Faculty

Keith Oppenheim

Biography

Keith Oppenheim is a former correspondent for CNN who has been teaching college since 2009, at Champlain since 2014. He is the program director for Broadcast Media Production and a content creator as well. His most recent documentary, Will It Live On; Growing Up in A Small-Town Jewish Community will air on public television stations and other venues.
At Champlain, Keith helps his students develop as non-fiction storytellers and producers. His students create award-winning documentaries, which have received recognition at the regional and national level. They shoot, write and edit content to succeed as journalists, social media managers and content creators for companies and non-profits. They develop show-creation skills, learning techniques in radio, podcasting and multi-camera studio production. (The college’s internet-radio station, sound studio and Sonic Arts programs enhance give students additional opportunities.) And they get internships and media employment during college, helping them bridge the gap to a marketplace seeking their talent.
Keith is also President of the Board of The Media Factory, a community media center that collaborates with Champlain College in broadcast courses and documentary production.

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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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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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Lipsum Orem, PhD

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Douglas Orr

Biography

Douglas A. Orr is a 30-year law enforcement veteran who has served as a commissioned law enforcement officer in South Carolina, Idaho, and Washington. He is a native of Philadelphia, PA. Over the years, Dr. Orr has assumed various roles such as Collision Reconstructionist, Street Crimes, Truancy, Sexual Assault and Polygraph. He recently retired as a Detective in the Major Crimes Unit of the Spokane Police Department (SPD) in Spokane, Washington. During the last ten years of his tenure at SPD, Dr. Orr specialized in digital forensics, cybercrime, child exploitation, and sexual assault. He was also an adjunct professor for Gonzaga University teaching crime scene investigation.

Dr. Orr also holds membership in various organizations to include High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA), Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), the American Society of Criminologists (ASC), and the Homicide Research Working Group (HRWG). He is certified as an EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE) computer forensic examiner; a Certified Cellebrite Mobile Examiner (CCME), and CompTIA Security+. He is proficient with SPSS.

Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Washington State University.
M.S. in Cybersecurity, Saint Leo University.
MBA in Human Resource, Saint Leo University.
M.A. in Organizational Leadership, Gonzaga University.

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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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Joseph Paquin

Biography

Joseph joined Champlain in 2023 in the Stiller School of Business as Adjunct Faculty. Joseph’s career has been focused on business and information technology. Currently he is a Director of Information Technology for the Vermont Judiciary. He has held various information technology roles in State government including Senior Software Developer and IT Business Analyst. Before his service in government, Joseph was in management in the private sector managing businesses greater than $100m. Joseph is passionate for education and experiential learning. He holds his Bachelors of Science in Networking and Telecommunications and a Master’s of Business Administration in Information Technology Leadership. In his spare time he volunteers with local government and works on his homestead with his family.

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Matthew Parillo

Biography

Matthew has been teaching in the Burlington area since 2010 and is currently an adjunct professor of film history and film studies at Champlain College. He has taught several courses at three different colleges including: Film History 1 & 2, Screenings, Censorship in American Cinema, The Hollywood Renaissance, Film Noir: America’s Dark Mirror, Italian Cinema, and The Cinematic Space Odyssey.

Matthew’s primary research interests are in Italian Neorealism and its influence on modern cinema, cinematic censorship and space travel cinema. As well as being an educator, Matthew is also a musician, DJ, golfer, and hockey player.

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Harry Parker

Biography

Dr. Harry Parker holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in Law and Public Policy, MS in Organizational Leadership, and BS in Counseling. He also retains certificates in Paralegal Studies, Business Law, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, and Strategic Planning and Public Policy to include a Public Leadership Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Program.

Dr. Parker possesses 20 years’ experience in the federal business arena holding positions that encompassed Deputy Director, Branch Chief, and Acquisition Coordinator. Dr. Parker’s experience was not limited to the supervision of federal warranted contracting officers that conducted cradle to grave contract administration activities that was national in scope.

Dr. Parker enjoys facilitating the intellectual and academic development of students from a myriad of socio economic backgrounds. If you require his immediate assistance or would like to schedule a conference call, he can be reached via email at hparker@champlain.edu.

Distinctions & Awards

I received the Transformational Leadership Award in 2014 from the DC Veterans Health Administration Director for improving the relationship between the Facilities Maintenance Engineering and Contracting Departments.

Publications & Abstracts

Veterans First Contracting Program Preference Hierarchy: Effect on Veteran-Owned Small Business

Professional & Scholastic Affiliations

• International Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration
  (Pi Alpha Alpha) Walden University, 2015
• Golden Key International Academic Honor Society
  Walden University, 2014
• Network Contract Management Association
  Member, 2007
• International Honor Society in Business Administration
  (Delta Mu Delta) Mercy College, 2005
  
• Kennedy Fellows
  John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education, 1996

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Parthiv Patel

Biography

Pat Patel has lived and worked in 3 different countries (India, the UK, and USA). He comes from a pioneering industrial family which started the Agricultural Tractors and Earthmoving Machinery Manufacturing industry in India. He worked in the family business for two years as a Management Trainee after graduating with his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay. After successfully completing the Management Trainee program, he moved to London where he worked for an affiliated British company that provided crankshafts and related parts to his family’s tractor and earthmoving machinery company.

In 1980, he moved to the United States to begin his graduate education, and he earned his Master of Business Administration degree, double majoring in Finance and Marketing, from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. Subsequent to getting his MBA, he moved to San Diego, California, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Information and Decision Sciences from San Diego State University.

After completing the two Master’s degree programs, he began his professional career in the Investment Software, Database, and Quantitative Modeling business with a leading Chicago based company called Zacks Investment Research, Inc. where he rose to become Vice President and Regional Manager for the company’s Los Angeles office. After working at Zacks Investment Research for 9 years, he worked directly in the Institutional Investment and Mutual Fund industry for 4 years as Vice President at Putnam Investments in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1998, he started his own business in the hospitality industry and he purchased two franchised hotels which he owned and managed for 9 years with his team of professional hotel managers and staff. He subsequently sold the properties and the business to a Houston,Texas, based hotel company.

He was hired by Champlain College in 2009 to teach in the business school, and he has been teaching a variety of business courses ever since at the Stiller School of Business. During his time at Champlain College, he also earned his Doctorate degree in Business Administration. In 2022, he was offered and he accepted the additional position of Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Distinctions & Awards

Distinguished Service Award for serving as President of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Enlightenment Now by Howard Gardner
• Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig

Favorite Quote

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

—Mahatma Gandhi

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JoAnn Patel

Biography

JoAnn Patel has a MFA in Computer Arts from Florida Atlantic University and a BFA in Environmental Design from Parsons School of Design. Her exploration with computers as a creative tool began with digital music creation and expanded to the visual arts. Her digital art career started with web design, then moved on to 3D art, compositing and game art.

JoAnn was 3D Art Director at D2 Creative/D2 Team-Sim where she worked on training simulations for Raytheon and the US Military as well as marketing videos for pharmaceutical clients and continuing medical education projects for doctors. While freelancing in New York City, she worked on projects for the History Channel, A&E, HBO, Discovery, MSNBC, BMW and Hasbro Toys.

JoAnn has taught at Pratt Institute, New York Institute of Technology, Florida Atlantic University, Digital Media Arts College, Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami International University of Art and Design Online. JoAnn’s animated short films “Reflections”, “Idea Hunting”, and “Casandra The Chameleon” have been shown at international film festivals and on the Tampa Educational Channel. “Casandra The Chameleon” won the grand prize at the Homestead Animated Film Festival in 2003.

JoAnn’s current creative focus is on hard surface modeling and texturing, procedural modeling, game environments and the use of game engines for filmmaking and visual effects.

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

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LaKysha Patnode

Biography

LaKysha Patnode is an Adjunct Professor for the Division of Information Technology and Sciences at Champlain College. She also works full time for a local cyber security company which provides valuable experience that is used to enhance the experience of students both inside and outside of the classroom.

Distinctions & Awards

CRISC Certification

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Kyle Patterson

Biography

Kyle graduated from Champlain College in 2016 with a degree in Game Production Management and has worked at various game and tech companies such as Zynga, Warner Bros Games, Disney Interactive, Jam City, and Snapchat. He is a part time adjunct professor at Champlain focused on supporting the Game Studio.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Agile Game Development with Scrum by Clinton Keith
• Horus Rising -1 – The Horus Heresy by Dan Abnett
• Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry by Jason Schreier

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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 Pelletier

Biography

John is deeply committed to increasing the financial literacy of all of our citizens as Director of the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College, since its creation in 2010. He has been a valued and credible, go-to source for the national conversation around financial education. John and the Center have been nationally recognized by the White House, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Financial Literacy Education Commission, the FDIC and the media for the Center’s unique teacher training programs, research, and advocacy.

John is an entrepreneurial minded business executive. Prior to working at the Center, John was chief operating officer and/or chief legal officer at some of the largest asset management firms in the United States, including Natixis Global Asset Management, Eaton Vance, and Funds Distributor, Inc. John has also worked at The Boston Company, Sidley Austin and Ropes & Gray as an attorney. John was the co-chair along with the Vermont State Treasurer of the Vermont Financial Literacy Commission and is currently an independent trustee of the Transamerica Mutual Fund Family and formerly an independent trustee of the Sentinel Funds. John has a law degree and an MA in public policy from Duke University.

What are your hobbies?

Running, Skiing, Nordic Skiing, and Hiking

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