Meet Central Faculty & Staff
Rocket Sauce
Professor of Psychology Keith Jones knows the secret ingredient for student success.
Falling in Love with Literature
Assistant Professor of English Valerie Billing loves Shakespeare and demolition derbies.
Jay Wackerly
Title: Associate Professor of Chemistry
Research with students: Synthesizing oxacalixarenes, or “molecular donuts”
His team: Five chemistry majors turned research assistants
You can find him: Peering into a microscope in a Vermeer Science Center chemistry lab
Mark Mills
Title: Class Dean and Professor of Mathematics
Fun Fact: He takes actuarial exams to better prepare students.
Students Say: “Dr. Mills has the students’ best interest in mind at all times. Even after graduation, he has been willing to help with the exam process and material.” –Steven Grotzinger ’14
Cynthia Mahmood
Title: Frank Moore Chair of Anthropolgy and Professor of Anthropology
Expert in:Political asylum and human rights issues
Previously taught at:University of Notre Dame and University of Maine
Eric Jones
Title:Director of Academic Resources and Class Dean Expertise: “The Simpsons” episodes Responsibilities: Connecting students to campus resources and advising them on major decisions
Mark Johnson
Title: Ruth & Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities and Professor of Mathematics/Computer Science
Book: “A Concise Introduction to Programming in Python”
Advice for students: Learn about business and entrepreneurship at Central, too.
Russ Goodman
Title: Professor of Mathematics
Research Area: Sports analytics
Passions: Family, soccer and math
Ellen Du Pre
Title: Professor of Biology
Research: Studying the effects of triclosan on heart rate and metabolism
You can find her: Working with students to count the heart rates of zebrafish in Vermeer Science Center
Mark Barloon
Title: Senior Lecturer of History
Passion: American military history
Fun Fact: His classes often travel to American battlefields like Gettysburg and Antietam