BSC welcomes 15 new employees
Published: Aug 29 2015
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Bismarck State College has hired a new roster of faculty and staff in professional positions.
BSC's new theater director is Danny Devlin, assistant professor of theatre. He has taught nearly four years in positions at the University of Kansas and at Baker University in Baldwin, Kan.
Science added Deanna Solhjem, assistant professor of biology. She was an epidemiologist at the North Dakota Department of Health.
The BSC Nursing program has two new instructors. Melanie Krentz, assistant professor of nursing, was a registered nurse at Sanford Health and a clinical instructor at North Dakota State University College of Nursing in Bismarck. Deb Cave, assistant professor of nursing, moved into full time after teaching 13 years at BSC as an adjunct instructor.
BSC's National Energy Center of Excellence has hired two assistant professors for Process Plant Technology. John Thilmony has 32 years of industry experience and worked as a gas processing supervisor at Dakota Gasification Company in Beulah. Hamza Raheel has been in the field eight years and taught recently at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.
Ryan Okerson, assistant professor of HVAC, has taken over the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning program. He has 12 years experience and last worked as an HVAC service technician at Dakota Gasification Company in Beulah.
Dennis Howard joined BSC as assistant professor of welding. He came with five years experience and taught welding at Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates.
Robert Meland assumed the new position of assistant professor in BSC's Military Science program. He has been an executive officer for the North Dakota National Guard with 13 years in the field.
Aaron Furchner was hired as Emergency Services and Paramedic coordinator, a new position. He has worked for BSC as an adjunct instructor and for Mercer County Ambulance Service as a paramedic.
Levi Helmuth, a graduate research assistant at North Dakota State University, is the new assistant professor assigned to the Farm Management Education program.
Andrea Fagerstrom, gallery coordinator and adjunct teacher, was promoted to visual arts instructor.
New professional hires are James Haussler - facility manager or the MDU Resources Community Bowl, Elizabeth Shockley - institutional data analyst, and NECE advisor Kristina Splichal.
Haussler just completed 22 years with the Bismarck Public Schools, most recently as activities director. Shockley has been a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Nebraska. Splichal was a self-reliance case manager and Backpack for Kids coordinator for the Community Action Program in Bismarck.
About Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College, an innovative community college in Bismarck, N.D., offers high quality education, workforce training, and enrichment programs reaching local and global communities.