Program Instructors
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Randy Sabien, NPR's Jazz Profiles dubbed Randy .The past, present and future of jazz violin. His eclectic style started with classical violin lessons. From there he learned how to play along with records by the Grateful Dead, Papa John Creach, James Taylor and others. He continued his study of classical music at the University of Illinois, augmenting his formal education with gigs as a country/ rock fiddler. But his most pivotal musical influence came when he first heard the music of the great jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli. With a new musical focus, he began learning and playing the jazz of the 30s, 40s, and 50s on his violin. In 1977 Randy enrolled at The Berklee College of Music in Boston. One year later, at the age of 21, he returned to found and chair their new jazz string department. In 1989 Randy followed his heart to northern Wisconsin where he started his own record label, Fiddlehead Music.
Dr. Mo Salman is a Professor and Director of the Animal Population Health Institute of College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University. He holds appointments in the Department of Environmental Health and Department of Clinical Science. Dr. Salman's educational background is in veterinary medicine, preventive veterinary medicine, and comparative pathology. His veterinary degree was from University of Baghdad-Iraq, and both his MPVM and PhD were from University of California at Davis. He is the author of over 130 scientific refereed papers in scientific journals. He has participated in numerous conferences, and national and international meetings in over 20 years as a faculty member. He has served on the board of scientific journals (Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and American Journal of Veterinary Research) and he is the section editor for the epidemiology section of Animal Health Review. He serves on several national and international professional and scientific committees in the animal health sectors. He is chairman of the US Animal Health Committee on Foreign and Emerging Diseases. Dr. Salman holds a position on the peer review of the European Union scientific review for the geographical assessment for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. Dr. Salman's research interests are on the methodology of surveillance and survey for animal diseases with emphasis on infectious diseases. During the last 18 months Dr. Salman has initiated two research projects related to Chronic Wasting Disease in deer and elk. He is also in the process of finalizing the editing of a new book related to survey and surveillance.
Bryan Salminen, M.Div., M.Ed, Ph.D, is an associate professor and coordinator of specialized testing and counseling services at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He also is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist. Our week's study will be based on his concept of living "fully alive."
Nola Schmitt, RN, PhD, CHTP is a nurse with nearly 30 years experience. She is an Associate Professor of nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a parish nurse at St. Olaf Parish. Nola is a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner with a private practice and a project through the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire College of Nursing and Health Sciences Center for Health. She is a charter member of Healing Touch International and a frequent presenter of programs focusing on body/mind/spirit wellness.
Carol Schoenecker, RN, BSN, CHTP, CHTI is a provider of Healing Touch and spiritual direction at the MindBody Spirit Clinic located at Fairview University Center and in her private practice. She also works in adult mental health and adolescent chemical dependency at F.U.M.C. She is a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and Instructor, co-founder and member of the Minnesota Holistic Nurses Association, a charter member of Healing Touch International, and a member of AHNA and MNA. Carol received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois, Chicago, Certified as a nurse midwife in England, Carol practiced midwifery for 3 ½ years in Kenya, East Africa. In her 30 years of nursing practice, Carol has also worked in the areas of obstetrics, geriatrics, medical nursing, and home health care.
Gary R. Schwartzhoff, Associate Professor of Music, is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he conducts the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, The Singing Statesmen, Women's Chorus and teaches conducting. Schwartzhoff received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa. A recipient of the Helen Kemper Doctoral Fellowship Award, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Conducting at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Schwartzhoff has been active throughout his professional career in the American Choral Directors Association where he served as President of North Central Division of ACDA from 1992-94. Schwartzhoff has presented choirs at the state, divisional and national levels of ACDA including performances at the 1984, 1996, 1998 and 2000 ACDA Divisional Conventions and at the 1997 and 2003 ACDA National Convention. Schwartzhoff is the artistic director and conductor for The Master Singers, a community chamber ensemble with membership from throughout the Greater Chippewa Valley. He serves as Director of Music at the First Congregational Church in Eau Claire, where he conducts the Chancel Choir. Schwartzhoff has served as guest conductor and adjudicator for numerous choral festivals throughout the Midwest and Canada.
Roger Seim, is an Advanced Services Specialist and District Manager for MassMutual Financial Group in Minneapolis, MN. Roger has 25 years of experience in the financial planning and estate planning. John received master's degrees in Management and Financial Services from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Dr. T. J. Sheridan utilized his 30 plus years of experience working with teachers, classroom aides, instructional assistants and general school aides and assistants to develop this series of practical workshops for education paraprofessionals. His special interest in training education support staff and his use of humor to illustrate critical skills assure you an enjoyable learning experience. Dr. Sheridan has trained over 8,000 teacher aides and instructional assistants in Wisconsin.
William Simon is the founder and owner of Power of the Winds Publications, a music publishing company that specializes in arrangements that teach. He has several arrangements on the WSMA contest lists and his full band pieces are performed throughout the Midwest. He has written hundreds of arrangements for just about every kind of ensemble--from concert band to Tuba Quartet. During the past 25 years, he has taught band at Medford High School, Alma Area Schools, and at the present time teaches at South Middle School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He has studied arranging with Dominic Spera, Ron Keezer, Ivar Lunde and Michael Cunningham and has received both his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. He is active as an adjudicator in music contests and as a guest clinician for jazz and concert bands. His article "The Bandroom as a Classroom" has been published in the Leblanc Bell.
Joel Skinner, Skinner and Associates law firm, focuses his practice on prosecution of U.S. and International patent, trademark, and copyright applications. Based in Hudson, Wisconsin, he is licensed to practice law in Minnesota as well as Wisconsin. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Chuck Snowdon taught Scottish dancing for 20 years and is delighted to dance to Chris Norman's music. He will serve as the caller for our Ceili. He daylights as a Psychology Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nick Smiar, PhD, is a Professor of Social Work and past chair of the department of social work at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. His special interests are ethics, social welfare policy, international social work, and organizational & community development. He has been an educator for over 21 years and has presented locally and internationally. He has recently returned from Finland, Germany, and South Africa where he conducted training on critical thinking and effective intervention in response to violent and dangerous behaviors. Nick has presented previously on both HIPAA and Ethics and Boundaries and will bring new, updated information to these issues. Nick is a highly entertaining, professional presenter who is always well received by his audience.
David Smith, MD taught Family Medicine residents for 12 years before returning to private practice in 2002 with the West Bend Clinic, a member of SynergyHealth, in West Bend WI. Dr. Smith is also the Medical Director of the Down Syndrome Clinic of Wisconsin at Children's Hospital of WI. Since 1996 Dr. Smith has been the Medical Director of the Down Syndrome Clinic of Wisconsin at Children's Hospital of WI and is Medical Director of Cedar Community Campuses, a retirement community in West Bend, WI. He is also a member of the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group, editor for the Down Syndrome Quarterly, and has been a reviewer for American Family Physician since 1993. Dr. Smith comes to us with expertise and skills as a physician with a deep commitment to the care and needs of the developmentally disabled.
Henry Charles Smith won the Grammy with the Philadelphia Brass Quintet for the "Best Classical Record of the Year" in 1969. While on the conducting staff of the Minnesota Orchestra, he conducted over 1,000 concerts. As solo trombonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, he played more than 2,000 concerts with Eugene Ormandy and many other of the 20th Century's greatest conductors. As trombone and euphonium soloist, as chamber music player, and as writer and editor, his recordings and editions are internationally known.
His guest conducting includes the Detroit, Dallas, and Kansas City Symphonies, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the National, San Antonio and Indianapolis Symphonies.
Maestro Smith has served on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University, Temple University, St. Olaf, Luther and Bethel Colleges, and the University of Texas. He is Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University.
Henry Charles Smith is frequently a guest conductor, speaker, clinician and soloist across the United States. He has conducted the Young Artist Orchestra at Tanglewood and was Music Director of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen Arts Camp for 16 years. The Maestro spent twelve seasons as Music Director and Conductor of the South Dakota Symphony. In recognition of Maestro Smith's unparalled contributions to South Dakota's appreciation of quality classical and pops music, the 2000-2001 Season of the South Dakota Symphony was officially proclaimed by Governor William J. Janklow as "The Season of Maestro Henry Charles Smith III."
Dr. Larry Solberg is an associate professor and chair of the Dept of Communication Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Laura Sommer, MS, was a bass player in 2 working jazz and blues bands in Rochester, NY for 5 years, before moving to California in 2004. At Lake Tahoe Community College, she taught a Beginning and Intermediate Electric Bass courses rooted in rock and the 12-bar blues, with some jazz and other styles. The goal was to teach the students proper technique and how to use movable patterns for the major scale and the minor blues scale to play existing bass lines and to create new ones, in any key.
Laura accepts students at any level of experience – beginners are welcome. Her goal is to help you learn how to play the bass so that you can improve technique, jam with friends, or join a band someday.
Kathy Stahl, MSW, ACSW has worked with family and adult services in a variety of settings. During her thirty years of social work practice, she has practiced in mental health services, medical services, child welfare and occupational health services. She has taught within the UW-Eau Claire Social Work Department and has given several workshops for area businesses and organizations regarding personal, family and work health issues. Kathy can be heard weekly on Wisconsin Public Radio program, Spectrum West.
Erv Steiner is an attorney with Steiner & Wright S.C., an Eau Clare law firm which emphasizes business law, including real estate and construction law. Erv recently retired from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire College of Business after more than 30 years teaching business law. While at UW-Claire, Erv received the Excellence in Teaching award. He has been praised by his students and seminar participants for his ability to explain legal terms and processes in practical language. He uses real life examples to illustrate key points and allows time throughout the seminar for questions. Erv is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.
Susan Stokes, MA, CCC-SLP is the Autism Coordinator for CESA 6 and the First Step Autism Program, an early intervention program for students with autism spectrum disorder. She specializes in the area of autism spectrum disorder as both a speech/language pathologist and autism consultant for over 18 years. Susan has seen an increase in her practice of the number of students with Asperger's Syndrome since the introduction of diagnostic criteria in 1994. She brings her extensive training and experience in Asperger's Syndrome. Prior to moving to Wisconsin , Susan worked for a number of years at a school for children with autism spectrum disorder in Connecticut . She has authored several articles on autism and Asperger's Syndrome.
Mary Ellen Stolder, RN, APNP, is a master's prepared nurse practitioner with prescriptive authority. She has taught in several nursing programs, and is a former director of nursing in long-term care. Until March 2003, Mary Ellen practiced in an outpatient mental health clinic. She was a program manager for nursing programs for Continuing Education at UW-Eau Claire. At the present time, Mary Ellen is the associate dean for nursing at Western Wisconsin Technical College in La Crosse , WI . Mary Ellen has received excellent audience reviews for previous presentations on psychotropic medications from both nursing and human services professionals.
Janice Strop is a Professor in the Reading Language Arts Department at Cardinal Stritch University Dr. Strop's research interests are visual/critical literacy, reader response, integrated curriculum and young adult literature.
Heather Strutt (Oboe), is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the field of music education. She has been teaching privately on oboe and piano for several years and has a large studio in the Twin Cities and also one in Eau Claire. She has been seen performing with various groups and orchestras from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, including the UW-LaCrosse Wind Ensemble. She is also a member of the UW-Eau Claire Wind Ensemble and Orchestra and plays in the UWEC Faculty Woodwind Quintet. Ms. Strutt also subs occasionally in pit orchestras at the Ordway and State Theaters in the Twin Cities.
Rick Swenson joins us for his third year with Science Institute. Mr. Swenson has been interested in Astronomy since his dad helped him build his first telescope in seventh grade. He is licensed to teach Earth and Space Science for grades 7 through 12 in Wisconsin. Mr. Swenson is an active member of the Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society and has given many public presentations at the observatory. He has also developed an online astronomy class for local school districts. Mr. Swenson and his wife have two children, ages 15 and 18, who currently attend Eau Claire area schools.
