Friends University has recently filled several faculty positions.
Justin Eichorn
Justin Eichorn, assistant professor of cyber defense and program director of the adult computer information systems/cyber program, earned a Master of Science in Cyber Security from Missouri State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pittsburg State University. Eichorn holds Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Network+ certifications. In addition to serving in the military as a civil affairs specialist, a communications specialist and an information assurance security officer, Eichorn has worked as a systems analyst at Koch Pipeline LLC and has taught at the Wichita Area Technical College.
Dr. Josh Halonen
Assistant Professor of Psychology Josh Halonen earned a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of South Florida (USF) and a B.A. in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His postdoctoral experience includes running the animal division of the Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research at USF and working with a behavioral therapeutic intervention for an animal model of Lou Gehrig’s disease. At the University of Tampa, he instructed a range of courses in psychology while researching deliberate deception and linguistic fluctuations using polygraph measures.
Brian Powers
Brian Powers, who holds an MBA from Baker University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Friends University, is the director of the Master of Health Care Leadership program. He has served as an adjunct professor at Friends University since December 2015 and at Baker University from 2002 to 2006. He was the president and CEO of Seneca Healthcare Group from July 1996 to December 2015. Prior to that, he was a plant superintendent for Willamette Industries Inc.
Dr. Matthew Schloneger
Dr. Matthew Schloneger, assistant professor of voice, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College. He served as voice professor at Hesston College from 2001 to 2017. Dr. Schloneger has performed with several opera theaters, including Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Operafestival di Roma and Wichita Grand Opera. He won the 2017 Van Lawrence Fellowship of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Voice Foundation.
Dr. Ken Stoltzfus
The new dean of the College of Business, Arts, Sciences and Education is Dr. Ken Stoltzfus, who previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Social Work at Samford University. Dr. Stoltzfus received his Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Case Western Reserve University, his Master of Social Work from Temple University and his bachelor’s degree from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Stoltzfus has worked as a counselor and administrator at human service agencies, including a residential substance abuse treatment facility, a faith-based addiction treatment clinic and a community-based mental health program. He received a Fulbright Lecturing/Research Award in 2010. His research interests include substance abuse, spirituality/religion and social work in the former Soviet Union. He is currently an associate editor of “Social Work and Christianity: An International Journal.”
Dr. Kassia Waggoner
Dr. Kassia Waggoner joins Friends as an assistant professor of composition. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree from Hardin Simmons University and her Ph.D. from Texas Christian University. At TCU, she worked as a graduate instructor, women and gender studies core faculty member, and lecturer of English. She is the co-author of “Yours in Filial Regard: Civil War Letters of a Texas Family,” and her research interests include Southern studies, epistolary studies, disability studies and digital humanities.
Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.