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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.

Karrin Meffert-Nelson teaches clarinet, chamber music, and courses within the music education curriculum. She maintains an active performing career as Principal Clarinetist with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and performs as a freelance musician with the Minnesota Orchestra, Northrop Ballet Orchestra, and in productions at the State and Orpheum Theaters. She has also performed with the St. Louis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and has served as guest Principal Clarinet with both the Quad City Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra.

A founding board member and clarinetist for Minnesota Winds, Meffert-Nelson contributes to the leadership of the professional wind ensemble. An experienced clinician, she regularly adjudicates regional solo and ensemble contests and works with the woodwind sections of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. Dr. Meffert-Nelson holds a DMA from the University of Minnesota, an MM from Northwestern University, and a BM from St. Olaf College.

Dr. Chad Winterfeldt is Cantor of Christ Chapel where he oversees music in the chapel, teaches music theory and church music, directs the handbell ensembles, and maintains an active organ studio. He has received the Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence, a recognition by which nominations and selections are administered wholly by Gustavus students. Chad holds degrees from the University of Nebraska, Yale University, and Concordia College, Moorhead. A frequent recitalist, he has performed internationally for the Early Music Festival in Wittenberg, Germany, and in solo performances in Leipzig (Thomaskirche) and Naumburg (Wenzelskirche), Germany. Other notable recitals include complete performances of Messiaen’s La Nativité and Bach’s Leipzig Chorales. He collaborates often with the choirs, bands, and orchestras at Gustavus and enjoys liturgical playing for worship services. An active church musician, he is Director of Music at Grace University Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

Ernest Briggs is a professor of Theater and teaching Performance 1 and Performance 2, Improv, Directing and World Theater Analysis. He has recently directed The Secret in the Wings, Transforming and previously directed The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at Gustavus. Briggs has been a Warner Bros Discovery Early Access Early Career Bootcamp Fellow, Guthrie Theater Theater Management Fellow, and Park Square Directing Fellow. 

Ernest Briggs has been an actor, director, producer and teaching artist for more than 15 years. He has been seen on the stages at Guthrie Theater, Mixed Blood Theatre, Park Square Theater, South Coast Repertory, Pangea World Theatre, Children's Theatre and in films such as Unholy Communion, Ode for Leviticus, and Sold Out. 

Free tuition during your first year for Minnesotans who qualify, plus a minimum of $30,000 per year in scholarships for all others, plus a guaranteed degree in four years or your ninth semester is free.

Get answers about registration holds, transfer credit, transcripts, and more.

This unique interdisciplinary minor will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of modern business operations and the computational tools necessary for informed decision-making. 

For more than twenty years, Christine Nessler worked as a marketing and public relations professional across government, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. As a former entrepreneur and franchise owner, she has experience building brands from the ground up and maintaining a strong community presence. Beyond the business world, creative writing is her primary passion. As a freelance writer, she contributed articles to various regional publications. Her short stories and essays are featured in Half and One online literary journal and The Motherly Collective.

In 2024, Nessler joined the faculty at Gustavus. Students in her courses gain hands-on experience and the practical skills necessary to thrive in the workplace by applying classroom concepts to real-world community and business projects. In Nessler’s marketing courses, her favorite part of the semester is watching the students gain confidence as they serve as consultants for local business clients. As they develop strategic marketing plans, students also develop communication, project management, and leadership skills. Similarly, in Introduction to Management, her students build their own business from the ground up. According to Nessler, watching their final business plan presentations makes her optimistic about their futures as business and community leaders.

Outside of the classroom, Nessler serves on the Board of Directors for the Harry Meyering Center, volunteers as a reader of creative nonfiction for The Good Life Review, and cheers on her three kids at their various activities.

Nearly 90 percent of Gustavus graduates are employed, in grad school, or volunteering within nine months; all will participate in an internship, research, a community project, or a study away. Our students come out ready to do good work in the world.

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.

The Library and Archives provides access to books, periodicals, government documents, and databases. The librarians are eager to help you with research questions. The library also holds the college and Lutheran Church Archives and has great study spaces. See Library hours, information on inter-library loans, and LibGuides providing research help for different majors. Access the library search to find books, research databases, and more.

Elizabeth Kubek is a Professor of English, specializing in Literary Theory; Interdisciplinary and Gender Studies; Medical Humanities; and new/emerging media, including the early novel and graphic narrative (comics). While attending the University of Rochester she was the inaugural Susan B. Anthony Fellow for Women’s Studies. Originally tenured at Benedictine University, in 2019 she was hired to serve at Gustavus as Associate Provost, Dean of Arts and Humanities, and Director of General Education, also with tenure.  With two decades of experience in academic administration, she serves as Faculty Director for Student Academic Success and Director of Summer Term. Dr. Kubek is also a founding member of the President’s Council on Indigenous Relations, and serves as an ombudsman and a Kendall Center AI Fellow.  

Dr. Kubek holds multiple certifications in accessible and inclusive course design, with significant experience in online and hybrid course design and delivery, including for non-traditional student populations. Her teaching, advising, and scholarship all revolve around literacy and education as empowerment, with a focus on underrepresented groups, from contemporary non-traditional and non-neurotypical learners in the liberal arts classroom to early modern women writers discovering cities as sites of professional growth and self-invention. 

Recent presentations include sessions for The Grading Conference on asset-based, student-centered assignment design, and on fostering “AI resistance” through intrinsic motivation. Another recent conference paper, for the Pacific and Modern Literature Association, examined the theory that graphic narratives foster empathy by activating non-verbal brain systems involved in facial recognition and emotional “sense making.” Her current writing project, tentatively entitled Paramours, focuses on parasocial relationships and the function of verbal narrative as emotional “training,” from early modern romantic fictions to chatbot/human interactions. This research is also the basis for her AI/Human Relations Challenge Seminar (Spring 2027).

When not teaching she enjoys reading romance novels, watching classic and contemporary films with her family, and disappearing down Reddit rabbit holes.