Faculty

The college has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2006-2007 academic year, eight of them alumni:

David Brubaker ’90 is part-time assistant professor of biology. He also serves as Houghton’s director of student health services and the college physician. Previously, he was the primary doctor at the Houghton office of the Southern Tier Community Health Center Network group. Brubaker received his M.D. from SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse. He completed his family practice residency at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse and completed a Department of Family Medicine Faculty Development Fellowship in sports medicine from SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine.

Andrea Boon ’00 is part-time instructor of therapeutic recreation. She has served as an instructor at Roberts Wesleyan College since 2002 and as an adjunct professor at Houghton. She will also be the assistant coach for the Houghton’s women’s soccer team and work with Houghton’s equestrian program. Boon will receive her master’s from SUNY Brockport this fall.

Kristin Camenga joins Houghton College as assistant professor of mathematics. Camenga received her bachelor’s from St. Olaf College and her master’s and doctorate from Cornell University. She received a Fulbright Scholarship to study graph theory and math education in Budapest, Hungary. Returning to the United States, she taught high school math for two years in Delano, MN. Recently she worked as a teaching assistant and instructor at Cornell University.

Karen Daugherty ’69 is part-time assistant professor of sociology. Along with her husband, and their four children, she served as a missionary in Central African Republic from 1983 to 1996. Her interests include human and organizational response to disasters and catastrophes, health care systems, illness prevention and wellness and art. In addition to her degree from Houghton, Daugherty received a bachelor’s from from Columbia University and two masters’ and a doctorate from Ohio State University.

Kelvin Friebel is associate professor of Old Testament. He holds ordination in The Wesleyan Church (Wisconsin District) and most recently served as preaching pastor at the Filipino Alliance Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He has written several Bible commentary articles and two books. Friebel received his bachelor’s from Seattle Pacific University and his master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

(Donell) Brandon Hoffman is assistant professor of physics. Recently he served as a graduate research assistant and teacher’s assistant at the University of California (Davis). He also worked as the church music director for the First Church of the Nazarene in Sacramento, CA. Hoffman received his bachelor’s from Northwest Nazarene University and is completing his doctorate at the University of California (Davis).

David Huth ’95 is assistant professor of visual communication and media arts. He has professional achievements in digital video, interactive design, Web communication, graphics journalism and documentary. His special interests lie in independent cinema, Internet distributed media, communication technology, media studies, theoretical critique of media culture, comics, sequential art and combining new and traditional art forms. Huth received his master’s of fine arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Ndunge Kiiti ’88 is associate professor of intercultural studies. Most recently she served as the senior director for partnerships at MAP International. Kiiti also serves as an adjunct professor at the Emory University Department of Global Health in the Rollins School of Public Health and frequently lectures on international health issues, policy and gender issues, HIV/AIDS in Africa, and the impact of health and HIV/AIDS on development. Kiiti received a master’s from Wheaton College (through Daystar University in Nairobi), and a doctorate from Cornell University.

Donna Lorenzo ’75 is interim assistant professor of violin and viola. She has served as an adjunct professor at Houghton since 1998. She performs regularly at the Roycroft and Chamber Music on Elmwood festivals and has completed performances of all six of Vivaldi's concertos for viola d'amore with the Ars Nova Chamber musicians of Buffalo, N.Y. Lorenzo’s teaching experience includes coaching chamber music, orchestral repertoire, master classes and private studio teaching. She received her master’s from the Juilliard School of Music and is completing her doctorate at the Eastman School of Music.

Daniel Minchen is associate professor of communication and business. Prior to coming to Houghton, Minchen served as director of public relations and developing market operations with the Xerox Corporation in Rochester, NY, and Stamford, CT. Minchen received his bachelor’s from SUNY Geneseo and his master’s from the Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University.

Jeff Spear ’79 returns to the classroom as professor of accounting. Spear previously served as the college’s vice president for finance and treasurer. Prior to coming to Houghton, Spear was a staff auditor and tax specialist for Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co. (now KPMG), controller of Thomas James Associates Inc., vice president of finance for Sayett Group Inc. and chief executive officer of Sayett Acquisition Corp. Spear received his master’s from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Jessica Stack ’06 will serve as interim instructor of Spanish. As a student at Houghton, Stack was named to “Who’s Who Among America’s College Students” and was an NAIA “All-America Scholar Athlete.” Stack will also serve as an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team.

Eric Thomas, is interim assistant professor of voice and director of the opera and musical theater. He has performed in operas, recitals and concerts throughout the United States and Europe. Most recently he was part of the music staff of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Thomas is a founding member of Opera Ovations of New York, with which he continues to tour. He received his bachelor’s from West Liberty State College, his master’s from Florida Atlantic University and currently is working on his doctorate at the University of Miami.

K�lli T�niste is assistant professor of New Testament. Before coming to Houghton, T�niste was a teaching intern at Asbury Theological Seminary. She has also taught at the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary in Estonia and at the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Bible College. Fluent in English, Estonian and Russian, with an understanding of Finnish, Swedish, French, German, Latin, Greek and Hebrew, T�niste has also served as a translator and interpreter.

Milieu welcomes readers' comments.—Ed.