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Steve Bader
BSU Psychology major
After graduating, Steve moved to Washington and landed an Assistant Manager job with a national variety store chain. Steve had a great mentor and was promoted to a store manager position. He was able to turn around a money losing store to one of the most profitable stores in his first full year of managing. Steve resigned in 1990 and opened a retail store selling equipment and ingredients for people to make their own beer and wine at home in the fall of 1992. He has now added a "home winemaking center." Steve has written articles for Brew Your Own and Winemaker magazines. Steve says, "the process of getting a college degree taught me that persistence pays off, and that even though things get tough every once in a while, you just have to stick with the project and get through the hard parts, then the project always seems to fall into place at the end."Brian Benshoof
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Rehabilitation Counseling) Mankato State University (1983)
After earning his masters degree, Mark began working at the Mankato Rehabilitation Center, a vocational rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, where he continues to be employed. He began as a Rehabilitation Counselor and moved into management/administration, developing and overseeing a number of programs.Jill (Smalley) Grand
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Counseling, Rehabilitation emphasis) St. Cloud State University (1982)
Since obtaining her masters degree, Jill has been employed by the state of Minnesota in a variety of positions. She began as a new grad working at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter. Jill then joined the Division of Rehabilitation Services in Workers Compensation. She has also done High School Transition Counseling and currently has a general caseload, with some specialty in mental health.Lynn (Benson) Nylander
BSU Psychology major
Early Childhood and Family Education Licenses Bemidji State University
After graduating, Lynn helped to start an Early Childhood Education Program in her community when she found such a program did not exist but was badly needed. She later worked as the Early Childhood Family Education Coordinator. She is currently serving as the Coordinator for the Lake of the Woods County Little Brother/Little Sister Mentoring Program.Dave Swedberg
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Industrial Relations) University of Minnesota (1982)
Following graduation, Dave worked as a Compensation Analyst for both Opus Corporation and Honeywell, a Project Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota, and an Employee Relations Supervisor with American Crystal Sugar. A long tenure with Marvin Windows and Doors, a company employing over 3600 people nation-wide, saw him rise from Assistant Personnel Director to Environmental Compliance Officer and finally to Vice President for Planning and Quality. Dave is currently serving as Human Resource Manager at Polaris Industries in Roseau.Paula (Regnier) Foley
BSU Psychology major
After graduation, Paula began working for a national shopping center management company. She says, "1981 was a horrible time to try and find a job so I took the first job that was offered to me as I was getting hungry. Anyway, it turned into a 15 year career with that company." Paula was involved with the management of three shopping centers as well as working in the corporate office. She says, "When I told people I had a degree in Psychology everyone seemed to think that was a good background for doing my job." She now works for a smaller company and is responsible for Human Resources.Kirk Gregg
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Industrial Relations) University of Minnesota
Kirk joined Corning (an international company with more than 20,000 employees and revenues of about $3 billion) in 1993 as director of Executive Compensation. He is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. Prior to joining Corning, Kirk was with General Dynamics Corporation as corporate director, Key Management Programs, and was responsible for executive compensation and benefits, executive development and recruiting. He previously held positions at the operating unit level in labor relations, salaried compensation, human resource information systems, organizational training and development, and information technology. He is a member of the Board of Directors of PersonalPath Systems, Inc. and Three Rivers Development Corporation. Kirk is also a Sloan Fellow from M.I.T.'s Sloan School of Management. In 2006, Kirk and Corning provided the funds two endow two $2500 scholarships for Psychology majors in the name of James M. Rafferty.Kent Houston
BSU Psychology MajorDean Albrecht
BSU Psychology major
Licensure for teaching Special Education/Learning Disabilities, K-12 St. Cloud State University (2003)
Dean is working on an M.S. degree program in Special Education at St. Cloud State University. He has worked in Special Education programs in the Minneapolis Public Schools and is currently teaching in an elementary school in the metro area. Previously, Dean has worked as a behavior analyst, group home counselor for mentally disabled adults, counselor for emotionally disabled youth, and as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Dean says, "I look forward to the challenges of teaching students with special needs and feel that my life experiences over the past 25 years (of which, BSU was a big part) have uniquely prepared me."Gary Canivez
BSU Psychology major
M.S. Ed. (Educational Psychology) Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (1985)
Ph.D. (Education & Educational Psychology) Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (1987)
Gary is now a Full Professor at Eastern Illinois University. He has more than 30 publications as well as numerous presentations. Gary has been included in both Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World and is a multiple recipient of the Teacher-Scholar Award, College of Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. He served as President of the Arizona Association of School Psychologists. Prior to going to Eastern Illinois University, Gary was employed as a school psychologist. He is also a sport psychologist/consultant and is owner of a sport psychology firm. Gary is the son of Carol Canivez (1995).Joe Francour
BSU Psychology major
Following graduation, Joe began a masters program in Philosophy of Religion at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Because he was working a full-time job, his studies were mainly done on a part-time basis. He took what he thought would be a "temporary" underwriting position with Kemper Insurance and is still working in the insurance industry and, as he says, "still enjoying it!" Joe works for Church Mutual Insurance Company, providing property and casualty insurance to churches in Wisconsin.David Mittelholtz
BSU Psychology major
M.A. University of Iowa
Ph.D. (Ed Psych and Measurement) University of Iowa (1988)
Dave has worked at ACT Inc. (yes...the testing people) since he earned his doctorate. He is a Program Associate at ACT, and his job there has changed directions many times.Beth Scheuble
BSU Psychology major
Beth works at Fairview Medical Center, where she manages a compensation team of seven employees. The team manages the programs for non-union staff. She has been actively involved in the union contracts. Beth says, "Middle management is a very interesting and often times uncomfortable place to be!" Beth has taken classes at St. Katherine's College in leadership development.John Flannagan
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Counseling Psychology& Marriage and Family Therapy Certificate) St. Thomas University
John works for Wells Fargo in Minneapolis in their Employee Assistance program as a therapist, working with management doing consultations on employee moral, workplace stress, handling change, employee issues, fitness for duty evaluations as well as counseling directly with employee's/family members. Previously, John worked in the field of vocational rehabilitation and as a school social worker. Actually, John's Wells Fargo job is part-time; the rest of the time he spends as an actor. He's done lots of things: commercials, industrial training films, print work, stage, voice-overs, and the occasional movie - he had a scene with Jesse Ventura in the Tim Allen movie Joe Somebody. John says acting helps keep him sane and is "another way of using psychology - character development, etc."Scott Jensen
BSU Psychology major
M.B.A. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (1985)
Scott is working in Industrial Sales with a company in Wisconsin. He works with people in engineering and design, purchasing, quality assurance, and "come to think of it, just about everybody." Previously, Scott worked in product management.Kevin McAlpin
BSU Psychology major
Following graduation, Kevin worked as a counselor in a group home. He left to become director of another group home for male juveniles. He later joined the Navy, traveling around the world. Upon leaving the Navy, Kevin became Regional Administrative Director for an executive outplacement company in San Francisco with "an office on the 14th floor overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge (a world away from Bemidji)." After a few years, he left to take over the day-to-day operations of a movie production company making educational films for the K-6 market. He now is an owner of the company. Kevin says, "I use my Psychology Degree almost every day. From statistical analysis to motivating staff, running a multi million dollar business is much less painful having a degree that encompasses so much."Leah Pigatti
BSU Community Service major
Leah is currently Executive Director of Mahube, a Community Action Agency serving three counties in north central Minnesota. She began working at Mahube before receiving her degree, working initially as a home base and center teacher, then as Education Coordinator. She went on to becomethe Head Start Program director and then Project Development Director, with primary grant writing responsibility for the Head Start Program, as well as other agency projects.Diane (Selberg) Smith
BSU Psychology major
Diane is a Children's Associate at the Boone County Public Library. She conducts summer reading programs and is a reference librarian for the Children's Department. She also has plans to write a children's book. Diane is married to Jeff Smith (1983).Jeff Smith
BSU Psychology major
Ph.D. (Experimental Psychology) Colorado State University (1988)
Jeff is an Associate Professor at Northern Kentucky University. His research interests include social conflict over renewable resources (commons dilemma), the effects of the physical environment on behavior, and human factors. Jeff has a paper at the 10th International Conference on Social Dilemmas in Marstrand, Sweden. He will also be designing some Internet based studies looking at the effects of economic heterogeneity on the public goods dilemma. Jeff is the Past President of the Northern Kentucky University Faculty Senate and the Tri-State Human Factors and Ergonomic Society. He has a number of publications and numerous conference presentations. Jeff is married to Diane Smith (1983).Keiko Stoeckig
Robin Villwock
BSU Psychology major
Ph.D. Dartmouth College
Keiko is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rowan University where she is currently the Department Chairperson. Her specialty area is music processing.
BSU Psychology Major
M.S. (School Psychology) Moorhead State University (1987)
Ed. Specialist Certificate, Moorhead State University (1989)Robin is a licensed psychologist and licensed school psychologist in the Twin Cities area. She is employed at White Bear Lake ALC. Robin is married to Kevin Jewell
Ronet Bachman
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Sociology) University of New Hampshire (1986)
Ph.D. (Sociology) University of New Hampshire (1989)
Ronet is Associate Professor & Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. Before going to Delaware, Ronet was a Statistician and Research Analyst with the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. She was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow through NIMH in the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire. Ronet has co-authored books and more than 20 publications.Bonnie (Elofson) Ekstrom
BSU Psychology major
M.A. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology) Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (2003)After graduating, Bonnie and a friend rode bicycles cross-country from Duluth, MN to Washington, D.C. to explore the country and meet people. Bonnie says, “It was a great trip and a wonderful learning experience.” After returning to Bemidji and marrying another graduate of BSU, Bonnie started her graduate studies in in 1989. Her work experiences include SIUC Wellness Center in Stress Management and Alcohol/Drug Awareness, High Plains Mental Health Center in Hays Kansas for 2 years as an Inpatient Master's level psychologist, and the Center for Comprehensive Services Brain Injury Rehabilitation for one year. Bonnie also worked in the Illinois Department of Corrections for 6 years as a psychologist conducting assessment, diagnosis, and making referrals to psychiatry. Her first prison experience included the newly opened Tamms Correctional Center, a Closed Supermaximum Security Prison in Southern Illinois, from there she worked in several of the local state facilities from Minimum security to Maximum security. Bonnie returned to Bemidji and worked for one year teaching and counseling at Leech Lake Tribal College. Bonnie is currently an adjunct instructor for BSU, teaching Abnormal Psychology and co-teaching History and Systems. She is pursuing her Minnesota licensure and hopes to continue to teach and conduct private practice in the Bemidji area.
David Ghostley
BSU Psychology major
M. S. (Counseling & Psychology) Troy State University (1994) M.A. (Clinical Psychology) Argosy University-Atlanta (1997) Psy.D. (Clinical Psychology, emphases in Neuropsychology & Geropsychology) Argosy University-Atlanta (2003)
Dave is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Forensic Examiner in private practice. After retiring from the military as a commissioned aviator in 1995, he trained at the Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, and at Florida State Hospital. Before entering private practice, Dave served as adjunct faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University while supervising outpatient mental health clinics at two Alabama State Prisons. He is presently on staff as a consultant both at Southeast Alabama Medical Center and Dale Medical Center. Dave provides general child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric, services, as well as forensic psychological services. His practice primarily involves assessment. Still, therapeutic interests are many and include, but are not limited to, the treatment of mood disorders, posttraumatic stress, elimination disorders, personality disorders, relational problems, anger, anxiety, and phobias. He is also certified in hypnosis and practices applications in rapid trauma resolution and other areas. Dave currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Wiregrass Chapter of the American Red Cross and provides voluntary psychological services during times of crisis.Lisa (Everson) Kirschbaum
BSU Psychology major
M.S. University of Wisconsin, Stout (1989)
Lisa is an elementary school counselor for Tomah Area Schools in Wisconsin.Randy Ludeman
BSU Psychology major
Ph.D. (Educational Leadership) Iowa State University (2001)
Randy is the Associate Director of Residential Life at BSU. He is currently writing a chapter in a New Directions in Higher Education book on Men's Issues in Higher Education. In addition to full-time administration, this coming year Randy will be teaching a course at BSU in Women's Studies titled "Gender Perspectives - Men's Issues."Dar (Hendrickson) Medcalf
BSU Community Service MajorLora Bertelsen
BSU Psychology major
M.Ed. (Counselor Education) North Dakota State University (1993)
Ph.D. (Counseling Psychology) University of North Dakota (2001)
At BSU, Lora was a Resident Assistant for Residence Life; she says "that jump started my professional career by giving me great training and a significant selling point for job hunting." After BSU, Lora worked as a Personnel Management Specialist with the Army and as a Woman's Advocate at a shelter for battered women. While pursuing her Master's Degree, she served as a Residence Hall Director for North Dakota State University and the Director of the Women's Center at Moorhead State University. After completing her master's degree, she took a job as the first Coordinator of Women's Programs at Texas A&M University. Lora's pre-doctoral internship was completed at the Student Counseling Center at Iowa State University. After completing her internship, she worked as a School Based Therapist for Comprehensive Health Services at Red Lake, working in the middle school and high school providing crisis counseling, psychological assessment, and counseling. Currently, Lora is working at Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center, providing mental health services and assessment as well as therapeutic groups for High School Students in Special Education at the High School.Bob Butler
BSU Psychology majorRenea Greenlee
BSU Community Service MajorRenea is a Major in the U.S. Army and is currently living in Nevada.
Keving Jewell
BSU Psychology Major
M.S. (School Psychology) Moorhead State University (1989)
Ed. Specialist Certificate, Universtiy of Wisconsin River Falls (1992)Kevin is a licensed psychologist and licensed school psychologist in the Twin Cities area. He has a private practice serving primarily charter schools. Kevin is married to Robin Villwock.
Tim Beebe
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Applied Social Research) University of Michigan (1992)
Ph.D. (Quantitative Sociology) University of Minnesota (1996)
Tim is currently Associate Professor of Health Services Research in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Director of the Mayo Clinic Survey Research Center. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Tim's published methodological research includes, among other issues, factors related to survey participation and non-response bias. He has also been actively participating in scholarly activity in the areas of health care policy and clinical outcomes. Prior to arriving at Mayo Clinic in 2004, Tim held positions at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state Medicaid agency.Pam Bundy
BSU Psychology major
Pam works at Kinship Partners in Brainerd, an organization similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She began as the activity coordinator and then became the Brainerd Program Coordinator. Pam goes out and interviews kids and their parents, recruits adult volunteers, interviews them, and then makes matches between available volunteers and the kids who are waiting for a partner. Pam says, "I can't begin to describe how wonderful it is to see kids blossom because they have someone special in their lives - someone who is their very own special friend!"Clyde Corneliusen
BSU Psychology MajorClyde works in a Sheriff's Office in Montana.
April Hollenhorst
BSU Community Service major
M.S. (Counseling Major: Interdisciplinary Concentration, Psychology Minor) Winona State University (1989)
After earning her master’s degree, April taught as a Psychology Instructor at Rainy River Community College in International Falls, MN. Within a few years, she moved to Ottumwa, IA where she is a Psychology Instructor at Indian Hills Community College.Mark Koch
BSU Psychology major
Mark's career path since graduating has been in sales and sales management. He currently manages a regional sales office for a packaging and envelope manufacturer in Fargo.Kim (Keller) Pirkl
BSU Community Service & Psychology majors
After graduating, Kim became a Licensed Social Worker in Minnesota and worked in nursing homes. After doing this for a number of years and getting "burnt out," she became a Case Manager for a Long Term Care Insurance Company, which required her to be a Licensed Health Care Practitioner. Her job entails making benefit eligibility decisions for policyholders in need of assistance with hiring home care or moving to an Assisted Living Facility, or Nursing Home. She is currently a case manager for about 350 policyholders of different Long Term Care companies.Robin Wold
BSU Community Service major
M.S.W. University of Minnesota - Duluth (2004)After graduating from BSU, Robin went to work as a Mental Health Counselor at Hope House in Bemidji , a comprehensive community based support program for persons with serious and persistent mental illness. She is now Program Director for the Hope House Community Support Program. Robin has also served as Program Director of the Lake of the Woods Community Support Program.
Dan Casey
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Applied Behavioral Health) Bemidji State University
Ed. D. (Education) University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Dan retired from the Minnesota Forestry Department before completing his doctorate. After receiving his doctoral degree, he served as personal counselor and instructor at St. John's University and then began a full time private business of Crisis Management Counseling and Consulting. Dan is a certified Traumatologist, providing training and interventions on crisis management, around the world, working in 40 states and as far away as Australia, Ireland, and England. He was involved in the Columbine incident and 9/11, as crisis counselor and stress management organizational liaison. Dan has co-authored a number of books.Darren Geary
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Industrial/Organizational Psychology) Mankato State University (1990)
After graduating from BSU, Darren completed his master’s degree in I/O with a focus in Human Resources and then moved to Colorado where he was a ski instructor for 2 years. At that time, he decided it would be “prudent to enter corporate America.” He started in corporate recruiting and progressed through the Human Resources field. He is currently a Regional Employee Relations Manager with Imagistics International (a spin-off of Pitney Bowes) where he works with management and staff on policy and procedure and provides HR support.Peter Olson
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Education) University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (2002)
Pete is an elementary school teacher.Kristi (Maki) Schroedl
BSU Psychology major
Kristi has been working for the state of Minnesota for more than 14 years. She spent the first 13+ years working in various capacities at the Department of Revenue as a research analyst and management analyst working on legislative, fiscal, and budget/tax policy issues. She decided that she had had enough of taxes and is now working for the Finance Department as a state budget officer. Recently, she has had her hands full helping to put together the 2006-07 Governor's budget.Ken Boie
BSU Psychology major
Ken is a Telecommunications Analyst for Delta Dental where he is in charge of PBX, voicemail system, IVR, and frame relay. Ken says, "I put the major to work every day as phone lines are a bit moody."Jennifer Bonde
BSU Psychology major
Jennifer is an organic farmer in Wisconsin - a fairly idyllic life. Jennifer says, "Strange departure in lifestyle from psychology, but those stats do come in handy when reading about farming research."Kitza (Dokken) Durkop
BSU Psychology majorKitza is currently living in “the middle of nowhere”…and you would have to agree with her. She is in the Kali School in Pt. Lay, Alaska, an Inupiat village located on the Chuckchi Sea coast and 152 miles southwest of Barrow. The population is about 200 Inupiat Eskimos and the school has 72 children, ranging from 3 year-olds through 12th grade. Kitza has worked hard to get the word out about FAE/FAS, and many of the babies are very healthy. She has been the school counselor and is now the Principal. She says, “I am busy all day. I work on Saturday and Sunday too because there is absolutely nothing to do here.” Kitza also notes “we have polar bears roam over this far about 3 times a year.” Finally, Kitza says, “If you know of any teachers that might want an experience in the Arctic of Alaska, give them my name.”
Denise (Seitz) Estey
BSU Community Services Major
M.S.E. (Family and Community Counseling) University of Wisconsin Superior (1992)Denise graduated from BSU with a concentration in Chemical Dependency Counseling and a minor in American Indian studies. She is close to ABD status at University of Minnesota - Leadership Academy, working on a Doctorate in Education, Policy and Administration. Denise has worked as a chemical dependency counselor/family therapist/program director for 20+ years. She is currently working for the State of Minnesota as Special Assistant Director of the Chemical Health Division, overseeing treatment and prevention efforts for American Indian people in Minnesota. She is the American Indian Grants Manager with two American Indian staff who work with her to administer prevention, treatment support and recovery maintenance grants to 11 tribes and urban American Indian programs. Denise says, “It is important for me to be at the table for American Indian people.” She works with approximately 25 other staff in her division. Denise notes, “The background I received at BSU and in my internship at Detox in Cass Lake has been extremely beneficial in my work in the areas of treatment and prevention.
Jason Jensen
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Applied Behavioral Science: Public Service Management) Bemidji State University (1991)
M.P.A. (Public Administration: Quantitative Research Methods) University of North Dakota (1995)
Ph.D. (Public Administration: Organizational Theory, Public Policy) University of Kentucky; Martin School of Public Policy and Administration (1999)
Jason is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Dakota. He has received the University of North Dakota, College of Business and Public Administration Meritorious Teaching and Meritorious Research Awards. Jason has a number of publications and conference presentations. Before going to the University of North Dakota, Jason was an Adjunct Professor at Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More College. He has worked as a Health Policy Researcher, Transportation Policy Researcher, and an Environmental Policy Researcher. Jason has also been a Clinical Supervisor/Family Outreach Worker and Director of a nonprofit treatment facility for emotionally/behaviorally disturbed youth. Jason says, "My background in psychology has served me well throughout my graduate education and career. My exposure to critical thinking and methodology at BSU was particularly excellent and I continued on with that focus throughout my graduate education."Shari (Lewin) Johnston
BSU Psychology major
After graduating, Shari worked as an Assistant Director of a Rape Crisis Program in Ohio. Currently, she is working with the University of Minnesota Extension Service in their Violence Prevention Program, providing community education in the area of violence prevention. Shari says, "it is basically a one person program - just me." She works throughout St. Louis county, serving the Duluth area and parts of the Iron Range.Jill Torgerson
BSU Applied Psychology major
Jill is an office manager in a pipeline business, working along with her husband and traveling extensively throughout the U.S. She is also attending classes to become an Associate in Ministry (Lay Pastor/Chaplin). Jill says, "BSU prepared me for life. Even though I started attending at 38 years old and graduated at 42--I felt like I 'grew up' while going to college."
