Seminole State College welcomed back both new and returning students for the new academic year on Monday, August 13. New students aren’t the only fresh faces on campus this fall – SSC has welcomed 11 new full-time employees.
Andrew Davis, Dianna O’Connell, Dr. Nilmini Senaratne, Rachel Barker and Stephen Brooks have all assumed faculty positions at the College.
Andrew Davis has joined the Language Arts and Humanities Division as an Assistant Professor. Davis comes to SSC from Oklahoma State University where he served as an American Studies Lecturer. Davis holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Connecticut College and a Master of Art in Gender and Cultural Studies from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. He is currently pursuing his PhD in screen studies at Oklahoma State University. He will be teaching English composition I and II as well as supervising the writing center on campus.
Dianna O’Connell joined SSC as a Student Success Instructor. She holds a Bachelor in Education from Missouri Western State University and a Master in Education from the University of Oklahoma. O’Connell will be teaching the College’s learning strategies courses this fall and will also serve as a student advisor.
Dr. Nilmini Senaratne was hired as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and both a Master of Science and a PhD in Chemistry from Wichita State University. Senaratne will be teaching introduction to chemistry and general chemistry this fall.
Rachel Barker comes to SSC from the Pottawatomie County Health Department where she was a Coordinating Nurse. She has joined the Nursing Division as an Assistant Professor. Barker holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master in Nursing Education from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. She will be teaching medical surgery this fall and maternal newborn and pediatric nursing in the spring.
Stephen Brooks, previously an adjunct instructor in the Business and Education Division at SSC, will now serve as Assistant Professor of Business/Business and Industry Coordinator of Outreach. Brooks holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master in Business from the University of Oklahoma.
Along with new faculty members on campus, one new coach and five new staff members have also joined the SSC team. Mack Chambers was hired as the SSC Head Baseball Coach and will also be teaching health and wellness courses this fall. He came to SSC from Broken Arrow High School where he was the Assistant Baseball Coach. Chambers earned his associates degree at SSC and received his bachelor’s from North Eastern State University in health and human performance.
David R. Cobb was hired as an Information Technology Technician at the College. He previously served at Seminole Public Schools where he was the Information Technology Director. He holds a Bachelors in Business Administration in Petroleum Land Management from the University of Oklahoma. Cobb will help to maintain all of the computers and systems on campus.
Kim Pringle has joined the GEAR UP Program at SSC as an advisor. Pringle comes to the College from South Rock Creek School where she worked as a music teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Oklahoma Baptist University. Pringle works on site at Okemah Middle School, Konawa Middle School, and Varnum High School with a cohort of students that are currently in seventh and eighth grade. She also works with the faculty to encourage college and career readiness, leadership skills and social/emotional growth for the students.
Michael Murray recently joined the Information Technology Department as a technician. He comes to SSC from St. Gregory’s University where he served as a Data Systems Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from St. Gregory’s University. He will help maintain all of the computers and other related technology on the SSC campus.
Shane Marshall joined SSC full-time this summer as a campus Police Officer. After retiring from the Seminole Police Department in 2016 where he served as Chief of Police, he decided to return to law enforcement at SSC. Marshall holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from East Central University. His job duties include training department personnel, students and employees with emergency preparedness and safety. He will also help the department maintain twenty-four-hour coverage of the campus, facilities, students, staff and guests.Robin Tyler has been hired as the College’s Librarian/Special Topics Instructor. She previously worked as a tutor for the Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions Program on campus. Tyler holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of North Texas and a Master of Education in Media Library Services from East Central University. Tyler will teach three special topics classes in English as well as oversee the Boren Library.