Faculty

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. 

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

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.

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.