OUAZ Faculty

Dr. Usman Anjum joined Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona, in July 2025 as an Associate Professor of Computer and Data Science. He has previously worked as a Research Associate at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the University of Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

He holds a Ph.D. in Information Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s in Telecommunications from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering from the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology. He is also a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship.

Dr. Anjum has also held various academic and industry positions, including Executive Engineer at Siemens AG (2004–08), Executive Engineer at Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG (2008–09), Research Assistant at the University of Maryland (2010), Business Development Manager at Novateur Pvt. Ltd. (2012–14), and Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant at the University of Pittsburgh (2014–21). 

His expertise and research interest lies in AI, data science, machine and deep learning, and telecommunications.

Dr. Demelash Areda has been with Ottawa University, residential Campus in Surprise, Arizona since 2019. Prior to joining Ottawa University, Dr. Areda was a faculty member at Minnesota State University and Grand Canyon University. He is a broadly trained educator and researcher with several years of professional experiences in academia and industries. His areas of expertise include epidemiology, microbiology, public health, food safety, preventive medicine and veterinary medicine.

He is ACUE-credentialed faculty in effective college instruction program offered by the Association of Colleges and University Educators and the American Council on Education (ACUE-ACE).  He has worked and taught at various Universities and Colleges including Ottawa University, Minnesota State University, Arizona State University, Bryan University, Grand Canyon University, and Maricopa Community colleges.  He was a visiting scientist at Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI/Karolinska Institute, Sweden)-Tuberculosis Laboratory; World Health organization (WHO) designated center for TB research and diagnosis. He has also attended and completed post-graduate and advanced professional trainings at various Universities including University of Minnesota, Harvard University, University of Arizona, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

Dr. Areda has also served as Subject Matter Expert (SME)-designed and developed course curricula) for various courses including General Biology (General BIO181L), Biostatistics for public health II (MPH 535) and Analytical Tools I (R statistical computing) (MAP 545), as well as Peer Reviewer for Microbiology-BIO205L curriculum, program review committee member for Pre-Physical Therapy program, Content Expert-Doctoral Thesis, and Lead faculty for  Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).

He has widely published scientific articles on peer reviewed journals and book chapters in the areas of epidemiology of infectious and zoonotic diseases. He has also served a scientific reviewer for several (over 14) peer-reviewed scholarly journals and editorial board member for two. He has served as grand award judge for International Science and Engineering Fair and currently Co-chair of Microbiology Judging category of Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2021.

He is a recipient of several fellowships awards including United Nations-Sustainable development goals (UN-SDG)-Open Pedagogy Faculty fellowship, Association of Colleges and University Educators (ACUE)- Effective Teaching Practice fellowship, American Society for Microbiology (ASM)-Science Teaching Fellowship (STF), American Society for Microbiology-Scientific Writing and Publishing Institute (SWPI) fellowship. His areas of research interest mainly include epidemiology, biostatistics/data analytics, microbiology and one Health. Concurrently, he has also developed an interest in research focusing on evaluation and implementation of effective classroom teaching, classroom assessment techniques, active student learning and integration of art methodologies in learning biology.  

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Food Safety from Norwegian University of Life Sciences/NMBU (Oslo, Norway), Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) from University of California, Davis; Master of Public Health (MPH) from Grand Canyon University; and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Addis Ababa University. He was also a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Arizona, working on NIH funded research grant aimed at elucidating mechanisms of host immune system evasion by Francisella tularensis.

In his spare time, he likes hiking, reading and volunteering at local church, community organizations and Habitat for Humanity.

Dr. Bangs was named as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost as of January 1, 2023.

Dr. Bangs brings more than 20 years of higher education experience to OU, most recently as the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Cottey College, an independent women’s liberal arts institution located in Nevada, MO.

Prior to Cottey, Bangs was the Associate Provost of the College for Women, Dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies, and Professor of Economics at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN, one of the largest private women’s universities in the nation.  She has also taught at DeVry University Online and at Oakland University in Rochester, MI.  She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Minnesota and holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.  Dr. Bangs co-authored an annual research report on women in corporate leadership in Minnesota from 2008 to 2018 and has published numerous journal articles and textbook chapters on pedagogy in economics. In 2021, she participated in Bravely Confronting Racism in Higher Education, a workshop offered by the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

At Cottey College, Dr. Bangs led the self-study process for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, collaborated with faculty on a complete revision of the Faculty Handbook, and oversaw the creation of new academic programs in psychology, secondary education, and elementary education.  At St. Catherine University, she developed strategic initiatives for the School of Business and Professional Studies and the College for Women, implemented an academic program prioritization process, and launched a new MBA program.

Dr. Karen Bryson holds the faculty rank of Professor of Psychology and Human Services. Karen earned a Ph.D. in Human Science from Saybrook University and earned a Master’s degree in Counseling from Bradley University. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Karen began working at Ottawa in April of 2005.

Karen has extensive experience teaching Ottawa’s Liberal Arts, Psychology, and Human Services programs. She serves at the Lead Faculty for Liberal Arts for APGS. She was part of the initial faculty team, who helped develop Ottawa’s early online teaching standards and she has been teaching regularly for online since its start as a unit in January of 2008. Karen also serves as a Phase I Certification instructor, a Phase II mentor and a Phase III peer reviewer for Ottawa Online.

In her personal life, Karen is an award-winning/optioned screenwriter, produced playwright and best-selling novelist. Karen has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband, who is an Ottawa graduate, and their bloodhounds.

Ruth Burkhart, DNP, MA, RN- BC, LPCC. Ruth holds a doctorate degree in nursing (doctor of nursing practice), a master’s degree in nursing administration, and a master of arts degree in counseling. She is licensed as a Registered Nurse and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and is a certified psychiatric/mental health nurse by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Dr. Burkhart’s professional background includes psychiatric nursing, counseling, nursing and health care administration, staff development, education, and conference speaker. Dr. Burkhart’s experience as an educator includes a three-year college/university teaching assignment in East Africa and as nursing faculty in the United States since 2007, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels of education, and holding combined administrative and educator positions for part of that time. Dr. Burkhart was faculty at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico for several years, and currently is in the position of Director of Nursing and Associate Professor of Nursing Ottawa University, Overland Park, Kansas, campus.

Dr. Burkhart has had several professional appointments to local, state, national and international councils and coalitions, including a past appointment to the New Mexico Governor’s Mental Health Planning Council, and a two-year appointment to the Council of an international university in East Africa. She is a past White House appointee as Native American Representative to the Binational Substance Abuse Coalition (US/Mexico border). Dr. Burkhart’s public speaking experience is in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, and cultural competency. She has been a faculty advisor of the Student Nurses Association, a Sigma Theta Tau and Pi Omega (international nursing honor society) board member, member of the American Nurses Association, past president of District 14 and state board member of the New Mexico Nurses Association, member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), and co-founder and faculty advisor for NAMI on Campus New Mexico State University (NMSU). She was a participant in New Mexico’s health care reform initiative, Health System Innovation, and regional implementation with this initiative through the Dona Ana Wellness Institute. Most recently, she was appointed to the Kansas State Board of Nursing in 2023.

Dr. Burkhart has had several professional appointments to local, state, national and international councils and coalitions, including a past appointment to the New Mexico Governor’s Mental Health Planning Council, and a two-year appointment to the Council of an international university in East Africa. She is a past White House appointee as Native American Representative to the Binational Substance Abuse Coalition (US/Mexico border). Dr. Burkhart’s public speaking experience is in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, and cultural competency. She has been a faculty advisor of the Student Nurses Association, a Sigma Theta Tau and Pi Omega (international nursing honor society) board member, member of the American Nurses Association, member of the New Mexico Native American Indian Nursing Association (NMNAINA), past president of District 14 and state board member of the New Mexico Nurses Association, member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), and co-founder and faculty advisor for NAMI on Campus New Mexico State University (NMSU). She was a recent participant in New Mexico’s health care reform initiative, Health System Innovation, and regional implementation with this initiative through the Dona Ana Wellness Institute.

Lauren Curtright is an Associate Professor of English. Prior to joining Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona in 2023, she was a member of the English faculty of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College and a Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellow at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She directed the University System of Georgia’s summer study abroad program in Paris, France in 2022 and 2023, and she taught literature and film courses in the USG’s summer program in Madrid, Spain in 2018 and its summer program in Paris in 2016 and 2019. Her scholarly publications include articles on Dorothy Richardson’s film writing, Edgar Allan Poe’s relationship with photography, and Mark Twain’s constructions of genealogy and race. She co-edited the book Sustainability and the City: Urban Poetics and Politics (Rowman & Littlefield’s Lexington Books, 2017) with Doris Bremm. She worked with a team to revise the open-source textbook Successful College Composition with a grant from Affordable Learning Georgia. Dr. Curtright has presented at many conferences including those held by the Modern Language Association, the International Gothic Association, the Nineteenth-Century Studies Association, Interdisciplinary Nineteenth-Century Studies, the Poe Studies Association, and the Nagoya American Studies Summer Seminars.

Dr. Curtright completed her PhD in English at the University of Minnesota focusing on cultural theory, film studies, and American literature. Before earning her MA in English from Indiana University, she was a valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida, where she majored in English, minored in anthropology, and participated in study abroad in Yucatán, Mexico.

Dr. Yana Dashevsky is the Associate Professor of Biology at OUAZ. She joined Ottawa University full time in 2018 at the opening of the Surprise campus in Arizona after having been an adjunct faculty for nearly 16 years.

Dr. Yana completed her bachelor’s degree in Biology graduated magna cum laude from Western New England University. She earned her doctorate degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, the only medical school in the country that combines conventional as well as holistic medicine curriculum. After completion of a two-year residency program in internal medicine, Dr. Yana focused on private practice and teaching. During her teaching experience, she was honored to be invited as a guest lecturer by many colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. Dr. Yana has extensive experience in course and curriculum development, as well as in academic advising and student mentoring.

Dr. Yana teaches general biology, microbiology, medical terminology, genetics, and human physiology. She is excited to share her knowledge and expertise with all of her students. In her classrooms, Dr. Yana strives to create a challenging, yet comfortable environment where each and every student has an opportunity to embark on a journey of personal growth and academic exploration.

Dr. DeWitt previously held a faculty position at Colorado Christian University in Northglenn, Colorado, where she served as a professor and the director of their RN-BSN program since 2008 . Dr. DeWitt has more than 20 years of experience in medical-surgical nursing, critical-care nursing, administration, nursing research, and nursing education. She is also active in the Nurses Christian Fellowship; the Arizona Nurses Association where she serves as a Peer Reviewer of Continuing Education; the Arizona League for Nursing as the Conference Planning Chairperson; the Arizona Organization of Nurse Executives as an education committee member; Sigma Theta Tau International; and has co-authored a book chapter in Teaching in Nursing.

Jacqueline Dillon is the District Lead School Counselor for Paradise Valley Unified School District, where she leads and supports comprehensive school counseling programs serving students in grades PK–12. She collaborates with district and school leaders to strengthen college and career readiness, implement data-informed school counseling practices, and align school counseling programs with district strategic priorities.

In addition to her district leadership role, Jackie serves as the Professor in Charge of Ottawa University's Master of Arts in School Counseling program. Since joining Ottawa University in 2017, she has taught graduate courses in school counseling, ethics, group counseling, practicum, career development, and counseling theory while mentoring future school counselors entering the profession.

With more than 15 years of experience in education, leadership, and school counselor development, Jackie is passionate about preparing school counselors to become collaborative leaders who use data, advocacy, and comprehensive counseling programs to improve student outcomes. She regularly presents at state conferences on college and career readiness, comprehensive school counseling, and data-driven practices, and has earned multiple ASCA U Specialist certifications in areas including leadership, data, equity, mental health, trauma, and the ASCA National Model.

Dr. Hesse boasts over two decades of expertise in education, specializing in the seamless integration of sport leadership and physical education throughout America's educational landscape. Dr. Hesse holds a Ph.D. in Education focusing on Sport Psychology, Physical Education and Leadership, coupled with a post-doctorate administration certification from the University of Arizona. His accolades include recognitions as the DVUSD district's Teacher of the Year, Shape Arizona PE Teacher of the Year and most recently AFUHSD Community Partner of the Year award. Subsequently, Dr. Hesse’s time with Arizona State University, swiftly ascending to national recognition as an expert in fostering healthy leadership and boosting his public speaking and professional development training opportunities.

Dr. Hesse's fervent dedication to revolutionizing America's educational systems is reflected in his extensive publications, which underscore his commitment to enhancing the integration of sport leadership across various spheres. Noteworthy publications also include "Recess Was My Favorite Subject, Where Did It Go?" and "Shaping Minds of Aspiring Athletes: The Impact of Specific Coaching Strategies", which delve into leadership strategies that cultivate self-efficacy and enhance performance, as well as draws from Dr. Hesse's own experiences as a NCAA Division 1 baseball All-American.

Dr. Hesse's influence extends beyond academia, as he has been featured in prominent state and national agencies, including Shape Arizona, ActiveSchools.US.org, the American School Health Association, and the NCAA Final Four PLOC in Phoenix. He has served as a keynote speaker, program designer, professional development trainer and webinar series host for numerous institutions across the US. His extensive professional background also encompassed roles such as a head college and high school baseball coach, assistant professor of physical education at Arizona State University, as well as various leadership positions within K-12 education including Principal, District Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, Dean of Students and CEO of Clash Sports Management.

Dr. Hesse's innovative approach to fostering healthy learning is underscored by his initiatives such as the Minutes Out of Your Seat Contest, funded by the NCAA Final Four, which promotes engagement through movement-driven learning in schools, OUAZ’s Student Oriented Approach to Recreation, Sport and PE (SOAR), Arizona Department of Education’s“Recess Toolkit”, “Fundamentals of Pickleball” currently featured in PE Central/Human Kinetics, and the Arizona Senate passing of Recess Bill 1083.

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. Kayong Holston holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Nova Southeastern University.

Currently, she teaches both graduate and undergraduate business courses at Ottawa University and also develops course curriculum.

Dr. Holston worked in government for 17 years as a manager and director in the community services and career development fields. She used many different types of statistical analyses for the effective planning and implementation of the organization’s bottom line. She also developed employee and leadership training instruction designed to help employees increase their performance at the highest level.

She has published numerous articles in professional publications and one was selected as the best paper for the Institute of Behavioral and Applied Management.  She recently published a diversity management article in the International Academy of Business Discipline yearbook.  Her research interests are diversity management, cultural and workplace diversity, leadership, organizational development, and human resources management.

Dr. Holston has served as a member of the Armed Forces YMCA and San Diego Chapter of ASTD Board of Directors – Educational Committee, chair of the strategic planning task force, organizational effectiveness, a member of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, and internal coaching consultant for the Red Cross.  She is part of the Presidential Council of Paradise Community College, Maricopa Community College Chancellor’s Asian Pacific- Islander Community Advisory Committee and Maricopa Workforce Connection Board member. She also is serving the president in the Korean Women's International Network.

Dr. Holston is a national member of SHRM; Organizational Behavior & Theory Track Chair for the International Academy of Business Discipline; Area Representative for the American Society for Competitiveness; Member of Academy of Management; National register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals; and a member of the Executive Women’s Golf Association. She frequently gives speeches to local professional organizations.

Dr. Md Tajuddin Khan is an applied economist whose research spans applied microeconomics, development economics, agricultural economics, food policy, and environmental, energy, and health economics. He uses microdata, econometric methods, and causal inference to study markets, public policy, and household behavior.

Before joining Ottawa University, Dr. Khan taught economics and business at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. Earlier in his career, he worked with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the ICAR–National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NIAP) in New Delhi, contributing to research across South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Energy Economics, Food Policy, International Journal of Epidemiology, Journal of Consumer Marketing, Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, and Journal of Rural Studies. He also serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Public Affairs.

His teaching and professional interests span economics, business, and data analytics, with an emphasis on quantitative reasoning, empirical analysis, and real-world applications.

Dr. Patricia A. Marsh is the Associate Professor of Psychology. She joined the Ottawa University Surprise, AZ campus in the Fall of 2021.

Dr. Marsh completed her BS degree in Psychology and minor in Biology at DePaul University (Chicago, IL).  She then earned her MS degree in Psychology and a PhD in Social & Personality Psychology both from Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS).

Since the Spring of 1999, Dr. Marsh has been an Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor of Psychology at several institutions in Kansas and Missouri before moving to Arizona, such as Highland Community College (Wamego, KS campus), Manhattan Area Technical College (KS), Kansas State University (K-State) night program, Missouri Western State University, University of Central Missouri (UG and GR programs), and Park University (Parkville, MO).

Throughout her career, she taught ~17 different content courses, most are in psychology.  She has been an invited Trainer (e.g., research methodology) for a Tactical Psychological Operations Company for the U.S. Army Reserves and an Invited Keynote Speaker at the Northwest Summit for Teaching Senior Capstone, St. Martin’s University, Lacey, WA. She has mentored students on approximately 100 research projects (e.g., presentations, honors, independent studies, and theses). Dr. Marsh has also been an Assistant Director for the Office of Assessment (student learning) at K-State.  Before coming to OUAZ, she worked for five years as the Senior Data Analyst for the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University.

Dr. Marsh teaches general psychology, social psychology, theories of personality, physiological psychology, research design and analysis, psychopathology, history and systems of psychology, and the in-person psychology capstone, along with the mathematics (MAT) version of Introduction to Statistics.

An inspirational quote: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a NEW DREAM” C. S. Lewis

Prof. Jack McMorris was named Assistant Professor of Engineering at the Surprise Campus of Ottawa University in 2024. McMorris graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Engineering in 2022 and Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Business Administration in 2022 both from Ottawa University. He was awarded a M.S. in Electrical Engineering with Distinction from UHI Perth in 2025. McMorris has a passion for teaching and instructing students especially in electrical engineering courses and laboratories. His role in conducting professional engineering research in order to develop the electrical engineering course curriculum distinguishes his academic career and success.

McMorris’ graduate research focused on microgrid technology, with a particular emphasis on the use of Artificial Intelligence. His work explored how AI could be integrated into existing grid systems to forecast demand and predict potential system failures by analyzing both real-time and historical data. Since starting his teaching career in 2022, McMorris has demonstrated a strong passion for preparing engineering students for their respective careers, ensuring that student professional development is an integral part of his teaching and the curriculum.

Dr. Karen Ohnesorge is currently the Dean of The School of Arts & Sciences, Dean of Instruction at The College and professor of English.  She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee, both with highest honors.  She earned her master’s in English-creative writing from New York University and her doctorate in English from the University of Kansas.

She has served as adjunct instructor for Neosho County Community College Extension in Ottawa, Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Mass. and Johnson County Community College.

Dr. Ohnesorge’s past experience involves assistant editor for the American Art Review, director for the Academic Achievement Center in Ottawa, project assistant and support services coordinator for Supportive Educational Services/Student Support Services at the University of Kansas, project coordinator for TRIO Dissemination Partnership & Dean’s Scholars Program and associate director of Academic Programs for Excellence at the University of Kansas, and director of the Center for Excellence at OU.

Dr. Ohnesorge has extensive published works, has conducted several conference presentations, and holds many honors including OU’s College Class of 1966 Award from the Senior Class for having “changed lives and challenged students to achieve.”

Andrew Potter joined Ottawa University Surprise in January of 2021 as a member of the communication department. As of 2024, he serves as the Department Chair of Communication Studies and the Assistant Coach of the Forensics team. From 2022 to 2024 he served as the Disability Services Coordinator for the Surprise campus. 

Andrew has been teaching in higher education since 2017 as an adjunct faculty for Front Range Community College and Grand Canyon University. In 2012, he received his bachelor's degree in history from New Mexico State University. After receiving his bachelor's Degree, he spent a year teaching English in Beijing, China where he fell in love with teaching and pursued a career in higher education. In 2015 he returned to NMSU to pursue a degree in Communication studies. He received his Master of Arts in Communication Studies in 2017 and earned the Blaine Goss Teaching Award for his work as a graduate assistant.

Mahesh Ranpati Dewage is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Ottawa University’s residential campus in Surprise, Arizona, since July 2025. Prior to joining Ottawa University, he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at the University of Texas at Dallas, a Teaching Assistant at Western Illinois University, an Adjunct Mathematics Faculty at the American College of Higher Education, and a Demonstrator/Temporary Lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of Kelaniya. He earned his PhD in Mathematics in 2025 from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he also completed an MS in Mathematics with a Data Science specialization and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science in 2023. He holds an MS in Mathematics from Western Illinois University (2019) and a BSc in Mathematical Physics from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2015).

Dr. Ranpati Dewage has taught a wide range of undergraduate mathematics courses, including Discrete Mathematics, Calculus I–III, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Probability, and Inferential Statistics. He also has experience mentoring graduate students in advanced courses such as Machine Learning & Control Theory and Numerical Analysis. In addition to mathematics, he has taught physics, including introductory laboratory courses in elementary physics.

A broadly trained applied mathematician, Dr. Ranpati Dewage works at the intersection of stochastic dynamic programming, impulse control, optimization, and machine learning, with a focus on decision-making under uncertainty. His research develops inventory control models that integrate dynamic pricing and voluntary environmental protection, advancing sustainable operations through (s,S)-type policies and their extensions. He is also actively engaged in applications of mathematics and control theory in biology, infectious disease modeling, cancer therapy, and environmental pollution control, including game-theoretic approaches to sustainability.

His scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed publications and ongoing manuscripts on dynamic environmental and pricing policies in inventory control. He has presented his research at multiple venues, including a conference talk on heuristic algorithms for optimal circle packing at the Graduate Research Conference of Western Illinois University and an earlier presentation on topological insulator nanofilms at the International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He remains active in professional organizations such as INFORMS, SIAM, and the AMS. Dr. Ranpati Dewage’s honors include the Mei Lein Fellowship from the University of Texas at Dallas (2024) and the Glenn Ayre Mathematics Award for excellence in graduate studies at Western Illinois University (2019).

Dr. Ranpati Dewage has also been active in leadership and service. He initiated the Expanding Horizons interdisciplinary colloquium series at Ottawa University in Fall 2025. At the University of Texas at Dallas, he served as Vice President of the Sri Lankan Student Association (May 2022–April 2023) and volunteered at the Special Metrics in Complex Geometry Conference (May 2022). He also worked as a summer camp counselor for a science, art, and cosplay camp at Western Illinois University (Summer 2019), where he was a Graduate Student Representative for both the Math Department and the Math Club (Fall 2019). He was also a facilitator for a teacher training workshop for secondary school Bio System Technology teachers at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (July 2016).

Outside of academics, he enjoys hiking, volleyball, running, and kayaking. He also pursues physics and other theoretical and abstract disciplines as a hobby. One of his favorite quotes is by Richard Feynman: “Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent, and original manner possible.”

Dr. Sherlin is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Disability Services Coordinator at OUAZ. He joined Ottawa University full time in 2017 at the opening of the Surprise campus in Arizona after having been an adjunct faculty.  He completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology (2000) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, master’s degree in clinical psychology (2003), and PhD in psychology (2008) from Capella University, Minneapolis. In 2013, Dr. Sherlin completed a PhD re-specialization and post-doctoral fellowship in sport and performance psychology. In 2018, he completed a master’s degree in professional counseling with an emphasis in expressive arts therapy from Ottawa University, Phoenix. He will complete a master of fine arts in photography in 2021. 

Dr. Sherlin has had an extensive career in providing patient services, academic research and instruction, and entrepreneurial endeavors in mental health care. He is one of the world’s leading experts and a leader in the research and use of neuroscience for improving human performance. He has led research partnerships with Red Bull North America’s High-Performance Center, USA Track & Field, US military Special Operations Forces, local and federal level law enforcement agencies, Fortune 500 companies and professional teams in multiple sports in many countries.  He has published this work in the academic literature and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, BBC, Sports Illustrated, CNN, ESPN, CBS, Popular Science, Bicycling, Outdoor Magazine and more.

He provides services in clinical counseling as well as sport and performance psychology consulting to individuals, families, teams and organizations through his private practice. Dr. Sherlin is a licensed counselor in the state of Arizona and is listed in the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology and Mental Training Registry. He is a certified mental performance consultant by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology; certified by the International Board of Quantitative Electrophysiology (IBQE); certified at the Diplomat level in by the International Board of Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG); is Biofeedback Certification International Alliance Board certified in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback (BCN, BCB); and is an equine certified professional by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (ECP). Dr. Sherlin has served on the board of directors for the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance and the International Board of Quantitative Electrophysiology in a number of elected positions including the president/chairman.

Dr. Thomas is recognized internationally as an expert in the areas of youth firesetting and adult arson. He has consulted with both the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the National Association of State Fire Marshals to help establish standards of care for mental health interventions with youth firesetters. Through his consulting company, Psychological Fire Rescue, he has worked with numerous fire service and law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada regarding critical incident stress management and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dr. Thomas was in private practice for more than 12 years. He has also worked in numerous healthcare settings including hospitals, a state hospital, group homes, and residential treatment centers. He has held positions with both the City of Goodyear and City of Phoenix fire departments. Dr. Thomas also served as Interim Emergency Manager for the City of Goodyear. He is the co-author of Responding to Psychological Emergencies: A Field Guide and Case Studies for Emergency Responders: Psychosocial, Ethical, and Leadership Dimensions.

Dr. Thomas was formerly the Program Chair of Fire Administration at Arizona State University and Director of Fire Science at Estrella Mountain Community College. He is a member of and a Past President of the Arizona Psychological Association. He is the Chair of Youth Firesetter Intervention for National Fire Protection Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Psychology Training Consortium and the Board of Directors for the Arizona Fire & Burn Educators Association. Dr. Thomas was also a Senior Teaching Fellow with the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics.

Dr. Dennis J. Tyner was named president of Ottawa University-Arizona in May 2019. This came after Tyner had served as senior vice president and provost of OUAZ from its inception in February 2017, helping build the university’s new Surprise, Arizona, residential campus from the ground up. His tireless work in OUAZ’s first two years of existence led to him being named “Most Influential Person in Valley Education” by Arizona Foothills Magazine in its “Best of Our Valley 2020” awards.

Tyner joined Ottawa University in January 2007 as vice president and provost of the university’s 155-year-old campus in Ottawa, Kan.  He has been teaching at the collegiate level since 1986, when he began lecturing at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. Immediately prior to coming to Ottawa University, Dr. Tyner served for eight years as dean of the David Crawford School of Engineering at Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the nation. In that capacity, he helped to reverse a decade long trend of declining enrollment, and was able to substantially increase the number of undergraduate engineering students enrolled at the school. During that time, he was instrumental in the development of new undergraduate program offerings. He also designed an annual Engineering Summer Camp and a semi-annual Engineering Showcase, and he established the school’s first online graduate program.

The Boston native earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in 1985, 1986, and 1992, respectively.  His primary research focused on applying digital communication methods in magnetic storage systems to increase the storage capacity of magnetic media. He published several articles on his research and presented his results at national and international conferences.  While pursuing his bachelors and masters degrees, Tyner was employed by GTE as a member of the Radio Products Group within the company’s Communication Systems Division. There, he was part of a team that developed the secure communication radios for the aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, and for the NASA Space Shuttle.

After earning his doctorate, Tyner joined the faculty at Norwich University as an assistant professor of Electrical Engineering, where he developed and taught new courses in communications and digital signal processing. In addition to his academic work, he served Norwich University in several other areas during his 14 years of employment with them, including admissions, facilities operations, student activities and athletics.  He also served as a textbook reviewer for Prentice Hall Publishers, and authored two solutions manuals for electric circuits textbooks that he evaluated.

Tyner is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society, and he served as advisor to Norwich’s student chapter from 1994 to 2006. He was instrumental in helping the chapter achieve national recognition, as they were twice voted as the R.C. Matthews Most Outstanding Chapter, and were twice runners-up.  In 1997, Tyner received Tau Beta Pi’s “Most Outstanding Advisor” award. That same year, he was also selected to serve the organization as a facilitator for their award-winning “Engineering Futures” program, whereupon he traveled to schools across the nation to deliver seminars on public speaking, interpersonal skills, analytical problem solving, meeting management, and team chartering. Additionally, he has taught engineering students for more than 20 years at every institution for which he has served.

Tyner and his wife, Patricia, reside in Surprise, Ariz. They have eight grown children, and a grandchild. His wife and five of their children are graduates of Ottawa University.

Dr. Kenneth Urakawa is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at OUAZ.  He was born and raised near Seattle, Washington, before earning his bachelor's degree as a student-athlete at Butler University.  After moving to Arizona for graduate school, Ken began working in various fitness and strength and conditioning roles, including owning his own facility for over a decade.  Seeking a new challenge, he returned to school to earn his PhD, defending his dissertation over Zoom during the early days of the COVID pandemic.

Dr. Urakawa has a passion for athletic performance, as a competitor, coach, and researcher.  He has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for over 30 years and has had the opportunity to work with athletes in a wide range of sports and tactical professions.  Ken strives to bring both academic rigor and real-world experience to the classroom.

Lee Ann Weiler is Professor in Charge of Expressive Art Therapy and adjunct instructor for the Master of Counselling (MAC) program at Ottawa University since August of 2022. She completed her bachelor’s degree in addictions counseling – clinical (2016) and master’s degree in professional counseling – clinical (2018) from Ottawa University.

Lee Ann is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor, Expressive Art Therapist, and Clinical Certified Trauma Professional (CCTP) in Tempe, Arizona. Currently attending Capella University for a PhD in Psychology with a concentration in Education.

I enjoy spending time with my children, grandchildren, and my four-legged companion, Gunner! I reside in the far east valley and enjoy the openness of the Superstition Mountains.