Faculty

Assistant Dean | Senior Director of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership Program

Dr. Kellie Albrecht is the Assistant Dean for the School of Education, Senior Director of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership program, and a Professor of Education. She is responsible for Ed.D. program operations, program development and improvement, faculty training, curriculum development and assessment, and advising doctoral students with their dissertation research. Dr. Albrecht served as the Chair of the Educational Effectiveness Committee (EEC), a member of the Academic Council and Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Prior to teaching in higher education, Dr. Albrecht was an elementary school educator having taught in grades 1, 4, 5, and 6. Dr. Albrecht's experience teaching in urban schools sparked her passion for educating in diverse settings. Her experience working with culturally diverse and underrepresented children led to an interest in English language development and differentiated instructional practices. Additionally, Dr. Albrecht is the mother of four children, her oldest being identical twin boys. Dr. Albrecht's doctoral dissertation was an interpretive phenomenological analysis focused on identifying twins as a cultural group, which investigated individual needs for educating twins. The dissertation is titled, Beyond Bonded Voices: A Qualitative Study with Adult Monozygotic (Identical) Twins.

Dr. Albrecht's experience in higher education includes MAED program development and improvement, faculty training and professional development, advising graduate and postgraduate qualitative research projects, teaching undergraduate, graduate, and multiple and single subject credential courses, supervising student teachers in the field, assessing teaching performance assessments (TPAs), and facilitating TPA student workshops.

Areas of Expertise

• Qualitative Research Methodologies: Action Research, Grounded Theory, Interpretive
• Phenomenological Analysis, Case Study
• Twins’ Research
• Differentiated Instructional Practices
• English Language Development
• Classroom Management
• Curriculum Design, Assessment, and Evaluation
• Distance Learning: Online Asynchronous & Synchronous, Blended/Hybrid
• Program/Course Development, Design, and Improvement
• Technological Pedagogy

Director, M.A. Educational Leadership

Biography

My career in education began at the high school level and I enjoyed years of teaching English and theology classes. My posts as ASB advisor and basketball coach provided additional ways to connect with my students. A couple years as the school's communications director came at the same time I began teaching for Concordia University, Irvine, in 2002. At that time, I taught in the CUAccelerate program which is a hybrid on-campus and online program. A move to Arizona led to five years of instruction for University of Phoenix where I taught a range of writing courses to include expository, research, and technical writing. While I enjoyed that post, I decided to pursue courses in the field of education and started teaching for Grand Canyon University in both their graduate and undergraduate programs. In 2012, I was thrilled to join the CUI ranks again as a Professor of Education for the MAED Curriculum & Instruction program. I also serve as the Subject Matter Expert for the following MAEd courses: Curriculum Design and Assessment (EDU/EDUT 520), Coping with Stress and Violence in Today's Classrooms (EDU 524), and Educational Discourse: Change and Reform (EDU 550). My role as Program Director for Curriculum & Instruction provides opportunities to work with other instructors and stay current with all the courses offered. I'm currently working on a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. I have a true love for the online classroom and truly look forward to the start of each new term.

Director, Servant Leadership Institute

Degrees Earned

• Ed.D., Educational Leadership, University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A., Denver University
• B.A., Concordia Teachers College, Seward, NE

Biography

Dr. Kent Schlichtemeier is a teacher. He started his teaching career in 1978 teaching 6th-8th grades in Oxnard, CA. After completing his Master’s degree at Denver University in 1984, he continued his teaching career at the high school level in Orlando, FL. Dr. Schlichtemeier served in the School of Education at Concordia University, Irvine from 1988-2003 where he mentored future teachers. In addition to teaching at Concordia, Dr. Schlichtemeier was the women’s basketball coach until retiring in 1993 to pursue his doctorate degree. During the final two seasons of his 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. Dr. Schlichtemeier was voted the District Three NAIA Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993 and was voted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. Dr. Schlichtemeier has served as a teacher and assistant principal at Orange Lutheran High School from 2003-2007, before returning to teach at Concordia University. He enjoys frequent opportunities to speak at sports banquets, school graduations, athletic camps, teacher conferences, and leadership retreats.

Areas of Expertise

• Instructional Leadership
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Assessment
• Organizational Culture
• School Climate
• Instructional Leadership
• Action Research

Senior Director, MAED School Counseling

Biography

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.

Director, MAED Educational Administration

Biography

Dr. Tanya Tarbutton serves as an Assistant Professor of Education and Program Director for MAED, School Administration emphasis. Prior to joining Concordia University, Dr. Tarbutton worked as a supervisor and instructor at several higher education institutions in Southern California, mentoring and supporting new administrators and teachers. In this capacity she evaluated and prepared administrative candidates as well as teacher candidates for teaching and learning in the 21st Century. Dr. Tarbutton has also participated on Academic Advisory Boards focused on transformational change and presented at international conferences. Before entering higher education, Dr. Tarbutton worked as a site based school administrator, resource teacher and general education teacher. As an immigrant, she brings a unique perspective grounded in more than 20 years of career experience.

Education

• Ed.D, Educational Leadership & Management, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA.
• M.A., School Administration, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA.
• M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA.
• B.A., Elementary Education, Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada
• B.A., Sociology Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada

Areas of Expertise

• Curriculum Development and Alignment
• Mentorship and Support of Administrators and Teachers
• Instructional Platforms and Strategies

Professor

Degrees Earned

• Ed.D., Instructional Leadership, Argosy University, 2007
• MAEd., Supervision and Administration, University of Phoenix, 2002
• B. A., History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1995
• B. A., Geography/Environmental Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 1995

Biography

Dr. Catherine Webb is a Professor of Education and Coordinator of the California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA). She serves on the Institutional Review Board at Concordia University Irvine and is the Subject Matter Expert for EDUA 516, EDUA 517, EDUA 561, EDUA562 and EDUA563 (5 of the 8 Administrative courses in the MAEd. program). Dr. Webb serves as a generalist currently teaching Education Technology, Administration, and Curriculum and Instruction courses in the MAEd program as well as Dissertation Seminars for the Doctoral Program.

Dr. Webb served as a K-8 teacher, special education teacher, site administrator, and district administrator for over 15 years in California and Arizona. She holds a Clear Administrative Services credential and Clear Teaching credential in both states. Dr. Webb defended her dissertation on the efficacy of professional learning communities and the impact school improvement initiatives have on student academic achievement. Dr. Webb’s expertise lies in curriculum, Instruction and assessment, administration, and technology. Dr. Webb served as a consultant and professional development presenter, serving school districts nationwide. Dr. Webb has worked in Higher Education since 2007.

Areas of Expertise

• Technology
• 21st century Teaching and Learning
• Classroom Management
• Instructional Leadership
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• Diverse Learners
• School Improvement
• Common Core Standards
• Action Research
• APA