Faculty

Reggies Wenyika joined Ottawa University, Kansas in July 2018, and currently serves as Campus President and Professor of Religion and Education, and Lead Professor for Christian Ministries. Previously he had served at Southwestern Christian University as President from 2014-2018. Prior to his tenure as president, he held the positions of Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs with Southwestern Christian University (SCU) for six years. Before joining SCU, Reggies worked at a university, a church, a Public Health System, a corporate company, and the University of Zimbabwe’s Clinical Veterinary Sciences department.

Reggies has held several community and board leadership positions that include Vice-Chair of the Oklahoma Independent Colleges and Universities (OICU), Board Chair of Directors of the African Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Technology (AiBST), board member of the America Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAIPCU), Oral Roberts University Alumni Association, and Faith Community Churches International.  He also serves on the City of Ottawa Planning Commission and has also served as a commissioner for the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)’s Chief Academic Officers Commission, a trainer for the Diversity Commission and was a charter member of the American Council on Education (ACE) Chief Academic Officers. Reggies is also an Accreditation Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and has been involved in other higher education initiatives in Colombia, Bolivia, Nigeria, Haiti, and Zimbabwe. Reggies serves on the Planning Commission of the City of Ottawa, the Corporate Advisory Board of the United Way of Franklin County and is a member of The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS).

He has travelled and given speeches on various subjects at various colleges, conferences, seminars and various churches and gatherings. His multi-disciplinary scholarly interests range from education, behavioral sciences, theology, and health sciences. He co-edited, Engaging Our World: Christian Worldview from the Ivory Tower to Global Impact; co-authored, Strictly Business: Soft Skills to Help You Succeed in The Hard World of Business (2^nd Ed.). Reggies has presented papers at various scholarly societies and co-published in such journals as The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, Child Abuse Review, and The Journal of Public Health. He was also a contributor to the 2017 textbook, Child Maltreatment in Residential Care: History, Research, and Current Practice. An abstract expressionism artist, Reggies held his first solo exhibition in 2019. He also enjoys poetry, and six of his poems were included in the 2021 anthology, Blue Guitar: The Sound and Look of Creativity.

A graduate of the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health and Sciences, Reggies also holds a Bachelor of Religious Arts in Biblical Studies; a Master of Ministry in Leadership; a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration; and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Oral Roberts University where he was honored with the Most Outstanding Achievement Award for Doctoral Graduate achievements. In 2017, he received an honorary award from the Evangelical University of Bolivia, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and in 2020 completed the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme with the University of Oxford.

Married to Bongi Wenyika for 25 years, Reggies lives in Ottawa, Kansas. Bongi holds a PhD degree from the University of Oklahoma, and has worked as a journalist, Public Relations Manager, media development writer, HR and Global Studies professor, and currently consults for the Kansas Volunteer Commission developing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion curriculum.

Dr. Amy Hogan earned a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Vocal Music and a MLA from Baker University. She earned her PhD with a specialization in Advanced Classroom Instruction from Capella University. Her research focused on the relationship between preservice teachers and mentor teachers. Dr. Hogan served on the KS Regulations Board for teacher education, workgroups for the KEEP and KPTP evaluation tools, KS Teacher of the Year selection committees, task-forces for the Military Childhood Coalition, as a reviewer for NCATE and CAEP, and chaired a committee charged with revising the KS elementary education teacher licensure standards.

Her background includes mission coordination in the Tennessee Cumberland region, classroom teaching in the Shawnee-Mission School District, grant writing, developing small business enterprises, supporting programming for military families and children, and consulting in technology education and teacher assessment. While teaching in Shawnee-Mission, she was awarded twice West Antioch Elementary teacher of the year. Dr. Hogan has presented at numerous regional and national educational conferences, including TECHLearning. She has administrated several grants in technology and teacher education preparation. One of these grant projects regarding parent-community-school involvement is featured in the Harvard Family Research archives.

While at Ottawa U, Dr. Hogan has been a Division Chair, the Director of Teacher Education, an Associate Dean, the Dean for the School of Education, the Academic Dean of Arizona, and the inaugural Academic Dean for Surprise. In July 2019, she returned to the role of Dean for the School of Education. 

Coach Carrier has the longest tenure as men’s head basketball coach in Ottawa University history. He ranks first in career wins at OU with 306. Carrier has led the Braves to five trips to the NAIA National Tournament (1993, 1995, 2002, 2008 and 2009). The Braves were NAIA District 10 Champions in ’93 and earned both the regular season and tournament KCAC Championships in ’95 and ’02. They were again KCAC Champions in 2008 and won the KCAC Tournament Championship again in 2009. Carrier was honored as the NAIA District 10 Coach of the Year in 1993, the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association award in 1995 and 2009 and KCAC Coach of the Year in 1995, 2002 and 2008.

Prior to coming to Ottawa University, Carrier served as an assistant basketball coach at Emporia State University, Washburn University and Fort Hays State University. While on the staff at Washburn, the Ichabods won the 1987 NAIA National Championship.

Carrier graduated from Bethany College in 1981 (Business/Economics) and earned a masters degree from Emporia State University in 1986 (Physical Education and Exercise Physiology). He had a stand-out career in both basketball and golf while at Bethany earning eight varsity letters. He was a two-time all-conference performer in basketball and led the Swedes to back-to-back KCAC titles in 1980 and 1981. He was also a member of the NAIA All-District 10 basketball team in 1981. Also an All-Conference performer in golf, Carrier was inducted into the Bethany College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.

In addition to coaching basketball, Carrier has served Ottawa University as Director of Enrollment for three years, Director of Athletics for nine years and Dean of Student Affairs for four. He served as Vice-President of the KCAC and was voted KCAC Athletic Administrator of the Year three times (1999, 2000 and 2005). He was inducted into the Braves Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

Carrier is also an Associate Professor at OU and has taught in the Physical Education department as well as the Liberal Arts Studies program. His wife, Debbie, is an Associate Professor at Johnson County Community College. They have three children Skylar (23), Drew (17) and Kailea (13).

Arabie Conner is in her 13th year at the helm of Ottawa University’s athletic department. The previous 12 years have brought many accomplishments for the Braves: 416 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, 100 NAIA All-Americans, 237 KCAC Players of the Week, 958 All-KCAC selections, 18 teams have earned regular season KCAC Championships, and 11 have won KCAC Tournament Championships.

The OU athletic teams have excelled in the classroom as well. From 2007-2018 119 teams were named NAIA Scholar Teams. Under her watch the Ottawa University Athletic Department has been named a Five Star Champions of Character Institution 10 times.

There have been 17 coaches have been named KCAC Coach of the Year, two have been named KBCA College Coach of the Year and two have earned region coach of the year. Under Conner, the football team qualified for six straight NAIA playoffs (2009-2015), won the KCAC Championship in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014 and hosted two NAIA Playoff games (2010, 2011). The women’s soccer team won back-to-back KCAC regular season championships (2009, 2010), won the 2015 and 2016 KCAC Championship, and has qualified for the NAIA National Tournament seven times (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018). The women’s cross country team qualified for the 2013 and 2014 NAIA National Cross Country Meet. OU’s women’s volleyball team won the conference championship in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017. They also won the conference tournament in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and made NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Tournament appearances in all five of those seasons. The OU softball team won the KCAC Championship in 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2017. Softball captured the KCAC Tournament Championship in 2010 and had made four appearances at the NAIA Softball National Championships (2006, 2010, 2014, 2017). The OU women’s golf team won the program’s first KCAC Championship in 2016 and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament. The women’s lacrosse team, in its first year of existence, won the KCAC Regular Season Championship in 2016 and qualified for the NAIA National Invitational Tournament in 2017. The men’s volleyball team earned a trip to the NAIA National Invitational Tournament in 2017 and 2018.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have each reached the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Division II National Tournament. The men’s team made back to back appearances at the NAIA National Tournament (2006-07, 2007-08) for the first time in program history. She was named KCAC Athletic Director of the Year in 2010-11, 2015-16, and in 2017-18. Conner earned the athletic department’s and KCAC’s first Under Armour AD of the Year Award (ADOY) in 2016-17. There has also been sports added in her time as leader of the athletic department with the addition of women’s golf, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s wrestling, the re-instatement of men’s tennis, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s volleyball, men’s and women’s bowling, and men’s and women’s powerlifting.

For the past 10 years Conner has been involved with the KCAC Executive Committee for Governing Council including two years as chair. She is currently serving on the NAIA National Administrative Council (NAC) as the KCAC representative. As a member of NAC she serves on the Rules and Ratings committee and is currently serving on the NAIA/NAC National Rating Oversight Committee for Football and Women’s Basketball (NAIA Division II).

Before being named Athletic Director Conner spent 11 years as the head women’s basketball coach at Ottawa University, stepping down after a record breaking 2006-07 season. Conner finished as the all-time winningest coach in Lady Brave history with 162 victories. She earned the Kansas Basketball Coaches Associations Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year award 2003-04 and again in 2006-07. In 2004, 2006 and 2007, Conner led the Lady Braves to the KCAC Basketball Tournament Championship and to the NAIA Division II National Tournament. She also helped OU to its first ‘Sweet 16’ appearance at the NAIA National Tournament in 2007.

Conner graduated from William Jewell College in 1992 with a degree in health/exercise science and English. She was a four year letter winner on the basketball court for the Cardinals, earning HAAC Player of the Year in 1991. Conner is fourth all-time in career scoring (1,893). Conner also played softball and soccer for WJC and after her playing days, she was an assistant coach on the women’s basketball team. Conner was named William Jewell Athlete of the Year twice and was inducted into William Jewell’s Hall-of-Fame in 2004.

Conner earned a master’s degree in sports administration and sport psychology from the University of Kansas. She has been an associate professor in the OU Physical Education department, taught in the Liberal Arts Studies Program and is the first female athletic director in school history.

Conner resides in Shawnee, Kan. with her husband, Tim, and their children Cole (18), Kylie (16), Zoey (14) and Brodie (13).

Dr. DeVinney has experience in higher education and business throughout the world. He cares about students and wants to see them be successful.

Dr. Terry W. Haines joined Ottawa University in September of 2005 as the Provost of Ottawa University Kansas City and currently serves as University Provost and Chief Academic Officer.  Dr. Haines has served in higher education for more than thirty years, including nineteen of those years as a vice president and dean.  Immediately prior to coming to Ottawa University, Dr. Haines served for eleven years as a Vice President and Dean at Huntingdon College, where he also developed extension campuses, an international exchange program with universities in both Japan and Korea, and was instrumental in developing the first program at a national liberal arts college in the United States to provide both a personal computer and international travel to every undergraduate student.

Dr. Haines earned a doctorate from The Pennsylvania State University in 1996, a Master of Arts degree from Ball State University in 1984, and a Bachelor’s of Science from Taylor University in 1980.  He completed additional course work in organizational strategic planning at University of Maryland and completed the Institute for Educational Management program in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University in 1998.  Dr. Haines was one of the founders of the National Multi-cultural Student Leadership Conference at Messiah College in Pennsylvania. He developed the Duffy Institute for Church Leadership at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama; served on both the Mayor's Roundtable for Equality and Diversity and the Quad City Economic Development Committee in Davenport, Iowa; and served on the Board of Directors of Save-a-Life in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dr. Haines has presented at national conferences on issues of diversity and multiculturalism, international student leadership, community development, new administrative systems for college academic advising, as well as judicial affairs and management information systems in higher education.  Dr. Haines has authored two university handbooks on international student programs and has taught in the areas of the liberal arts, communications, strategic planning, and human development.  During his tenure at Huntingdon College, he helped to develop a new liberal arts core curriculum and taught courses on critical thinking in the subject areas of “origins of man” and “justice.”  This new curriculum was recognized for special merit and provided commendation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Dr. Haines has also directed successful multi-million dollar fund raising initiatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Education, The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Haines grew up in Korea, the son of missionary parents. Dr. Haines and his wife, Mary, have two sons (Joshua and Caleb) and the Haines family lives in Overland Park, Kansas. 

Dr. Johnson teaches online and ground classes at Ottawa University’s Overland Park, Kan., campus. Along with teaching undergraduate and graduate education classes, Johnson works with local school districts to provide programming and support for their staff and students. 

Before joining OU’s faculty, Johnson spent almost 20 years in P-12 classrooms teaching music, social studies, language arts, and ELL. Her desire for equity and quality programs for all students led her to create multiple after-school programs, while providing hands-on experiences and exposure to guest speakers for minority and ELL students.

Beyond her experience as an educator, Johnson established her own business, Smarter Moms LLC, in 2009. She connects to her platform and audience through the www.smarter-moms.com blog. Johnson speaks to groups of women across the country and loves hearing how they are discovering their strengths and calling through the eyes of their Creator. 

Johnson has also authored two books: “Mom Essentials: 10 Words Successful Moms Live By” and “7 Ways To Be A S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Mom.” Both are available at The Foundry Publishing.

After earning her MEd, Johnson went on to earn a doctorate of ethical leadership from Olivet Nazarene University. Johnson sees a bright future ahead for the growth and development of new and existing programs at Ottawa University. Johnson believes in the power of education and strives to provide equity and opportunity for all learners.

Through her E3 Program, Dr. Johnson has created new and revised partnerships with Kansas and Missouri school districts. The E3 program provides opportunities for Ottawa to Empower, Educate, and Elevate educators at all levels of public and private education. Johnson is thrilled to join the Ottawa family while training future educators and supporting current teachers and administrators.

Dr. Kent Kessinger came to Ottawa University in 2004 as head football coach and currently ranks second all-time in Ottawa University in football victories. His nearly 30 years in higher education has taken him from Kansas, to Minnesota, to South Dakota, and back to Kansas. As head football coach for the Braves, Dr. Kessinger has led the Braves football team to 4 KCAC Championships (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014) and 6 trips to the NAIA Football Championship Series (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Dr. Kessinger was the American Football Coaches Association Region 3 Coach of the Year in 2009, as well as, earning KCAC Coach of the Year honors in 2009, 2011, and 2014. His 2011 football team was honored with the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award by the NAIA.

Prior to coming to Ottawa University, Kessinger served as assistant football coach and offensive coordinator at Augustana College (now Augustana University) in Sioux Falls, SD and graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State University – Mankato. While on staff at MSUM, the Mavericks won the 1993 North Central Conference Championship in NCAA Division II.

Dr. Kessinger is a transplanted native of Kansas, growing up in Lindsborg, KS and completing his undergraduate degree a Bethany College graduating Cum Laude in Biology. At Bethany College he played on football teams that won the KCAC Championship 3 times (1988, 1990 and 1991) and was named to the All-KCAC football team in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Kessinger was also a member of the NAIA All-District 10 and NAIA All-American teams in 1990 and 1991. He also earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards in 1990 and 1991. In 2001, Kessinger was inducted into the Bethany College Hall of Honor.

Dr. Kessinger a master’s degree in the Minnesota State University-Mankato’s Department of Human Performance in Physical Education with a concentration in Preventative and Rehabilitative Cardiovascular Health.  In 2020, he earned his PhD in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University – Chicago.  The majority of his teaching experience has been at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD and Ottawa University.  While at both institutions he has taught several courses in the Physical Education and Exercise Science majors.  Dr. Kessinger’s teaching experience includes: Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Introduction to Stress Management, Methods of Coaching Football, Psychology and Sociology of Sport, Introduction to Nutrition, and Sports Nutrition.  He is a published author with articles in Strategies (Journal for Physical and Sport Educators), Translational Journal of the ACSM, and the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation.

His wife, Amy, is a Associate Director of Financial Aid at Ottawa University. Together, they have two children Courtney and Caleb.

Jennifer Raybern, a native of Lawrence, KS attended the University of Kansas where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Athletic Training Emphasis. While at KU, Jennifer served as a student athletic trainer working with the Jayhawk softball, football, women’s tennis, and swimming and diving teams.  She served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Baker University while completing her Master of Science in Kinesiology and Sports Psychology from the University of Kansas.

Jennifer began working at Ottawa University as the Head Athletic Trainer and an adjunct professor.  She has been a member of the faculty in addition to her Head Athletic Trainer position for over ten years.  She is an Assistant Professor and serves as the Lead Faculty for Exercise Science.  Jennifer uses her experiences as an athletic trainer to help her students by creating practical, real world applications for course material.  Jennifer describes herself as a lifelong learner who realizes the importance of always looking to learn from others and improve her skills.  This continued learning has helped to create a strong exercise science major based on the most current techniques and theories. Jennifer is a certified and licensed athletic trainer, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a Performance Enhancement Specialist and is certified in Active Release Technique, Graston Technique and Kinesio Taping.

Coach Siebenthall came to Ottawa from Lawrence High School where he spent six seasons as the varsity assistant and head junior varsity coach. During that time he helped lead the Lions to two trips to the state tournament.

Siebenthall is a 2002 graduate from the University of Kansas with a degree in history and received his teaching licensure through Washburn University. He received his Master’s in Education with an emphasis in educational technology from Ottawa University. Siebenthall is currently teaching education classes in the Ottawa University education department.

Siebenthall spent three years as a practice player for the KU Women’s program, has been the director for the Lawrence High summer camps and has worked numerous other camps. He also coached football at LHS from 2001-2004.

Siebenthall is a member of the Kansas Coaches Association. He is the recruiting coordinator for the Braves and works with the perimeter players.

Carine Ullom, who joined Ottawa University in 2005, holds a double-major B.S. in computer science and German from McPherson College and an MA in German Languages and Literatures from the University of Wyoming.  She has over twenty years of experience with implementing educational technology in higher education, having served in roles at The University of Kansas and St. Lawrence University (SLU) prior to joining Ottawa University.  Ullom received a Fulbright grant to study computer-assisted language learning at Oldenburg Universitӓt in Germany in 1988. At SLU she was the Director of the Language Resource Center, a role that was the perfect blend of her love of technology, language learning, and international education.  At Ottawa University she has designed and co-taught three Globally Connected Teaching and Learning (GCTL) courses, one of which received an Exemplary Course Award from Blackboard in 2014 and another which formed the basis for her doctoral research.  Ullom completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Change at Fielding Graduate University, researching the impact of GCTL on global identity development among pre-service teachers.  Ullom has lived for extended periods in Germany and Macedonia, is fluent in German, and has travelled to over twenty countries.  She is passionate about the role that well-designed courses that leverage robust and easy-to-use technologies can have in supporting the intercultural competence development of undergraduate students. 

Kirk Wren has been with Ottawa University for 17 years.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Allied Health with an Emphasis in Education from Fort Hays State University.  He earned his master’s degree in higher administration in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in physical education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

Kirk’s previous experiences include the head men’s and women’s cross country and track/field coach and health and physical education instructor at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan.  He has also served as the assistant track and field coach and clinic speaker at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Before coming to Ottawa he was the head cross country coach and instructor in physical education at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Mo.

While at Ottawa University, Kirk has served as the assistant athletic director and currently serves as the head men’s and women’s cross country and track/field coach as well as associate professor in the liberal arts and physical education. 

Some of Kirk’s honors include the Class of 1966 award from Ottawa University, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, KCAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003), KCAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (1996, 2001, 2004), KCAC Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year (2000), and Cross Country Academic All-American Team.