Meet Concordia’s Newest Staff Members

By Keaton Burgess

There are new faculty faces on Concordia’s campus this fall and some people we know who have moved to other jobs. Here’s a rundown of some of them.

Professor Melissa Davis

Melissa Davis is starting her first year at Concordia this fall. The Randolph, Nebraska, native earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Central Missouri, a Master’s in Education from the University of Nebraska and a Masters in Business Administration from Wayne State College. Davis started out teaching business and coached track at the high school level, and said she chose to make the move to Concordia because of the atmosphere.  “I chose to teach at Concordia because of Concordia’s values, Christ-centered education and friendly and caring staff and students,” Davis said. Her first semester will consist of teaching principles of marketing, business communications and advertising.  “I am very excited about teaching at Concordia,” Davis said. “I am looking forward to getting to know and work with the students, faculty, and staff!”

Professor Kim Boyce 

Kim Boyce, a liscensed family therapist, has been a counselor at Concordia’s Wellness Center. This year, he has been appointed to a new position of Professor of Practice. That means he is a full-time professor and a practicing professional. Boyce is starting his fourth year at Concordia and will teach classes in psychology, abnormal psychology, group techniques and counseling. He will also maintain his businesses. Boyce owns assisted living facilities, Arcadia Grove, Arcadia Woods and Arcadia Holly, in the Phoenix area. Boyce said that he always wanted to teach at a small, Christian university because he spent his undergraduate years at one. “I thought it would be a lot of fun,” said Boyce, who added he is excited to teach. “I’m ready to start up again and get students back on campus,” he said. This is Boyce’s fourth year at Concordia. 

Professor Kimberly Clark

Professor Kimberly Clark is joining the Concordia family as the assistant professor of Agricultural Science.  Clark and her family have lived in Seward since 2009 and before joining the CUNE staff, Clark was an extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she worked with dairy producers across the state. Clark has been on campus many times over the past decade enjoying activities and sporting events and participating in an agriculture summit. “Every time I’m on campus it has a feel of ‘home’ and community,” Clark said. “The four mission areas of community, inquiry, purpose and wisdom do not go unnoticed even as a visitor.” Clark will be teaching numerous agriculture classes.  “My passion is the facilitation of learning for students, and I cannot be more excited to be on campus to watch students learn,” Clark said. “It is rewarding to watch students grow, learn and know you are helping shape their knowledge and their future.”

Coach Emilie Ashenbach

Former Graduate Assistant Cheer and Dance coach Emilie Ashenbach has taken the role of assistant Cheer and Dance coach. Ashenbach attended Midland University, where she earned a Bachelor in Exercise Science with a minor in coaching. She then received a master’s degree from Concordia University Irvine.  “I’m really excited to be able to utilize my Master’s Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration as well as my Bachelor’s in Human Performance Exercise Science,” Ashenbach said. “I have loved working here the last two years as the Cheer and Dance graduate assistant and now to have been given the opportunity to be able to work full-time, continuing with my teams and learning from the best NAIA Athletic Department in the nation, is very exciting!” Ashenbach will also be the ticket coordinator for the Athletic Department, overseeing all online and in-person ticketing, as well as administratively training the game admission staff.

Professor John Genter

Concordia’s new Assistant Professor of Theology, Philosophy and Biblical Studies John Genter is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago. Genter said he has wanted to teach at a Concordia ever since his college days. “My college experience was one of the most formative and memorable times of my life,” Genter said. “I got vocational goose bumps when I saw this opening posted on the university website just as I was wrapping up my Ph.D program. As far as I was concerned, the decision to teach here was made the instant I saw the opening.” Genter will be teaching Old Testament and Faith and Life this semester.

Coach Levi Calhoun 

Wrestling Coach Levi Calhoun is CUNE’s new Assistant Athletic Director. Calhoun has been part of the Concordia staff for six years but has been involved in athletics ever since he can remember. He played baseball and football, and did wrestling at age 6. Calhoun attended Baker University, where he competed in football and wrestling. He was the first All American wrestler at the university. Calhoun spent three years as Concordia’s assistant wrestling coach and has coached the team for three years. He will continue as an assistant coach for the team. “Even though this is my seventh year at Concordia, I am still really excited to begin my new role,” Calhoun said.

Coach Cam Long

Cam Long joins the Concordia Athletic Department to coach the men’s and women’s tennis teams. Originally from Dubuque, Iowa, Long worked as an assistant men’s and women’s tennis coach at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Long has always enjoyed sports and thought coaching would be a good career choice because he enjoyed working with people and loved competition. “The foundation of both teams is already really strong,” Long said. “I can’t wait to start working with them, because I believe that big things can be on the horizon if we put in the work.”