Our People
Lynnea Myers
Lynnea H. Myers, PhD, PhD MSN, RN is a dual PhD-trained nurse and researcher specializing in pediatrics, child development, asthma, and digital health. She currently serves as the faculty mentor for the Gustavus team for the Innovation Scholars Program. She most recently worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden and a Visiting Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Prior to those roles, she was an Associate Professor of Nursing at Gustavus Adolphus College. Her research interests focus on leveraging artificial intelligence and remote monitoring devices to improve pediatric asthma management.
Our People
Thomas Flunker
Tom Flunker joined Gustavus in February 2017 as Interim Director of the Diversity Center. His background spans K–12 and higher education teaching, athletic coaching, and administrative leadership. He has also held board and leadership roles in faith-based and nonprofit organizations. Throughout his career, Tom has focused on intentional, collaborative mentoring—helping individuals identify meaningful opportunities and supporting students as they navigate the complex but rewarding path of education. He remains committed to cultivating an authentic culture of community and belonging across the entire campus.
Our People
Anna Versluis
Dr. Anna Versluis is Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies and teaches in the Latin America, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies (LALACS) Program as well. She is a geographer interested in how societies imagine and engage in relationships with the land. Her studies span responses to natural disaster, land cover change, absentee farmland ownership, farm consolidation, the Haitian counter-plantation, and decolonial land ethics. She teaches Environmental Geography, Nature & Society, and Political Ecology, among other courses.
Our People
Brandon Dean
Dr. Brandon Dean serves as the Jon and Anita Thomsen Young Distinguished Endowed Chair in Music and is the Conductor of the Gustavus Choir. In addition to his conducting duties, he teaches beginning and advanced conducting, and serves as music director for Christmas in Christ Chapel. Dr. Dean received the 2014 Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2022 Faculty Service Award, the highest accolade a Gustavus faculty member can receive for distinguished service activities. Before his appointment at Gustavus in 2011, Dr. Dean completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Our People
Claire Woebke
Dr. Claire Woebke began teaching at Gustavus in 2022 as a visiting instructor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science. In 2024, she became an assistant professor and the research coordinator for the Master of Athletic Training Program. She teaches courses on medical and behavioral health conditions, athletic training leadership, and functional return-to-play, as well as the entirety of the Master of Athletic Training Program research sequence. Her own research focuses on embedding cultural humility training and experiences into healthcare education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Our People
Wade Green
Dr. Green serves as continuing assistant professor and clinical education coordinator for the Master of Athletic Training Program. He has both clinical and didactic experience in the areas of orthopedics, rehabilitation, primary care, and diagnostic ultrasound. He has published in the Journal of Athletic Training Education on parallels between primary care and the athletic training practice. He is also a practicing clinician for the past 18 years in college/university, multi-specialty orthopedics, performing arts, and occupational health settings.
Our People
Aaron Nienow
Aaron was born and raised in St. Charles Minnesota, a small town between Winona and Rochester. He attended St. Mary's University in Winona Minnesota where he met his wife, Amanda. After St. Mary's he took some time off before enrolling in classes at the University of Minnesota. Aaron began working at Gustavus in 2007.
He has three children and enjoys listening to baseball games, reading a books, riding bike, putting puzzles together, and coaching soccer.
Our People
Jeffrey Ford
Dr. Jeff Ford has been a visiting assistant professor of mathematics at Gustavus since 2016. He has taught almost every mathematics course offered at Gustavus. His research is in topology, dynamical systems, and mathematics education. Dr. Ford has supervised three honors theses, two interdisciplinary research projects, and six independent studies. He has co-authored two books in dynamical systems and one in linear algebra. He is committed to providing open access educational materials to students and encouraging teachers to use active and inclusive pedagogy. To that end, he has presented more than 20 times at conferences on active learning and alternative grading.
Our People
Kiki Harbitz
Since 2003, Kiki Harbitz has taught courses in the department of Biology, as well as the department of Health and Exercise Science. She specializes in anatomy and physiology, evolutionary biology, and animal behavior. She enjoys teaching students about their own bodies and helping them build upon the skills necessary to advocate for themselves and others in medical settings and situations. She spends her free time with family and friends, with pets (and foster dogs), gardening/landscaping, making art, being active, storm chasing, doing photography, and enjoying nature.
Our People
Phillip Voight
Phillip Voight is the Director of the Nobel Conference and teaches courses in new media, reality television, documentary film, argumentation studies, communication research methods and genocide studies. He is the former speech and debate coach and is a member of the Pi Kappa Delta Hall of Fame. He has also served on a number of non-profit Boards, including the GLCAC (Gay Lesbian Community Action Council, Philanthrofund, Outfront Minnesota, the South Saint Paul Educational Foundation, and Pi Kappa Delta.) He is also an avid traveler and has taken more than 175 trips abroad.
Our People
Rachel Flynn
Rachel Flynn joined the Gustavus faculty in her current role as the digital liberal arts librarian in 2023. Her research and teaching practices focus on student-centered, inclusive information literacy pedagogy; student learning assessment; and the incorporation of digital technologies in the library and classroom. Rachel has collaboratively published and presented scholarship that promotes the development of information literacy skills both within academic disciplines and in students’ daily and civic lives. She works collegially with other faculty and staff in the library to build the library’s collection to support the curricular and extra-curricular needs of the campus community.
Our People
Brittany Otto
Brittany Otto began her career at Gustavus Adolphus College in 2023. She holds an M.S. in Nursing Education (2023) from American Sentinel University, and is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership. Her clinical background spans pediatric and obstetrical/gynecological nursing in a variety of settings as well as experience in nursing leadership, and she is passionate about integrating technology into her teaching. Brittany focuses on supporting diverse learners and fostering inclusive classroom environments. Her academic interests include information technology in nursing education, supporting multilingual learners, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and best practices in NCLEX preparation.