Faculty

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

https://www.manning.com/books/classic-computer-science-problems-in-python?a_aid=oaksnow&a_bid=d326fe0b

Kopec Explains Software podcast (http://kopec.live/)
Business Books & Co. podcast (http://businessbooksandco.com/)

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Fred Kosnitsky

Biography

Fred’s academic background is in the biological/ecological sciences and the environmental studies realm. He has an undergraduate degree in Biology from Williams College, has studied Ecology at the graduate level at Dartmouth College, and has a Masters degree in environmental law and policy from the Environmental Law Center of Vermont Law School.

For the past four decades he has been involved in the environmental arena as a Board member of groups such as Vermont Earth Institute, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, 350vermont.org, and the Voice of the Potash Brook Watershed. He has written columns on nature and the environment for the Vermont Times, The Other Paper in South Burlington, and the Saint Albans Messenger. He is currently a member of the South Burlington Energy Committee. Fred has taught at Community College of Vermont since 1983, and has joined Champlain College as an adjunct in 2023.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

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Marcelle Langan

Biography

Marcelle Langan is an award-winning marketing writer, author, and mom. She is the Director of Institutional Marketing & Web Services at Champlain College and an Adjunct Professor for Champlain College Online. She has been at Champlain College since 2008 and previously held the titles of Director of Web Services; Director of Creative Services: Undergraduate Brand Manager, among others.

Prior to joining the marketing team at Champlain College, Marcelle founded and ran WordBroker Communications, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in marketing and advertising—primarily for startup operations. In addition to running WordBroker Communications, Marcelle held the position of Vice President of Content/Editorial Director of Tavolo, Inc.—a dot.com that was once the largest branded specialty retailer of premium foods and kitchenware on the Internet—where she was responsible for producing the site’s deep content components. 

Before being swept up by the dot.com frenzy, Marcelle held the position of Editor-in-Chief of Eating Well magazine. Eating Well was a consumer health title with a circulation of 650,000 gourmet-cooking fans. She also helped launch and was Managing Editor of Food Arts, at one time, the premier trade magazine to America’s finest restaurants and hotels. 

Marcelle lives in Burlington, Vermont. Her three grown children are awesome, and her dog, Hiccup—a Pembroke Corgi—keeps her vastly entertained.

Distinctions & Awards

2020 Champlain College John Lavallee Innovation Award “Champlain College Online Website”
2018 CASE Circle of Excellence Bronze Award Director of Digital Strategy: “This is Your Future”
Champlain College Class of 2022 admissions package
2017 Champlain College John Lavallee Innovation Award “New Campus Visit Experience”
2014 Gold CASE District I Excellence Awards “Champlain.edu Redesign”
2014 Champlain College John Lavallee Innovation Award “College Website Redesign”

Publications & Abstracts

Marcelle’s first book, The Big Sister’s Guide to the World of Work, was published by Simon and Schuster in January 2006. She has ghostwritten eight cookbooks, two for Royal Caribbean cruise line, five for Holland America Line, and one for Carnival Cruises. She also ghost wrote a biography of Dolly Farnsworth, one of the original homesteaders in Alaska. The book is called Immigrant’s Daughter: The Extraordinary Life of Alaskan Pioneer Dolly Farnsworth.

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Michael Lange

Biography

Michael Lange is an anthropologist and folklorist, specializing in narrative, food, and identity. He has done ethnographic fieldwork in Scotland, Morocco, Norway, the US, and Canada. His books include Norwegian Scots and Many Meanings of Maple.

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Al Larsen

Biography

Al Larsen is a media artist and writer whose work engages with ideas of public space and populist uses of media technologies. He works in and across multiple media and processes including programmable technologies, textiles, performance, audio production and printmaking. His work has shown in festivals in the US and internationally and his writing on popular culture, art and performance has appeared in P-Queue, Careless Talk Costs Lives, Plan B and The Squealer. He directs toe Creative Media BFA program at Champlain College.

Distinctions & Awards

Residencies:
– Center for Machine Arts, Peekskill, NY
– Burlington City Arts, Burlington, VT
– Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center, Buffalo, NY
– International Artist Exchange Residency, City of Glasgow, Scotland

Favorite Quote

“Find a place you trust and then try trusting it for a while.”

—Corita Kent

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Alan Larson

Biography

Alan Larson has worked in Information Technology for the past 30 years; he opened his own IT firm in 2001. He graduated from Seminole State College in 1999 with a degree in Networking Engineering Technology. Then continued to Champlain College to complete his bachelor’s in cybersecurity and then his master’s in information security management. Mr. Larson has Professional certifications from Microsoft, Novell, CompTIA, EC Council, and ISC2. He was chairman of the Mid Florida Tech Computer Systems Technology Advisory Committee, the Seminole Advisory Board Council, and an Orlando Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. Mr. Larson now works with The Department of Veterans Affairs, managing vulnerabilities.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition by Jon Erickson
• Mind Hacking (How to Change Your Mind for Good in 21 Days)
• Hacking the Hacker Learn From the Experts Who Take Down Hackers by Roger A. Grimes

Favorite Quote

“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

—Rocky Balboa

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Melinda Lathrop

Biography

Melinda Lathrop is a seasoned digital marketing and communications expert. With a background in events, entertainment, and a passion for sports, Melinda has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing digital experiences across various sectors. Currently serving as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Southern Made, a prominent technology agency based in Nashville, TN, Melinda brings a wealth of experience and innovation to her role. Her expertise lies in identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends, ensuring brands stay at the forefront of digital innovation.

In addition to her corporate role, Melinda serves as an Adjunct Professor at Champlain College, where she shares her knowledge and expertise with students in the CCM Online division. Through her dynamic teaching style and real-world insights, Melinda aims to inspire the next generation of marketing professionals to excel in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Melinda holds a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Public Relations/Digital Marketing from Champlain College.

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John Lavallee

Biography

Began working at Champlain as a software developer in June 1970. Moved on to Director of the Computer Center. Later promoted to Director of IT. Began teaching for Champlain around 1973, and later became the Division Chair of the Information Systems division. Simultaneously, Selected to head up the Champlain Online program. Retired from Champlain in 2015 and has continued to serve as an adjunct instructor ever since.

Distinctions & Awards

An annual award created in my name hiring the individual or group showing innovation.

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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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Kathleen Legg

Biography

After graduating with an Economics degree from Harvard University, Kathleen fell into a career of teaching and has never looked back. Kathleen earned her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary Mathematics from University of Colorado, Boulder. She’s taught mathematics to children since “93 in Colorado, Vermont, and internationally in London and the Hague. She also teaches science and in 2014 was recognized as VASE Science Teacher of the year.

Kathleen moved from teaching children in the classroom into a K-8 coaching role for Champlain Valley School District. This experience renewed her passion for math education and the importance of making mathematics meaningful and accessible for all learners. Kathleen has a passion for supporting teachers to be the best teachers of mathematics that they can be, regardless of their own mathematical journey.

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Amy Letinsky

Biography

Amy has lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of her life, growing up near the Canadian border in Washington State, in a small farming community. Her love of teaching college classes developed when she taught Journalism and ESL courses at her local community college. She moved to Vermont and taught writing at UVM, and she’s been an instructor at Champlain College since 2005. In 2006, she returned to the Northwest with her husband for his work as a family practice doctor in the Seattle area. She have two daughters, with whom she’s thrilled to be sharing the love of reading and writing.

She enjoys writing for many different circumstances. She’s done a lot of writing for the web (especially blogs), newspaper and magazine articles, and research based essays. Personal essays are her favorite form of writing, but she also writes some short stories, is working on a few non-fiction book projects, and she’s written a couple of novels, including one she wrote several years back for NaNoWriMo (The National Novel Writing Month).

I’m passionate about reading and count among my favorite authors John Milton, Jane Austen, and Neil Gaiman.

When I’m not reading a good book or writing my humble attempt at one, I’m volunteering as an art teacher at a local elementary school, painting with watercolors in my sketchbook somewhere out in nature, tent camping in the woods, running for fun and competition, swimming with my family, fishing for salmon on one of the many majestic Northwest rivers, or kayaking on one of our local lakes with the kids.

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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.

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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John Levee

Biography

John Thomas Levee is an artist, composer, and educator working at the intersection of a variety of mediums. His work often examines notions of human interaction with the environment and with technology. Often site-specific, Levee’s work strives to ask of the viewer: “How does this work relate to its surroundings? To you? By extension, how do you relate to your surroundings?” These questions are meant to drive dialogue regarding humanity’s influence on the natural world and on ourselves, specifically in regards to industrialization and technological advancement.

Obsolete technology, field recordings, and found objects are all integral to Levee’s work. For him, all of these components are evocative of specific places and times, and function as transportive tools. In regards to obsolete technology, his video work tends to use VHS tapes, CRT TVs, and cameras which record to outdated media formats. Not only do these provide constraints to the process of artmaking, which is integral to Levee’s artistic production, but also point to technology as a thematic element of the work.

Levee believes that using obsolete, recycled, often landfill-bound technology in the production of the work draws connection to the relationship between ever-advancing technology and human destruction of natural spaces. They currently teach at Champlain College, where they are the Assistant Program Director of Game Sound Design. They have studied at Columbia University in the City of New York, where they received their MFA in Sound Art, and at Stetson University, where they received their BS in Audio Technology & Industry and their BA in Digital Arts.

Favorite Quote

“If I was an artist, and I was in the studio, then whatever it was I was doing in the studio must be art.”

—Bruce Nauman, 1978

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Michael Levy

Biography

Michael Levy lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. He uses a holistic approach during the Web creation process. Consideration is given to accessibility, search engine optimization, and usability throughout the course of Web site construction. He works with non-profit and corporate clients from around the country, helping them achieve their strategic needs.

He programs backend applications using PHP with MYSQL databases, focusing on reusable, bug-free code. Emphasis is placed on efficient administration that is easy to use.

For front-side design, he is proficient with HTML and CSS, as well as interactive development with Javascript and React. All front-side coding is done with semantic markup that is optimized for search engine visibility and accessibility to handicapped users.

As a fine artist, he has shown in venues in New York, Boston, Providence, and Vermont. Working in photography, and mixed media his work explores formal harmonies using traditional and non-traditional techniques.

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Sheila Liming

Biography

Sheila Liming, PhD, came to Champlain in 2020 and settled into teaching an array of classes in writing and publishing. She is the author of three books: What a Library Means to a Woman (University of Minnesota Press, 2020), Office (Bloomsbury, 2020) and, most recently, Hanging Out (Melville House, 2023), and the editor of one, a new version of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence (W.W. Norton, 2022). Her writing has appeared widely in venues like The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, Lapham’s Quarterly, The Globe and Mail, LitHub, and elsewhere, while her work has been reviewed and featured in People magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. She received her PhD from Carnegie Mellon University and, in her spare time, she continues to play the Scottish bagpipes (just as she did as part of the Carnegie Mellon University pipe band).

Distinctions & Awards

Maryland Humanities — State-wide Common Read finalist (HANGING OUT / 2023)
Reader’s Digest Most Anticipated Book of 2023 (HANGING OUT / 2023)
LitHub Most Anticipated Book of 2023 (HANGING OUT / 2023)
Teaching Excellence Award (North Dakota University System / 2018)
Whiting Foundation — Fellowship Finalist (2018)

Publications & Abstracts

• HANGING OUT: THE RADICAL POWER OF KILLING TIME (2023)
• THE AGE OF INNOCENCE by Edith Wharton (2022)
• OFFICE (2020)
• WHAT A LIBRARY MEANS TO A WOMAN (2020)

Professional & Scholastic Affiliations

• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present (ASAP)
• Edith Wharton Society (EWS)
• Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Reading: I wrote my first book about the author Edith Wharton, who was a chronicler of Gilded Age privilege in America. People often ask me where to start with Wharton’s oeuvre and I like to recommend her short novel SUMMER (1917), which is page-turner dealing with rural politics, sex, gender, and class inequality.
• Reading: One of my specialties is gothic fiction and gothic storytelling. Some outstanding recent work in this genre comes from the Vermont writer Melanie Finn. Her novels THE HARE (2021) and THE UNDERNEATH (2018) blend a feminist perspective with classic features of the gothic genre.
• Reading: When you get serious about studying writing, you come into contact with other writers, and some of those connections turn out to be long-ranging. For instance, I went to college with the Asiya Wadud, a powerhouse poet whose collections SYNCOPE and CROSSLIGHT FOR YOUNGBIRD will challenge and provoke any aspiring writer.

Favorite Quote

“Sit as little as possible; give credence to no thought that is not born in the open air and accompanied by free movement in which the muscles do not also celebrate a feast.”

—Friedrich Nietzsche, ECCE HOMO

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