Barb Ludins
M.A., Alfred Adler Graduate School, MN; B.A., Metropolitan State University
Christopher Title
M.A., St. Mary’s University; B.A., Northern Arizona State University
Christopher Title graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1991 from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Bachelor of Arts in English. His emphasis was on Comparative Literature and Creative Writing. He minored in Latin American Studies. In 2001, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis with a Master of Arts in Education. His thesis paper was titled Teaching and Diversity. Christopher is currently attending Hamline University pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Writing degree (2004).
After undergraduate studies, Christopher worked as a trip leader for Arizona Raft Adventures and Worldwide Explorations. He has extensive guiding experience on the rivers of the American Southwest such as the Verde, the Gila, the Salt, the San Juan, and the Colorado in the Grand Canyon. He is an expert on the region’s human, natural, and geologic history. In 1995, Christopher was hired as General Manager of the Black Bean Burrito Bar and Salsa Company by TDN Restaurants LLC, and in 1997 became a shareholder in the company.
Christopher began teaching English at The Art Institutes International Minnesota in October of 1998. He has since taught well over 1000 students. In 2001, he was awarded the Minnesota Career Colleges Association Instructor of the Year. Christopher is a member of both the Modern Languages Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. He has published poems in Spanish in the Ash Creek Press of Phoenix, Arizona (1991) and a letter to the editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (2000). In 2004, he began writing a regular bi-monthly column called The Outsider for Living Out publications.
Christopher is an active participant in several key areas of the school. He has served on many committees including, Disciplinary, Admissions, Event, Commencement, and Persistence. He is currently the Chairperson of the Student Success Committee and works diligently to implement initiatives which encourage student success and retention. Christopher is most proud of his rapport with students with whom he develops long lasting and valuable relationships. He is an enthusiastic and ethical instructor committed to teaching in a learner-centered environment that contributes to an open and engaging community of learning.
Dana Nissen
Ph. D. Candidate, Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, IN; M.Th., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, IL; M. Div., Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN; B.A. University of Minnesota; Post Graduate Studies, Loyola University Chicago and Oxford University.
Dana comes to the Art Institutes International with 12 years of teaching experience. He has taught Ethics, Philosophy and Theology at Loyola University Chicago, Concordia University River Forest IL., and Bethel University, St. Paul. He has also been a field education supervisor for the Lutheran School of Theology and the Fund for Theological Education. When he is not teaching, Dana is a Lutheran Pastor in North Minneapolis.
Deborah Weiss
B.A., St. Cloud State University
Deb Weiss graduated from St. Cloud State University with a B.A. in Interdepartmental Speech/Mass Communication and went to the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus) to receive her Vocational Educational License.
Deb began working at Lowthian College in Minneapolis Minnesota. While there, and working as an Admissions Advisor at Lowthian where she recruited students from the five-state area, interviewed and tested students as part of the admissions process, facilitated site visits, tracked progress of enrolled students throughout their program, advised students on educational, professional, and personal decisions, and goals.
For a short time Deb moved to Seattle, Washington and taught classes at Highline Community College from 1992 through 1994. While there, she taught English as a second language to adult immigrants including new arrivals and people polishing their English skills in preparation for professional board exams. She also assisted adult reading lab students in meeting their individual program goals. In 1994, Deb moved back to Minneapolis and continued to teach and developed course curriculum, objectives, and lesson plans for classes in Oral Communications, Business communications, and English Literature.
In 1997, The Art Institutes International family of schools acquired Lowthian College and Deb went with the acquisition. She now teaches Effective Speaking and Career Development classes at Ai Minnesota. She also assists the Admissions Committee by reading and evaluating essays against set criteria written by prospective students.
Erin Hennessy
M.A. Universiteit van Amsterdam (The Netherlands), B.A., Victoria University of Manchester (United Kingdom)
Erin Hennessy studied art history at the Victoria University of Manchester in Northern England after spending a year in the educational department at Christie's Auction House in London. After completing her BA in Art History and Architecture, Erin moved to Amsterdam, where she studied film history at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. Amsterdam is home to one of the largest film archives in the world, where rare early films are studied and preserved. Erin then returned to her first love, art history, and pursued a Master's degree again at the Universiteit van Amsterdam, specializing in Dutch art, writing her thesis on Vincent van Gogh.
Erin returned from Amsterdam in March 2004 to teach at Ai Minnesota and is enjoying being back in the Twin Cities. Apart from teaching, Erin is researching the history of the Dutch Collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and writing on a freelance basis.
Faith Johnson
M.S., Colorado School of Mines - Golden, CO; B.A., Wartburg College -Waverly, IA
James Redfeild
Ph.D., Ohio University; M.S., Northern State College; B.S., Northern State College
Jan Austad, General Education Academic Director
M.Ed., McGill University, Montreal; B.A., C.C.S., Concordia University, Montreal
Jan has been involved in the fields of education and counseling for nearly 20 years and began her career working with adolescents and creating recreation and memory programs for the elderly. Jan originally came from Anoka Ramsey Community College; where she served as the Director of Instruction and managed a student body of nearly 600 students from 15 various Twin Cities high schools. Prior to joining Anoka Ramsey Community College, Jan worked for High-Tech Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a General Education Instructor. In this position she was responsible for the implementation of curriculum and student assessment for various subject areas including psychology, human relations, medical business, sociology, ethics and public speaking. Jan worked in conjunction with the Director of Education to develop time management tools for General Education staff and presented materials at professional development seminars to both staff and Directors of High-Tech Institute.
Jeff Burkett
M.S.; B.S., Mankato State University
Jenny Herbst
M.A., University of Minnesota; B.A., University de Chile - Santiago, Chile
Jeremy Frandrup
M.A.L.S., Hamline University; B.A., Metro State University
Jeremy Lawson
M.S., University of Tennessee; B.S., Marshall University (Environmental Science and Geology)
Kaycie Billmark
Ph.D., University of Virginia; B.S., Northwestern University
Ligia Colgan
A.D.B.; M.A.; B.A., University of Minnesota
Linda Huntzicker
M.Ed., University of Minnesota; B.S., Montana State University
Michael Courteau
M.A., University of St. Mary’s, Minneapolis; B.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison
Michael Courteau graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a degree in English in 1990. He has since worked as a proofreader, Division Manager in the employment industry, and in education. Mike graduated from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota with a Master of Arts in Teaching. The focus of his master's degree was a summary paper entitled "Technology-Driven Learner-Centered Education and Its Implications for Private Proprietary Arts Colleges."
After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Mike spent nine months as an Assistant Coordinator in a Spanish language school in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. From 1991-1994, he worked as a proofreader providing numerical assessment to student writing samples. In October of 1994, Michael was hired as a Bilingual Staffing Coordinator for Doherty Employment Group, located in Edina, Minnesota. He eventually became the manager of a $2,000,000 staffing division.
Michael Courteau became an Adjunct English Instructor at The Art Institutes International Minnesota in January of 1999, before accepting a full-time faculty/administrative position in March of 1999.
In addition to his academic career, Mike is a freelance reviewer/editor. He has been recognized for his review of the writing textbook: Connections: Writing for Your World. Mike is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Writing at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Rebekah Brandvold
M.A., Bethel College; B.A., University of Minnesota
Renae Sauter
M.A., St. Mary’s University, Twin Cities; B.A., Metro State University
Sandra Cook
M.A.; B.A., Biola University
Sarah Orman
M.A., Hamline University; B.A., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Sharon Kurtt
Ph.D., University of Iowa – Iowa City; M.S., University of Wisconsin – Whitewater; B.A., Wartburg College
Tim Flugum
M.S., Texas A & M University; B.S., U.S. Military Academy, West Point
Tim Nagle
Ph.D.; M.S., University of Minnesota; B.S., Northern Michigan University
Tony Steblay
M.F.A., B.A., University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
William Teska
STB(Mdiv), Berkeley Divinity School (at Yale University); AB, Dartmouth College