Skip To Main Content

Faculty

Summer Session faculty offer expertise and credentials in a variety of fields and are dedicated to helping you expand your knowledge and spark your curiosity.

REGISTER TODAY

You may sign up today.

REGISTER NOW

Robert Baker

Robert Baker (C’78) brought to his coaching an outstanding individual athletic record and the ability to train student-athletes. After graduating from Principia College in 1978, he competed in the 1980 Texas Relays, where he set the world record in the 1,500-meter portion of the decathlon, a record that still stands. He also competed at the U.S. Track and Field Nationals and the Olympic Trials in 1980 and 1984. During his career, Robert has trained elite athletes and worked for the United States Olympic Committee and the United States Track and Field team from 1984 to 1996. In addition, he coached the U.S. Olympic men's decathlon team in 1995. Robert has served Principia in various capacities over three decades. He retired from Principia in May 2022.

Howard Bay

Howard Bay (US’69, C’73) grew up in St. Louis, attending Principia Lower, Middle, and Upper School. He graduated with honors from Principia College in 1973 and was awarded the Floyd A. McNeil History Award, going on to earn his master’s degree in history from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Howard joined the Upper School staff in 1978 as a house parent and coach. He later served as the social activities director, the director of admissions and enrollment, and chair of the Social Studies Department. Howard taught American history and economics to juniors and seniors, and coached varsity football at the Upper School. Howie has served as a trip scholar for Principia Lifelong Learning.

CLARK BEIM-ESCHE

A graduate of Northwestern University with a Masters in Oral Interpretation, Clark Beim-Esche (C’71) has taught English and American literature, American History, Film, and Fine Arts for over 40 years. Since his retirement, he and his wife, Carol, have traveled the country, visiting the homes and libraries of our past presidents as well as many of our great American writers. His first book recounting their travels, Calling on the Presidents: Tales Their Houses Tell, is available online, as well as in several presidential home sites. His second book, Inspiration Points: Where Our Writers Wrote, focuses on the homes and settings that inspired some of the United States’ most important authors, from Washington Irving to Robert Frost. He is currently beginning work on a new book, Twentieth Century Dreams, which will explore the art of film, one of Clark’s lifelong interests.

An international speaker, Clark has enjoyed lecturing on several Principia Lifelong Learning trips and riverboat cruises, leading tours to presidential homes, and teaching courses for many years at Principia’s Summer Session.

Clark Beim-Esche

Dr. Joan Bernard Bradley

Dr. Joan Bernard Bradley (FS’99) has worked internationally as an educator in Canada, England, and The Bahamas. She served Principia for 9 years as a faculty member at both the College and School. She then worked as Head of Elementary at Claremont Fan Court School in England and as faculty at Daemen University, New York, where she taught graduate and undergraduate education and leadership courses. Her doctorate is in Educational Leadership and Administration from St. Louis University. Currently, Joan offers Bible-based Leadership Workshops that show how Bible characters practiced principles of leadership with inspiration and healing. She applies these lessons to life today. Joan has contributed 25 articles to the Christian Science periodicals and The Christian Science Monitor’s Religious Perspective column. She is enjoying her recent move to Laguna Hills, California, and for fun, she loves to visit her sons and their families in the Cayman Islands, Michigan, and Toronto.

Joan Bernard Bradley

CHRISTIAN BORJA

Christian Borja (C’99) is the Principia College Academic Technology Instructional Designer. He earned an M.A. in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University and a B.A. from Principia College. Since 2022, he has been the Academic Technology Instructional Designer at Principia College, assisting faculty with technology integration, managing the Canvas learning system, and leading classroom technology projects and faculty training. His work consistently focuses on enhancing education through innovative technology solutions.

Richard Calkins, JD

Richard M. Calkins, JD is the founder of the American Mock Trial Association and the International Academy of Dispute Resolution and former Dean of Drake University Law School. Dick Calkins has trained thousands of lawyers and students in mediation. He was asked to create an 8-hour zoom mediation course to equip the busy professional with a practical understanding and immediate tools to resolve conflicts. He fascinates audiences with examples from actual cases spanning his decades-long mediation practice.

Shannon Carney

Appointed Principia College Head Coach of women's tennis in 2010, Shannon Carney coaches both the short fall season and the spring season. She also teaches the tennis physical education course each semester. Shannon serves on several College committees and helps recruit student-athletes. She has also worked in Student Life as a Residential Counselor. A member of the United States Tennis Professional Association for 34 years, she holds an Elite Professional ranking and competes at local and national levels. She also is a Professional Tennis Registry member with a rank of Professional in Adult Development. Most recently, Shannon won the Gold at the 2024 USTA National Women's 65 Hard Court Doubles Championship and earned the Bronze in the Singles Championship.  

Dr. Duncan Charters

Duncan Charters (HON’14) is a Principia College Professor Emeritus of Languages and Cultures. He earned his Ph.D. in Hispanic Language and Literature from Indiana University, and has had a distinguished career at Principia College, where he served as Professor of Languages and Cultures. He was appointed the Cornelius Ayer and Muriel Prindle Wood Endowed Chair in Humanities in 2008 and served as the Faculty Grand Marshal for 12 years. His primary teaching focus was the Spanish program, covering elementary to advanced courses in Hispanic language, literature, film, and culture, as well as elementary French. Duncan directed multiple Principia Abroad programs to Spain.

His ongoing professional activities include developing virtual language lab materials and enhancing intercultural competence in language courses and across the curriculum. With a B.A. and M.A. from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Duncan's expertise spans French and Spanish, contributing to a rich academic legacy at Principia College.

Dr. Matthew Cocks

Dr. Matthew Cocks joined Principia College from a career background of research and teaching in higher education. His interests largely relate to the economies of cities, their transformations over time, and the strategies local urban areas use for economic development. Since graduating from the University of Liverpool in the UK, his research has taken him to numerous countries around the world for field visits and conference presentations. He has taught for a number of programs at Liverpool John Moores University, Xi-an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in China, and the University of Birmingham in the UK. Matthew has also led pedagogical research into the academic experiences of international students in UK higher education. He served as the trip scholar on our PLL trip to Norway summer 2024.

Matthew Cocks

Linda Conradi

For as long as she can remember, Linda Conradi (C'65) has been “hooked on books.” Her earliest recollections include walking solo for several blocks toting a stack of books to and from her local public library in South Minneapolis. Reading has always been a part of her life, and she is seldom without a book in her bag. In this digital age, she carries dozens of books on her iPad. She also facilitates Principia Club book discussions. A Principia College graduate, Linda also holds a Master of Liberal Arts from Washington University in St. Louis. While employed by Principia for 18 years, Linda served in a variety of positions from Editor of Publications to English teacher to researcher for Principia’s centennial history book. She also conducted an extensive survey of faculty on the St. Louis campus for a report on the way character education is taught. As a writer, Linda has had articles and poems published in the Christian Science periodicals. Most recently her articles have appeared in a Midwest magazine, The Woman Today. Linda lives in Duluth, Minnesota, within walking distance of Lake Superior. In the summer or fall, you might find her sitting in the Rose Garden by the lake—reading a book.

Linda Conradi

RICHARD CRANDELL

Richard Crandell (C’82) has studied Latin, classical Greek, and archaeology, excavating ancient Roman and Iron Age sites in England with Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education and with the University of Reading.  He also learned Middle English and read all of Geoffrey’s Chaucer’s poetry in the original language. Richard worked over 30 years as a Civil Service Officer and a Foreign Service Officer.  He served at four overseas postings, including one in the United Kingdom, where he took the opportunity to visit sites associated with King Arthur, Robin Hood, and Sherlock Holmes.  He covered a range of national security issues and gave numerous presentations and briefings to a variety of audiences, including at international forums co-hosted by U.S. and foreign governments.

Cameron Douglas

Cameron Douglas (US’11, C’16) is a Visiting Instructor of History at Principia College, with a background in International Studies and History. He earned an M.A. in International Studies with concentrations in Comparative Politics and International Security from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 2018, and a B.A. in History and Political Science from Principia College. Since joining Principia College, he has taught courses in European, American, and global history. Additionally, he has coached the intercollegiate Model Illinois Government delegation. Cameron served as a Graduate Fellow at the National Nuclear Security Administration from 2018 to 2019.

EMILY ELLET

Emily Ellet (C’08) is an award-winning actor based in Denver. She has 18-plus years of experience working in theatre, Off-Broadway musical theatre, cabaret, cruise ships, and audiobook narration. Some of her favorite performances include Joyce/Isabella Bird in Top Girls, Mary in The 12 Dates of Christmas, the winner of the last-ever MetroStar cabaret competition, and her award-nominated solo show Uncharted. Emily loves to narrate YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy, Rom-Coms, and Parenting Nonfiction. Emily is also the co-founder and executive officer of PANA, the first-ever professional audiobook narrators association.

Emily Ellet

Mark Geis

Mark Geis is the Principia College Marshall Brooks Library Special Collections Registrar and Public Services Manager. Mark received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Art, Architecture & Planning. He manages the physical and digital maintenance of fine arts and artifact collections at Marshall Brooks Library. He also curates in-house exhibitions and manages the Campus Art Loan Program, loaning over 750 artworks across two campuses. Currently, he is overseeing the Aptaker Idea Lab managing the 3D printing makerspace, handling setup, and maintenance.

Dorothy Halverson

Dorothy Halverson (C’85) graduated with a double major in Elementary Education and Music. She also holds a master’s in educational leadership with an emphasis in early childhood education from Maryville University. Before joining the faculty at Principia, she taught three- through six-year-olds in a multi-age classroom as well as music classes for preschool through grade 6 at a St. Louis-area school. In 1990, Dorothy began teaching junior kindergarten at Principia School, becoming the Early Childhood Director in 2007. From 2013–2015, she served as the Early Childhood and Lower School Assistant Principal before assuming her current post as Early Child Principal.

Olivia Halverson

Olivia Halverson (C’16) is in her fourth year of teaching middle school at Mary Institute and St Louis Country Day School (MICDS). She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Concordia University, Chicago in Elementary and Middle Grades Education in 2019. She is co-director of the After School Academic Support Program and teaches middle school writing and reading courses over the summer at Eliot Summer Academy. She helps with new student orientation as an instructor in a middle school bridge program. She also teaches middle schoolers at First Church of Christ, Scientist in St Louis.

Olivia Halverson

Jonathan Hosmer

Jonathan Hosmer (US’88, C’92) works in Principia’s Marketing department managing Principia’s websites and other digital marketing systems, serving Principia School, College, Alumni, Lifelong Learning, and Advancement. His education and early work experience was in political science, history, and international relations. This culminated in five years as a research associate at a defense institute in the Boston area. If you take his course, you will likely hear about his family, his motorcycle, and distance running.

Susan Jackson

Susan Jackson (US’89) is a Photographer, Graphic Designer, and Botanical Monoprint Artist. She received a BFA from Stephens College. She blends fine art photography, graphic design, and botanical monoprinting to create works that reflect the beauty of the world. With a career spanning over 30 years, her artistic journey has taken her across Canada, the Caribbean, Italy, and beyond. Known for her natural, elegant style, Susan's work is featured in publications and showcases a deep connection between light and subject.

Dr. Nicholas Johnson

Dr. Nicholas H. Johnson (C’04) is the Principia College Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Economics and Chair of the Sustainability Department. He holds a PhD in Energy and Mineral Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Johnson's research focuses on energy production, electric reliability, and the clean energy transition in the U.S. He specializes in the decision-making processes of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), which implement electricity policy. His work bridges sustainability and economics, aiming to advance reliable and sustainable energy systems. Nick received The Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award in 2023. 

Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish

Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish (HON’14), Principia College Professor Emerita of Music, was a faculty member at Principia College for over 30 years the Charles Stewart Harding Mott Distinguished Professor of Music. Throughout that time, she maintained an active performing career as both a pianist and flutist. A winner of the prestigious St. Louis Artist Presentation Society Competition and a member of Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley, she holds music degrees from UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and Yale School of Music. During her tenure at Principia, Marie conducted the College orchestra and taught a wide variety of courses, including an award-winning class of piano and flute students, Fundamentals of Music, Chamber Music, The Creative World of Mozart, and many more. Together with her musical family, she has performed for many of Principia’s lifelong learning programs and alumni weekends. She has also led several European trips for Principia and directed College music tours around the country. Upon her retirement in 2014, Marie was awarded honorary alumni status. Marie has served as the trip scholar on PLL trips to Europe and Japan. 

Susan Ledbetter

Susan Ledbetter (C’70) graduated from Principia College with a double major in history and education and a minor in art history. After graduation, she spent many years as an art museum docent and educator. She then went on to teach art history and serve as a college counselor in an independent high school. Susan has taught art history courses at Principia’s Summer Session and was the trip lecturer for Principia Lifelong Learning trips to France and Italy.

Susan Ledbetter

Madelon Maupin 

Madelon Maupin (C'73) grew up in Tulsa, OK, and graduated from Principia College with a BA in biblical studies. She later received a Master of Theological Studies from San Francisco Theological Seminary, focused on biblical studies. In 2012, Madelon started BibleRoads, a Biblical education company for spiritual seekers, regardless of their church or non-church backgrounds. Madelon served served on the National Ecumenical Team for The Christian Science Church for eight years, was a founding Trustee of The New Theological Seminary of the West, and has written 70+ articles for magazines on spirituality, including podcasts. Madelon has served as the trip scholar on the Principia Lifelong Learning trip to France, Greece and Turkey, and Egypt. She was the 2020 recipient of the David K. Andrews Distinguished Alumni Award.

Leah McFall

Leah McFall (US’89, C’93) is a professional costume and set designer, as well as an award-winning visual artist in a wide range of media. She is currently designing for productions and teaching technical theatre courses at the College. Leah's main focus is on costume and set design for theatre and dance. She also produces fine art in a variety of fiber art and painting mediums. She is currently researching festival arts in the early modern period—their political uses and their connections with antiquity. Leah has over thirty design credits and exhibits in numerous shows, including costume design for regional theatres in Chicago, Alton, and St. Louis, as well as for a show selected for the Kennedy Center Regional College Theatre Festival.

Dr. Brandon James O’Neil

Brandon James O’Neil (C’16) Principia College visiting faculty, is a poet and scholar from Rochester, Michigan, currently living on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He completed his Ph.D. in English at the University of Iowa with a dissertation focusing on the final published writings of Walt Whitman. He also serves as Managing Editor of the Walt Whitman Quarterly Review and is a member of the Modern Language Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. For Whitman’s birthday in 2019, he co-curated the exhibition, Walt Whitman: A Bicentennial Celebration, at the University of Iowa Libraries. The same year, O’Neil presented at the Art and Psyche conference at UCSB and the annual conference of the American Literature Association in Boston. He teaches at Principia College as a visiting faculty member, leading classes in literary editing, literature of the Civil War, the poetry of William Carlos Williams, and American women’s poetry. His poems and essays have appeared in the Christian Science SentinelPlough Quarterly, Image, and elsewhere. Recently, his translation of the ancient Chinese classic, The Book of Filial Piety (孝經), was featured in the annual Journal of Daoist Studies, published by the University of Hawaii.

Brandon James O’Neil

Dr. Shirley Paulson

Dr. Shirley Paulson (US’66, C’70), specializes in both canonical and extracanonical writings, with a particular interest in understanding the motives of their authors, especially the varied views of Jesus and his commitment to healing and helping in the rebellion against Roman oppression. Paulson is the principal producer of the Early Christian Texts website, earlychristiantexts.com, which features the “Bible and Beyond” series of blog posts, articles, online courses, events, discussions, and a monthly podcast. As the first Head of Ecumenical Affairs for Christian Science Church (2008-2018), she gained first-hand experience with Christian controversies over healing and orthodox theologies. Her focus on extracanonical texts strengthens her appreciation for their importance then and now for Biblical and Christian studies. Shirley is the recipient of the Principia David K. Andrews Distinguished Alumni Award. 

Shirley Paulson

rOBIN sELLERS

Robin Sellers (C’86) has always been passionate about sports, from competing in soccer and track at Principia College to participating in multiple Olympic distance triathlons after graduation. In 2018, she became a certified yoga instructor and has enjoyed sharing her love for stretching and fitness through part-time teaching. Recently, Robin has taken up pickleball as a new favorite activity. She has spent over six years at Principia, holding several roles within Advancement before transitioning to her current position as program manager for Principia Lifelong Learning. 

DAN SHEETS

Dan Sheets’s (US’81, C’85) life has always been shaped by his passions for water and wildlife. A high school state champion and college national qualifier in swimming, he also excelled in water polo, earning a spot at the national training center in Colorado Springs. Over 30 years as an educator and coach at Principia Upper School and Middle School, he inspired countless athletes in swimming and water polo while fostering a love for the water.

Beyond sports, Dan discovered birding through the Upper School birding class and shared this passion with his two sons, who now have life lists of over 1,000 birds. From Costa Rica to Israel, they’ve explored birding hotspots worldwide. In his free time, Dan is either riding the waves—body surfing, sailing, or wing foiling—or sharing his birding knowledge and tools, including apps to recognize bird calls, with others.

DR. CLINTON STALEY

Dr. Clinton Staley (C’80) is Professor of Computer Science at Principia College. He has 35 years of combined experience in academia and industry. Clinton has taught computer science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Principia, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for almost 30 years. He has built software and managed software development projects for a variety of small and large organizations. Clinton cofounded several small software companies and holds six U.S. patents.

Clinton Staley

Dr. Gretchen Starr-Lebeau

Dr. Gretchen Starr-LeBeau is the Principia College Jeanne and George Todd Professor of Religious Studies and chair of the History department. She is a specialist in the history of religion, focusing on Jewish-Christian relations and the Spanish Inquisition. Before joining Principia, she spent over 15 years teaching at the University of Kentucky. At Principia, she teaches courses on comparative religion and the history of religion, including "World Religions," "Jews, Christians, and Muslims," "Religion in America," and "God and the Holocaust." She holds a PhD and MA in History from the University of Michigan and a BA with high distinction in an interdisciplinary major from the University of Virginia. Gretchen was the 2020 recipient of Principia College Horace Edwin Harper Jr. and Evelyn Wright Harper Award for Teaching Excellence.

Chrissy Calkins Steele

Chrissy Calkins Steele (FS’08) teaches acting, voice, Shakespeare, and First Year Experience classes; directs productions; and co-leads the England Abroad focused on Shakespeare. She is a Designated Linklater Teacher of voice for actors, and she is working toward certification in Eginton Alignment as well as training in the Michael Chekhov acting technique. As an actor, she has performed with numerous companies, including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Moving Dock, Absolute Theatre, Wisdom Bridge, Ivanhoe Theatre, ChicSpeare, and the Iowa Shakespeare Project. She was also a workshop and residency artist for many social service and educational organizations in Chicago, including Urban Gateways and Lutheran Social Services. Chrissy is also a founding and company member of Bankside Repertory Theatre Company, Alton, IL.

Dr. Joe Van Riper

Dr. Joe Van Riper (C’05) joined the faculty in 2010. He teaches conducting, American popular music and musical theatre, musicianship, and applied trumpet lessons. In addition, he directs the College orchestra, choir, jazz ensemble, and various vocal and instrumental chamber ensembles. Joe is an active performer on trumpet and piano, playing traditional jazz in the greater St. Louis area with multiple ensembles. He also serves as substitute organist for the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League. Prior to joining the faculty at Principia, Van Riper worked as a contractor for the Department of Justice. Joe’s scholarly interests lie in turn-of-the-century mechanical music. His dissertation, "The Reproducing Piano: A Portrait of the Artist," explores the history and development of the reproducing piano and its impact on society through capturing historical performance practices of great pianists.

Dr. Peter van LiDTH de Jeude

Dr. Peter van Lidth de Jeude (C’04) is Assistant Dean of Academics and an Associate Professor and chair in the history department at Principia College. His scholarship program focused on Modern European history with a special emphasis on Germany. He has worked as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and at Pennsylvania State University, where he also served as an instructor. Peter’s dissertation is about occupation bureaucrats during the First World War, which helped broaden his view of history, leading to a more global perspective. He is sharing this global perspective on history with students in his courses on everything from his specialty in European history to early American history, non-Western history, and historical research methods. Peter’s scholarly interests involve Wilhelmine German society, in particular its bureaucracy and the stresses placed upon it in times of extreme crisis. He is also interested in the impact of war upon society more generally, as well as transnational and global perspectives in history. Peter was the trip scholar on our PLL Danube River cruise last summer.

Rich Waller

Rich Waller (C’76), has been a mainstay at the Upper School for many years, serving as a faculty member in the Social Studies Department. Rich earned a master’s in history from the American Military University in Manassas, Virginia, and an MBA at the University of Missouri.

Rich Waller

Sara Wienecke

Sara Wienecke (C’09) is an Assistant Professor of English and Chair of the English Department at Principia College. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte and a BA from Principia College. During her graduate studies, she focused on fiction and poetry writing, African American literature, and American literature from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. Wienecke teaches literature and creative writing courses, emphasizing student engagement with the broader literary community.

John W. Williams, JD

A longtime faculty member of the Political Science Department, John Williams, JD (C’76) also served as president of Principia College from 2020–2023. He was the inaugural recipient of the Principia College Horace Edwin Harper Jr. and Evelyn Wright Harper Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013. During his over 40 years at Principia College, Williams has taught American government, law, and comparative politics courses; coached intercollegiate mock trial, moot court, and Model Illinois Government teams; served as pre-law advisor; and held additional teaching assignments in mass communication, global perspectives, and history. He has directed more than a dozen Principia study abroad programs to mainland East Asia and has served as a popular lecturer for the Principia Lifelong Learning and Summer Session programs. John was elected as president of the Faculty Senate for two separate terms and has also served two terms as president of the Illinois Political Science Association. Before joining Principia, John worked in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice and as an attorney in private practice. He earned a juris doctor degree from The George Washington University. 

Interested in Learning More About Summer Session?

Explore courses, meet faculty, and review helpful program information.

> Summer Session Home > Courses > Faculty
> Rates > Attendee Information > FAQs