Filling a Special Ed Need in WELS Schools We’re pleased to introduce Dr. Alanna Lienig ’05. She’s teaching two courses in the special education emphasis of our MS-Ed program: Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities and The IEP Process and Professional Practice, a course she developed herself. Dr. Lienig is filling an important need—for MLC and […]
Building Bridges of Understanding Written by Laurie Gauger-Hested Building bridges seems to be a theme in the life and ministry of Dr. Ryan MacPherson, a new member of MLC’s graduate faculty. Dr. MacPherson is teaching two courses in our new Master of Arts in Theological Studies program: Creation Apologetics and Bioethics. Both courses have an […]
We’re pleased to introduce MLC’s new graduate faculty member, Dr. Rachel (Vogt DMLC ’95) Ehlers, who will be teaching Foundations of Special Education. Dr. Ehlers brings to MLC graduate students her extensive education and teaching experience as well as a deep understanding of special education from two perspectives—as a teacher and as a parent.
It was volunteering at homeless and domestic abuse shelters that really fueled Julie Sallquist’s passion for early childhood education. Her graduate work and early career at Arizona State University had been focused on promoting children’s positive development through research. But applying that research to education settings is what really motivates her. As a volunteer with […]
It’s all about the books. As a grade 1-8 teacher for 13 years and a college education professor for eight years, Professor Jon Roux DMLC ’95 has loved teaching and talking about books. But books are just the start. Really, he loves language arts in general—that broad content area containing everything from reading comprehension to […]
At the helm of MLC’s burgeoning Master of Science in Education program is Dr. John Meyer.
As director of graduate studies, John’s goals are about boosting communication and building community. “I want to get the word out about the benefits this program can bring to ministry,” he says, “and I want to increase the connectedness and collaboration of the online community.”
John has a heart for the teaching ministry. “I have a great appreciation for teachers’ dedication, sacrifice, and zeal for the sake of their students, their schools, and the gospel of Jesus. The Lord has prepared me to relate to our teachers by putting me in a wide variety of ministry joys and challenges. I have walked in their shoes, and my goal is to ensure that the program works for them.”
He also understands and appreciates the value of continuing education, having been enrolled in programs from the day he was first assigned in 1987.
His excitement for MLC’s M.S. Ed. is perhaps best encapsulated with this thought: “I wish this program had been in place when I was working on my master’s.”
Upon assignment to St. John-Wood Lake MN, John Meyer immediately embarked on a 21-credit DMLC certification program for principals, School Administration and Supervision. He completed his M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at UW-Madison in 2002. He was enrolled in MLC’s post-baccalaureate licensure program when he was called as director of graduate studies. At that time, he entered a Ph.D. program in Educational Administration at UM-Twin Cities, for which he is in the dissertation phase right now.
Dr. Meyer is excited about the way MLC’s program is an ideal fit for WELS teachers, in both course content and delivery. “The program is specifically designed to meet the needs of WELS teachers, no matter how or where they serve,” he says. “We have women and men in the program who are high school teachers, preschool teachers and directors, principals, elementary teachers, stay-at-home moms, and even a pastor teaching at a high school. They all bring their insights and experiences to the classroom and help one another grow.
“And they work under the guidance and direction of seven respected MLC graduate faculty members with experience in ministry and doctorates in their fields as well as 12 adjunct professors who bring their experiences and expertise from beyond the MLC walls.
“What’s so exciting,” he continues, “is getting to see how these educational leaders are impacting the work and future of Lutheran schools. At a time when it is tempting to look at the Lutheran school landscape and feel helpless at the forces that buffet it, this program offers something real that teachers can do to make a positive difference in themselves, their students, their ministries, and, ultimately, the future of the church.
“Teachers tell me it energizes their ministry and gives them ideas to put into practice no matter how or where they serve. I wish this program had been in place when I was working on my master’s program.”
A New Ulm native and DMLC grad, John served as teacher and principal in four Lutheran elementary schools:
• St. John-Wood Lake MN
• Zion-Hartland WI
• Pilgrim-Minneapolis MN
• Salem-Stillwater MN
The variety of settings—small and large; rural, urban, and suburban—gives John a healthy understanding of the different areas of ministry in which (D)MLC grads work.
John and his wife, Heidi Keibel Meyer, have five children, age 12 to 27.
Martin Luther College welcomes Adjunct Instructor Richard Bakken, PhD, who comes to our graduate faculty with a rich and eclectic background encompassing music, technology, education, travel, and leadership. Dr. Bakken’s studies began in Wisconsin, took him around the world to Qatar, settled him in San Diego, and gave him a place on the adjunct faculty in New Ulm, Minnesota.Rich earned his BA in music education from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2000 and holds Wisconsin licenses for teacher, administrator, and principal. After graduation he worked as director of media services at WLC until 2006, earning his MA-Ed from the University of Phoenix while working.
Jobs at KVL Audio Visual Services in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and 620 WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee followed. At TMJ, he was both a producer and on-air news anchor. Since 2007 he’s worked at San Diego State University in the instructional technology services department, supporting classroom technologies across campus.
In 2013, he received his PhD in leadership studies from the University of San Diego. His dissertation research took him to Qatar, where he worked with students and administrators at Education City in Doha.
Rich comes by his interest in education and leadership naturally: both his parents DMLC graduates and teachers. His dad is currently principal at St. Paul-Tomah, Wisconsin. Music runs in the Bakken family as well; all of them sing and play instruments. Rich still sings, plays for church, and enjoys directing choir when he can.
We feel blessed that Dr. Bakken has joined our graduate faculty as adjunct instructor, teaching Multimedia Technologies this spring. “I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with students who are interested in technology and using new tools for instruction,” he says. “We have so many more opportunities to make use of these tools than at any other time in history!”
A Closer Look: Instructor Richard Bakken, PhD
Martin Luther College is pleased to welcome Professor Paul Boehlke, Ph.D., DMLC ’61 to our graduate faculty. Dr. Boehlke’s life could serve as a blueprint for faithful teachers who understand the value of professional growth.
Boehlke’s assignment in 1961 was to a one-teacher school in Goodhue MN. Almost immediately he enrolled at Winona State, pursuing a master’s degree in education with a heavy science emphasis. “From then on,” he says, “I was always taking classes and applying what I learned in my classrooms.”
While teaching departmentalized science at St. John – Jefferson WI, he finished his master’s degree at Winona. He then taught chemistry and physics at Northwestern Prep for four years and received a National Science Foundation grant, which allowed him to complete a second master’s degree, in chemistry, at Union College in New York.
He was then called to DMLC, where he served for 24 years, finishing his doctorate at the University of Iowa soon after he arrived.
“One is never finished with learning,” he says. “To teach well, you have to study.” While at DMLC, Boehlke was nominated by Dr. Arthur Schulz for Project Kaleidoscope’s Faculty for the 21st Century. He received an award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science for an educational activity he submitted to the AAAS Black Church Project. He was also appointed New Ulm Civil Defense Director and, along with Professor Martin Sponholz, taught classes on tornado spotting, for which the men received recognition from the governor of Minnesota.
Later, Boehlke was called to WLC, where he taught anatomy and physiology for 15 years and helped found the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. At WLC, he held the Gary Greenfield Endowed Chair of Christian Leadership, receiving a grant to study the relationship of science and faith. And at his retirement, he was honored with WLC’s Pro Gloria Dei Award.
Dr. Boehlke is quick to note the people who inspired and motivated him on his educational journey. It was his father who encouraged Paul to become a teacher after seeing how well he organized the neighborhood softball games. It was fellow Minnesota teachers Jim Hopman and LeRoy Leverson who urged him to get his master’s degree when he began teaching in Goodhue, and it was Dr. Edward Meyer who suggested they travel together from New Ulm to Iowa to pursue their doctorates.
Encouragement is something he deeply appreciates – not surprising from a man some former DMLC cross country runners still call “Coach.”
We are pleased to have such a distinguished scholar on our graduate faculty. Dr. Boehlke will be teaching EDU5103 Improving Instruction in Mathematics and Science. And his own studies will continue as well. He is researching and writing a book on science and its implications for faith. “Recently,” he says, “I have been studying the effect of the Reformation on science education at the University of Wittenberg. I want to stay intellectually active as long as God allows.”
Here in New Ulm, he and his wife, Jeanette, enjoy hiking in the woods, finding wildflowers and observing the wildlife. The professor reads C. S. Lewis, Martin Luther, and former DMLC professor Martin Galstad. He enjoys listening to Bach, Vivaldi, Pachelbel, and jazz. And he again has his HO model train set up – something his four sons and eight grandchildren have enjoyed through the years.
Dr. Boehlke is pleased to be teaching graduate students. “I certainly want to support MLC’s graduate program,” he says. “I enjoy students and seeing them learn something new.”
What our grad students will certainly learn is Dr. Boehlke’s blueprint for professional growth and faithfulness: learning and teaching and learning some more.
(Article written by Laurie Gauger)
If there’s anyone who understands the ins and outs of an online degree program, it’s MLC Professor Dr. James Grunwald. One of his major tasks is to teach online courses about how to teach online courses.
In MLC’s master’s program, Jim teaches Enhancing the Curriculum with Technology, Teaching Online, and Designing and Constructing Online Courses. He also lends assistance to the rest of the MLC faculty as they teach online, helping them get their courses up and running and then providing technical support along the way.
“I really enjoy teaching online and helping others to teach and learn online,” he says. “For many people, until they have taken an online course they have a hard time imagining how rich the discussion can be and how well you can get to know fellow students that you might not ever meet face to face. When teaching and learning online, you have more time to formulate your thoughts and provide constructive replies to what others have posted. You also have the freedom to work on your course when it fits into your schedule.
Educational technology has been his forte since day one. After teaching at St. John-Neillsville WI, Northwestern Prep-Watertown WI, and St. John-Libertyville IL, he began teaching computer science at Lakeside LHS in 1980—a time when, for most of us, spam was only meat in a can and viruses afflicted only human beings.
Grunwald went on to teach technology courses at Madison Area Technical College and mathematics and computer science at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. In 1998 he was called to Martin Luther College to teach computer courses and serve as the Director of Academic Computing. Since 2002, he’s been granted a half-time sabbatical to serve as the WELS Director of Distance Learning; in that capacity he coordinates distance learning initiatives and trains other instructors to teach online courses.
He has a B.S in Elementary Education from DMLC (1978), a master’s degree in Mathematics Education from UW-Oshkosh (1983), a master’s degree in Computers in Education from Clarke College (1990), and a Ph.D. in Computing Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University (1999). He belongs to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and serves on the WELS Technology Advisory Committee and the MLC Technology Advisory Committee. He is the WELS representative on the IT and Distance Learning Commission of the National Council for Private School Accreditation and the co-Director of the WELS Association of Lutheran High Schools Online (ALHSO) pilot project.
Jim is married to Karen, who teaches grades 4-5 at St. Paul-New Ulm, and they have four children. Melanie has a degree in interior design and marketing; she works in a large furniture store in Indianapolis, where she lives with her husband and two children. Nathan, with a degree in accounting, works for IBM in Rochester MN as a financial analyst. Aaron is graduating this May from North Dakota State University in Fargo with a master’s degree in architecture. And Tim is currently finishing his junior year at Minnesota State University-Mankato, where he studies business management and technology.
Jim says his interests outside of educational technology include home remodeling, gardening, hiking, canoeing/fishing in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, traveling, and playing disc golf.
Professor Daryl Hanneman, Special Education
Meet Professor Daryl Hanneman DMLC ’75, a member of our graduate faculty and now a new undergraduate professor in the special education division.
Professor Hanneman’s interest in special education began early in his ministry. He and his wife, Shirley DMLC ’75, served as the faculty of Trinity-Johnson MN after graduating from college. Hanneman remembers having students with particular learning needs he didn’t know how to address. He asked professionals in the public school system for support. Soon he wanted that knowledge for himself. “I wanted to learn how to assess and design interventions for my students, so I began taking classes in education and psychology,” he said.
He eventually earned his master’s degree in educational psychology and his certification in school psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “I chose school psychology as a focus,” he says, “because it allowed me to work with both regular education and special-needs children.”
What followed was 25 years as a K-12 school psychologist in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area. He served both rural and city schools, and he also worked for the Department of Corrections in the Batterers’ Education Program for 14 years.
This year Hanneman will teach PSY3002 Abnormal Psychology in the undergrad program and EDU5207 Human Exceptionalities in the Classroom in the graduate program. His primary project will be working with Dr. Alan Spurgin to design the details of the undergrad special education coursework.
This new calling is a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one. “My wife and I had planned to move south where we could enjoy leisure time on the Gulf Coast. Instead, God wanted me to move north and serve him and the church for a few more years,” he said. “I am most looking forward to working with other staff who have the same convictions as I do regarding my Lord. Also, I am eager to help our WELS teachers provide for the needs of students with special needs.”
| Prof. Daryl Hanneman |
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Early years: Elementary school at Zion-Sanborn MN and high school at Martin Luther Academy, the prep school formerly housed on D/MLC’s campus. |
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Family: He met his wife, Shirley DMLC ’75, at college. Their daughter Holly lives in San Francisco, and their daughter Heidi lives in Atlanta with her husband and three daughters. |
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Hobbies: Tinkering with technology; gardening; travel, particularly cruising; reading professional literature on learning, special education, and technology; baroque music, particularly Handel; and photography. This year one of his photos won a prize in the Grant Wood AEA Photography Contest. |
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Special interest: “One of my favorite cities is Chicago. I’ve become somewhat of an expert on riding the El, and I enjoy taking friends on Windy City excursions.” |
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Philosophy: “All students can learn, and we can figure out how to help them if we have the right tools and understanding of their needs.” |
