307-332-2130, ext. 12
Assistant Dean of Student Life -
Kyle Washut
(Mr. Washut is currently doing graduate work in theology
at the International Theological Institute in Austria.)
307-332-2130
Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy
307-332-2130, ext. 13
Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Music
307-332-2130, ext. 11
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and the Natural Sciences
307-332-2130, ext. 11
Faculty Biographies
Mark AdderleyAssociate Professor of Humanities and Trivium
B.A. (English and History), North East Wales Institute of Higher Education; M.A. (English), University of Wales; Ph.D. (Medieval and Renaissance Literature), University of South Florida.
Dr. Adderley, a native of Wales in the United Kingdom, has taught on a wide range of literary figures and periods, including Old English poetry, Arthurian Romance, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Tolkien, and contemporary British fiction, as well as composition, creative writing, rhetoric, and drama. He has directed productions of Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In addition to his scholarly work involving Old and Middle English and Old and Modern French, Dr. Adderley is an avid fiction writer, having recently published an historical novel The Hawk and the Wolf, with its sequel The Hawk and the Huntress.
Michael Bolin
Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy
B. A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College; M.A. (Philosophy), University of Dallas; Ph. D. candidate (Philosophy), University of Dallas
Mr. Bolin has previously taught undergraduate philosophy at the University of Dallas; mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and Latin at Faustina Academy in Irving, Texas; and mathematics and natural science at Immaculate Conception Apostolic School in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. He specializes in the work of Aristotle and Aquinas, particularly as they apply to the philosophy of religion. His other personal interests include Latin, sacred chant and polyphonic music, and computer programming.
Robert K. Carlson
Academic Dean
Professor of Humanities and the Trivium
A.A. (Liberal Arts), Casper College; B.A. (English), University of Wyoming; M.P. (Comparative Literature and English), University of Kansas; Ph.D. (Comparative Literature and English), University of Kansas
Dr. Robert K. Carlson taught philosophy and literature for 29 years at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. In addition to his regular teaching duties, he founded, directed, and taught in Casper College’s Summer Humanities Program in Europe (Italy) for many years. He has lectured at the University of Notre Dame, the University of Kansas, Simpson College, Magdalen College, the University of Wyoming, and Notre Dame Seminary. Among his academic honors are memberships in Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa, nominations to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and invitations to speak at the International Humanists Congress in Montepulciano, Italy, and the First World Meeting of University Professors in Rome (in celebration of the Jubilee Year). He is one of the founders of Wyoming Catholic College and the Wyoming School of Catholic Thought, a summer academic and spiritual retreat sponsored by the Diocese of Cheyenne. His articles have appeared in publications such as Homiletic and Pastoral Review, The Wanderer, and Crisis. He published the book
Truth on Trial: Liberal Education Be Hanged in 1995.
Jennifer C. Celani
Art History Consultant
B.A. (Art History), Maryland University College; M.A. (Art History), Dominican University
Professor Jennifer C. Celani comes from Florence, Italy, where she probed into Italian art, especially that of the Italian Renaissance. Born in New York and reared in both Europe and the United States, she pursued classical studies at the Liceo, acquiring both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Art History as well as a Laurea candidacy at the University of Florence. In 1983, she became an assistant professor for the Syracuse University Abroad Program in Florence and for many years was an adjunct professor in Casper College’s Summer Humanities Program in Europe (Italy); at the same time she joined the Florentine State museums as a free-lance researcher involving the Medici collections; in 1989 she was hired by the Ministry of Public Education as a tenured English professor for the state Licei. In September 2004 the Ministry appointed her Assistant Director of the Education Department at the Uffizi, which manages art history tailored to school programs for all the Florentine State museums. Professor Celani has published much in the field of art history. She taught art history at Wyoming Catholic College in the Fall of 2007 and continues to serve as a consultant for our art history program.
Stanley Grove
Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Music
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College; M.A. (Philosophy), The Catholic University of America, Ph.D. (Philosophy), The Catholic University of America
Dr. Grove served as a teacher and the assistant principal at Holy Rosary Academy in Anchorage, Alaska, for the past seven years, in which capacity he taught biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, mathematics, philosophy, theology, and choral singing. Prior to that, he taught undergraduate philosophy at The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Prior to arriving in Wyoming, Dr. Grove directed a Gregorian schola at the cathedral church in Anchorage; accordingly, he will be involved in the teaching of music at Wyoming Catholic College. He is an active member of several philatelic societies and owns a fine collection of historical American stamps.
Jeremy R. Holmes
Assistant Professor of Theology
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College; S.T.M. (Theology), The International Theological Institute, Gaming, Austria; Ph.D. (Biblical Studies), Marquette University
Dr. Jeremy Holmes spent much of his childhood two miles outside the tiny town of Redfield, Arkansas, under the tutelage of goats, cows, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, and all manner of wildlife. He received his bachelors in liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College in California, his masters in theology from the International Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria, and his doctorate in theology with specialization in biblical studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee. From 2006 to 2008 he was Assistant Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida, teaching courses in Christology, biblical studies, and patristic and medieval exegesis. Dr. Holmes has published a number of articles in scholarly and popular journals.
Mitchell A. KalpakgianProfessor Emeritus of Humanities and the Trivium
B.A. (English), Bowdoin College; M.A. (English), University of Kansas; Ph.D. (English), University of Iowa
Dr. Mitchell A. Kalpakgian is a native of New England, the son of Armenian immigrants. He was Professor of English at Simpson College (Iowa) for 31 years and was appointed a visiting professor at Christendom College (Virginia) for two years, and then served two years as a tutor at Magdalen College (New Hampshire). He subsequently became Academic Dean, Athletic Director, and a teacher of English and Latin at Mt. Royal Academy (Sunapee, New Hampshire), a private Catholic school. During his academic career, Dr. Kalpakgian received many academic honors, among them the National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar Fellowship (Brown University, 1981); the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship (University of Kansas, 1985); and an award from the National Endowment for the Humanities Institute on Children’s Literature. Dr. Kalpakgian has widely published in many journals and his latest book is An Armenian Family Reunion: A Lifetime of Unforgettable and Delightful Stories (Neumann Press, 2004).
Thaddeus J. Kozinski
Assistant Professor of Humanities and Trivium
B.SC. (Comprehensive Science), Villanova University; M.LA. (Liberal Arts), St. John’s College Graduate Institute; Ph.D. (Philosophy), The Catholic University of America
Dr. Thaddeus J. Kozinski has taught courses in the humanities, the Trivium, and philosophy for over ten years at the secondary and postsecondary levels, including medieval and modern philosophy, logic, and ethics at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, medieval philosophy at Christendom College, and philosophy and mathematics at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Dr. Kozinski was also the Assistant Headmaster and Director of Curriculum at The Montfort Academy, a Great Books-oriented Catholic preparatory school in Katonah, New York. Here he taught Socratic conversation classes in several areas of the humanities and created a monthly lecture and discussion series, the disputatio, modeled on the famous medieval disputations. He is particularly dedicated to political philosophy, and has published in both Catholic and secular venues. His latest book,
The Political Problem of Religious Pluralism: John Rawls, Jacques Maritain, Alasdair MacIntyre, will be released by Lexington Press.
Peter A. Kwasniewski
Professor of Theology and Philosophy
Instructor in Music History and Theory
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College; M.A. and Ph.D. (Philosophy), The Catholic University of America
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski was born in Chicago and grew up in New Jersey. After attending Thomas Aquinas College and The Catholic University of America, he taught courses in natural philosophy, philosophical anthropology, metaphysics, moral theology, social ethics and Catholic social doctrine, fundamental theology, Christology, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, eschatology, and biblical theology at the International Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Gaming, Austria, from 1998 to 2006. During this period he also lectured on medieval philosophy for the Austrian Program of Ave Maria University, on human rights for the Phoenix Institute Europe Foundation, and on music history for the Austrian Program of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Dr. Kwasniewski has directed Gregorian scholas and mixed choirs from 1990 to the present and is currently director of the Wyoming Catholic College Choir. His articles on philosophy, theology, and music have appeared in many scholarly and popular journals; he has published two books (one as editor, one as translator and commentator) with The Catholic University of America Press:
Wisdom's Apprentice: Essays in Honor of Fr. Lawrence Dewan, O.P. and
On Love and Charity: Readings from the Sentences Commentary of St. Thomas Aquinas. Dr. Kwasniewski was invited to be a Newman Fellow for 2008-2009 by the Cardinal Newman Society's Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education.
Nancy E. Llewellyn
Associate Professor of Latin
B. A. (Latin), Bryn Mawr College; Licenza (Christian and Classical Letters), Pontifical Salesian University; Ph.D. (Classics), University of California, Los Angeles
Dr. Nancy Llewellyn is a California native who has studied the Latin language and Latin literature of all periods for over twenty years. After earning her bachelor’s degree at Bryn Mawr, she studied with noted Vatican Latinist Fr. Reginald Foster for three years in Rome. She earned her Licenza in Christian and Classical Letters at the Pontifical Salesian University under the direction of Fr. Cletus Pavanetto, President of the Vatican’s Latinitas Foundation. During her graduate studies at UCLA, she was awarded the prestigious Luckman Fellowship for Distinguished Teaching. In 1997 she created SALVI, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to promoting the speaking of Latin, under whose aegis she conducts annual spoken-Latin workshops that attract teachers and students from around the country. She taught at Loyola Marymount University and, most recently, served as Project Coordinator of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Latina initiative at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. Dr. Llewellyn’s interests include language pedagogy, Neo-Latin literature, paleography, and archaeology.
Matthew McGeeInstructor in Mathematics and the Natural Sciences
Outdoor Adventure Program Manager
B.S. (Wildlife Biology), University of Montana; M.S. (Zoology and Physiology), University of Wyoming; M.Ed. (Curriculum and Instruction), Montana State University
Matthew McGee, a native of Virginia, has lived in the Western U.S. for the past eleven years. He has conducted field biology research in Montana, Wyoming, California, and Alaska, including studies of coyotes, wolves, cougars, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and bats. Mr. McGee has worked as a naturalist for many organizations, including the National Park Service at the Grand Teton National Park, the Teton Science School, the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, the National Audubon Society in California, and the Murie Science and Learning Center in Alaska. Most recently Mr. McGee has been involved in designing and teaching the math and science curriculum for a new charter high school on the Wind River Indian Reservation. McGee is an avid outdoor adventurer, having completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (2,100 miles) and graduated from a wilderness course with NOLS. He enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, and telemark skiing in the mountains of Wyoming. McGee manages WCC’s outdoor adventure program, which involves requisitioning equipment, setting up trip logistics, and offering guidance to students.
John R. Mortensen
Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College; S.T.M. and S.T.L., International Theological Institute, Austria; Ph.L. and Ph.D., Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, Italy; S.T.D. cand., Universität Freiburg, Switzerland
Dr. John Mortensen grew up in Boise, Idaho, before attending Thomas Aquinas College in California. He spent the next ten years in Europe where he studied theology and philosophy in Austria, Oxford, and Rome. From 2002 to 2007 he was Assistant Professor at the International Theological Institute, an institute of papal right in Gaming, Austria, teaching courses in logic, natural philosophy, metaphysics, fundamental theology, and Trinitarian theology. During these years he also held the positions of Director of Finance and subsequently Vice President of Administration. He completed a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, and is currently working on his doctoral dissertation in theology. He specializes in the work of Aristotle and Aquinas, but his interests also include spiritual theology, music theory, Catholic literature, and computer programming.
Herbert B. Mosher
Assistant Professor of Humanities
Coordinator, Mentor Student Program
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Bates College; M.A. (English), University of Kansas; M.Ph. (English Literature), University of Kansas
Herb Mosher was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, and received a liberal arts education at Bates College in Maine. He subsequently earned a Master of Arts in English and a Master of Philosophy in English Literature at the University of Kansas. The recipient of numerous awards for excellence as a student and a professor, Mosher taught English composition, literature, and interdisciplinary studies for many years prior to his career as director of development at a variety of institutions. For the past three decades, Mosher has helped raise funds for schools, hospitals, and economic development programs—among them, Tuskegee Institute, the Menninger Foundation, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services, and the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce. Mosher has contributed countless hours to improving health services, substance-abuse programs, and educational opportunities for Native Americans in New Mexico.
Scott Olsson
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and the Natural Sciences
B.S. (Physics), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; M.S. (Mathematics), University of Maryland; Ph.D. (Applied Mathematics) University of Maryland
Prior to arriving at Wyoming Catholic College, Dr. Olsson served as a Graduate Fellow at the Human Language Technology Center of Excellence at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He has developed MultaVerba, an open source project for the morphological analysis of the Latin language, and founded Free Learn Conversational Latin Audio Project in an effort to produce high quality audio for learning conversational Latin. This expertise in Latin – which he speaks at home with his small children – will be put to good use by our unique Latin program. He directed the Schola Gregoriana of St. Mary of the Mills Parish in Laurel, Maryland, and is currently translating St. Jerome’s Commentary on Jonah.
Staff Biographies
Aileen S. CocciaLibrarian and Book Manager
B.A. (Literature), Rutgers University; M.A. (Education), Kean University
In addition to her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Aileen studied at New York University, Seton Hall University, and the International Theological Institute, taking courses ranging from business to Church history. Prior to her family's move to Wyoming, she spent most of her life in New Jersey, where she taught elementary and high school students and was active in her parish's religious education and marriage preparation programs. She has also worked as an Associate of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (Bronx, NY) and a Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry. In addition to her duties at the College, Aileen home schools her five children and tutors WCC students in writing. Her interests include books, music, learning how to play the harp, and decorating her home at no cost.
Mario CocciaDirector of Admissions
B.A., English, Kean University of New Jersey; M.A., Theology, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, Seton Hall University; S.T.M. and S.T.L., International Theological Institute, Austria; S.T.D. cand., Athenaeum Pontificium Regina Apostolorum, Italy
Mr. Coccia worked for many years in pharmaceutical and healthcare marketing and communications in New York and New Jersey. During this time he completed a Masters degree in theology with concentration in biblical studies. In 2003, he moved with his family to Austria to pursue advanced degrees in theology at the International Theological Institute. In his last year of studies he was appointed Assistant Dean, after which he was entrusted with the recruitment, admissions, advisement, and registration of students. Coccia joined the WCC staff in November 2007.
Rev. Robert W. CookPresident
Classical B.A., Regis College; LL.B., Stanford University Law School; M.Div., Sacred Heart School of Theology
Fr. Cook, born in Rifle, Colorado, attended the Catholic liberal arts college of Regis, graduating magna cum laude with a Classical B.A. in 1962. He received his LL.B. (a doctorate equivalent) from Stanford University Law School and practiced law from 1965 to 1970. He then founded Alternatives Inc. in Boulder, Colorado, which offered an alternative to abortion by providing life-supportive solutions to people with “unwanted” pregnancies. Fr. Cook was a monk at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, Abiquiu, New Mexico, for over three years. Thereafter he practiced law in Denver for 19 years. He attended Sacred Heart School of Theology, where he received his M.Div. degree. He was ordained to the Priesthood of Our Lord for the Diocese of Cheyenne on May 11, 2000. Fr. Cook served as an associate pastor at St. Anthony’s and pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, both in Casper, WY, and as the Director of Bishop Ricken’s Wyoming School of Catholic Thought. He has also taught religion in parochial school and biblical studies at Casper College. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2005, Fr. Cook was named the first President of Wyoming Catholic College.
Rev. Andrew Duncan
Head Chaplain, NOLS Program
B.S. (Philosophy), University of Wyoming; Pre-Theology Certificate, Conception Seminary College; M.Div. (Theology), St. Thomas Theological Seminary
Fr. Duncan, a Wyoming native, was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cheyenne in 1993, and now serves as pastor at St. Margaret’s in Riverton. A lover of the outdoors, Fr. Duncan completed his first NOLS course, the Winter Outdoor Educator course, in January of 2006, achieving certification as a leader of novice expeditions. He has accompanied freshmen from the Classes of 2011 and 2012 on their three-week backpacking wilderness expeditions. Fr. Duncan will be a regular participant in these expeditions.
April M. Pendleton
Business Manager and Financial Aid Officer
A.A.A. in Data Processing; DIP. in Accounting Bookkeeping, Central Wyoming College
Mrs. Pendleton is a native of Lander. She graduated as valedictorian from Central Wyoming College in 1995. Since then she has worked for several entities gaining experience in business administration and accounting. Her conversion to the Catholic faith in 1982 has led her to active participation in parish life and a dedication to passing on the faith. She has taught the first communion class at Holy Rosary Parish since 1987. She enjoys sewing, quilting, gardening, and camping.
Mark Randall, CFREVice President of Development
B.B.A, St. Joseph's College; Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
A product of Catholic elementary, secondary, and higher education, Mark Randall earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Saint Joseph's College (IN). As Vice President of Development, he oversees all fund development, endowment issues, and marketing and public relations efforts for the College. Randall most recently served as Director of Institutional Advancement for St. John's Catholic Newman Center, the nation's largest, at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). While there, he expanded the donor base by nearly 200% and led a capital campaign to fund part of a $30 million expansion and renovation. He also previously started a development program at a new Catholic high school in Illinois. Earlier in his career, Mark designed and implemented a business operations model for a financial software company that successfully landed on Wall Street. He also was the owner of his own gourmet food business for four years, after traveling to Belgium to receive training as a chocolatier. He holds the "Certified Fund Raising Executive" credential and has lectured and consulted nationally on Catholic fundraising. A passionate convert to the Catholic Faith, he also has taught Pre-Cana workshops and coordinated his parish RCIA program.
Joseph G. SusankaAssistant to the Vice President of Development
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College
Joseph Susanka, a native of southern California, graduated from Thomas Aquinas College in 1999. After graduation, he worked for eleven years in the Development Office there, where responsibilities included foundation and donor research, grant writing and reporting, gift solicitation, and database management. His interests include classical music, writing, photography, and cinematography.
Sarah Sweeney
Executive Vice President
B.S., Accounting, Saint Mary’s College
Sarah Sweeney grew up in Torrington, Wyoming. She attended college in South Bend, Indiana, and graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Saint Mary’s College. Sarah began her accounting career at Arthur Andersen LLP in Denver, Colorado, where she spent five years in the audit arena. She and her husband Travis moved to Lander, Wyoming in August 2000 and she joined McKee, Marburger & Fagnant, P.C. Sarah worked as an audit and tax manager for that firm for eight years. She specialized in tax preparation and consulting, general business consulting and auditing of for-profit, governmental and not-for-profit entities. Sarah is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Wyoming Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is currently the treasurer of both the Lander Children’s Museum board of directors and the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Sarah enjoys playing golf, camping and spending time with her two children.
Jonathan TonkowichDean of Student Life
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College
After graduating from Thomas Aquinas College in 2006, Jon moved to Washington, DC to found Wash For Life, a grass roots pro-life organization that coordinates a series of carwashes throughout the country in an effort to increase awareness and support for the pro-life cause among young Americans, and which has raised nearly $180,000 for pro-life organizations over the past three years. During his time in DC, he worked as a congressional staffer for Congressman Dave Weldon (FL). Prior to coming to Wyoming Catholic College, he managed the West Coast operations of P.S. Furniture. He is an avid reader, musician, and sports fan, with a particular devotion towards his beloved Red Sox.
Rev. James Walling, CPMChaplain
B.A (Thomistic Thought), St. Philip Neri Seminary; M.Div., Holy Apostles Seminary
Born and raised in Jackson, Michigan, Fr. Walling began discerning his vocation to the priesthood and religious life in high school, after which he spent two years with the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in Boston. Deciding to leave the seminary and enlist in the U.S. Navy in 1988, Father Walling served as Postal Clerk Third Class on board the USS Comte De Grasse DD 974. On August 15th, 1995, he entered the religious life with the Fathers of Mercy, and was ordained a priest on May 31st, 2001. He attended St. Philip Neri Seminary in Toronto where he received a B.A in Thomistic Thought and Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, where he received an M.Div. Fr. Walling served as associate pastor in two parishes for a combined five years and as a Parish Missions Preacher for three years before coming to Wyoming Catholic.
Kyle WashutAssistant Dean of Student Life
(Mr. Washut is currently doing graduate work in theology at the International Theological Institute in Trumau, Austria. He continues to be involved in WCC's summer programs.)
A.A. (Political Science) and A.A. (Spanish), Casper College; B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College
A native of Casper, Wyoming, Kyle Washut was homeschooled and attended Casper College where he received two Associate Degrees, one in political science, and one in Spanish. He attended Thomas Aquinas College and received his B.A. in Liberal Arts in May 2007. He brings to WCC his extensive experience as a prefect at TAC. His interests include baseball, rock climbing, camping, hunting, and studying theology.
Jennifer Westman
Executive Secretary and Registrar
AA Degree (Humanities), Central Wyoming College; Junior Year Abroad, University of Lancaster, England.
Jennifer Westman was born in Wisconsin and raised in Hudson, Wyoming, near Lander. She served for four years in the Army and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, and the Pentagon in Washington, DC., where she lived for 11 years. A self-described information junkie, she has a great deal of experience working with databases and computers. A convert to the Catholic faith, Mrs. Westman enjoys reading, making rosaries, knitting, and riding her motorcycle.