Sept. 8, 2011

Briar Cliff University Welcomes New Faculty

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University is pleased to announce the following new faculty members who have joined the BCU community:

Ryan Allen, assistant professor of English and writing and director of BCU’s Writing Center, holds doctorate and master’s degrees in English from the University of South Dakota and a bachelor’s degree in English from Western Kentucky University. Prior to BCU, Dr. Allen was an online course mentor for Western Governors University.

Billy Bataille, assistant professor in business administration, holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Miami, where he is pursuing a doctorate in economics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from the University of Montreal. Prior to BCU, he was professor of economics and marketing economics at NYIT in Nanjing, China.

Julius Fleschner, reference and instruction librarian, holds a master’s degree in library and information science and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida. Prior to BCU, he was electronic services librarian at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Traci Holmquist, assistant professor of nursing, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa and Master of Science degree in Nursing from Walden University. She is pursuing a doctorate degree in education from the University of South Dakota (USD). Previously, she was assistant professor of nursing at USD.

Patrick Langan, assistant professor of business administration, holds a doctorate degree in higher education administration from the University of Iowa, a Master of Science degree in human resource management from Loyola University Chicago School of Management and Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to Briar Cliff, Dr. Langan taught at Upper Iowa University, Wartburg College and the University of Northern Iowa. He is the owner of Langan Management Group, Inc., a consulting firm he founded in July 2000.

Michelle Laughlin, assistant professor of business administration and director of the Master of Management Program, holds a doctorate degree in education from the University of South Dakota, a master’s degree in business administration from Bellevue University and a bachelor’s degree in business from Wayne State College. Previously, Dr. Laughlin was assistant dean in the Graduate School Continuing and Distance Education at USD.

Matthew Pangborn, assistant professor of English and writing, holds a doctorate in English literature from the University at Albany, State University of New York, a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing (fiction) from Texas State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California. Prior to BCU, Dr. Pangborn was an instructor of humanities at St. Edward's University.

Carlos Vargas-Salgado, assistant professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies, holds a doctorate degree in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian literatures and linguistics and a master’s in Hispanic literature from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Vargas-Salgado has a bachelor’s degree in literature and linguistics from National University-San Agustín. Prior to Briar Cliff, he was a visiting lecturer at Carleton College, a graduate instructor at the University of Minnesota and assistant professor at Catholic University-San Pablo.

Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,150 students from the United States and around the world. Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care, compassion and service. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.