Defiance College Adds Seven New Faculty

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Seven new, full-time faculty members joined Defiance College this fall.  All bring extensive academic expertise in their respective disciplines.

Dr. Keith Christy has joined Defiance College as Assistant Professor of Exercise Science. Christyreceived his Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Michigan University, his Master’s in Sport Psychology from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in Sport Management from Ohio State University. He has taught at the college level for more than seven years and brings with him extensive experience coaching sports at both the high school and college level.

Christy has been published in various journals, including the International Journal of Sports Management, the Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, and Strategies. He has also presented at several national conferences.

Dr. Elizabeth KimJin Collardey, LCSW, brings with her more than eight years of teaching experience and joins DC as Assistant Professor of Social Work. Collardey earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado and both her Master’s in Social Work and doctorate from the University of Denver.

Collardey’s clinical practice focused on child protection and includes extensive community experience working with immigrants and refugees. Her research has also addressed the needs of international adoptees, group work with cultural minorities, and child labor.  Dr. Collardey is active in professional social work organizations and is currently serving as an item writer for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), which administers the social work licensing exam in the U.S. and Canada.

Josh Francis joins Defiance as a full-time Instructor of Education after serving as adjunct faculty at both DC and Northwest State Community College. Francis holds his Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master’s in Education from Defiance College. He is also currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Research in Measurement at the University of Toledo.

Francis has participated in several projects in which the goals were to provide a voice for marginalized populations at every age through projects intended to revitalize impoverished neighborhoods and schools.  In addition, he also assisted on various projects and grants to increase awareness of and preparation for undergraduate programs among high school students in urban schools as well as to improve the effectiveness of science educators.

J. Richard Sealscott, CPA, begins this fall as an Assistant Professor of Accounting. He received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Dayton and his Bachelor of Science from Bowling Green State University.  Sealscott has more than 30 years of experience in education, with a focus on public accounting, auditing, accounting principles, personal taxes and business taxes.

Sealscott is a practicing CPA, a certified fraud examiner and has many years of experience advising businesses and individuals in financial affairs.

Dr. Nathan Crook joins DC in the Arts and Humanities division as Assistant Professor of Communications, bringing with him more than eight years of experience in higher education. Crook received his Bachelor of Arts in History and English from Weber State University, a master’s from Utah State University and his doctorate from Bowling Green State University.

Crook has presented and lectured at numerous conferences and meetings. He has also edited newsletters and been published in various publications.

Dr. Blen Solomon is now serving as an Assistant Professor of Economics. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Lawrence University and master’s and doctoral degrees from Western Michigan University.

Solomon enjoys research and has presented at conferences across the United States and also in Africa. She has been published in various journals, and her memberships include the American Economic Association, Midwest Economics Association, Ethiopian Economics Association and Ethiopian Development Studies Association.

Kathy Holloway joins Defiance as an Assistant Professor of Nursing for the college’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and also the 1+2+1 nursing program that collaborates with Northwest State Community College. Holloway earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s in Science in Nursing from the University of Toledo.

Holloway is a registered Ohio nurse and counselor and is a member of the American Nurses Association and Ohio Nurses Association.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of baccalaureate colleges in the Midwest. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

September 3, 2009