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Servant Leadership Institute Speakers Bureau

Concordia’s Servant Leadership Institute is happy to provide the community with access to talented leaders who are eager to serve as resources to speak on topics of their expertise at school professional development seminars, retreats, banquets, graduations and community events.

Speakers Bureau

Heather Churney

Heather Churney

Director of School Counseling Program
Concordia University Irvine

Speaking Topics:

Heather Churney is the Director of the School Counseling Program at Concordia University, Irvine. She spent 12 years in public, private and charter schools serving as a high school counselor and is credentialed in Arizona and California. For the past 7 years she has served as a mentor for Graduate School Counseling students in a variety of capacities.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Heather Churney directly at: [email protected]

Lori Doyle

Lori Doyle

Speaking Topics:

  • Servant leadership
  • Teacher burnout
  • Self-efficacy
  • Brain-based teaching / cognition / metacognition
  • Graduate-level and academic writing
  • Community of Inquiry
  • Online learning
  • Adult learners

Dr. Lori Doyle works as Assistant Professor of Education at Concordia University Irvine where she served as Program Director for MAEd: Curriculum and Instruction for six years and now serves as Director of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership: Social Emotional Learning, Character, and Ethics program. She is Subject Matter Expert for multiple courses in both programs and has worked on extensive curriculum development projects for the university. Working as an instructor keeps her mindful of relevant and changing trends in adult education. Lori has taught at several universities over the past twenty years, but her career began as a high school English and Theology teacher and curriculum writer. She holds a California Clear Credential in Secondary Education, MAEd in Curriculum and Instruction, and a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition. Her areas of research interest are adult education, Biblical contexts, leadership, and faculty mental health.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Lori Doyle directly at: [email protected]

Belinda Dunnick Karge, Ph.D.

Belinda Dunnick Karge

Professor Doctoral Programs
Chair, EDD Special Education Leadership

Speaking Topics:

  • Schoolwide Reform to Include Students with Disabilities
  • Special Education 101 for Administrators
  • Mental Health Curriculum for Secondary Students
  • Research-Based Instructional Strategies
  • The Fruit of the Spirit Educator Supports
  • Engaging all Learners
  • Instructional Coaching and Mentoring
  • Data-Based Decision Making for Schools

True to her values for all children and youth, Dr. Belinda Karge devotes her career to ensuring that all students have the best success opportunities and leaders are equipped with necessary tools to transform education environments. She is the Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction and a Professor in the doctoral program at Concordia University Irvine and is a Professor Emeritus from California State University, Fullerton. At CUI she is responsible for EDD program development and improvement, faculty professional learning, curriculum development and assessment, and advising doctoral dissertations. She teaches research courses in the doctoral program and coordinates the Special Education Specialization. Dr. Karge was an Institute of Educational Leadership (IEL) Fellow and leads the CUI Policy class trip to Washington DC every summer.

Dr. Karge received her Ph.D. in Quantitative Methods, Special Education and Educational Psychology, and her Master’s Degree in Reading from the University of California, Riverside. She taught at both the elementary and high school levels and served in various leadership roles in public education subsequent to moving to the university. Prior to joining the faculty at CUI in 2015, she worked at several research universities, both as faculty and in administrative roles. Her professional record demonstrates a consistent pattern of scholarly and creative activities including research, publications (three textbooks, five curriculum texts, four book chapters, several educational tools, over 135 articles), and numerous grants (totaling over twenty million dollars).

Dr. Karge is an expert in research based instructional strategies. She is a sought-after presenter and coach in the areas of whole school reform, higher education engagement strategies, inclusive practices, Prek-12 co-teaching, on-line and face-to-face student engagement, pedagogical strategies, effective teaching and learning in diverse classroom groups. She has received a multitude of awards for her teaching and service to the profession. She was honored with the National Council for Learning Disabilities Floyd Hudson Outstanding Service to the Field of Learning Disabilities award and the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) service to the profession award. She is Past-President of the National Association for Alternative Certification. During her career, Dr. Karge has made multiple referred presentations to international, state, and local groups of school district employees and has keynoted several conferences. She travels extensively as a consultant for the U. S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools.

Dr. Karge spends most mornings hiking or walking with her husband Doug. She is Lutheran and has led many mission trips both in the USA and abroad.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Belinda Karge directly at: [email protected]

Dr. Eugene Kim

Dr. Eugene Kim

Professor in Ed.D. Program
Concordia University Irvine

Speaking Topics:

Dr. Eugene Kim is as a respected professor in Concordia’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership Program with strong expertise in organizational change. Eugene began his teaching career as a chemistry/physical science teacher at John Marshall High School (LAUSD) before teaching as an Assistant Professor of Education at Pepperdine University. Dr. Kim has provided eclectic leadership skills to Concordia University since 2007 where he first served for ten years as the Dean of Concordia’s Asia programs and today Chair of Concordia’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Professor of Leadership and Dissertation Chair.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Dr. Kim directly at: [email protected]

Sara Morgan

Sara Morgan

Assistant Professor
Director: EDSP

Speaking Topics:

  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
  • Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
  • Effective Professional Development: Adult Learning Theory

Sara Morgan is a graduate of Chapman University, where she earned a B.A. in Communications. After graduation, she continued on to receive two teaching credentials (Multiple Subject and Education Specialist) and a Master's Degree in Special Education. She taught, as a resource teacher, for Lutheran Special Education Ministries, a special day class teacher, for the Westminster School District, and served as a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) and Program Specialist, for the Garden Grove Unified School District.

Sara is pursuing advanced education in Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and continuously strives to sharpen her teaching practices to model universally designed learning experiences.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Sara Morgan directly at: [email protected]

Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier

Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier

Director, Servant Leadership Institute
Concordia University Irvine

Speaking Topics:

Kent Schlichtemeier has enjoyed serving for over four decades as a leader in education. He began his career teaching 6th-8th grades. After completing his Master’s degree at the University of Denver, he taught and coached at the high school level in Orlando, FL. Kent served as a Professor in the School of Education at Concordia University Irvine from 1988-2003. In addition to teaching at Concordia, Kent was the women’s basketball coach until retiring from coaching in 1993 to pursue his doctoral degree. During the final two seasons of Kent’s tenure as coach, the Lady Eagle basketball team made two consecutive appearances at the NAIA National Basketball Tournament after winning the Golden State Athletic Conference Championships. Kent was named the District Three NAIA Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993 and was inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

In 1996, Kent completed his Ed.D. at UCLA in Educational Leadership. Kent served as a teacher and Assistant Principal at Orange Lutheran High School from 2003-2007 before returning to teach at Concordia University Irvine and most recently served as the Dean of the School of Education. Today, Kent is thrilled to serve as the inaugural Director of the Servant Leadership Institute. Kent enjoys frequent opportunities to speak at sports banquets, school graduations, teacher conferences, leadership retreats, and business seminars.

Kent and his wife Cindy, are blessed by God with two children - Aaron and Kayla.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Dr. Schlichtemeier directly at: [email protected]

Dr. Michael W. Schulteis

Dr. Michael W. Shulteis

Professor of Science Education
Director: MEd
Co-Director: Liberal Studies

Speaking Topics:

  • Inquiry-Based Teaching
  • Science Teaching Methods
  • General Teaching Methods
  • Science-based Chapel and Children's Messages
  • Teacher Pedagogical Development
  • School-Wide Action Research & Development

Prof. Michael Schulteis has been at Concordia University since 2003 teaching in the School of Education specializing in Science and Mathematics education as well as classroom management. Prior to arriving at Concordia University he taught at the Junior High School level as a 7th grade homeroom teacher teaching multiple subjects and as a science specialist for grades 6-8. At the High School level Michael taught chemistry, biology, and honors biology as well as being a coach and the taxidermy club advisor.

Dr. Schulteis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995, California Teaching Credential in 1996 and his Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction in 1998 all from Concordia University, Irvine. He earned his Doctor of Science Education degree from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia. His dissertation thesis was “The Condition and Effects of Evolutionary Education in the Parochial School.”

Beyond his teaching duties, Prof. Schulteis serves as a Faculty Marshal at the University. Dr. Schulteis is a mentor for the American Meteorological Society Datastreme program. He is also a sought after seminar presenter and has made presentations to teachers across the United States, as well as from around the world including teachers from Korea, Japan, China, South Africa, and Australia.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Michael W. Schulteis directly at: [email protected]

Jill L. Swisher, Ed.D.

Jill L. Swisher, Ed.D.

Assistant Professor
Senior Director, MA Education Programs

Speaking Topics:

  • Leadership (biblical/servant/etc)
  • Remote Work
  • Educator Preparation/Accreditation
  • Graduate Student Success/Advising

Dr. Jill Swisher serves as Program Director for School Counseling in the School of Education. She has served in the M.A.Ed department for 15 years, most recently as director of advising and previously assistant director of M.A.Ed programs. Prior experience includes marketing operations for several nonprofit organizations. Jill offers additional expertise in educational telework, with doctoral research on the importance of organizational support in remote worker satisfaction and performance. She enjoys volunteering at her church and children's school, as well as on various local committees.

To schedule a speaking engagement, please reach out to Jill L. Swisher directly at: [email protected]

Contact Us

For more information about the Speakers Bureau, please direct any questions to:

Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier

Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier
Director, Servant Leadership Institute
(949) 214-3256
[email protected]

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