Doctorate of Education in Literacy Program Faculty
Dr. Joy Towner began her professional teaching career in District 205 in Elmhurst, IL, where she served as a classroom teacher and eventually as the building reading specialist. She holds an M.S. Ed. in Reading Education from Northern Illinois University and is a trained Reading Recovery teacher. Her Ed.D. was earned in the first cohort of Judson’s Doctor of Education in Literacy Program.
View Bio of Dr. Joy TownerDr. Katie Ahsell began teaching students with significant emotional needs in Chicago Public Schools. She has since worked as a special educator and administrator in Champaign Schools and as a Director of Growth and Equity in Elk Grove Village Schools. She holds an EdD in Educational Administration and Foundations from Illinois State University. Katie enjoys time with her family and action research in culturally responsive education, social-emotional learning, and educational leadership practices.
View Bio of Catherine AhsellDr. Karen Biggs-Tucker has been an elementary school teacher for 25 years working extensively in grades two and five. A graduate of Loyola University’s doctoral program, Dr. Biggs-Tucker loves to share ideas with others about how to instill a love for both reading and writing in students of all ages. In her spare time she enjoys Chinese food, walks on the beach and reading books by her favorite authors. Dr. Biggs-Tucker’s research interests include children’s literature and literacy engagement.
View Bio of Karen Biggs-TuckerDr. Erik J. Borne is committed to combating aliteracy by punching out fake reading’s lights! Significantly impacted as a student in the DLIT program, Dr. Borne is excited to remain at Creekside teaching in the DLIT/DLEAD programs. His career includes teaching English at the high school level and Joliet Junior College in addition to serving as an instructional coach and department chair before going to the dark side as a high school assistant principal. As a recent recipient of a Penny Kittle Book Love Grant, an executive board member of the Secondary Reading League, and annual presenter at the Illinois Reading Council conference, Dr. Borne has a personal passion for reconstructing teens’ reading identities to develop lifelong readers, yet his research interests include anything outdoors like kayaking, hiking, and swimming.
View Bio of Dr. Erik BorneDr. Brenda Buckley-Hughes
Assist. Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor
Dr. Brenda Buckley-Hughes serves as Assistant Vice Presidents] of Academic Affairs and teaches with enthusiasm and energy. She has a passion for her students’ speaking success. Dr. Buckley-Hughes is the author of Introductory Speech Communication: Overcoming Obstacles, Reaching Goals
View Bio of Dr. Brenda Buckley-HughesDr. Eilene Edejer has over 30 years of applied research experience in different educational and community settings. She earned both her M. Ed. in Community & School Counseling and Ph. D. in Research Methodology from Loyola University Chicago, where she is currently joint faculty in the School of Education and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. During precious spare time, she enjoys yoga, knitting, reading, hanging out with her teen b/g twins, and traveling. Her current research interests include equity in student assessment and Culturally Responsive Teaching during the pandemic.
View Bio of Eilene EdejerDr. Les Knotts
Adjunct Faculty
Les Knotts served in the U.S. Army Infantry for twenty-seven years on five continents.
He is an ordained deacon who has served God in local churches and in military chapels. He trained for four years with the Navigators as an undergraduate, served as an area coordinator for Officer’s Christian Fellowship. Les also served with Cru for several years, working mainly with graduate students.
While teaching at West Point, Dr. Knotts developed and instituted a cadet-focused mentoring program for the U.S. Military Academy.
Les is married to Monika, and they are parents of two of the finest sons on the planet, with whom they are well-pleased. Les currently lives in Colorado Springs. He is a friend of God. And Jesus really loves him.
View Bio of Dr. Les KnottsDr. Melissa Leisner is a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Prairie Knolls Middle School in District 301. She has presented at the local, state, and national level and published an article about conferring with adolescents during writing instruction. In November 2013, Dr. Leisner was honored to receive the National Milken Educator Award.
View Bio of Melissa LeisnerDr. Elaine J. Roberts is a former systems analyst and university professor of writing, literature, business communication, math, and computer science. She has worked with practicing and pre-service teachers and administrators for over 20 years, focusing on classroom management, assessment strategies, differentiated and personalized instructional strategies, technology integration, and literacy strategies. Dr. Roberts has been privileged to work with educators in small and large districts and schools, encouraging and mentoring teachers to step out of their instructional and assessment comfort zones, helping them identify ways to implement various forms of digital and technological resources, including coding and robots, and making small but significant adjustments in the ways they invite students to learn. Outside of the education space, Dr. Roberts enjoys hiking and biking, reading, trying new recipes, and hanging out with friends. Her research interests include education trends, educational technology, and research in pedagogical and learning strategies.
View Bio of Elaine RobertsDr. Maria Schlup has been a classroom teacher and reading specialist for over 10 years. In addition, she has taught English as a second language and adult literacy at the college level. Dr. Schlup is Reading Recovery trained and holds a master’s in reading from Northern Illinois University. Her research interests include early intervention, culturally responsive teaching, and reading motivation.
View Bio of Maria SchlupDavid Alan Smith is a graduate of Judson’s Master of Education in Literacy and Doctor of Education in Literacy programs. He teaches in both the Communication Arts Department and the Division of Education and enjoys presenting on communication, language, and education at state and local events. David is married to Katie, also a Judson alum, and together they have two wonderful children.
View Bio of David SmithDr. Amy Warfel’s experience in the field of education began at the middle school level as both a teacher and administrator. She takes a research-based approach with practical application when teaching undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, she is passionate about teachers developing positive rapport with students and promoting literacy in the classroom. Dr. Warfel enjoys camping with her husband and two children.
View Bio of Dr. Amy Warfel