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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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Lisa "LD" Dembouski, Ph.D., has been a mental health worker, Peace Corps Volunteer, and wilderness survival counselor before beginning work in her true passion and profession: education. She taught for 15 years in public K-12 schools before finding her next true love in teacher preparation at Gustavus, where she instructs a variety of courses and supervises teacher candidates in field placements. LD also devotes a great deal of her time and energy supporting Global Educators, a highly unique opportunity for Gusties to complete part of their student teaching semester in "away" destinations.

Explore counseling resources at Gustavus, including crisis support, self-help tools, mental health apps, and guidance for supporting others' wellbeing.

Gustavus Counseling Center offers individual therapy, group sessions, crisis support, wellness coaching, workshops, and tools to support student mental health.

Kyle E. Chambers is the Associate Provost for Institutional Research & Analytics. He leads a team focused on leveraging data to support strategic decision-making across the institution. Kyle oversees the development of data dashboards, research reports, and surveys that inform key areas such as student success, resource allocation, and program development. By collaborating with academic and administrative departments, he helps the college use data insights to enhance institutional effectiveness and foster a culture of informed decision-making that benefits the entire Gustavus community.

Kyle also serves chair of the Gustavus IRB (2020-present), and prior to joining the Provost's Office, he was the chair of the Department of Psychological Science (2017-2020). His research interests have been in cognitive development, typically focusing on issues related to language learning.

Dr. Lauren Hecht is the Richard Martin, Timothy Robinson, and Barbara Simpson Endowed Professor of Psychological Science. She joined the faculty in 2010 and was the 2022 recipient of Gustavus’ Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching. She is a cognitive psychologist whose primary research focuses on perception and attention, how they interact, and their influence on other cognitive processes. Her student-faculty collaborations have secured grant funding and resulted in presentations at regional and international conferences. As a First-Generation faculty who directed the First Term Seminar (FTS) Program and co-founded the Peer Mentor, Academic Leader, and Teacher (Peer MALT) Program, she regularly offers an FTS and supports students through their transition to college.

Kjerstin Moody (PhD) is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Scandinavian Studies. She teaches courses in English on contemporary Nordic society, politics, cultures, literature, film, and art, as well as beginning through advanced courses in Swedish. Her published scholarship and current research includes: 20th century and contemporary Nordic poetry, literatures of migration and the environment, women’s writing, and Nordic film. Service at the national level includes the Modern Language Association's CLCS Nordic Forum, Fulbright National Selection Committee, and American Literary Translators Association, as well as peer reviewer for numerous international and national scholarly journals. Affiliate faculty in Comparative Literature, Environmental Studies, and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at Gustavus. Her work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Fulbright, American Scandinavian Foundation, and U.S. Department of Education.

Learn about college policies for students, student rights, responsibilities, and the conduct process at Gustavus.

Dr. Janie Frandsen is the Arthur Glass, Charles Hamrum, and Arne Langsjoen Endowed Professor of Biochemistry. Holding a joint appointment in the departments of Biology and Chemistry, she teaches and advises students in the interdisciplinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) program. In her courses, students explore the intersection of the biological and chemical worlds while developing a scientific mindset, essential skills for careers in research or medicine. More importantly, within a liberal arts context, she guides students to become sophisticated thinkers, problem-solvers, and communicators who possess a deep sense of identity, meaning, and purpose — skills that prepare them for lives of leadership and service, no matter what their future holds.

Dr. Frandsen’s research focuses on studying the structure-function relationship of non-coding regulatory RNAs in bacteria, such as riboswitches and small RNAs. Using Escherichia coli as a model organism, her lab combines computational, biochemical, and genetic techniques to understand these molecular mechanisms, with the long-term goal of aiding the development of novel antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance. Undergraduate researchers engage in high-impact, hands-on discovery, executing experiments ranging from cell culture-based reporter assays to in vitro binding assays with transcribed RNAs and purified proteins. Dr. Frandsen and her students routinely present their work on and off campus and seek support through internal and external grants.

In the classroom, Dr. Frandsen creates structured, inclusive spaces where every student can thrive. Recognizing that students enter college with unique paths and positionalities, she pairs high expectations with robust, equitable support frameworks. To shift focus from stressful numeric grades to deep, formative learning, she implements innovative alternative grading practices, including “ungrading” and contract grading, in her courses. Whether analyzing real-world case studies, developing a growth mindset, or exploring vocation, students are challenged to see themselves as fully capable scientists and multifaceted humans.

Dr. Frandsen’s dedication to excellence extends to her service and leadership on campus. Notably, she has collaborated with her BMB colleagues to complete a comprehensive program review and secure accreditation from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) for the Gustavus BMB program. This prestigious distinction ensures that Gustavus BMB majors graduate from a program validated at the highest national level, opening doors to future careers in academic research, scientific industries, and health professions.

Outside of the classroom and laboratory, Dr. Frandsen claims the title of adventurer. Her adventures range from the local, such as exploring regional hiking trails with her dog, trying out new recipes, or learning a new fiber art, to the momentous, including international hiking trips and family trips to America’s National Parks.

Dr. Janie Frandsen CV

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