Illinois and are looking forward to new ventures in northeast Wisconsin.

Elizabeth Danka

Elizabeth Danka, assistant professor of biology, holds a Ph.D. from Washington University. After graduating from the University of Richmond, she started a molecular cell biology Ph.D. program at Washington University in St. Louis with the goal of being a professor at a liberal arts college.

Danka’s dissertation focused on the interactions between bacteria and hosts in the context of urinary tract infection, and she was able to explore the contributions of both bacterial factors and host factors during the molecular arms race that leads to an infection. While at WashU, she also completed a teaching certificate, was highly involved in the science outreach program, and published a SoTL paper on teaching science communication to high school students. Her postdoc at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was funded by the SPIRE program, a fellowship that trains scientists to facilitate diversity in STEM through teaching-intensive careers. In addition to doing research on interbacterial interactions, she was trained in inclusive teaching practices and taught classes at North Carolina A&T State University, an HBCU (Historically Black College/University) in Greensboro, N.C.

For the past two years, Danka has been a visiting assistant professor in the biology department at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., where she taught majors and non-majors classes, mentored students through thesis writing, ran a small research lab, and participated in science education outreach activities. At SNC, her research lab will continue to focus on host-pathogen interactions; she’ll teach intro biology and microbiology-focused classes this year. She’s always happy to talk about cool pathogens if you run into her on campus!

Kyle Diederich

Kyle Diederich, assistant professor of computer science, graduated from SNC in 2009. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 2020, conducting research integrating human-computer interaction and education and supporting social-physical activities for young children through interactive technologies where the technology does not distract or impede the social and physical aspects of play. Emphasizing physical space combined with people and technology – blended together to enhance learning activities – Diederich’s contributions are the design, development and evaluation of technologies that best support social, collaborative activities through interactive technologies for children under 5. He concentrates on research that upholds the tenets of Creating, Connecting and Communicating to Learn (3Cs technology). 

Yuan “Sabrina” Du

Yuan “Sabrina” Du, assistant professor of business administration–finance, completed her undergraduate education in computer science and her master’s training in financial engineering. Du received her Ph.D. in risk management and insurance from Temple University. She teaches a wide variety of topics in finance and risk management and insurance, including introduction to risk management and insurance and risk financing at the undergraduate level. Her pedagogical philosophy emphasizes active learning and student-centered approach.

Du’s research interests pertain to insurance economics across both micro and macro levels. Her current research lies in the intersection between the industrial organization and insurance economics, with a focus on market structure and competition, while her dissertation research used a structural approach to model market-entry activities and product competition in the insurance market. She has presented her papers at both national and international conferences. 

She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, running and skiing, as well as theme park visits with her family.

Danielle Geerling

Danielle Geerling, assistant professor of psychology, graduated from Marquette University with a B.A. in psychology in 2014. She earned an M.S. in social psychology in 2017 and a Ph.D. in social psychology in 2020, both at the University of Utah. 

Jennifer Hockenbery Dragseth

Jennifer Hockenbery Dragseth began her role as dean of humanities July 1. She earned an A.B. from Bowdoin College in philosophy and classics before completing an M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy at Boston University. She taught philosophy and chaired the theology and philosophy department at Mount Mary University before coming to St. Norbert College. Her areas of study have focused on ancient and medieval Western philosophy and gender studies. Her recent books include “Wisdom’s Friendly Heart: Augustinian Hope for Conspiracy Theorists and Skeptics” and “Thinking Woman: A Philosophical Approach to the Quandary of Gender.” She says teaching and scholarship in the humanities is needed to strengthen our ability to talk to and work with each other in a democratic society and as world citizens. 

Laura Krull

Laura Krull, assistant professor of sociology, graduated from Grinnell College with a B.A. in sociology in 2013. She earned an M.A. in sociology from the University of North Carolina in 2015 and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2020. 

Ananya Matewos

Ananya Matewos, assistant professor of teacher education, graduated with a B.A. in psychology from St. Olaf College in 2009 and earned a Ph.D. in urban education policy from the University of Southern California in 2017. She joins the SNC faculty from Temple University, where she has been a postdoctoral fellow researching student engagement in scientific practices. Most recently, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the Science Learning Research Group at the University of Maryland College Park. She investigates learning and motivation around science topics. Specifically, her research explores social emotions related to learning and understanding complex and controversial socio-scientific issues. 

Toni Morgan

Toni Morgan, assistant professor of communication and media studies, earned a Ph.D. in communication studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned a B.S. in communication studies from Abilene Christian University and an M.A. in communication studies from Texas State University. Her scholarship is centered in family and intergroup communication. Her research focuses on religious difference in the family and how parents communicate (non)acceptance of their religiously dissimilar children.

Pat Norman

Pat Norman, professor of teacher education and chair of programs and curriculum development, earned her bachelor’s degree in child development at Rockford College; her master’s degree in social science from the University of Chicago; and her Ph.D. in curriculum, teaching and educational policy from Michigan State University. For the past 20 years, she taught at Trinity University, where she coordinated the elementary Master of Arts in Teaching & Curriculum program. She serves on the board of directors of the School Reform Initiative, a national nonprofit dedicated to making schools more equitable places for students’ learning. Her research interests include field-based teacher education, mentor development and induction support. 

Katherine O’Meara

Katherine O'Meara, assistant professor of English and director of Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), earned her B.A. in English (minor in secondary education) in 2005 from Carroll College (now Carroll University); her M.A. in English (Linguistics, TESOL) in 2008 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and her Ph.D. in English (Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies) in 2016 from Arizona State University. O’Meara’s research interests include rhetoric and composition/writing studies, WAC pedagogy, writing-program administration, second-language writing and professional development of writing teachers. Her current projects examine professors’ values of writing across the disciplines, and transparent learning and teaching methods for the increasingly diverse student populations in higher education. 

John Raacke

John Raacke, visiting professor of business administration, earned his Ph.D. in cognitive/experimental psychology in 2005 from Kansas State University, an M.S. in cognitive/experimental psychology in 2003 from Kansas State University, and a B.A. in psychology in 2000 from Christian Brothers University. For the past 10 years, he served as chair of the department of criminal justice at Fort Hays State University. Prior to that, he served as associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and assistant professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Raacke’s research interests include examining the impact of social media networks on students, the distinction between teams and groups and the impact of statistical information in everyday settings.

Raacke’s primary research interests involve the impact of social networking sites on behavior, team decision-making, and jury decision-making.

Terri Schroth

Terri Schroth, associate professor of modern languages and literatures-French and Spanish, graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in French from St. Norbert College. She earned her M.A. in French from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. in French and Spanish as well as an Ed.S. in curriculum and instruction (foreign languages concentration) from Louisiana State University. Her scholarship focuses on student learning and knowledge acquisition during international experiences (study abroad), student motivation in foreign language learning, and plurality and diversity in literature in French (Francophonie). 

Stephanie Shedrow

Stephanie Shedrow, assistant professor of teacher education, graduated with a B.A. in secondary English education from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in 2005. She earned her M.Ed. in literacy education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2010 and a Ph.D. in literacy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2018. Her scholarship focuses on performance assessment, educational policy and teacher professional development. She also is interested in best practices in teacher education and equitable curriculum (re)design and development.