Academic Summer Camps 2023

Do you love solving mysteries?

Spend a week closely examining the multiple facets of a criminal investigation. With your newly developed investigative skills, you’ll work with an investigation team to solve a crime.

During the Criminal Investigations camp, you will:

• Learn state-of-the-art investigation strategies
• Network with K9 officers, patrol officers, and criminal intelligence specialists
• Visit a forensic lab to process simulated evidence
• Discover how professional units approach criminal investigations
• Gain experience solving crimes through mock crime scenes and tactical simulators

Faculty

Thad Hicks, Ph.D., CEM, Professor of Emergency Management and Criminal Justice

As a veteran law enforcement professional, Thad Hicks knows what it takes to get the job done. He's worked in multiple areas of the law enforcement field over his career. He brings more than 24 years of experience to the Criminal Investigations camp. In addition to his time as a police officer, Hicks is a full-time professor of emergency management and criminal justice at MVNU, a published author, and a recognized authority on preparedness, crime, and safety.

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors and learning about the world around you? Have you ever wondered how animals and plants reveal the health of an ecosystem? Do you ponder how aquatic invertebrates reflect a stream’s water quality, how soil chemistry reveals legacy pollutants, or what ecological interactions are found in Ohio’s forests?

Join us for a week of examining the world we live in and answering your questions about the natural world around us.

During the Environmental Science camp, you will:

• Study rivers, forests, and fields
• Analyze soil, water, and invertebrate samples
• Identify Ohio’s native and invasive plants and animals
• Use microscopes and field sampling equipment

Faculty

Jon Bossley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology

Jon Bossley earned his Ph.D. in environmental science at The Ohio State University, where he studied the response of aquatic invertebrates to environmental disturbance. He currently leads the environmental biology program at MVNU, where he teaches a variety of courses including freshwater ecology, aquatic environments, tropical ecology, and field zoology. He also teaches a course on aquatic invertebrates for Ohio State at Stone Lab. His career in environmental science includes seven years as a naturalist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at Mohican State Park and a position on the education and show staff at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Zach Graber, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

Zach Graber earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry at Kent State University. Graber completed his post-doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the impact of cancer development on the properties of cell membranes as part of the Physical Sciences Oncology Center there. At MVNU, his chemistry courses emphasize the connections between chemistry and living systems. His courses include organic chemistry, biochemistry, and the introductory general, organic, and biochemistry courses. He is passionate about investigating the impacts of pollutants on biological systems through his expertise in biochemistry and spectroscopy techniques.

Do you love working with children?

Spend a week learning about teaching and working children. You’ll design lessons, create interactive activities, spend time observing teachers, and work with small groups of children.

During the Education camp, you will:

• Learn about different grade levels and content areas you can teach each group
• Observe teachers working in MVNU’s Summer Quest program
• Learn how to plan engaging lessons and activities
• Put your new knowledge into action by teaching a small group of students during a Summer Quest session

Faculty

Jessica Grubaugh, Ed.D, Education Department Chair and Professor of Education

Jessica Grubaugh earned her Ed.D. from Grand Canyon University in organizational leadership/higher education leadership. She earned her M.A. in education with a focus on intervention/special education and her B.A. in integrated social studies education from MVNU. She oversees all teacher education programs at MVNU and is passionate about training new teachers. She is a former high school social studies teacher and currently teaches in MVNU’s residential and online teacher preparation programs. She has served as co-director of MVNU’s Summer Quest program, an academic summer camp program for children ages 3-13 years, for 10 years and is excited to provide opportunities for future teachers to practice their skills in partnership with Summer Quest.

Nicci Lambright, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education

Nicci Lambright earned a Ph.D. in psychology with a specialization in educational psychology and a focus on curriculum and instruction from Capella University. She also has a B.S. in special education from The Ohio State University and a master's in intervention from MVNU. She came to MVNU after many years of teaching in public education at the high school level where she served as an intervention specialist with the English department and taught dual enrollment courses in psychology. Currently, she is teaching in both traditional and graduate programs at MVNU. She is excited to work with teachers and students over the summer to build enthusiasm for the teaching profession.

Do you have a passion for telling stories through videography?

Conceptualize and direct a compelling short film. You’ll write an original script, direct scenes, edit on professional software, and watch your finished film alongside your peers.

During the Film Production camp, you will:

• Learn about each phase of video creation
• Experience writing, filming, and producing a film
• Showcase your finished film

Faculty

Jayme McMillan, MFA, Assistant Professor of Communication

Jayme McMillan teaches video production and communication courses. He brings professional experience as a television editor, screenwriter, and freelance videographer to the Film Production summer camp. Prior to coming to MVNU, he worked professionally as a videographer for more than 10 years.

Joe Rinehart, M.A., Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Communication

Joe Rinehart is the department chair for communication and the director of broadcasting at MVNU. This is his 18th year teaching after spending 13 years in the commercial broadcast industry as a station manager, program director, and sports director. He stays active in the industry by hosting a weekly afternoon radio show on WNZR and supervising the video streaming teams for MVNU athletics and campus events.

Do you love the law?

Spend a week learning about the law at our Pre-Law summer camp. You’ll walk the path of a lawyer, learning about trial procedures and advocacy, gathering evidence, preparing witness questions, and implementing these new skills in a mock trial.

During the Pre-Law summer camp, you will:

• Learn legal terms and concepts that apply to trials in the U.S. judicial system
• Understand the law at issue in the trial
• Learn about the various roles that people play in a trial court
• Observe different lawyers in action
• Learn how to develop persuasive arguments
• Plan and implement the presentation of a case during trial by examining witnesses and offering evidence

Faculty

Melanie Timmerman, J.D., Dean of the Jetter School of Professional Studies

Melanie Timmerman earned her J.D. from Capital University Law School. She earned her MBA and B.A. in history from MVNU. Prior to coming to MVNU as a faculty member, she was a practicing attorney and served as an assistant prosecuting attorney. She enjoys teaching business law courses and leading the Jetter School of Professional Studies and MVNU’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

Do you love to create books, drawings, or digital photographs?

Spend a week honing your skills and learning new techniques through one of the three tracks we offer within our Art and Design camp — Bookmaking, Beginning Drawing, or Digital/Mobile Photography.

Bookmaking

Students who study bookmaking will work with a wide variety of materials, learn how books are made, discover the arts of papermaking and bookbinding, and explore the cross-section of fine art and graphic design through paper folding, cover design, and binding.

By the end of the week, students will:

• Learn sustainable practices in book design
• Create paper using a variety of found materials
• Design and bind a book from start to finish

Faculty

Laura Tabbut, M.F.A., MVNU Adjunct Instructor of Art

Laura Tabbut is based in central Ohio and works in installation, new media, and textiles. Her work considers current ecological issues and questions the rituals and routines of the American landscape. She holds undergraduate degrees in fashion design and sculpture, an M.A. in English from The Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, and an MFA in visual art from Azusa Pacific University. She currently teaches at MVNU and serves as the gallery administrator for the Schnormeier Gallery.

Beginning Drawing

Learn fundamental drawing skills that will help take your artwork to the next level. While exploring a variety of traditional drawing surfaces and materials, students will be equipped with classic techniques and principles to strengthen any creative endeavor.

During this track, you will:

• Focus on mastering the construction of forms and composition
• Participate in daily drawing exercises and extended drawings with critique
• Create a showcase of student work in a collaborative presentation

Faculty

Sara Keith, MFA, MVNU Adjunct Instructor of Art

 

A native of Northwest Florida, Sara Keith earned a BFA from the University of North Florida and an MFA with a concentration in drawing from the New York Academy of Art with a focus on classical fundamentals in drawing and painting. She has instructed art classes from elementary to university levels. Now happily transplanted to Ohio with her husband and five children, her work can be seen on display at Kudos Artist's Co-op in downtown Mount Vernon and on Instagram @Sara.B.Keith.

Digital/Mobile Photography

Hone your photography skills by exploring the compositional properties of photography and learning how to tell stories with your photographs.

Your activities will include:

• Explore how to use light, depth of field, and color
• Composing and framing photographs
• Using the rules of photography
• Learning the basics of photo editing with Adobe Lightroom

Faculty

Margaret Allotey-Pappoe, M.A., MFA, Professor of Graphic Design

Margaret Allotey-Pappoe is a graphic designer and professor of graphic design at MVNU. She earned her M.A. and MFA in visual communication and design from Bradley University, Peoria, Ill. She has a background in visual communication, and her work focuses on historical narratives. She has taught photography for more than a decade.

Do you seek to help people in practical ways and to develop your crisis management skills?

Spend a week increasing your emergency leadership skills as you learn what a career in emergency management and homeland security could look like. By the end of the week, you will have increased capacity to respond to an emergency and help your local community to create a culture of preparedness.

During the Emergency Preparedness camp, you will:

• Learn the basic preparedness skills needed to protect yourself and your community
• Discover how emergency management professionals approach emergencies and crises
• Meet with emergency management and homeland security crisis specialists actively working in this field
• Have an opportunity to earn numerous certifications including first aid and CPR
• Develop a project and acquire emergency preparedness leadership skills

(There is an additional $21 cost for CPR and/or First Aid Training each. If attending both trainings, the total cost is $42.)

Faculty

Thad Hicks, Ph.D., CEM, Professor of Emergency Management and Criminal Justice

As a career emergency services professional, Thad Hicks knows what it takes to get the job done. He's worked in multiple areas of emergency management and law enforcement fields over his 24 years of experience. In addition, he is a full-time professor of emergency management and criminal justice at MVNU, a published author, and a recognized authority on preparedness, crime, and safety.

Are you considering a career as a coder, designer, robotics engineer, mechanical engineer, or electrical engineer?

Spend a week exploring the fields of engineering and computer science.

During the Engineering camp, you will:

• Design and build hands-on unique projects
• Work in teams to brainstorm solutions and solve design challenges
• Learn concepts in computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D fabrication using 3D printers
• Learn introductory concepts in programming and gain knowledge of engineering principles while working with gears and motors

Faculty

Yuan (Edward) Meng, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Yuan Meng earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and electronics engineering from Auburn University. In his two years of teaching electrical engineering courses at MVNU, he has developed and/or taught engineering courses in electric circuit analysis, electromagnetic fields and waves, optical engineering microcontroller systems, communication systems, and analog electronics.

Jose Oommen, Ph.D, Associate Professor and Chair of Engineering

Jose Oommen earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is in his sixth year at MVNU and has been chair of the engineering department for the last two years. He is very passionate about teaching and has taught nearly all the electrical engineering courses at MVNU. He has multiple years of teaching experience in India and more than three years of experience in the oil and gas industry and the communication industry in a variety of locations including Kuwait and Canada.

Michael Robbeloth, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Michael Robbeloth is in his sixth year at MVNU with a background in image processing, computer vision, and machine learning. He brings more than 17 years of industry development experience as a software engineer in the embedded and distributed computing space from such companies as Eastman Kodak, Data Science Automation, and PDi Communication Systems, Inc. At those companies, he worked on commercial inkjet printing systems, flapping-wing micro-air vehicle drones, and Android-based smart televisions for hospitals.

Peter Baonhe Sob, D.Tech., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Peter Baonhe Sob earned his D.Tech. in mechanical engineering from Vaal University of Technology, South Africa. With research specialization in thermal-fluid science and nanomaterials, he has a solid foundation in thermal fluid and special wettability surface, and experience with various laboratory techniques and instrumentation used by thermal fluid and membrane industries. As a passionate professional, he hopes to pass on his enthusiasm for mechanical engineering to his students.

Are you interested in health and wellness?

During this camp, you will learn first-hand what careers in the exercise industry look like, ranging from personal training to physical therapy.

In the Exercise Science camp, you will:

• Gain an understanding of the behaviors that promote individual well-being
• Evaluate health-related behaviors and risk factors
• Explore the links between fitness, exercise, diet, and health
• Conduct fitness assessments
• Learn how to get the most out of a workout
• Engage best practices in athletic training
• Practice injury care and prevention
• Have an opportunity to obtain first aid/CPR certification

(There is an additional $21 cost for CPR and/or First Aid Training each. If attending both trainings, the total cost is $42.)

Faculty

Brian Humphrey, M.S., Assistant Professor of Physical Education

Brian Humphrey received undergraduate degrees in sports medicine and sports management from MVNU and went on to earn an M.S. in physical education from Ohio University. He teaches physical education and exercise science courses at MVNU. He is also a certified athletic trainer and Red Cross trainer and serves as the athletic trainer for MVNU’s sports teams.

Scott Tarrh, MSS, CFT, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science

As a former gym owner and certified fitness trainer, Scott Tarrh brings real experience from the fitness and wellness industry. He has not only worked in the industry but has presented health and wellness seminars and is currently the program coordinator and an assistant professor of exercise science at MVNU. He holds a Master of Sports Science degree from the United States Sports Academy and has a passion for wellness that he loves to share with the next generation.

Are you interested in becoming a nurse?

Explore the many career choices in the field of nursing and learn how to best prepare yourself for a future in the nursing profession.

During the Nursing camp, you will:

• Take on the role of the nurse as you learn how to assess patients and provide basic nursing care in a state-of-the-art simulation lab using human patient simulators
• Have the opportunity to obtain first aid/CPR certification
• Learn more about the nursing profession as you discover what it means to be a nurse

(There is an additional $21 cost for CPR and/or First Aid Training each. If attending both trainings, the total cost is $42.)

Faculty

Karla Adu, Ph.D., DNP, R.N., FNP-BC, Associate Professor of Nursing

Karla Adu has been a registered nurse and certified family nurse practitioner for over 20 years. She enjoys teaching pharmacology and pathophysiology to undergraduate nursing students. She has a special passion for advocating for culturally congruent nursing care and has led numerous service-learning trips for nursing students. She earned her BSN from Capital University, her M.S. from The Ohio State University, and her Ph.D. in nursing from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh.

Malinda Ashcraft, MSN, R.N., Assistant Professor of Nursing

Malinda Ashcraft has more than eight years of experience as a registered nurse and received the BSN and M.S. in nursing degrees at MVNU. Her experience includes medical surgical nursing, inpatient oncology, case management, inpatient hospice, and nursing education. She enjoys teaching basic care skills and foundations of nursing at MVNU. Her greatest passion in nursing is hospice care, educating her students on the importance of compassionate and dignified end-of-life care.

Debra Garee, MSN, R.N., Assistant Professor of Nursing

Debra Garee is a registered nurse with a background in gerontology. Her passion for teaching is evident as she engages learners in applying nursing principles to practice and care for vulnerable populations through her ministry in nursing. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BSN and from Indiana Wesleyan University with an MSN in nursing education. Currently, she is working to obtain the DNP.