Malone University welcomes nine new full-time faculty members for 2018-2019
Malone University is pleased to welcome nine new full-time faculty members for academic year 2018-2019. New professors are Solomon Aborbie, D.B.A., assistant professor of management studies; Laura Frazier, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry; Otis French, Ph.D., director of Bands and associate professor of Music; Sheri Hartman, Ph.D., APRN-CPNP, director of the M.S.N. graduate program and associate professor of Nursing; Holly Kibler, instructor of nursing; Sandra Knauf, assistant professor of nursing; Christopher Payne, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biology; Daniel Swartz, associate professor of visual arts; and Jason Wyse, associate director of Bands, director of the Music Educator Preparation Program, and instructor of Music.
Assistant Professor of Management Studies Solomon Aborbie received his B.Com from the University of Cape Coast, an M.A.F.M. from Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University, and D.B.A. from Walden University. Previously, he was a deputy bank manager at the Central Bank of Ghana, a tax and external auditor with the State of Ohio; and an adjunct faculty member at Strayer University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and Indiana Wesleyan University.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Laura Frazier earned a B.A. from Malone University and the Ph.D. from The University of Akron. Her dissertation for her Ph.D. was on electrospun nanofibers, which led to a position with a start-up that aimed to scale up the process of electrospinning polymer nanofibers. She worked as the director for this company (SNS Nano Fiber Technology) for more than 11 years, participating in all aspects of the business.
Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music Otis French earned the B.A. from Saint Leo College, the M.M. from Indiana University, and the D.M.A. from University of Maryland. He retired from the United States Army at the rank of major, after serving more than 24 years on active duty worldwide. His academic interests are the bands and music of the Civil War, and conducting pedagogy. He has served on the faculty of Marquette University, Mount Union, and East Stroudsburg University.
Director of the MSN Program and Associate Professor of Nursing Sheri Hartman earned the B.S.N. and M.S.N. from the University of Cincinnati, and the Ph.D. from The University of Akron. Her specialty is children with developmental disabilities. She taught in The University of Akron’s nursing program for 12 years.
Instructor of Nursing Holly Kibler earned her B.S.N. from Malone University and the M.S.N. from Liberty University. She has served as an R.N. at Summa Health for 20 years, primarily in the medical/surgical area, but also as a postpartum mother/baby nurse.
Assistant Professor of Nursing Sandra Knauf earned her B.S.N. from University of Toledo and the M.S.N. from Medical College of Ohio. She began working at Malone six years ago as adjunct clinical faculty in the Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Assistant Professor of Biology Christopher Payne earned a B.S. from Saint Vincent College and a Ph.D. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research interests include studying bats, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, plants, habitats, and bioacoustics. Follow him online at theforestecologist.com.
Associate Professor of Visual Arts Daniel Swartz earned a B.S. from Indiana Wesleyan University, an M.A. from Ball State University, and the M.F.A. from the University of Hartford. He comes to Malone from Sterling College in Kansas, where he rebuilt and chaired the Department of Art and Design by revamping curriculum, introducing new concentrations, and orchestrating facility renovations. An illustrator, previous clients include AAA Magazine, C.S. Lewis Festival, Fundex Games, Discovery Park of America, LifeWay, Virginia State Library, and World Gospel Mission. His work has been displayed in the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles exhibits, TikiToons Show at VanEaton Galleries, and more. In 2016, he received the McCreery Teaching Award and the Kansas Independent College Association's Distinguished Faculty award.
Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Music Educator Preparation Program, and Instructor of Music Jason Wyse earned his B.M.Ed., from Grove City College and the M.M. from The Ohio State University. A 15-year veteran of public high school music education, he was most recently tenured as director of bands at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, where he directed the 300-member “Marching Bees,” Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and taught AP Music Theory. In 2018, Wyse also served as conductor of the Baldwin-Wallace University Youth Honors Wind Ensemble, a program for advanced high school instrumentalists. Previously, he worked as associate director of bands at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School and director of bands at Punxsutawney Area High School.
A member of the Ohio Music Education Association, Wyse presented a session at the 2017 OMEA Professional Conference, which focused on the use of creative imagery to engage students in rehearsal. Recognized as an Ohio Department of Education “Master Teacher” since 2014, he also is an honorary member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction, and has been recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers. An active composer and arranger, he has written works and received commissions for wind band, symphonic orchestra, and jazz ensemble, with several brass ensemble pieces published by Brass Arts Unlimited.