IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/19/05 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

SILVER CITY--Western New Mexico University has a number of new faculty on campus this semester.

Gerald Burgess is an assistant professor of computer science. Originally from Fort Collins, Colo., he has 21 years working in a computer industry. Burgess will be presenting two papers this fall at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC) conferences, in Decatur, Ill. and Denver, Colo. Before coming to WNMU, Burgess taught at Wilmington College as an assistant professor of computer science where he taught 11 out of the 13 computer science courses needed for a computer science major. He has also worked for MCI WorldCom as an engineer where he planned many software and hardware updates for OpenVMS, a software system by Hewlett Packard. Burgess earned an associate of science degree in computer science from Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz. In 1985, Burgess received a bachelor of science degree in computer science from West Coast University in Orange, Calif. and remained in California to complete his master of science degree in computer science in 1989. He has earned many personal achievements throughout the years including a MCI achievement award in 1998.

Zenaido “Tres” Camacho is an assistant professor of natural sciences. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Assistant Professor Camacho arrived at WNMU from Duke University in Durham, N.C. He earned a bachelor of science degree in zoology from University of Texas, Austin. Assistant Professor Camacho also earned a doctorate degree in genetics from Texas A&M. Before arriving in Silver City, he worked at Duke University Medical Center as a National Institute of Health post doctorate fellow. While at Duke, assistant professor Camacho worked primarily on development of an HIV vaccine. He will be teaching Genetics, Advanced Genetics and Cell Biology.

James T. “Jim” Carey is the new Director of Bands and Percussion studies at WNMU. Originally from Ohio, Carey received his bachelor of music education degree from the Ohio State University and has earned a master of music degree in performance from East Carolina University. He taught at the college level while pursuing his graduate degree at the University of Miami, Fla. Carey has been performing professionally for more than 20 years. He has played, conducted, and arranged music for jazz groups through show bands including The Fifth Dimension, Frankie Avalon, Jack Jones, Roger William’s, Shields and Yarnell, Michelle LeGrand and Anthony Newley.

Laura Gillispie is an assistant professor in the Nursing department at Western. Gillispie was born and raised in Grant County, N.M. She has a master of arts degree in counseling, and a master of science degree in Nursing Midwifery. She also has a Nursing Education Certificate. Gillispie’s expertise is in women’s health. Some of the classes she will be teaching this year are Maternal Newborn, Pediatric and Psychiatric Nursing.

William Ritke-Jones, an assistant professor in composition and rhetoric, has a doctorate in Rhetoric and Linguistics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and also has master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English Literature from Virginia Commonwealth University and Christopher Newport University, respectively. He has taught since 1991 in places as diverse as the Virginia prison system, one of Korea’s most prestigious universities, community colleges in three different states and universities in Pennsylvania. He specializes in facilitating collaborative groups in online environments. His pedagogy stresses collaborative learning, and he believes that teachers should foster the growth of students into people who are self-aware, creative and critical participants in their communities. He hopes to be instrumental in developing a writing minor for WNMU students.

Liza Kuecker is an assistant professor of sociology. Kuecker was born and raised in Wisconsin. She has a bachelor of science degree both in sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, and she has a masters of arts degree and a doctorate degree in sociology from the University of Oregon. Kuecker worked on affordable housing issues in the communities in which she lived, on the issue of truancy with middle and high school students in Vancouver, Wash., and with the Rape Crisis Network in Billip, Mont. She plans to continue to build on her expertise in the sociology of race and ethnicity, and in the area of sociology of the family. Kuecker looks forward to getting to know students at WNMU, consider new areas of research, and to get to know the community better.

Claudia Leonard is assistant professor of occupational therapy. Leonard is originally from Detroit, Mich. Leonard has earned a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy from Eastern Michigan University, a master of science degree in business administration from Western New Mexico University and is currently pursing an occupational therapy doctorate degree from University of St. Augustine in Augustine, Fla. Leonard has 23 years of experience in her field. She will be teaching Pediatrics, Mental Health, Administration and Management for Therapists, Orientation to Occupational Therapy Assistant, Therapeutic Media, and Fieldwork Clinical Coordinating. Leonard plans to finish working on her doctorate, and to reestablish community ties.

Leslie Shurts, is an associate professor in Nursing at Watts Hall. She is also the coordinator for the bachelor of science in nursing degree program. She graduated high school from Reserve, N.M. Shurts received her license of practical nursing, associate of science degree in nursing and bachelor of science degree in nursing from New Mexico State University. In 1995, she earned her master of science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas at El Paso. Some of the courses she will be teaching are Pathophysiology I and Diagnostic Reasoning. Shurts plans on pursuing a doctorate degree.

Maria Eugenia Trillo is an assistant professor of Spanish. Trillo is originally from El Paso, Texas. Trillo received her bachelor of arts degree in Hispanic literatures from la Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. She also has a master of arts degree in Hispanic language and literature from the University of Toronto as well as a doctorate degree in linguistics with a focus on bilingualism from the University of New Mexico. Trillo has numerous years of teaching experience, including more than 20 years at the university level. She has taught at both Northern Arizona University and the University of Manitoba in Canada. Trillo joins WNMU from Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. Trillo has a strong foundation in liberal arts, Latin American Studies, Spanish Linguistics, and Hispanic Literatures.

Elizabeth Walker is an associate professor and chair of social work. Walker is an Arkansas native. Walker has a bachelor of science in social work from the University of Memphis, as well as a master of science degree in social work from the University of Tennessee. She earned a doctorate degree in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Ark. She has worked closely with administering human services agencies, such as United Way and the Girl Scouts. Walker will be teaching Diversity and Social Work Methods. Walker’s goals this semester include recruitment of more social work students.

A. Hamilton Williams is an assistant professor of social work. Williams joins WNMU from Eastern Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. He has a bachelor of science degree in experimental psychology from Coast of Carolina University. Williams also has a MSW degree and doctorate degree in social work from the University of South Carolina. Williams comes to WNMU with an extensive list of social work experience ranging from working with chronic adolescent behavioral problem patients on the psych ward, alcohol and drug rehab/counseling, as well as numerous volunteer hours working with disaster relief for hurricanes. He also has taught at the University of South Carolina for four years, as well as East Carolina University for three years.

Bill Winkley is an assistant professor in the Rehabilitation Services Program for the Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Services Department at WNMU. He previously lived eight years in Silver City. He returned here from Thibodaux, La., where he taught a WNMU online class in Case Management for the department. Winkley has a bachelor of arts degree in humanities from St. Edward’s University in Austin and a master of arts degree in education, with an emphasis in blindness, from the University of Texas at El Paso. Winkley has worked five years as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and 15 years in management of programs for persons with visual disabilities. From 1994 until recently, Winkley has worked as a consultant in various human service areas, including disability, domestic violence and health.

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