Academy Personnel

Dr. Kavars teaches the Solar System Astronomy and Galactic Astronomy classes at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. He received his B.S. degree in 2001 from the University of Iowa with honors in Physics and Astronomy. He completed his Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Prior to arriving at the Indiana Academy in the fall of 2006, he taught astronomy classes at the University of Minnesota and Inver Hills Community College near Minneapolis, MN. As a graduate student, his research focused on radio astronomy where he used one of the world’s largest radio telescopes, the Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, WV.

In the fall of 2015 Dr. Kavars became the Associate Director of Academic Affairs at the Indiana Academy. His primary duties include working with parents and students to create and implement 504 and IEP special education plans, overseeing attendance, advising international students, overseeing May Term trips, and continuing to teach the Academy’s astronomy classes. During his tenure at the Indiana Academy, Dr. Kavars has attended and presented at several education conferences including the Hoosier Association for Science Teachers Inc., National Science Teachers Association, Indiana Associated for the Gifted, AdvancED Indiana, and Ball State University Teachers College Best Practices in Education conferences.

In his free time Dr. Kavars enjoys geocaching, gardening, reading/watching science fiction and fantasy books/movies, traveling, and in particular, spending time with his family. In recent years he and his family have explored the world outside of the United States, traveling to Canada, Iceland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. In the near future he hopes to explore Scotland, England, New Zealand, and Australia, although his daughters are doing their best to convince him a trip to Hawaii must happen soon.

Dr. Olufowote joined the Academy in the summer of 2021 after serving several years as a faculty member and then senior administrator at the university level. As the Academy’s Chief Academic Officer, Olufowote provides administrative leadership, academic direction, and evaluation of all academic activities of the school which include overseeing the three principle academic divisions, college counseling, guidance, and their respective faculty and staff. Alongside past teaching and administrative duties, Olufowote formerly worked for the Study of the United States Summer Institute for exceptional foreign students- funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. State Department and was a Rockefeller Postdoctoral Fellow in Public Policy and Public Affairs at SUNY- Albany. In 2019, Olufowote was awarded the State of Indiana Achievement in Education by Governor Holcomb. As the founder of MixedMessages LLC, Dr. Olufowote consults across the nation and his scholarly activity can be found in outlets such as USA Today, the Association of Equipment Distributors Foundation Report, Construction Equipment Guide, Equipment World, Service Truck Magazine, among others.

After receiving her degree in Office Administration and Administrative Support, Mrs. Manship came to the Indiana Academy to serve as the Assistant to the Director of Academic Affairs in June of 1993. In addition to her duties assisting the Director of Academic Affairs, Mrs. Manship is responsible for handling all Academic Life budget and textbook concerns, fees, ordering materials, completion of state departmental reports, and assisting with the administration of the computerized school system in use here at the Academy. In addition to Mrs. Manship’s administrative work, she attends computer technology and office management conferences and workshops throughout the year to further her knowledge.

Renee came to the Indiana Academy in August 2006 as the Faculty/Attendance Secretary. Prior to the Indiana Academy Renee worked for the Jay County School Corporation. Mrs. Drumm has been married for 25 years and has three children.

Mr. Stassen is LAN Manager and Coordinator of Technology, and came to the Academy in 1994 after 10 years in the private sector as the owner of a computer consulting company. In his present position, he is responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and training on several hundred PC and Macintosh computers, which are connected to eight file servers using the Novell, Windows NT, or UNIX operating systems. Mr. Stassen enjoys biking and other sports.

After receiving degrees in both Administrative Office and Business Administration, Ms Hall came to the Indiana Academy to serve as Faculty/Attendance Secretary in July of 1997. She accepted the position as Student information Technology Specialist in July of 2006. She works in the Guidance Office and assists the Assistant Director of Academic Guidance. She is responsible for the collections and data entry of transcripts, schedules, drop/add requests, grades, Ball State class requests, and student information updates. She creates and distributes the course catalogs, teacher schedules, room schedule. In addition to twenty-one years of administrative work at Ball State, Ms. Hall attends conferences and workshops to keep abreast of the latest computer technology and office management techniques.

Mrs. Workman came to the Indiana Academy to serve as the Assistant to the Associate Director of College Counseling and Alumni Affairs in February of 2013. In addition to her duties assisting the Associate Director of College Counseling and Alumni Affairs, Mrs. Workman informs students about college admission processes, college visits, college choices, scholarships, and financial aid as well as assists them in the application process. Also, Mrs. Workman is the AP Coordinator for the Indiana Academy and Burris. Mrs. Workman has been at BSU for thirty-one (31) years and has spent eleven (11) years as an Office Assistant in Academic Advising at Ball State University. Previously she has worked with the Office of Registration and Academic Progress for twelve (12) years and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for three (3) years. She has an associate’s degree from Ball State University. She especially enjoys traveling, taking a long walk on the beach, riding with her husband on their Harley, and spending time with her family.

Mr. Lake is Associate Director of Special Initiatives and Development. Mr. Lake is the founder of the Association of Consortium Admissions Representatives (ACAR), an organization which meets yearly to discuss admissions issues of residential high schools.

Stephanie Nagelkirk joined the Academy in the fall of 2005. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and worked in the law enforcement field for several years before returning to school for a master’s degree in English education. Currently ABD in literature, her doctoral research focuses on African-American and Postcolonial difference feminisms. In her tenure at the Academy, Ms. Nagelkirk has taught the following literature courses: American, World, African-American, Women’s, Utopian, and Holocaust, as well as Creative Writing, AP English Language and Composition, Writing Lab, and the Colloquia series. Additionally, she has developed an International Exchange Program with Sankt Afra School in Meissen, Germany into a bi-annual project and cultural collaboration that enables Academy students to travel to Germany during the spring semester for deep dive work into various content areas. In 2020, Ms. Nagelkirk moved to the newly-formed position of Inclusive Excellence Coordinator, which works to improve inclusivity and diversity at all levels of the Academy. As both the English department head and the Humanities Division Chair, Ms. Nagelkirk has a widely varied set of responsibilities, but she also prioritizes distance running, attending her children’s sporting events, international travel, and advocating for underrepresented groups of people, both within and outside of the Academy.

Stephanie Nagelkirk News

• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• Indiana Academic All-Star
• Two Indiana Academy Teachers Awarded Grants
• Envirothon Teams Travel to Purdue

Dr. Thomas F. Arnold has taught history at the Academy since 2004. He received his B.A. with High Honors from Oberlin College in 1985, and earned his Ph.D. in early modern and military history at the Ohio State University in 1993. Following his Ph.D. work, from 1993 to 1994 he held a post-doctoral research position in International Security Studies at Yale University. From 1994 to 2001 he was an Assistant Professor of History at Yale University. In 2001 he became Program Manager for Teaching at the Alliance for Lifelong Learning in New York City, an online consortium of Oxford, Stanford, and Yale Universities. He is the author of several articles on aspects of early modern military history, and the book The Renaissance at War (2001 and later editions), currently published by HarperCollins/Smithsonian press.

He enjoys teaching at the Academy, and the chance to work with motivated, gifted and talented young people who are just realizing their opportunities. Most May Terms Dr. Arnold leads a small group of students on a “history and hiking” trip to Europe. Past destinations have included Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany.

Tom Arnold News

• Dr. Tom Arnold Awarded Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award
• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• Two Indiana Academy Teachers Awarded Grants
• Plato on Trial

Ms. Cunningham was appointed Instructor of Computer Science in 1996 at the Indiana Academy. Currently, she teaches AP Computer Science A/Java, Introduction to Programming/C++, Visual Programming/Python, Virtual Reality, Web Page Design and Personal Finance. Since the summer of 1997, Ms. Cunningham has also taught summer workshops for teachers and elementary through high school students. During the school year, she is also active in presenting computer technology Saturday programs for elementary through high school students. She is an AP Computer Science A Consultant for the College Board and AP Reader for AP Computer Science A tests.

Before coming to the Indiana Academy, she was Departmental Manager for various computer departments at Ontario Systems Corp. in Muncie, Indiana. She has experience as a Software Project Manager/Systems Analyst at Conseco, Inc. (Carmel, IN) and started as a Programmer Analyst at Ball Corporation in Muncie, Indiana. While attending Ball State University as an undergraduate, she was a programmer consultant for the Charles A. Beard School Corporation in Knightstown, Indiana and was instrumental in setting up their first computer labs. She has also taught night classes at Indiana Wesleyan University, Indianapolis, IN. Currently, she is an independent contractor for various programming projects.

Ms. Cunningham is a former member and officer (serving 3 terms) on the Board of Directors for Heritage Place in Indianapolis, Indiana, former member of the Indianapolis Computer Society, former member of the Network of Business Women in Indianapolis, former member of Toastmasters, former member of Sigma Iota Epsilon (Ball State) and has served on the YMCA Programs and Activities Committee, Muncie, IN. In 1989, she was in the Who’s Who Among Women Executives.

Susie Cunningham News

• Ms. Susie Cunningham, Students Receive Awards from NCWIT
• PhyxtGears Robotics Team Wins Bloomington Regional Competition
• Satellite Designed by Indiana Academy Students Set to Launch Aboard a NASA Rocket
• HOSA Leadership Conference

Jessica Edrington joined the faculty of the Indiana Academy in 2018 after teaching mathematics at Lowell Senior High School in Lowell, Indiana, for eleven years. Ms. Edrington earned her M.A. in Mathematics from Ball State University in 2016, B.A. in Mathematics from Olivet Nazarene University in 1998, and graduated from the Indiana Academy in 1994. She enjoys the opportunity to teach at her alma mater.

Jessica Edrington News

• Academic Super Bowl Results
• Academic Super Bowl Teams Qualify for State
• Academic Super Bowl State Finals
• Academic Super Bowl Results
• 2020 Academic Super Bowl Results

Since beginning at the Academy in 1991, Ms. Foltz has enjoyed teaching courses in Algebra, Precalculus, Finite Mathematics, Statistics, Calculus, and AP Calculus. She believes that “mathematics is not a spectator sport,” and so she seeks to engage students in the course topics, encouraging them to think like mathematicians in the process. She is also the instructor for the AP Calculus courses that are available through the Indiana Academy Online. Ms. Foltz has led Outreach summer workshops and school in-service sessions on the use of technology in the secondary classroom. She also currently serves as a Faculty Consultant in AP Calculus for the College Board, leading one day and weeklong sessions, and has been a Reader and Table Leader for the College Board in AP Calculus.

Ms. Foltz was the chief developer of educational materials for the web-based Get-A-Five, an online provider of calculus video tutorials, diagnostic questions, and practice AP exams. She was part of the team that prepared materials for the training manual used by AP Calculus consultants. Previously, she was a contributing author for the Kaplan AP Calculus AB & BC study guide and was a member of a project team that completed a National Science Foundation calculus curriculum grant at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Ms. Foltz was the recipient of the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Outstanding High School Teacher Award, the Radio Shack National Teacher Award, the Sigma Xi (Ball State University Chapter) Teacher of the Year Award, the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement – Teacher Award for the State of Indiana, and the Dean Roy Weaver Indiana Academy Outstanding Contributor Award.

David Haynes has been an Instructor of English at the Academy since 2008. He has taught American and World Literature, Creative Writing, Junior and Senior Colloquium, and the Victorian novel. David received his Masters degree from Marquette University and did three years of doctoral work in literature at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has taught composition at Marquette, Ball State, and UIUC, where he also served as a graduate assistant in several literature courses. He has authored an article on an Irish film, which appeared in the New Hibernia Review in 2002. His graduate work focused on British and Irish modernism and Victorian literature.

David Haynes News

• Academy Instructor’s Film Wins at Canadian Festival
• Ball State’s Teachers College Centennial Celebration
• Update on David Haynes Film
• Lilly Grant Makes Filmmaking Dream a Reality for David Haynes

Dr. Bridget Lester joined the Indiana Academy in 2020. She earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology before earning her Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics from the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State University (BSU) in 2010. Prior to joining the Academy, Dr. Lester was on the faculty at Elmhurst College and Anderson University in their respective Kinesiology Departments where she taught exercise science classes. She has also taught undergraduate cell biology classes at BSU in the Biology Department. Additionally, she has worked as a research associate conducting exercise science research at BSU’s Human Performance Laboratory. Dr. Lester is passionate about sharing her excitement and curiosity for science with the students she teaches. Additionally, she enjoys running and spending time with her husband and two boys.

Bridget Lester News

• Dr. Bridget Lester Named Most Influential Educator by Alumni Scholarship Recipient

Dr. Lobo began teaching at the Academy in the fall of 2019. He majored in English as an undergraduate at Tufts University, before going on to receive his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Southern California. His research interests include the modern novel, games, formal realism, and the part all three play in the production of identity and subjectivity. He has been published in journals such as Postmodern Culture, Game Studies, and Chiasma, on subjects ranging from ecocriticism to Japanese film. His teaching career includes Comparative Literature, Women Writers, World Culture and Writing Composition. At the Academy he teaches English courses, including American Literature, World Literature, Creative Writing, and Junior Colloquium. He maintains an interest in the way the literary and the ludic converge to create new possibilities, and how they might make room for new voices and new forms of self-expression.

Phillip Lobo News

• Academy Faculty Receive Robert P. Bell Education Grant
• Dr. Phillip Lobo Publishes Research Paper
• Academy Instructors Awarded Bell Grant
• English Instructor Publishes Game Research Paper

Mr. Marsh has had a wide-ranging career, though teaching is his greatest passion. He joined the Academy faculty in 2006, and absolutely loves working with these amazing students. His previous teaching experience was with Ball State University and the University of Indianapolis. He has taught American History, Western and World Civilizations, Public History, Government, and Religious Studies. His History of World Religions course is a favorite at the Academy, and his May Term courses are creative, interactive projects such as the construction of ancient Egyptian tombs or famous prehistoric caves. Mr. Marsh was the recipient of the inaugural Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award in 2018. He was chosen by Academy students in 2016 to receive the Dean Roy Weaver Award, and he was also selected twice by Ball State students for a University Professorship Teaching Award.

Mr. Marsh and his wife won the national McLaren Comedy Festival Award in 2014 for a play they wrote. He also co-authored a musical play which was produced in Branson, Missouri, during which time he served as Vice-President of Marketing and Production for the theatre, and also performed as on-stage host.

From 1995-2006, Mr. Marsh was the Executive Director of the Grissom Air Museum. During his tenure, the historic aircraft collection, exhibits, educational programs, and funding grew substantially, while annual museum visitation more than tripled. Other endeavors include writing an op-ed column for the Indianapolis News and other papers, as well as authoring articles for history and general interest publications. Early in his career, Mr. Marsh founded a burglar and fire alarm company in Muncie which he operated for seven years. He has a business degree from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in history from Ball State University.

John Marsh News

• Teaching During a Pandemic – a Century Ago by Mr. John Marsh
• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• John Marsh Named Recipient of Inaugural Robert P. Bell Creative Teaching Award
• Explore the “Cave of Time” at the Indiana Academy
• Indiana Academy Instructors Awarded Robert P. Bell Education Grants

Mr. Mayfield teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Introduction to Microbiology, Introduction to Zoology, Botany, Humanity/Biotechnology, and Social Issues and Research. Additionally, he serves as the sponsor of the Environmental Club, Speech and Debate Team, and Envirothon Team. Mr. Mayfield is an evolutionary biologist who is doing his dissertation research on evolutionary relationships in orchids. He has published articles in the fields of systematic botany and entomology.

Mike Mayfield News

• Science Olympiad Team Advances to State
• Academy Instructor of Life Sciences Receives Prestigious Award
• Envirothon Teams Travel to Purdue
• HOSA Leadership Conference
• Indiana Academy Instructors Awarded Robert P. Bell Education Grants

Dr. Myers has been an instructor of history at the Academy since the Fall 2006 semester. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Bluefield State College in West Virginia, a Master’s Degree in U.S. History from East Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D. in Appalachian Regional History from West Virginia University, where he wrote a dissertation titled, “Deindustrialization and the Decline of Community in the Coalfields: McDowell County, West Virginia, 1950-2000.” From 2001 to 2006, Dr. Myers taught history part-time at West Virginia University while working on his doctorate. He has also taught history at East Tennessee State University, Fairmont State University (WV), Bluefield State College, Ball State University, and Ivy Tech Community College. Along with the Foundations and American History core classes, Dr. Myers also teaches advanced reading courses in Appalachian History, American Working Class History, Native American History, the History of Science and Technology, and US History from 1920-1945. Dr. Myers is the author of “Depression, Recovery, Instability: The NRA and the McDowell County, West Virginia, Coal Industry, 1920-1938,” published in Coal, Class, and Politics in Modern Appalachia: Essays in Honor of Ronald L. Lewis (Morgantown: West Virginia University Press, 2009), as well as numerous encyclopedia entries and book reviews. Dr. Myers is currently working on a project on Dr. Henry Hatfield, the Progressive era governor of West Virginia.

Stephanie Nagelkirk joined the Academy in the fall of 2005. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and worked in the law enforcement field for several years before returning to school for a master’s degree in English education. Currently ABD in literature, her doctoral research focuses on African-American and Postcolonial difference feminisms. In her tenure at the Academy, Ms. Nagelkirk has taught the following literature courses: American, World, African-American, Women’s, Utopian, and Holocaust, as well as Creative Writing, AP English Language and Composition, Writing Lab, and the Colloquia series. Additionally, she has developed an International Exchange Program with Sankt Afra School in Meissen, Germany into a bi-annual project and cultural collaboration that enables Academy students to travel to Germany during the spring semester for deep dive work into various content areas. In 2020, Ms. Nagelkirk moved to the newly-formed position of Inclusive Excellence Coordinator, which works to improve inclusivity and diversity at all levels of the Academy. As both the English department head and the Humanities Division Chair, Ms. Nagelkirk has a widely varied set of responsibilities, but she also prioritizes distance running, attending her children’s sporting events, international travel, and advocating for underrepresented groups of people, both within and outside of the Academy.

Stephanie Nagelkirk News

• Academy Instructors Receive Bell Education Grants
• Indiana Academic All-Star
• Two Indiana Academy Teachers Awarded Grants
• Envirothon Teams Travel to Purdue

Dr. Michael Niemeier joined the Academy in the fall of 2020. He received his BS in Mathematics from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2014. He then went on to receive his Master and Ph. D. in Mathematics from Florida State University in 2019 and 2020, respectively. His research interests are in Category Theory, Algebraic Geometry, and Homotopy Theory. While attending Florida State as a Graduate student he taught a variety of courses including: Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Calculus I, Calculus II, and Pre-Calculus. In addition, he received the Distinguished Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in Spring 2019 and helped mentor graduate students teaching solo for the first time in Spring 2020. In his personal time, Dr. Niemeier enjoys rock climbing, traveling, and spending time with his cat, Puma.

Dr. Michael Niemeier News

• Academic Super Bowl State Finals

ChristyAnn Norton joined the Academy in the fall of 2018 teaching General Chemistry and AP Chemistry. Her philosophy on education is that it is not a spectator sport; students must be engaged in what they are learning and be provided with opportunities to apply what they have learned in novel situations. She has over twenty years of teaching experience and continues to seek better and more engaging methods to the classroom. ChristyAnn received her Master’s in Science Education from Indiana Wesleyan and has begun work on her Master’s in Chemistry where she will continue her focus on Chemistry Education. She holds a BA from Indiana University in Sociology with a concentration in Psychology and a BS from Trine University in Chemistry Education and a concentration in Mathematics.

Meghan K. Riley teaches a variety of courses for the Academy, including American Literature, World Literature, and Junior and Senior Colloquium. Previously, Meghan taught English at Dorchester School District 2 in South Carolina, and English Language and Literature and Communication Arts courses at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Meghan earned secondary teaching certification in English and History at the University of Michigan-Flint and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies through the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School. Meghan is also a PhD Candidate in English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo. She has published an article on the ethics of consent in Octavia E. Butler’s Lilith’s Brood and Fledgling, and is currently working on a study of the tensions between hybridity and essentialism in speculative fiction tropes.

Meghan Riley News

• Academy Instructors Awarded Bell Grant

Mrs. Rogers has taught Russian language at the Indiana Academy since it opened its doors in the fall of 1990. Over the years she has also taught Russian literature at the Academy and German language both at the Academy and at Ball State University, as well as served as an English/Russian translator for Ball State University and around the community of Muncie. Mrs. Rogers holds a Masters Degree in Russian Language and Literature from Purdue University in West Lafayette and a Masters Degree in German from Indiana University in Bloomington, where the focus of her graduate work was on historical linguistics and old Germanic languages. In her free time, Mrs. Rogers is active with volunteer work for Muncie Community Schools and for First Presbyterian Church in Muncie and enjoys traveling with her husband, two daughters and her beagle.

Heather Rogers News

• Academic Super Bowl State Finals
• Science Olympiad Team Advances to State
• Academy Students Take Home Gold and Silver at Russian Olympiad
• National German Exam
• ACTR Olympiada of Spoken Russian

Joshua Ruark earned his Bachelor’s degree in Math and Social Studies in Secondary Education from Cornerstone University in 1999. In 2011, he earned a Master’s in Discrete Mathematics from Michigan Technological University, where he stayed on for the 2011-12 year as an instructor before joining the faculty at the Indiana Academy in 2012.

In addition to teaching classes ranging from Pre-Calculus to Differential Equations, Mr. Ruark coaches both the Quiz Bowl and Academic Superbowl teams.

On a personal note, Joshua is an avid game player, with Scrabble, Dominion, and 7 Wonders among his favorites. He also is a fan of all things Star Trek, and although he doesn’t own a costume from any of the series, he can identify almost any episode of ST:TOS and ST:TNG by title.

Joshua Ruark News

• Science Olympiad Team Advances to State
• Indiana Academy Takes First Place in Academic Super Bowl State Finals
• Indiana Academy Recognized as a Top Dual Credit School

Mr. Schuh has been with us for over a decade, and teaches all levels of Physics for the school. He received three certificates of Distinguished Service during his education at Purdue University and was awarded the Top Graduate Teacher award in 1998. Since joining the Academy family, he has been awarded Meritorious distinction for both Service and Teaching, and has been listed several times with Who’s Who among American Teachers. Mr. Schuh regularly speaks across the country helping AP teachers improve their craft, and has logged over 2000 hours in front of distance-learning cameras for both national and international instruction.

Dr. Sean A. Scott joined the Academy history faculty in August 2015. He earned a Ph.D. in history from Purdue University in 2008. Since receiving his doctorate he taught history at Ouachita Baptist University and American studies at Christopher Newport University. He also served as an assistant editor with the Papers of Abraham Lincoln project, conducting research at the National Archives. A specialist in the study of religion during the Civil War era, he has authored A Visitation of God: Northern Civilians Interpret the Civil War (Oxford University Press, 2011) and several peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals.

Dr. Slocum teaches French courses at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and the Humanities at Ball State University. She has previously taught French at Colorado State University-Pueblo, Michigan Technological University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her Ph.D. in French literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her minor in the department of Theatre and Drama. Her research focuses on twentieth century French literature and theatre.

Dr. Smith became the Director of Academic Affairs in July 2014 after holding the position of Associate Director since 2001. He is responsible for the oversight of all things “Academic” at the Indiana Academy which includes the Guidance Office, the CCCC office, Attendance office, and Outreach department. He oversees the performance evaluations for all faculty and is in charge of the Academy’s curriculum.

Dr. Smith has been a consultant for College Board for AP Biology since 1996. He participates in the essay exam reading each year and has held various leadership positions such as Question Leader and Table Leader. Dr. Smith teaches one-day AP Biology workshops for teachers as well as several AP Summer Institutes. He was part of the team that developed portions of the new AP Biology curriculum that launched in the Fall of 2012.

Dr. Smith is a leading expert on African violets. He and students at the Indiana Academy have received grants and published several articles on the genetics, biochemistry, and taxonomy of these plants. Several of his hybrids have been released to the public for commercial sale. Dr. Smith has authored a chapter on hybridizing African violets that was published in “Breeding Ornamental Plants” from Timber Press.

Dr. Smith has received several teaching awards, including: the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Gold Medal, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, the Outstanding Biology Teacher for the state of Indiana, and the Tandy Scholar Award from RadioShack.

Mr. Robert Smith joined the Academy in 2014. He received his B.A. in Spanish grammar and conversation from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 1991. He earned his Master’s degree in Teaching Languages in 2008 from the University of Southern Mississippi campuses in Madrid and Mexico. Before coming to The Academy, he taught Spanish most recently at Danville High School in Danville, IN. Before that, he taught at a college preparatory school called Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA. He also taught at Boston College High School in Dorchester, MA. As part of his graduate and undergraduate studies, he spent almost 2 years in Spain and three months in Mexico. He also spent a year in Ecuador working with the poor and underprivileged. He has also travelled extensively in Latin America. His professional work includes serving as a Spanish/English interpreter in courtrooms, hospitals and for private businesses. He was an Adjunct Faculty member at Indiana University for 8 years before coming to The Academy. He is married to his wife Christina and they have two kids: Elizabeth and Bobby. When he is not teaching, Mr. Smith enjoys many outdoor sports like running, biking and hiking. He also practices basketball, golf and his new passion: Muay Thai; which is a martial art from Thailand. Mr. Smith has been practicing Muay Thai since 2009 and he has fought in a few competitions. He considers it a great skill to know and a great way to keep in condition. Mr. Smith is looking forward to working with the talented people here at The Academy as teaching Spanish is his passion and he loves sharing it with people.

Dr. Godfrey Walwema is thrilled to join The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities as a Physics Instructor. Godfrey has taught physics for over 15 years at the International Baccalaureate and Advanced levels as well as high school. Prior to joining Ball State University, Godfrey taught physical science to preservice teachers at the University of Wyoming. He has also taught physics in Uganda, Kenya, Eswatini, and Botswana.

Godfrey believes that students should find the learning of physics interesting and exciting because the application of physics principles is evident all around them in real-life situations. He contends that naturally, students are likely to be interested in exploring and learning about what happens around them. For instance, they would want to know how the microwave oven functions, the principle behind the GPS, the most efficient way to conserve energy, and the technology involved in computers and cellphones. To this end, Godfrey’s research interest is to investigate teaching strategies that would make the learning of physics interesting and exciting to students.

Godfrey earned a B.S. in physics and mathematics from Makerere University, an M.S. in Physics from Western Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Science Education from The University of Wyoming. In his spare time, he reads about the latest innovations in the field of science and technology.

Dr. Godfrey Walwema News

• Dr. Godfrey Walwema Joins Academy as Physics Instructor

In 2011 Mrs. Wright moved to Muncie and began teaching at the Academy. She studied mathematics and education as an undergraduate at Assumption College in Worcester, MA while she played on the basketball team for four years. She completed her graduate work in mathematics at the University of Maine. Before she came to the Academy she taught at a community college in Maine. She believes Academy students are challenging but lots of fun. She is an instructor of Statistics, and Precalculus, among other math courses.

Megan Wright News

• Academy Envirothon Team Headed to State

Julie serves as the Academy’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Since joining the Academy in 2016, her responsibilities have included all aspects of the Academy’s public relations, marketing, and external communications both print and digital. She works closely with faculty, staff, and students as well as alums and external partners to create promotional materials, plan events, and support fundraising efforts. She also oversees the Academy’s website and institutional social media accounts. The offices of Admissions, International Programs, and Outreach Programs report directly to her.

She previously worked in Ball State’s Office of Marketing and Communications for over seven years. Other higher education institutions she’s worked for include Ivy Tech, Anderson University, and Rose-Hulman Institute for Technology. Her work has been recognized with many prestigious awards throughout her career.

Julie is a lifelong resident of Indiana, but loves to travel, explore, and go on adventures – especially with her husband and two sons. (Her youngest son is also a proud 2015 alum of the Academy!) Other interests include reading and writing science fiction. While she loves a good sci-fi story, she also enjoys learning more about real science and technology. In 2011, she was invited by NASA to be a citizen journalist at the last space shuttle launch (STS-135) and witnessed the event from the famous countdown clock at the Kennedy Space Center. Since then she’s been invited to cover numerous NASA events and launches, and she’s been known to make occasional visits to SpaceX facilities too. She also serves on the non-profit Board of Directors for the Midwest Writers Workshop and has been serving as Board President since September 2019.

In 1989, Dr. Tuite joined the Admissions staff at Ball State University, moving to the Office of Admissions at the Indiana Academy in 1991. Dr. Tuite is the Associate Director and Head of Admissions. In this role, she is responsible for developing an effective recruitment and enrollment management strategy that successfully accomplishes the goal of the Academy; to admit high ability high school juniors who demonstrate the aptitude to be successful in the Academy program.

As the Head of Admissions, Dr. Tuite manages the Admissions Team who coordinates Open House, Preview Days, Shadow Days, Summer Orientation, Move-In Orientation, the CTD Academic Recognition Program, and a middle school enrichment initiative. She directs the File Review Team, and is a member or participant on the Intervention and Retention Committee and the Curriculum Committee.

Additionally, Dr. Tuite is a co-founder of the Association of Consortium Admissions Representatives (ACAR) which is an organization made up of admission professionals from high ability, residential high schools around the United States. ACAR members meet regularly to support each other and to discuss admissions issues, policies, and practices.

Dr. Tuite completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2020 and her dissertation is entitled: An Exploration of the Sense of School Belonging, Connectedness, and Life Satisfaction of Students from a Residential High Ability High School, Differentiated by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

Brandy Reichle is the International Program Director at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. In this position, she serves as the Indiana Academy’s PDSO, and oversees all components of the Academy’s international student program. She is responsible for issuing I-20 documents, maintaining SEVIS, making admissions decisions regarding international student applications, pursuing student recruitment and program development initiatives, recruiting host families, maintaining regular contact with all international students and host families, and overseeing WIDA testing, academic advising and course selection. She has facilitated international enrollment for students from South Korea, China, Vietnam, Germany, and India.

Mrs. Reichle received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. In 2011, she joined the Indiana Academy team. During her time at The Academy, she has been involved with various committees including Intervention and Retention, Student Services, Non-Residential Early College, Admissions, and International Committees. She is licensed as a School Services Professional, certified as a Local Coordinator through the U.S. Department of State, and is a past board member of the Indiana Counseling Association.

Cheryl Veatch, Admissions Office Coordinator, has been with the Indiana Academy for one year. Ms. Veatch moved to Muncie five years ago from her hometown of Dayton, Ohio. She joined the admissions team after working in a similar capacity for a local government agency. Ms. Veatch has tremendous experience in working with young people and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

As a vital member of the Admissions team, Ms. Veatch is responsible for processing all student applications, tracking the admissions budget, directing calls and visitors, as well as hiring, training, and supervising the Ball State student assistants.

In her brief tenure, Ms. Veatch has already been heralded by many callers and visitors as the kind voice of the Indiana Academy.

Melissa joined the Academy in 2018 as the Assistant Director of Outreach Programs. She is responsible for planning our Outreach events, including our AP Summer Institute for teachers and instructors around the world, and Enrichment Programs for students.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Ball State University. Melissa was the Head Athletic Trainer for Northwestern High School in Kokomo and worked in human resources at a physical therapy clinic. Melissa has spent many years in long-term care in marketing and admissions. She also comes to us with a background in management, sales, insurance and owning a cupcake shop!

Her interests include spending time with her family and animals, going to sporting events, volunteering, reading, singing, and of course, baking cupcakes!

Mr. Raleigh is the Multimedia/Graphic Design Specialist in the Office of Outreach Programs. He is responsible for designing and maintaining web pages for the Indiana Academy, the distance learning Elementary Modern Language courses and High School courses, as well as most of the print publications and advertisements for Academy events and activities. He has been with the Indiana Academy since 1999, and has a Bacon number of 4.

Paul is beginning his 21st year as a proud member of the Academy Community, but this will be his 4th year as Director of Residential and Student Affairs. He is looking forward to the unique year ahead. Paul is originally from Muncie, Indiana and graduated from the University of Evansville with a B.A. in English and several minors. After graduating in 2000, Paul applied and was selected to participate in the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program in San Diego, California. There, he traveled the Western Region states as a National Service Volunteer. Paul has done several projects in the fields of the Environment, Unmet Human Needs, Public Safety, and Education. Whether assisting retired military in daily living, helping homeless street kids in San Diego, revitalizing a small town in Washington State, building homes with Habitat for Humanity in San Francisco, constructing a skate park for the youth of Virginia City, Nevada, or planning and implementing education programs throughout the Western Region, Paul has welcomed each new experience and embraces the opportunity and role of Director here at the Academy.

Paul has worked with almost every special event and committee at some point while on staff at the Academy. Paul received his Master of Arts degree in Executive Development for Public Service from Ball State University in 2006. Paul enjoys many diverse forms of music and writing, reading, volunteering, and almost anything related to sports. Paul and his wife, Sabra, celebrate the joys of their two daughters (Lynley and Myla) and enjoy re-experiencing the world once again through their daughters’ eyes. Paul’s passion and commitment to the Academy has grown stronger with each passing year and he looks forward to faithfully serving the students, parents, and fellow staff members of the Indiana Academy. He is proud to be a part of such a great school and amazing student experience.

Bridger cherishes the opportunity to work alongside a group of dedicated SLCs who share a passion for taking care of the students of the Academy. Bridger still gets a kick out of working in an office directly across the courtyard from the apartment he lived in as a 1st floor SLC from 2013-2016.

Bridger was born in Hong Kong and lived in Macau through his childhood. His family moved to Huntington, Indiana when he was in fifth grade. He attended Huntington North High School and Huntington University (Class of ’09). During his time at HU, he was employed as a local sportswriter and radio broadcaster. Bridger has returned to Asia many times since moving to Indiana, including seven trips as a volunteer with English camps in China and a two-year stint as an English instructor in Macau after college. Bridger lives in Muncie with his wife Shannon (former 3rd floor SLC, 2012-2015) and two children: Ben (4) and Hazel (2). Bridger spends most of his free time visiting family, keeping up with his favorite sports teams, and playing chess.

Anna joined the Indiana Academy in July of 2021 as Residential and Student Affairs Administrative Coordinator. Anna works behind the front desk at Wagoner Hall and is excited to be a first point of contact for students and visitors at the Academy. She wears many hats, including maintaining sign in and sign out records for students when leaving and entering the Academy, overseeing daily desk duties such as mail and space reservations, maintaining financial records related to residential and student affairs, handling student room keys, and assisting the School Nurse with medication.

Anna grew up in Minnesota and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Gustavus Adolphus College. She moved to Muncie in 2003, following 6 years of living in Davis, California. Anna is married with 2 boys. The oldest was a 2021 graduate of the Indiana Academy and is now attending Purdue and the youngest is a high school student at Burris and plays on the soccer team. Anna enjoys her 3 cats, cooking and baking, traveling and exploring new places, and getting back to Minnesota as often as possible.

Originally from England, Nikki completed her RN training at Nottingham University, UK in 1994 and emigrated to the USA in 1998. She passed her NCLEX-RN exam and became licensed to practice nursing in the State of Indiana in 1999.

Nikki previously worked at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie as an RN in the Diabetes Care Center and the Cardiac Telemetry Unit.

Nikki joined the Indiana Academy as School Nurse in March 2017. Her daughter graduated from the Indiana Academy Class of 2020 and is now studying at IUPUI, her eldest son is attending and will graduate with the Class of 2023. Her youngest son is currently in middle school.

Nikki became Nurse Manager in August 2021. Her role includes coordinating and overseeing all aspects of student’s health care needs whilst they are attending the Indiana Academy, training non-licensed personnel to assist with emergent and routine care needs, providing Heath education and developing programs that promote health and well-being.

Dr. Mindy Wallpe is the Assistant Director of Mental Health and Support Services at the Indiana Academy. In this position, she serves at the primary in-house therapist and strives to promote the emotional well-being of all Indiana Academy Students. Each day, she meets individually with students (open-door policy), coordinates supplemental counseling services, collaborates with hometown and outside therapists, supervises 1-2 part-time doctoral practicum Academy counselors, develops intervention/support plans for individual students, manages mental health programming efforts, and serves as a great resource/partner for Academy parents.

Dr. Wallpe attended Marian College, which is now Marian University, for her undergraduate education and majored in psychology. She earned her master’s degree in community counseling from Ball State University and graduated with her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky. She has held positions in counseling centers at the University of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College, Butler University, and Marian University. She has also worked at the IU Health Charis Center for Eating Disorders providing Individual and group therapy and co-leading the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient program. Dr. Wallpe is a licensed psychologist and joined the Indiana Academy in January 2017.

Taylor is returning for her 5th year as part of the Indiana Academy staff. She is an IASMH alumnus and earned a B.S. in Biology; she is currently pursuing a MA of Educational Psychology at Ball State. During her education, she worked as a laboratory assistant in a plant genetics lab and spent time as a sustainability intern focusing on the preservation and maintenance of old growth forests and the removal of invasive species. Taylor also studied chemistry abroad in London, England. Taylor spent two years as a Student Life Counselor before becoming a Student Life Team Leader. She has sponsored many clubs and student unions including Spectrum, Asian Student Union, Latinx Student Union, Improv Club, BETA Club and Environmental Conservation Club, and looks forward to continuing to partner with students in their extracurricular activities. She will resume her work on various committees including Academic Integrity Board and Student Services, and she is looking forward to continuing to work with IASMH’s excellent staff and faculty to grow our school and pursue new initiatives.

Taylor has several non-academic interests, such as kayaking, soccer, baseball, ultimate frisbee, science fiction, dungeons and dragons, and musical theater. She especially loves dogs, plants, and all things Elder Scrolls.

Dakota is ecstatic to be starting at the Academy this year. He graduated from Ball State in 2016 with a degree in Telecommunications. His passion for travel has taken him all over the world, from a semester abroad in Japan to media work in Italy, Germany, and Canada. He’s traveled all over the United States for varying media jobs, but settled into education in the last year and a half at Purdue Polytechnic North in Indianapolis. His passion for helping adolescents achieve their scholarly goals lead him back to school here at Ball State and with us here at the Academy.

Dakota’s hobbies often revolve around his passions for travel and media. He often times travels far into National Parks to photograph landscapes, wildlife, and the night sky. In between travels his seven animals keep him very busy. He has two dogs, two cats, and three guinea pigs all named Bean. He is excited to be assisting the students as the new Student Life Team Leader and is looking forward to the amazing year ahead of us!

Jaimee hails from sunny southern California, specifically the Inland Empire, and is new to Indiana. Her hometown is Moreno Valley (Moval) and she is stoked for her first year at the academy. She graduated from UCR in 2014 with a bachelor’s in English and minor in LGBIT studies. Jaimee was heavily involved in the LGBT Center on campus volunteering for events, participating in programming, facilitating programming, and was part of CORE (Community Outreach Educators). She went on to live in Chicago to serve AmeriCorps in their City Year program where she completed over 1700 hours of service involving tutoring, mentoring, role modeling, and community service. She stayed in Chicago after her service for two more years working for Chicago Public Schools as a substitute teacher and a Special Education Classroom Assistant. Finally, she moved back to California to complete graduate school at CSULB earning her master of science in Counseling option of Student Development in Higher Education while working for the Anaheim Union High School District as an Instructional Assistant. Her dream is to one day become an LGBTQ+ coordinator for a resource center on a college campus. Hobbies include playing video games, reading (comic books!), cooking, playing basketball, and rollerblading. True crime, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Xena, Warrior Princess are her jam, as well as spending time with friends and her partner. She is looking forward to building bonds and community with students at the Academy!

Rachel is excited for her fifth year at the Indiana Academy as a Student Life Counselor. She was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana and has her undergraduate degree in psychology. She is currently pursuing a master’s in social psychology through Ball State, and will be graduating at the end of this year. She enjoys a wide variety of hobbies and activities including running, listening to audiobooks, writing, art projects, re-watching tv-series, binging new ones, singing (both in and out of the shower), going on trips with her bestie, and spending time on a friend’s farm. Rachel has two nephews that are nine and six years old with a third arriving in September as well as a three-year-old niece all of whom she loves spending time with. She also has a cat named Sprout. Words are important to her and she’s always keeping an eye out for her next favorite quote or poem. Rachel knows she has too many plants and books but is nonetheless excited to continue to collect more this school year. She is always up for spontaneous dance parties, deep conversation, and time spent getting to know the students of the Academy.

Tori is ecstatic to begin her second year as a Student Life Counselor. She was born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana as the middle of three girls. Tori graduated from Ball State University in 2021 with a B.A. in Communication with a focus of Interpersonal Communication. While at Ball State, Tori served for a year and a half as the Director of Leadership on the executive board of Ball State’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) and as a member of Ball State’s National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH).

Tori spends her free time playing video games, embroidering, and playing board games with her friends (she can get very competitive!) She also enjoys traveling and spending time with family. Tori is looking forward to helping build the Indiana Academy community and watching the students flourish.

Conner “Richie” Richmond is a 1st year Student Life Counselor and is excited to join the Indiana Academy Residential and Student Affairs team. Conner is a graduate of Purdue University with a B.A. in Political Science. He is also an alum from the Indiana Academy, class of 2017. He spends his free time reading books, watching/making videos, playing video games, studying political thought/communication, listening to podcasts, and watching films. Conner is a fan of the Indianapolis Colts and Purdue Boilermaker basketball. He loves to play all sports and games (board or otherwise) and is excited to start his first year as an SLC.

Conner has experience working with students, engineers, scientists, mathematicians, as well as people from every state and all over the globe. He is constantly looking for diverse perspectives and interesting ways to look at the world. He is a great listener and enjoys listening to students talk about whatever they find fascinating. He is looking forward to meeting everyone and is hopeful for a fantastic 2022/23 school year!

Vincent is beginning his second school year at the Academy as a Student Life Counselor on the fourth floor. Vincent was born in Chicago and raised in Fort Wayne, IN. As a graduate of the Academy from its class of 2008, Vincent has had experience being here both as a student and as an SLC.

Vincent attended Purdue University Fort Wayne, earning BS and MS degrees in mathematics. During his time there as a graduate student, Vincent briefly taught algebra first as a graduate teaching assistant, and eventually as an adjunct faculty member later on. As a former math teacher, and as someone who has received much formal education in math, Vincent hopes to be available to help Academy students with any math-related woes as circumstances allow.

Vincent’s hobbies include playing Smash Ultimate, rhythm games, and role-playing video games, making origami, tinkering with small electronics and retro games, and watching anime. Vincent is grateful to the Academy and its students for making him feel welcome upon his hiring last year, and he hopes to work productively toward assisting as many Academites as he can as they strive for continued personal and academic success this year.

Hannah is so happy to be starting her second year as a Student Life Counselor at The Indiana Academy! Hannah was born in Vermont, but grew up near Columbus, Ohio. She attended Huntington University and earned her degree in Christian Ministries along with a minor in Bible and Religion. After graduating, she worked as a Houseparent/Family Teacher in a mental health residential program at Compass Rose Academy. Hannah is now furthering her education and earning her masters in Mental Health Counseling. Hannah’s favorite part about being an SLC is spending quality time with her students—helping them process difficult emotions and empowering them to cope in healthy ways.

Hannah enjoys a variety of creative activities! She loves being outdoors, dancing in the rain, and reading. She enjoys learning about the enneagram and having deep conversation with others. She also adores and loves all dogs, jigsaw puzzles, doing paint by numbers, and practicing her embroidery!

Archer is excited to begin his first full year at the Indiana Academy after coming in part-way through last year. He grew up in Ukraine and Mozambique but moved to Indiana for high school and college, where he graduated with a double major in English and Writing. As an Indiana Academy alum, he knows first-hand both the struggles and the joys of being a student, and the vital emotional growth he experienced during that time led him back as an SLC to help others have the best experience they can.

Archer’s favorite activities fall into one of two categories. First, he enjoys competitive tests of knowledge, like Chess, Starcraft 2, Hnefatafl, and League of Legends. Second, he’s an amateur artist and enjoys almost anything creative, from digital art and sketching to playing the guitar to writing poetry. Although he hasn’t traveled much since his family left Mozambique in 2010, Archer dreams of one day working in a position that involves international travel and interacting with diverse cultures. Archer is looking forward to working alongside the students as a first floor SLC.