Faculty Accomplishments

Cornerstone University professors are involved in research, publishing, and many other academic activities outside the classroom. Despite their rigorous pursuit of knowledge and excellence in their fields, CU professors continue to put their students' education first, pushing them to higher levels of learning and intellect in preparation for the next chapter in life.

Faculty Accomplishments 

Dave Anderson, Associate Professor of Media Studies

Prof. Anderson has organized the Cornerstone University Summer Film Camp for high school juniors and seniors, June 24-28, 2013. Prof. Anderson has worked on more than 452 titles during his professional career in film and video.  He currently teaches story structure around the world with Global Short Film Network and is a consultant for awesomestories.com and the “Answers in Genesis” Creation Museum.

Laurie Burgess, Assistant Professor of Education

Prof. Burgess was elected to the Board of The Potters House. 

Nola Carew, Assistant Professor of Social Work & Director of Field Education

Professor Carew received a $1500 travel grant to go to Ghana and visit 3 CU students currently doing field work with Bethany Christian Services in child welfare.  She also continues to be a highly valued resource for Bethany Christian Services.  She recently conducted a workshop on "Stress Management" for foster parents.

Tim Detwiler, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Tim Detwiler was elected as the Secretary of the Assessment Division for the National Communications Association (2013-14).

At the Annual Meeting of the Higher Learning Commission (2013) Dr. Detwiler did a presentation on “Peer Review and AQIP: Writing High Performance Critiques” with a colleague from Indiana Tech. He also presented on “Writing Quality Annual Updates for AQIP Action Projects” with four other colleagues (Illinois Central College, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Highland Community College, Mid Michigan Community College).

Kerisa Myers, Associate Professor of Education

Dr. Myers presented at the National Coalition for Campus Children’s Center 2013 Annual Conference & Professional Institute: Session Title: “Impact of Director Leadership and Activities on the Internal Successes and Integration of the Campus-based Center”.

Shawn Newhouse, Assistant Professor of Business

Prof. Shawn Newhouse coached the CU Enactus team to victory at the Enactus Regional Competition on April 12, 2013 in Chicago. They now qualify for the National Competition in May.

Kim Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Old Testament

Dr. Nguyen published an article called "Mission not Impossible: Justifying Zion's Destruction and Exonerating the Common Survivors." Pages 269-91 in Daughter Zion: Her Portrait, Her Response. Edited by Mark J. Boda, Carol J. Dempsey, and LeAnn Snow Flesher. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2012.

Dr. Nguyen's book has been accepted for publication:  Chorus in the Dark: The Voices of the Book of Lamentations. Hebrew Bible Monographs 54. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, scheduled to come out October 2013.

Rick Ostrander, Provost

On May 13-16, Dr. Rick Ostrander, Cornerstone University provost, served as a member of a team of U.S. educators that visited Uganda Christian University for a series of conferences and workshops to promote the integration of faith and learning at the university.  The team was invited by Uganda Christian University President Dr. John Senyonyi in connection to the launching of the university’s new Committee on the Integration of Faith, Learning, and Service.  Dr. Ostrander led sessions on Christian Worldview and Education and the History of Christian Higher Education.

Michael Pasquale, Humanities Division Chair; Associate Professor of Linguistics

Dr. Pasquale's article entitled “Folk Linguistics, Content-Oriented Discourse Analysis, and Language Teacher Beliefs” was published as a chapter in the book entitled Christian Faith and English Language Teaching: Research on the Interrelationship of Religion and ELT. (Routledge, 2013).

Don Perini, Associate Professor of Ministry and Creativity

Prof Perini was the speaker for the West Michigan Youth Pastor’s Conference. He also trained various Michigan School Boards on “Innovative Process and Problem Solving” and was the speaker at several Youth Winter Camps.  Prof. Perini was  also awarded the  Who’s Who Among North American Educator’s, 2013.

Brad Porter, Assistant Professor of Cinematography

Prof. Porter's masters thesis film was selected for a festival screening at the Directors Guild of America in New York and Los Angeles.  Brad and his team was also awarded the Leo Freedman Master Fellowship in Film & Television Arts as well as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Fellowship in Film, to which end they’ll be converting the film to a Digital Cinema Package.

Scott Sanders, Professor of Social Work & Program Director

Dr. Sanders has been serving on a committee made up of Michigan social work educators and representatives from Michigan Department of Family Services for the past year on the proposal for a Michigan Child Welfare Certificate (CWC).  Social work students can earn this certificate if they complete the appropriate requirements.  The CWC was recently approved and is presently being implemented.  Dr. Sanders will now sit on a new approval committee as the only social work education representative.

Kathy Sindorf, Associate Professor of Communication & Media

Prof. Sindorf’s chapter on “Evangelical Women’s Movements and Leaders” appears in the new Encyclopedia of Christians and Popular Culture, published by Praeger Press.  

Michael VanDyke, Associate Professor of English

Dr. Van Dyke has been selected to participate in the CCCU “Nuclear Weapons and Our Globalizing Century” Faculty Seminar, to be held from August 3-14, 2013, in Japan.