Sarah Beno

Syed Ali

Biography

Mr. Syed Noaman Ali serves as an Assistant Professor in Cybersecurity. He brings 18 years of extensive experience from the IT industry to his academic role. His expertise includes implementing robust IT solutions and a deep understanding of business operations. Known for his goal-driven approach and resilience, Mr. Ali excels in both solo and team settings, always focusing sharply on details.

His skills cover IT strategy, technology deployment, and the management of enterprise applications, Windows servers, data centers, and storage systems. Mr. Ali’s proficiency in recruitment, procurement, and customer service has notably improved IT operational efficiencies across various organizations.

An acknowledged expert in technology deployment, Mr. Ali possesses robust prioritization abilities and a keen analytical mindset, leading to consistent success. His contributions are marked by pioneering new technologies, developing advanced systems, enhancing revenue, and strengthening support for critical applications.

Academically, Mr. Ali is committed to leveraging his substantial industry experience to educate and inspire upcoming cybersecurity experts. His primary aim is to become a vital asset to his institution, significantly advancing its mission and cultivating strong, productive relationships in both industrial and academic circles.

Distinctions & Awards

Excellence in Teaching Award 2020, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

Favorite Quote

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”
― Socrates

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Scott Barrett

Biography

Scott Barrett is an alumnus of Champlain College who is delighted to be pursuing his passion of teaching. He worked at Ubisoft Montréal for 5 years in a variety of roles, including as a network programmer, as a gameplay programmer, and as a tools programmer. He has worked on teams as small as under a dozen people to as large as several hundred people. He has experience with both Unity and with proprietary game engines.

Scott’s teaching philosophy centers around helping students achieve their goals by working with them collaboratively and with honesty. He teaches physics, networking, and game engine courses, and he has a particular interest in low-level and systems programming. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Computer Science at the University of Vermont part-time while teaching at Champlain College full-time.

Distinctions & Awards

Awarded a gift grant by Activision for educational work at Champlain

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

Practical Creativity by Raph Koster

An excellent talk for game developers of any kind, and for anyone working in any creative field. Includes practical advice on how to be creative, and also includes a different way of looking at what it means for different works to share a genre.

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Melanie Brown

Biography

Dr. Melanie Brown is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and has been teaching at Champlain College since 2013. She is also the Program Director for Mathematics and oversees not only the major in Applied Mathematics and the minor in Mathematics, but also the collection of math courses that meet the needs of each of Champlain’s majors. Originally from Atlanta, GA, she graduated from Converse University with both a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She then pursued graduate studies in mathematics, earning a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Western Michigan University and a Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Vermont.

While her earliest research interests were in topological graph theory and combinatorial design theory, teaching at Champlain has given her the opportunity to explore applications of mathematics across a variety of disciplines. She is now especially interested in the mathematics of cybersecurity and regularly teaches a course in the mathematics of Cryptography. She also teaches more traditional math courses like Calculus I, Calculus II, and Linear Algebra, but she enjoys infusing each course with examples that demonstrate how the theoretical ideas help solve problems in “the real world.”

In addition to her teaching and administrative roles, Dr. Brown serves her faculty colleagues as the Chair of the Faculty Senate Welfare Committee. She is also a champion for gender diversity in STEAM and advises Champlain’s Womxn in Technology Club and Champlain’s Women in Cybersecurity Student Chapter. Additionally, she is a facilitator with the Champ 101 program.

In her free time, Dr. Brown is an active musician and plays clarinet with several Burlington-area ensembles.

Professional & Scholastic Affiliations

• Mathematical Association of America
• Women in Cybersecurity

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Daniel Buckstein

Biography

Originally from the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, Daniel Buckstein holds degrees in Computer Science and in Game Development & Entrepreneurship. He has a keen interest various areas of mathematics, including calculus and linear algebra, which carry over to computer animation algorithms and graphics programming. His other development interests include low-level game engine and tool design, virtual reality, and augmented reality; these have been demonstrated in both industry and academic contexts. His passion for programming intertwines with his passion for teaching and he is always looking for innovative and fun ways to deliver course content.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

Ray Tracing in One Weekend

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Tomas Castrejon

Biography

Tomas currently works for a large Financial Institution, where he has held several leadership roles in Incident Management, Digital Forensics, Security Operations, Privacy, Cybercrime, and Identity and Access Management. Tomas also served as the Minneapolis Cybersecurity leader for PwC and as the National Digital Forensics Practice Leader for Deloitte. Tomas earned an MS degree in Digital Forensics Management and an MS in Legal Studies, with a concentration in cybersecurity, compliance, and privacy.

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Wei Kian Chen

Biography

Wei Kian Chen received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1996, 1998, and 2005, respectively.

His research interests are Association Mining, Classification, Data Mining, Database, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition, Software Engineering and others.

He is an active member of ACM, IEEE, SIGCSE and CCSC. In addition, he is also a member of the International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines (Upsilon Phi Epsilon) and the Honor Society for International Scholars (Phi Beta Delta).

Distinctions & Awards

2020 Edward R. Lyman Professorship

Publications & Abstracts

• Predictive high-level feature representation based on dictionary learning
• Applying software engineering in CS1

Professional & Academic Affiliations

• Association for Computing Machinery
• Special Interest Group Computer Science Education
• Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers
• Upsilon Pi Epsilon International Honor Society for the Computing & Information Disciplines
  
• Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars

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Christopher DeGuise

Biography

Christopher DeGuise is a professor at Champlain College and the founder and game developer at Instance Entertainment. DeGuise is an entrepreneur and a technologist with more than 20 years of experience working as an IT professional. DeGuise has an equal interest in the technology and business sides of his field, and believes technology has the ability to automate and simplify our lives.

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Joe Eastman

Biography

Joe is a passionate and experienced technical teacher with a diverse range of interests spanning a large spectrum of technical and non-technical disciplines. He is also dedicated to numerous outreach initiatives, business development, cultivating opportunities for students, and helping others most any way he can.

In his classroom, Joe strives to provide every student with an equal opportunity to succeed. He achieves this by using divergent teaching methods that cater to a wide range of learning styles, and by removing barriers that may stand in the way of his students’ success.

In addition to his teaching, Joe is available for program, technical, research, career, and general life advice. He offers earnest moral support and guidance to anyone who needs it, both inside and outside of the classroom.

With his years of academic and industry focus, Joe is repeatedly described as a valuable asset to Champlain’s community, as well as the Northeast region supporting hundreds of students every year. He is passionate about helping others succeed, and is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals. If you bring the hustle, then he will help you develop your best cyber self.

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Jessica Fischer

Biography

Jessica Fischer teaches a section of Biology of Nutrition & Fitness. She attended University of Rhode Island for Nutrition & Dietetics with a focus on Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems. She then attended UVM to complete her graduate studies in Dietetics. She is also a Clinical Dietitian at UVM Medical Center where she counsels a variety of adult populations with chronic diseases. She is passionate about nutrition and overall wellness through movement and time spent connecting with nature. In her free time she is an avid gardener, skier, and trail walker accompanied by her dog.

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Tegan Garon

Biography

Tegan Garon is a Vermont native who is a full-time high school math teacher, in addition to teaching part-time mathematics courses at Champlain.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

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Adam Goldstein

Biography

Adam Goldstein is an Associate Professor and an Academic Program Director in Cybersecurity at Champlain College. He also serves as Academic Director of the Leahy Center for Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity at Champlain where he helps oversee undergraduate students working on a wide range of projects. Adam has vast industry experience as an information security officer having previously established cybersecurity operation programs at Dartmouth College and Villanova University. With over 20 years’ experience in information security at institutions of higher education and a background in systems and network engineering, he has a thorough understanding of the unique security challenges in the modern enterprise. Adam received his BA from Rutgers University, a Master of Science in Information Assurance from Norwich University, and a Graduate Certificate in Digital Forensic Science from Champlain College. He is a Certified Information System Auditor (CISA), and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Outside of work, Adam is an avid distance runner and greatly enjoys living and exploring the Green Mountains of Vermont with his family.

Distinctions & Awards

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA)
RRCA – Road Runners Club of America: Certified Distance Running Coach

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“Cybersecurity is not just about protecting your data, it’s about protecting your freedom.”

—Laura Galante

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Murat Gungor

Biography

Dr. Gungor holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Computer and Information Science, which he obtained in 2006 and 2001 respectively, from Syracuse University in New York. He also holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Sakarya University in Turkey, which he completed in 1997.

Dr. Gungor brings a wealth of experience to his current position at Champlain College, having previously taught Software Engineering courses at both Bilkent University and TOBB University in Ankara, Turkey. In addition to his academic background, he has also held various positions in the industry, ranging from researcher and software engineer to project manager and director.

His primary areas of expertise include object-oriented programming, software architecture, design and development, structural analysis, and quality improvement.

Favorite Quote

“If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”

—Rumi

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Ali Hadi

Biography

Ali Hadi, an accomplished and experienced Senior Cybersecurity Specialist, possesses over 14 years of professional experience in Information Technology and Cybersecurity. Currently, he holds the position of Associate Professor and serves as the Computer and Digital Forensics Program Director at Champlain College in Vermont, USA. Ali is also the Research Director at the Leahy Center, where he leads all research activities. Additionally, he is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Cyber 5W. Ali holds a PhD and MSc degree in Computer Information Systems, along with a BSc degree in Computer Science. Throughout his career, he has obtained more than 20 professional certifications, making him highly qualified in the field of cybersecurity. With expertise in digital forensics, incident response, adversary simulation, offensive security, and malware analysis, Ali is in high demand as a cybersecurity consultant. He is also recognized as an accomplished author, speaker, and freelance instructor, providing technical training to government agencies, private firms, and other organizations. Ali remains a prominent figure in the digital forensics community and is committed to advancing forensics education and research.

Distinctions & Awards

Hard to list everything here, but the last was an acknowledged by the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) for the IoT Research we are working on at the Leahy Center.

Publications & Abstracts

• • Publications
  • Linux DFIR Research Publications

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

“Reflections on Trusting Trust,” Ken Thompson’s ACM Turing Award 1984

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.”

—Sherlock Holmes

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Brian Hall

Biography

By education and trade, he is a programmer and engineer. His academic interests are interdisciplinary. He is a technologist who chooses to think critically about technology and encourages others to do the same.

Publications & Abstracts

You can read more about my work at https://www.brianrhall.com.

You can find my code projects at https://github.com/brianrhall.

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“If you want to increase your success rate”¦double your failure rate.”

—T.J. Watson

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Jim Hoag

Biography

Jim has taught Computer Science and Technology related courses for over 30 years. He was the Chair of the Department for CNCS, Forensics, and CIT until his retirement in 2017. He continues to teach occasional classes.

Publications & Abstracts

• Evolution of a Cybersecurity curriculum
• An Analysis of Academic Background Factors and Performance in Cyber Defense Competitions
• College student novice spreadsheet reasoning and errors

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Amy Keigwin

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Mariam Khader

Biography

Mariam Khader is an Assistant Professor at Champlain College, USA, who is highly recognized for her expertise in Computer Science, IT Security, and Digital Criminology. She has earned her PhD and MSc in the respective fields and is currently a researcher at the Leahy Center, where she focuses on Mobile and Operating System Forensics. Her research has been published in numerous international journals and presented at various conferences. In addition to working as a course author and speaker, Mariam has also worked as a freelance instructor, providing technical instruction to government and private firms as well as other organizations. She has obtained many professional certifications, such as CHFI, ECIH, CCNA, CCME, CCO, CMFF, CCPA, AIM, and OCF. And currently serves as a member of SWGDE.

As a professor at Champlain College, Mariam have embraced the Learning by Doing approach. By assigning students tasks that require students to learn how and why to do the task as they complete it, the tasks become more engaging and memorable, thus helping them develop essential success skills.

Publications & Abstracts

Publications & Abstracts

CV

View My CV

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David Kopec

Biography

David Kopec joined the faculty at Champlain College in 2016 after five years in the startup world. He served both as a co-founder and as a consultant to early stage tech companies with a concentration in iOS app development. David developed a passion for computer science education which led him to author the introductory programming book “Dart for Absolute Beginners” (Apress, 2014) on Google’s emerging language. In parallel, he worked part time as adjunct faculty in New York while running his consulting practice.

David is active in the open source community as the author of several popular Swift data structure projects. He is the author of the “Classic Computer Science Problems” book series, which includes “Classic Computer Science Problems in Swift” (Manning, 2018), “Classic Computer Science Problems in Python” (Manning, 2019), and “Classic Computer Science Problems in Java” (Manning, 2020). An avid podcaster, he has served both as a guest and host on multiple podcast series. A native of New England, David has lived throughout the United States, Canada, and England. He holds an AB in Economics from Dartmouth College, an MS in Computer Science from Dartmouth, and an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business & Technology.

Publications & Abstracts

Fun Computer Science Projects in Python (2025, NoStarch)
Classic Computer Science Problems in Python (2019, Manning)
Classic Computer Science Problems in Java (2021, Manning)
Classic Computer Science Problems in Swift (2017, Manning)
Dart for Absolute Beginners (2014, Apress)

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

Kopec Explains Software podcast
Business Books & Co. podcast

Favorite Quote

“The journey is the reward.”
― Chinese Proverb

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Dean Lawson

Biography

Dean Lawson has worked in the Games Industry for nearly 30 years, primarily as a Programmer but also as a Designer, Project Lead, and Director of Programming.

He has worked on 14+ shipped titles, including SimCity Societies, Caesar IV, Majesty, Risk: Global Domination, a number of online board game conversions for Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, and World of Zoo and Club Penguin: EPF: Herbert’s Revenge on the Nintendo DS for THQ and Disney Interactive, respectively. Throughout his career, Dean has focused on game AI and how it helps shape the player experience.

Dean’s other main passion in games is Game Architecture; how to engineer flexible technical frameworks for games. Dean advises at the EMC at Champlain College, as well as working as a contract programmer for a number of game and educational companies. Dean has been teaching at Champlain College since 2010: he previously taught Game Programming and Design at Savannah College of Art and Design.

Dean Lawson earned a BS in Computer Science from Union College in Schenectady, NY and an M.Ed in Secondary School Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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Joseph Letourneau

Biography

A Champlain College Alumni, Joseph Letourneau has worked on various projects in Managed Security Services Consulting, from Incident Response, Vulnerability Assessments, PCI Investigations, Security Training, and Malware Analysis.

Recommended

https://thecrashcourse.com/topic/computerscience/
https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_feynman_physics_is_fun_to_imagine
https://nnedi.com/

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”

—Carl Sagan

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Mackenzie Marsocci

Biography

Mackenzie Marsocci graduated from Champlain College in 2020 with degrees in Computer Networking & Cybersecurity and Computer & Digital Forensics. She began teaching at Champlain in 2022. She also works at NuHarbor Security as the Cyber Threat Analysis Cell (CTAC) Team Lead.

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Michael Opperman

Biography

Michael completed his bachelors at Wagner College and has a PhD from Clarkson University, both in mathematics. Previously, he has worked as an instructor at Clarkson University, was a student teacher at Essex High School, ran the Math Lab at Colchester high school, and was an adjunct faculty member at Champlain College. Currently, he teaches a range of courses from introductory and applied statistics to a 3D math course that explores the mathematics behind game programming at Champlain College. Regardless of the course, the focus is always on the practical applications of mathematics and how students can expect to see it in their fields of study and everyday lives.

Michael has a strong interest in pedagogy and improving the student experience in the classroom. He is an active member of Champlain College’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SotL) group and has attended workshops focused on improving his teaching. Michael devotes a great amount of time to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion both inside and outside of the classroom. He is the current chair of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Gender in Information, Technology, and Sciences (DIGITS) and has attended multiple Digital Humanity Summer Institutes (DHSI).

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• I believe James Tanton does a tremendous job explaining mathematical ideas in a way that is both interesting and insightful. I find his teaching style informative and inspiring.
• I find 538 to be a valuable source of information and statistical modeling that explains their mathematical reasoning quite well.

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Kaitlyn Opperman

Biography

Kaitlyn graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in Computer Engineering and has recently transitioned into an instructor role, taking on adjunct work for the first time in Spring 2023. Prior to this, she worked in the aerospace industry as an embedded software engineer.

Favorite Quote

“Be kind.”

—Anyone

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Furkan Paligu

Biography

Furkan Paligu is an assistant professor of computer networking and cybersecurity in Champlain College. He has his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Marmara University, Master’s degree in Cybersecurity Engineering from Istanbul Sehir University, and Doctorate degree in Digital and Cyber Forensics Science from Sam Houston State University. He has taken part in various information technology and cybersecurity projects in governmental institutions. An extensive part of his work has been focused on large scale projects in complex domains including data leak prevention systems, voice translation engines, customer application and management systems, static code analyzers, malware scanning systems operating on cloud architecture, electronic signature systems, and electronic cash registers.

Publications & Abstracts

PUBLICATIONS & ABSTRACTS

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

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LaKysha Patnode

Biography

LaKysha Patnode holds a Master’s degree in Information Security Operations and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Networking and Cybersecurity, equipping her with advanced skills in protecting critical infrastructure, managing IT risks, and implementing robust security controls. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), she excels in threat assessment, regulatory compliance, and aligning cybersecurity strategies with business goals. LaKysha spent five years at NuHarbor Security as an Information Assurance Analyst and later as a supervisor, managing teams and advising clients on security programs. She is now an Assistant Professor of Computer Networking and Cybersecurity at Champlain College, where she guides the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Distinctions & Awards

CRISC Certification

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Velpula Grace Anisha Paul

Biography

Anisha Paul is as an Adjunct Professor at Champlain college and a Forensic Toxicologist for the Vermont Forensic Laboratory. Ms. Paul holds a Master’s of Science in Forensic Science degree from Arcadia University and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Microbiology from Osmania University in India. Ms. Paul is board certified as a Diplomate in Forensic Toxicology by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology. At Champlain College Ms. Paul teaches the forensic science class and core classes. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and learning from her students.

Outside of the lab, Ms. Paul is an active member of the National Safety Council-Alcohol Drugs and Impairment division (NSC-ADID), Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), International Alliance of Clinical and Forensic Toxicologists (IACFT), Council of Forensic Science Educators (COFSE), and Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS), where she currently serves on the Board of Directors. When Ms. Paul isn’t working you will find her hanging out with her two cats, dog, and turtle. She loves a good beer and is still working on truly enjoying life in the tundra!

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John Pile Jr

Biography

John Pile Jr is a Technical Director and Principal Engineering Manager at Schell Games. Previously a full-time professor for Champlain College, John now teaches as an adjunct faculty for the Game Studio.

John has a deep background in digital entertainment, video games, and interactive story-telling experiences for PCs, Mobile, Game Consoles, and specializes in MR / VR / XR. He is the author of “2D Graphics Programming for Games” and has presented at the Game Developer Conference on topics in computer graphics education.

Publications & Abstracts

2D Graphics Programming for Games

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Warren Sides

Biography

Warren Sides is a professor of mathematics in the division of Information Technology & Science. In addition to mathematics, he has a passion for social justice and innovative teaching methods.

He is an active member of the American Mathematical Society and participates in a number of events related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as curriculum development and experiential learning.

Distinctions & Awards

Edward Phelps Lyman Professorship Award 2023

Professional & Scholastic Affiliations

American Mathematical Society

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

—Max Planck

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Scott Stevens

Biography

Scott Stevens is a Professor of Mathematics and Dean of the Division of Information Technology and Science at Champlain College. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Vermont in 1999 in Applied Mathematics. He spent two years at The University of Montana and five years at Penn State University. He came to Champlain College in 2007. He has authored numerous research articles. Most of these involve the mathematical modeling of biomedical fluid dynamics pertaining to intracranial fluid flow and pressure. He has also authored two textbooks. The first is a combination textbook/workbook titled Introduction to Statistics, Think & Do. The second book was written for a course he developed at Champlain College titled Matrices, Vectors, and 3D Math, A Game Programming Approach with MATLAB. When he’s not working, there’s a good chance he’s hanging out with his family, swimming, or wading the rivers and streams of Vermont tangled in fly-fishing line.

Publications & Abstracts

Publications & Abstracts

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Nate Silver: The Signal and The Noise: Why so many predications fail – but some don’t. A great book on the art/science of making predictions and why we get it wrong so often.
• Yuval Noah Harari: A Brief History of Humankind. A fascinating and surprisingly comprehensive history of Homo sapiens and the characteristics that make humans – human.
• Malcolm Gladwell: Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about People We Don’t Know. I recommend the audiobook. It’s all about what we get right and what we get wrong when interacting with people we don’t know.
• Daniel Kahneman: Thinking Fast and Slow. Setting the stage for behavioral economics and the concept of rational decisions, this book examines the contrasting forces within the human mind—immediate, instinctual reactions versus calculated, reasoned thoughts—and how they influence our behavior, judgment, and decisions in profound ways.

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“All people are different people.”

—Ted Lasso, via Coach Beard

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Jennifer Supple

Biography

Jennifer Supple has been teaching at Champlain College since 2017. She teaches classes in Environmental Science, Nutrition, and Biology. Jennifer received an M.S. in Ecology/Plant Ecology from the University of Connecticut and an M.S. in Natural Resources/Forest Health from the University of New Hampshire. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Colby College in Maine.

Jennifer’s graduate work analyzed tree ring growth and needle health to help understand the effects of air pollution and climate on white pine trees in New England. She has worked in science curriculum development with a special interest in forest health and global climate change. She is also interested in the impacts of nutrition and environmental problems on human health.

In addition to helping her students expand their knowledge of important biological, health, and environmental topics, Jennifer is committed to helping her students understand the scientific process and appreciate the relevance and impact that science has on their lives and society.

Outside the classroom, Jennifer loves to hike, trail run and ski with family and friends.

Distinctions & Awards

Space Grant Fellow, UNH Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, & Space

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Vikas Thammanna Gowda

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Alexandre Tolstenko

Biography

Alex is an experienced senior software developer who joined Champlain College in 2022. With over 15 years in the software industry, Alex has a diverse background as a software, game, blockchain, and reliability engineer, having held various positions including developer, architect, and CTO in startups. Throughout their career, Alex has delivered successful products to the market, accumulating over 250 million downloads.

Alex specializes in game development, general problem-solving, algorithms, product delivery, and team building. Some notable deliveries include implementing multiplayer networking and physics determinism for racing games, developing blockchain technology and IaaC for an NFT-based crowdfunding platform, and porting a game engine (including physics) from ObjectiveC to multiple platforms.

Originally from Brazil, Alex enjoys sports, learning new skills, and exploring emerging tech trends. They hold a BS in Computer Engineering from UNICAMP and an MS in Computer Science from UFPI, both in Brazil.

Distinctions & Awards

Unity Awards Finalist 2012;
Best paper award on SAE Aerodesign 2014;
Best paper award on international Coloproctology journal 2017
Featured Startup on Innovativa Brazil 2018;

Publications & Abstracts

Awesome GameDev Resources

Favorite Quote

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

—Walt Disney

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Michael Weinberg

Biography

Mike started teaching at Champlain about 1980 while he was also a middle school teacher. He has a Bachelors degree in mathematics and a Masters degree in Education. He really enjoys teaching mathematics and being with students. He also loves to go geocaching and has been doing that for about 10 years. He was a volunteer Advanced EMT with Essex Rescue for 34 years.

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Eric Winebrenner

Biography

Eric Winebrenner has always been fascinated by videogames as a unique medium that combines art, design, and technology. A founding member of local Vermont game studios, he has shipped successful commercial independent games as well as educational games that make a meaningful positive impact on the world. As a teacher, he believes that programming is a skill that empowers students to forge their own future, and constantly strives to make it accessible through innovative pedagogy. He is particularly interested in realtime rendering, game engine architecture, UI/UX, and gameplay programming.

Favorite Quote

“You can’t learn everything, but you have to convince yourself that you can learn anything.”

—John Carmack

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Katheryn Wright

Biography

Dr. Katheryn Wright is professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Digital Humanities. She is also the Director of Study Abroad. Dr. Wright earned her PhD and MA in Humanities from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL where she specialized in Media Studies and Cultural Geography and a BA from Stetson University in DeLand, FL, where she studied English Literature and Studio Art (ceramics).

Distinctions & Awards

Roger H. Perry Endowed Chair for Innovation

Publications & Abstracts

The New Heroines: Female Embodiment and Technology in 21st-Century Popular Culture

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