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John C. Volin, PhD serves as the 18th President of Gustavus. 

Following a postdoctoral fellowship in plant physiological ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Volin accepted a faculty position at Florida Atlantic University, where he rose to the rank of full professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and served as the director of the Environmental Sciences graduate program. Volin joined the University of Connecticut in 2007 to head the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, advancing to serve as Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. From 2020-2025, Volin served as the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Maine, where his portfolio included oversight of more than 1,000 faculty and staff and a budget of over $250 million. Volin is recognized as a national leader in using evidence-based practices to support holistic student wellbeing. He serves on the Executive Committee of the LearningWell Coalition and is a co-founder and senior advisor of LearningWell magazine.

Born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Volin holds a BS in botany and biology and an MS in agronomy from the South Dakota State University, and a PhD in forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Volin and his wife, Valeria, have five children and six grandchildren.

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Cathy Harms is a Senior Continuing Faculty member specializing in Marketing, Digital Marketing, and Marketing Research, and holds the George B. Torrey Endowed Chair of Management Marketing. She is currently the Business and Economics Department Chair. She joined the Gustavus faculty in 2016, bringing extensive professional experience from careers in banking, product management, venture capital, and marketing management.

Her teaching philosophy is centered on preparing students for the professional world. All of her courses incorporate experiential learning, pairing student teams with non-profits and businesses to develop marketing strategies, conduct market research, or implement digital marketing campaigns. This approach allows students to build critical skills in teamwork, project management, communication, and problem-solving. The world of marketing is constantly changing, so she brings in several guest speakers each semester to share their journey and the current marketing careers.

Beyond the classroom, Cathy manages the Content Managers for the Business and Economics Department. In this role, she oversees the creation of content for the department's social media platforms, which targets prospective students and undecided undergraduates. The content highlights departmental events, features students and alums, and educates the audience on the value of a Business, Accounting or Economics degree.

Cathy is deeply passionate about advising students and guiding them in their preparation for life after graduation. She has actively partnered with the Career Development Center to promote their services to students. As a proud alumna of Gustavus, she remains actively involved as a Class Agent and maintains close friendships established during her freshman year.

In her free time, she enjoys playing piano at a local nursing home, playing pickleball and volleyball, biking, hiking, walking in the Linnaeus Arboretum, and traveling. Her favorite role is being Nana to her four grandsons.

Dr. Justin Knoepfel, recipient of the Dr. Carlo A. Sperati Award, joined the Gustavus faculty in 2009. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Music, conductor of the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra (GSO), and instructor of viola. Transitioning from a career as a professional string player to the podium, Dr. Knoepfel brings a deep understanding of technical complexity and expressive nuance to his conducting, providing a rigorous yet engaging experience for his ensembles.

Beyond campus, Dr. Knoepfel is a highly sought-after clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. He recently served as the guest festival conductor for the Dorian Orchestra Festival. Under his leadership, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra maintains a robust performance schedule—including high-profile events like Christmas in Christ Chapel and the Nobel Conference—and tours annually. The GSO embarks on international tours every four years, with the most recent journey to Ireland and Scotland.

As an accomplished violist, Dr. Knoepfel’s performance credits include the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, and the South Dakota, Mankato, and La Crosse Symphony Orchestras. His artistry has taken him across the United States and Europe, performing at prestigious venues. He frequently collaborates with members of the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. A dedicated educator, he has served on the faculty for programs such as the Lutheran Summer Music Academy, MNSOTA Summer String Camp, and the International Viola Congress. His freelance career is equally diverse, ranging from sharing the stage with legends like The Eagles and Idina Menzel to performing privately for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.

Dr. Knoepfel resides with his wife, Elisa, and their five children. The household is completed by Regan, a Bernedoodle, and Avery, a Ragdoll cat. Above all his professional achievements, family remains the center of his life.

Paschal Baylon Kyiiripuo Kyoore is a professor of French, African/Caribbean Studies. He specializes in French literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, and Francophone Literatures of Africa and the Caribbean. He teaches a range of courses in French and in English. For courses taught in French, his "Francophone African/Caribbean Literatures & Cultures" course that he introduced many years ago marked the beginning of the French program shifting away from focusing on only France and French culture. Francophone cultures have since been the mainstream of courses offered by the French program, and this has made the program more attractive to students. Prof. Kyoore finds it pedagogically and professionally very enriching to teach about the cultures of francophone communities at all the levels of French courses. Also, he founded the African/African Diaspora Studies program, with the collaboration of colleagues, and also created a course in English.

Prof. Kyoore was the first Director of the African/African Diaspora Studies program. He has also served in other administrative positions such as being a co-chair of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures. One other service he renders to the institution is through his involvement with student organizations such as the Pan-Afrikan Student Organization (PASO). He is often invited to do an African xylophone performance at the annual Africa Night celebration organized by PASO; one of the student organizations event that attracts a large community crowd.

Besides journal articles and reviews, Prof. Kyoore has published three collections of folktales, two in English and one in French, and three critical works. He is currently working on a book on womanhood in Dagara folklore and culture. The Dagara are an ethnic group in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. He was a recipient of the Gustavus Faculty Scholarly Achievement award; an acknowledgement of his contributions to scholarship at the international level. Also, he was a finalist for a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach and do research abroad. His research focuses mainly on gender issues, the historical novel, and African folklore.

Computer Science majors/minors think analytically and logically, design creative and robust solutions, develop teamwork, and explore new technologies. They solve problems using multiple programming languages and development platforms, preparing for careers in data, analysis, actuarial science, and master's degrees in computer science (MCS).

Through the Gustavus Japanese Studies Department, students study the Japanese language, literature, history, politics, art, and religion. Plus, there's a required semester abroad in Japan, and faculty mentoring.

Living on campus is at the heart of the Gustavus experience—close community, vibrant events, and a variety of dorms and apartments make campus feel like home from day one to graduation.

Andrew Evenson ’09 has been a Professor in the Business and Economics Department at Gustavus since January 2025. After many years of practicing law and working in public accounting (International Tax – Transfer Pricing), Andrew made the transition to higher education and finds great satisfaction in returning to his alma mater and helping students prepare for careers and life. 

Since Fall 2023, Andrew (“Big E” to his team) has been an assistant coach with the Gustavus Men’s Golf Team. Andrew was a member of the team when he was a student at Gustavus and is so thrilled to be back with the program and supporting student-athletes. His focus in supporting the team is to get to know each player, highlight their strengths, and encourage each player to take satisfaction in making improvement over time.

Andrew has a passion for finding effective ways to explain the principles and processes of accounting so that students can explore the rewarding careers available to them. Through training staff, informing clients, and assisting student-athletes in his various prior roles; he discovered that different methods work for different audiences, but when you find the right mix of instruction, it is very satisfying to open doors for greater exploration, communication, and progress.

Andrew’s accounting career got started as a 2009 accounting major (History minor) graduate from Gustavus. While at Gustavus, he learned fundamental concepts and applied them through modeling and team projects. His professors were very helpful in one-on-one meetings helping him when he felt stuck or guiding his team when they were running into issues. He appreciates that the professors presented varied challenges and held him to high standards because that process gave him the confidence and skills to tackle the difficult tasks and projects of his career.

After graduating from Gustavus, Andrew attended William Mitchell College of Law (now known as Mitchell Hamline School of Law) in St. Paul, MN and received his Juris Doctor degree from there in the spring of 2012. The experience expanded his research, investigation, and learning skills while also giving him the opportunity to work with professors, visiting professionals, and fellow students who provided him with a network of support and wisdom.

Andrew’s teaching methods present concepts in various ways so that students with different learning styles can be reached and to increase the chances that students can recall those concepts and apply those concepts with adaptability (i.e., regular interactive Q&A, stories and examples to bring concepts to life, and projects where the students get to practice applying the concepts and communicating with a team). He also administers examinations with problems that present various levels of difficulty so that students can show what they’ve learned, be proud when they succeed, and learn lessons when they don’t know the full or best answer.

Saint Peter offers a welcoming college town vibe with nature, local shops, minutes from Mankato with many major stores and malls, and easy access to Minneapolis/St. Paul—perfect for a vibrant Gustavus experience.

Dr. Laura D. Triplett began her Gustavus career in 2008 with a faculty appointment in geology. Now established in the department of Environment, Geography and Earth Sciences, she teaches courses related to earth surface processes, environmental geochemistry, hydrogeology and climate change. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on topics as varied as reconstructing past water quality conditions in lakes and rivers, quantifying impacts of invasive species on freshwater geochemical cycling, and creating state-wide landslide susceptibility maps. In all her research, Dr. Triplett seeks out collaborations with community stakeholders. And, Dr. Triplett has involved Gustavus students in almost all aspects of her research program from designing preliminary studies, to executing major multi-year projects funded by external foundations and government agencies, to presenting findings at national scientific conferences.

Nicolas teaches beginning and intermediate levels ceramics courses as well as sculptural foundations and design. Other responsibilities include managing the Studios and Department Programs. He was a two-year Resident Artist at the Archie Bray Foundation. He has exhibited regionally and nationally in small group and solo exhibitions at venues including Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Carnegie Art Center, Phipps Center for the Arts, Modlin Center for the Arts, and Mulvane Art Museum. Nicolas has recently received a McKnight Artist Fellowship and a Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist Initiative Grant.

Nicolas uses clay and press-molded multiples to build sculptural accumulations which investigate the confluence of society, geography, and memory. Regarding clay and the ceramic process, he reflects “…a material which is both intimately connected to our humanity and can be made to take any form, a companion to society, I feel it owns a historicity like almost no other.”