UMUC Asia - Faculty Biographies

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NIKO MAKSIMYADIS Location: Distance Education
Mr. Maksimyadis received his M.A. in anthropology and his M.B.A. in finance and international business from the University of Chicago. He has spent over twenty-five years in business as a commercial and investment banker, and management consultant, working both for corporations and independently. He has worked in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. In addition to working with UMUC, Mr. Maksimyadis teaches at Souda Bay in Crete, Greece and works as a consultant to local companies to expand their international business horizons. He joined the UMUC distance education faculty in 2004.

DON MALONEY Location: Distance Education
Dr. Maloney holds a B.A. and M.A., both in philosophy, from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, an S.T.L. in theology from Boston College, and a Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of Strasbourg in France. He did doctoral research at the University of Muenster in Germany. Dr. Maloney has taught at a number of institutions in the United States including the University of Dayton, Wright State University, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, the University of Alaska at Anchorage, and Pacific Lutheran University. He also has a variety of administrative experience, most recently at the University of Alaska at Anchorage. An ordained Catholic priest, he served as a U.S. Army chaplain in Europe. Dr. Maloney taught for UMUC Europe for several years in the 1980s, in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. He joined UMUC Asia in 2005.

RICK MARTIN Location: Korea
Dr. Martin received his B.S. in biological sciences from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and his Ph.D. in microbiology from Michigan State University. He has taught at Lansing Community College in Michigan and at Mesa Community College and Scottsdale Community College, both in Arizona. He also served as an outreach mentor and instructor at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. Dr. Martin gained a variety of research experience while serving as a research associate in the Department of Microbiology at Michigan State University, and spent approximately three years as a research associate at the University of Queensland in Australia. Since joining the UMUC faculty in 2002 he has taught in Korea and Okinawa and in the distance education program.

LISA MATHEWS Location: Distance Education
Ms. Mathews earned an M.A. in Asian Studies from Cornell University and a B.A. in history and Asian studies from Grinnell College. Her degree program at Grinnell included a year of study at Waseda University in Tokyo. Ms. Mathews has been a research fellow at the Ryukyu University on Okinawa and has worked as a translator and cross-cultural management consultant. She has published in Okinawa Minzoku Kenkyu (in Japanese) and also in Studies in Continuing Education.

HIROKI MATSUKAWA Location: Okinawa
Mr. Matsukawa received his B.S. in bioscience and biochemistry from the University of the Ryukyus and his B.A. in English literature from Okinawa International University, and earned an M.S. in educational leadership from Troy State University. In addition he completed several training workshops in foreign language teaching. Mr. Matuskawa has taught at several institutions in Okinawa including Sawada English Academy, Okinawa Prefectural Kyuyo Senior High School, and more recently at Kubasaki High School and Zukeran Elementary School at Camp Butler. He was a lecturer for a community program (International Understanding Course) held by the Okinawa Board of Education. Mr. Matsukawa joined the UMUC Asia faculty in August 2005 and has taught at several locations in Okinawa.

KAZUE MATSUOKA Location: Okinawa
Ms. Matsuoka earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of the Ryukyus and a M.Ed. in counseling and personnel services in the Maryland graduate counseling program offered in Okinawa. She holds a Japanese teaching credential from Tokyo International College, and took additional undergraduate work from UMUC in Okinawa. She has participated in a variety of professional development workshops both in Japan and in the United States. Before joining UMUC Ms. Matsuoka had experience teaching Japanese language at the Okinawa International Center and the psychology of education at the University of the Ryukyus. She has taught throughout Okinawa since joining the UMUC faculty in 1999.

MARIAN MATTHEWS Location: Okinawa
Dr. Marian Matthews took her B.S. in special education and elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin, her M.S. in elementary education and early childhood education from Radford University, and her Ph.D. in gifted education and curriculum and instruction from University of Connecticut. Dr. Matthews comes to UMUC Asia with twenty years¿ experience in higher education in teacher education; she also has experience teaching at the elementary and secondary school levels and her administrative certificate. Dr. Matthews has published several articles in academic journals, chapters in academic books, and has received numerous grants to support her scholarship and work with the National Writing Project. In addition to her many professional presentations and organizational work, Dr. Matthews has participated in many community organizations. Dr. Matthews joined UMUC Asia in 2009.

GROVER MCCALL Location: Distance Education
Mr. McCall holds a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an M.S. in systems management from the University of Southern California. He has a wide range of professional experience in the computing field, including three years of service as an intelligence/communications officer at the National Security Agency; an additional three years as a senior engineer for Army Intelligence in Germany, working on a computer-controlled communications system; and employment as a systems engineer on the Strategic Defense Initiative for Teledyne-Brown in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. McCall has taught in Okinawa and Korea, and in the UMUC distance education program, since joining the Asian Division faculty in 1992.

LEON MCCRILLIS Location: Guam
Dr. McCrillis earned his B.A. from La Verne College and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of California at Riverside. His graduate background is broad, with concentrations in Medieval Europe, Early Modern Europe, and Nineteenth and Twentieth Century American and Medieval Literature. His dissertation was on 'The Demonization of Minority Groups during the Central Middle Ages.' Among his awards and honors are two NDEA Fellowships and a Chancellors Patent Fund Grant for research at the British Museum and the Warburg Institute. After teaching in the Chapman College PACE program aboard U.S. Navy vessels and the University of California at Riverside, Dr. McCrillis joined the Asian Division faculty in the Philippines in 1983. He relocated to Guam in 1992, where he has taught since then.

PHILIP MCCUE Location: Distance Education
Mr. McCue received a BS in Engineering from Long Beach State University, Long Beach, California and an MBA from The University of Houston in Houston, Texas. His Masters work focused on Management Information Systems (MIS). He has taught on a full time basis for 10 years and is an Associate Professor of Computer Information Technology at Montgomery College near Houston, Texas USA. Prior to teaching, he was employed by Bechtel Corporation and IBM Corporation.

JEANNE MCDOWELL Location: Distance Education
Ms. McDowell holds a B.S. and M.S., both in biology, from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. While a student at Old Dominion she worked full time in the Genetics Department at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Ms. McDowell joined the UMUC Asia faculty in 1990, teaching until 1998 at Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station, and since 2000 with the UMUC distance education program. While in Japan she worked extensively with Japanese students, both by teaching English conversation and also through working in continuing education programs at community centers.

JOHN MCMILLAN Location: Japan
Mr. McMillan holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in computer systems management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. A retired officer in the U.S. Navy, he gained much technical, computer-related and management experience during his career, along with extensive training experience; his most recent Navy assignment was as Commander Fleet Training Group Western Pacific at Yokosuka, Japan. In the business world Mr. McMillan has been a self-employed technology and management consultant; Vice President of Universal Distributing of Nevada, a high-tech manufacturer and distributor; and Vice President for Operations and later President of Regency International Trading Company, a Tokyo-based systems firm. He joined the Asian Division faculty in 1998 and has taught throughout the Tokyo area and in the UMUC distance education program.

PHYLLIS MEDINA Location: Distance Education
Dr. Medina holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Oklahoma State University, where she had previously earned her B.S. in psychology, with minors in business administration and Spanish, and her M.S. in psychology. She taught at Oklahoma State, with experience in introductory psychology, experimental psychology, and quantitative methods. She held internships at The Center for Applied Cognitive Studies in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at Joy Reed Belt & Associates, a human resources consulting form in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ms. Medina joined the UMUC faculty in October 2000, teaching in Okinawa at Kadena AB and Camp Foster and in the graduate counseling program, and since 2002 via DE.

CHRISTOPHER MELLEY Location: Okinawa
Mr. Melley started teaching with UMUC Europe, in Germany, in August 1984. After learning German more deeply he completed the Ph.D. in philosophy at the Universität des Saarlandes, in 1991, and stayed in Germany teaching English and philosophy with UMUC. He became involved in bio-ethics discussions in Germany and has been active in the European Society for Philosophy and Medicine, based in The Netherlands. Mr. Melley transferred to UMUC Asia in 2008 and is in Okinawa, where along with teaching philosophy and composition courses, he pursues his interest in learning the Japanese language.

JOSELITO MENESES Location: Distance Education
Mr. Meneses earned his M.S. in Management Information Systems from Colorado Technical University after completing his B.S. in business and management from UMUC in Asia. He is an active duty Air Force officer assigned as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) in his organization. Mr. Meneses was employed by the IBM Company as the U.S. manager of operations for the Internet Emergency Response Service (IERS) of the company's Global Services Division - Business Recovery Services. His responsibilities included management of a 24-hour emergency response service. He also developed business operations, vision, and strategy for the IERS division. Mr. Meneses has taught for UMUC in Europe, and joined the Asian Division faculty in 2002. He has been teaching courses in Information Systems Management in Okinawa and in the UMUC distance education program.

ROBERT MITCHELL Location: Korea
Mr. Mitchell earned his B.S. in university studies from the University of New Mexico and his M.S. in administration of criminal justice from the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. During an extensive career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation he had the opportunity to participate in continuing professional education in various areas including interviewing, investigation, and legal issues. Mr. Mitchell has taught at Portland Community College, Portland State University, and at the Vancouver, Washington campus of Washington State University. He served for approximately 25 years as an FBI Special Agent, primarily in Oregon, focusing on criminal investigations and applications of criminal law. A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Mitchell served as a special agent in military intelligence in Vietnam. He joined the UMUC Asia faculty in January 2001 and has taught courses in criminal justice in Okinawa and Korea.

MOMOE MIYAGI Location: Okinawa
Ms. Miyagi holds a Master of Distance Education degree from the University of Maryland University College Graduate School and earlier earned a B.S. in business and management from UMUC. Her first baccalaureate was a B.S. in health sciences from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa. She also studied in the United States where she earned an A.S. degree in respiratory therapy from Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. She holds a certification in Japanese language instruction from the International Language Center. Ms. Miyagi has worked as a medical technologist in Okinawa, a respiratory therapist in Tucson, Arizona, and as an instructor in the U.S. Army Head Start Program. She joined the UMUC faculty in 1986 and has taught a wide range of courses in Japanese language and culture in Okinawa, as well as in UMUC's online distance education programs. Ms Miyagi is involved in community activities and is a member of the board of directors of the Okinawa Prefecture UNESCO Association.

MARK MONAHAN Location: Korea
Dr. Monahan received his B.S.F.S. in international relations from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, and his M.A. in Oriental studies from the University of Arizona, returning to Georgetown to earn his Ph.D. in Asian studies. He also studied at the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies. Dr. Monahan first taught for the Asian Division in 1989 in Korea, and has taught there regularly, as well as in Okinawa, since 1991. He taught at the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and also taught and held a number of administrative and advising positions at Yonsei University in Korea. A retired officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, his professional responsibilities during his military career were often related to his specialized knowledge of Asia, including military matters, and to his language proficiency in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.

KENNETH MOORE Location: Okinawa
Dr. Moore practiced as a school psychologist for thirty years in Newport News, Virginia Public Schools and, during that time, lectured as a graduate and undergraduate professor. Recently, he was a consultant for Childrens Neurological Services in Richmond, Virginia performing neurobehavioral and psychological assessments, as well as, working for Western Tidewater Mental Health Clinic in forensic psychology. Dr. Moore took his B.A. in psychology from Christopher Newport University, his M.A. in psychology from Radford University, and his Ed.D. in family counseling and school psychology from the College of William and Mary. He pursued post doctoral training in various universities and is an accomplished researcher with several publications. He joined UMUC Asia in 2008 and is primarily teaching for the graduate program.

RALPH MORA Location: Japan
Dr. Ralph Mora took his BA in psychology from City College of New York. He took his MA and PhD in clinical psychology from Adelphi University. Dr. Mora has taught psychology for UMUC's European and Asian divisions. In addition to teaching for UMUC Asia, Dr. Mora is active in his field: he has served as a clinical director at the Keller Army Community Hospital Counseling Center, as the department head of the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services at US Naval Hospital in Sigonella, Sicily, and as program coordinator of Exceptional Family Member Sercices in Vicenza, Italy. Dr. Mora rejoined UMUC Asia in June 2009.

YOKO MORIMOTO Location: Guam
Ms. Yoko Morimoto took her BA in Japenese literature and education from Tezukayama Gakuin University and her MEd in education from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been teaching Japanese at the secondary and university levels for over ten years. Ms. Morimoto joined UMUC Asia in 2008.

GUY MOYER Location: Korea
Dr. Moyer holds a B.A. in Russian and economics, an M.A. in teaching Russian, an M.A. in English, and a Ph.D. in English education, all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In the late 1980s he served as head Russian linguist (Russian Language Facilitator) in a U.S. Army military intelligence unit in Germany and has experience teaching Russian at the secondary level. Since 1995 he has taught English at the college level--at the University of Illinois, for two years in UMUC's joint Russian-American program in Vladivostok, Russia, and since 1999 at UMUC locations throughout Korea. With UMUC Dr. Moyer has taught a variety of English courses including English composition, British literature, American literature, business writing, and creative writing. His article " 'Inner Secrets' in Conrad's Nostromo," published in the journal Conradiana, constitutes a significant discovery in the field of Joseph Conrad studies.

JAMES MRAZ Location: Japan
Mr. Mraz is a graduate of University of Maryland University College, having earned his B.S. in business and management and accounting. He went on to earn an M.S. in business administration from Boston University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner. A veteran of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Mraz retired in 1989 as a gunnery sergeant. He also had several years of experience as a civilian financial officer at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Mr. Mraz has taught for Craven Community College in Cherry Point, North Carolina; Central Texas College; and Park College in Arlington, Virginia. He taught in the Statewide programs of University of Maryland University College from 1987 to 1991, and began teaching for the Asian Division at Iwakuni in 1991.

CATHERINE MUELLER-WILLE Location: Distance Education
Dr. Catherine Mueller-Wille received her doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, where her dissertation was on the stone tool industries of Neanderthaloid populations in eastern Spain. She has excavated in Illinois, Texas, the Southwest US, Spain and France, and has taught Anthropology for some 25 years. Dr. Mueller-Wille has been teaching via the distance education program for UMUC Asia since 2004.

RONALD MUNSEE Location: Korea
Mr. Munsee holds a B.A. and M.A., both in mathematics, from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an M.S. in Information Technology from University of Maryland University College. He has taught at several institutions including Golden West Community College, Saddleback Community College, and Pasadena Community College, and the overseas programs of Central Texas College. He also has extensive professional experience as a systems/software engineer with the Rockwell International Company involving programming and analysis on the Peacekeeper ICBM missile programs, and as an environmental statistician and data management engineer with Jacob's Engineering, Inc., working at the latter on projects for the U.S. Navy. Other professional experience includes website management for the Eighth US Armys G1-HR IMO, and USFKs Architecture and Interoperability Information Assurance branch. He joined the UMUC Asia faculty in 1996 and has taught in Japan and Korea and in the UMUC distance education program.

KEVIN MURPHY Location: Okinawa
Dr. Murphy originally joined the UMUC faculty in Asia in 1991 and taught for four years at several different locations in Okinawa, Japan. He then transferred to UMUC's European Division, teaching there through 1999 at several sites in Germany; at Rota, in southern Spain; for an extended period in Italy at Sigonella, Sicily and at Ghedi, Vicenza and Aviano in northern Italy; and at Keflavik, Iceland. Dr. Murphy holds a B.S. in English education and psychology, an M.A. in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in creative writing and modern American literature, all from Florida State University. Before joining UMUC he taught at Florida State University and in the PACE program aboard U.S. Navy vessels. He also lived in Alaska where he had experience working with English tutorial programs for Native Americans. He rejoined the UMUC faculty in 2001 and has taught in Sasebo and Okinawa and in the distance education program.