In the wake of another Paint the Town Red event to welcome back students, classes started Wednesday at Northwest College.

It’s a good year for the college, President Lisa Watson noted recently, with an uptick in students in the dorms, continuing a recent trend, and a newly paved parking lot in front of Lewis and Clark Hall.

“It’ll be a busy time,” she said prior to the start of back to school events. “It is a busy time, a fun time though.”

Now it’s time to get down to business for the students, and many of them will be learning from faculty new to the college.

This year the college added nine new faculty members, including a Fulbright Scholar from Spain. The Tribune asked each of them a few questions ahead of the start of classes.

Jeffrey Troxel

(Music)

What is your educational history?

I am an NWC alum. I went on from here and finished a bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Several years later I got my master’s degree at the University of Southern California. 

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

I taught at NWC as an adjunct faculty member for many years before being hired full-time in 2014. I stayed in that position for five years before moving to Missoula, Montana, for my wife’s job with the Forest Service. I taught in the music department at the University of Montana during our time there. We moved back to Cody a few months ago when my wife retired, and I was hired on a one-year interim contract in my old position at NWC. 

Where are you from?

I grew up in Cody. 

 What made you choose to come to Northwest College?

I love Northwest College. NWC is a place that cares about and invests deeply in student success, as well as bringing richness and diversity to the communities. It changes people’s lives. The citizens of Park County should be very proud of this institution.

Stacy Kuenn

(Business)

What is your educational history? 

I received my bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy from Midwestern University and my MBA with health care emphasis from Texas Woman’s University

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one? 

I started my career in respiratory therapy, working in various roles from bedside care, educator coordinator and lead therapist. I was promoted to management as a director and then a chief operating officer of a hospital in Texas. I even owned a custom jewelry business. With starting a new family and my priorities shifted, I transitioned to education working in the respiratory program as an instructor and then promoted to an administrator/director of the Health Sciences Academy and Health Professions (dual credit and traditional). When we moved here, I started teaching management courses online for the same college in Texas. I also worked in banking and at the elementary level to keep my focus on family. When the opportunity came up to teach full-time at Northwest College and be able to devote more of my time to the students, I could not resist.

Where are you from? 

Originally Texas. We moved here for the community, values, clean air and my son’s health. It was a big decision, but the right one!

What made you choose to come to Northwest College? 

The community and the schools are excellent. Each one is like an additional family and have welcomed us. I love teaching undergraduate courses. Even though my online students were spectacular, I missed the face-to-face classroom experience and the ability to provide the additional support to the students.

Denise Schuler

(Nursing)

What is your educational history?

I graduated from Powell High School and attended Northwest College for two years. I graduated with my BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) from the University of Wyoming in 1995. I then obtained my master’s in Nursing Education from Walden University in 2010.

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

I worked in a long-term care facility right out of nursing school before moving back to the Powell/Cody area. I then began an over-16-year career at Powell Hospital, mainly in obstetrics as a nurse and lactation consultant. However, during those years, I also worked in the Recovery Room, Med/Surg, Case Management and Infusion Center. I served on several committees and did breastfeeding outreach in the community. I was a neonatal resuscitation provider instructor, as well as taught Certified Lactation Counselor programs and other staff and patient education.

The last 12 years have been as a school nurse with the Park County School District, mainly at the middle school. I, along with the other nurses, taught First Aid/CPR and Basic Life Support to staff as well as other topics as they arose. Covid was an especially challenging time and involved a lot of education for ourselves, our students and families and our staff.

Where are you from?

I’m a Wyoming girl. I was born in Worland and raised in Cheyenne, Casper and Powell. I married a Cody boy I met my freshman year at Northwest (we were both in Cody Hall), and after school in Laramie and a year in Chicago, have been in Powell since 1995.

What made you choose to come to Northwest College?

After having precepted and mentored nursing students from both Northwest and the university in my other positions, I was faced with acknowledging that my true heart resides with teaching the profession I love. I still remember some of my nursing instructors and how influential they were in shaping me into the nurse I am today. I want to be that for others. The Northwest College administration and staff have been so welcoming, I can’t wait to get this party started!

Calli Nissen

(Art)

What is your educational history?

Master of Fine Arts in Art at the University of Dallas, Irving, Texas; Master of Arts in Art, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, University of Wyoming, Laramie; Associates of Fine Art, Northwest Community College

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

I have had so many different jobs that have always been art adjacent. But the big ones include education director at WaterWorks Art Museum in Miles City and during graduate school I was the director of the Summer Art Academy at the University of Dallas. I also taught drawing as an adjunct at NWC in the spring of 2021. Recently I have been teaching art classes at Gestalt Studios in Powell.

Where are you from?

I am originally from Powell! My family moved here when I was 8. During my time at the University of Wyoming, I would return home in the summers and teach clay and drawing classes for the Powell Rec Center.

What made you choose to come to Northwest College?

NWC is my favorite place on earth. When I attended NWC, I saw how generous and excited the faculty and staff were with their students. Nothing has changed as a faculty member, there is still the same kindness and excitement. The community at NWC is so welcoming and positive, it is a wonderful environment to teach in. I also love the students at NWC, I was in their shoes once.

Austin Conklin

(Anatomy & Physiology)

What is your educational history?

I received my BS in molecular biology from the University of Wyoming and my Ph.D. in molecular medicine from the University of Arizona.

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

Before this, I worked as a computational biologist in the pharmaceutical industry.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Cody, and I am living there now.

What made you choose to come to Northwest College?

I came to Northwest College because of the opportunity to live in the Big Horn Basin and to teach students from the area. I am excited to work with local faculty, staff and students.

Ana Vazquez Madera

(Fulbright Teaching Language Assistant)

What is your educational history? 

At first, I decided to study English language at university, but then I decided to change completely, and I studied early childhood education vocational training in a college. Once I finished, I wanted to continue, so I transferred my credits, and I studied preschool education at Universidad of Málaga. Finally, I finished my studies doing a master in educational guidance master at the same university. I am really happy with the decision I made because being a teacher is my real vocation.

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

I have been working as a teacher since 2016 with students from 4 months old to 50 years old. I have worked as a preschool teacher in Spain and Ireland from 2016 to 2022. Besides that, this last year, I have worked in a public high school with vocational training courses as an English language assistant at the same time that I was working in an English academy taking Cambridge and Aptis courses for native Spanish speakers, most of them, teachers and last year university students that need an English certificate for their careers.

Where are you from?

I am from a very small town in Huelva, called El Rompido, in Spain. It has amazing kilometric beaches to walk through and enjoy the environmental landscape that is surrounded by. Although, I have lived in Málaga for seven years and I consider this place like home as well.

What made you choose to come to Northwest College?

I am Fulbright FLTA and, even though we have choices to choose which one we like the most, we are not able to pick one by ourselves, so ... let’s say that Northwest College chose me! To be honest, I cannot be gladder to this decision, because NWC is a very warm and friendly place where I feel very comfortable, and I am sure that this adventure has already begun!

Steven Haggard

(Emergency Medical Services/EMT & Paramedic Program Coordinator)

What is your educational history?

I received my AAS in paramedicine from Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee. I received my Bachelor of Science from Austin Peay (pronounced pea) State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. 

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

I have been in the fire service and emergency medicine since 1993. I became a paramedic in 2001 just before 9/11. 

I was in the Tennessee Air National Guard at that time and was a med tech with the 118th Medical Squadron. I was simultaneously working a full-time job for Cheatham County EMS in Ashland City, Tennessee.

I began my tenure as an EMS educator in 2011. I returned to Volunteer State Community College as adjunct faculty, where I remained until August of 2022.

In 2017 I became the training coordinator for Cheatham County EMS and later held that title while also serving as assistant chief of EMS.

I retired from the county in August of 2022 and moved to Byron with my wife and three of our five children.

Where are you from?

I was born in Nashville, Tennessee. I lived most of my life in Ashland City, a community about 30 minutes west of Nashville. 

My father was a mechanic and volunteer fire chief and my mother was an elementary school teacher for the county for 36 years.

I am proud to have served the community I call home for 30 years before my move to Wyoming.

What made you choose to come to Northwest College?

I came to Northwest College because I desired to continue as an EMS educator and originally applied for an adjunct position. I was approached by the chair of Allied Health about my interest in taking over the role of program coordinator and was happy to agree. I am excited about the upcoming semester and beginning many long successful years as a Trapper!

Jack McGrath

(Criminal Justice)

What is your educational history?

Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado

MCJ (Masters in Criminal Justice) University of Colorado-Denver

BS in Accounting University of Colorado-Boulder

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

Chair of the Criminology Department, College of Professional Studies, Regis University, Denver

Adjunct professor in criminal justice University of Colorado – Denver and Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado

FBI Master Police instructor including international instruction.

Where are you from?

Born in Casper and lived in Torrington.

But grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado and Denver.

What made you choose to come to Northwest College? 

Excitement surrounding a new BAS program in criminal justice. 

The extraordinarily people and friendly atmosphere.

Size of town and the great students.

Joneen Costigan

(Nursing)

What is your educational history?

I received my RN from NWC and then I got my bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing education from Western Governors University.

What other jobs have you had in the field before this one?

I have been an adjunct faculty member since 2005 teaching First Aid, First Responder and CNA courses.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Lovell.

What made you choose to come to Northwest College? 

I wanted a change in my life at this point in time, and I knew that NWC was a good fit.