Your AU Faculty

College of Business and Professional Studies

Charlie Minnick, PhD - Dean

Dr. Charlie Minnick is the Dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies at Ashford University. He has been at Ashford since 2006. Before that, he spent ten years at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. His last position there was Director of the Masters of Organizational Leadership program. His PhD is in Management and Decision Sciences with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Change from Walden University. He has also done some consulting work in the areas of employee motivation, business ethics, improving team performance, and conflict management. He recently served as a reviewer of Management textbooks for Pearson Publishing. In 2009, Dr. Minnick was fortunate to be one of three recipients of a national award for Excellence in Teaching, presented by the Commission for Accelerated Programs (CAP). As Dean, Dr. Minnick wants to uphold Ashford's "dedication to continuing our strong progress and building on our key values of providing affordable, accessible and quality programs." Read more about Dr. Minnick.
Email: charlie.minnick@ashford.edu

Carol Bierce, MBA

Carol Bierce began her career in banking in Ohio as a teller at 18. Knowing that education was the key to advancement, Bierce spent 12 years working on her undergraduate degree in Organizational Behavior. As an adult learner, Bierce understands the value of accelerated programs and wishes they had been around then. Bierce moved to Chicago where she earned an MBA from Northwestern University with a concentration in Strategic Planning and Marketing. During most of her professional life, she was a product manager working on treasury management and short-term investment products. She took early retirement from a career in banking, but continued to look for some way to share her experience and knowledge. She counts herself lucky to have joined Ashford University in 2006 as an adjunct instructor. After leading accelerated classes on-ground and online as well as classes for traditional students, Bierce joined the faculty full-time in 2011. “I really enjoy helping students relate their academic studies to current events in the financial world,” says Bierce.
Email: carol.bierce@ashford.edu

Mike Burton, JD

Mike Burton is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Business and Professional Studies. He received a BA from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor (JD) from Valparaiso University. Prior to coming to Ashford, he practiced law for several years and then worked in the business sector. His diverse professional and educational background enables him to instruct a variety of courses, but his primary areas of interest are in business law, sports and recreation management, and sales/marketing. Besides instructing traditional campus classes, he also teaches in the accelerated online programs. His wife, Michelle, and their four children provide him with the inspiration to always strive to do his best as an instructor. He is very motivated by the opportunity to teach others and to create a quality learning experience.
Email: mike.burton@ashford.edu

Diane Cornilsen, MSEd

Diane Cornilsen's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University. She retains a State of Iowa Teacher License, she earned a Distance Learning certificate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and she has taken a considerable number of post-graduate courses. Some of the courses she teaches include Computer Literacy, Integrating Technology in the Classroom, Visual and Verbal Presentations, and Spreadsheet and Database Analysis. Since 2005, Ashford University has enhanced its classroom technology so that faculty and students can teach and learn using 21st century tools. Diane supports faculty-driven and University-driven initiatives to encourage students to be independent learners and thinkers who take responsibility for their collegiate success in and out of the classroom.
Email: diane.cornilsen@ashford.edu

James Hyatt, ABD

James C. Hyatt is an assistant professor in the College of Business and Professional Studies at Ashford University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Interpersonal Communications from Southern Utah University and a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from Fort Hays State University. He is currently ABD for his PhD in Management with an emphasis in Information Systems Management from Walden University. He has worked as an associate faculty member for Barton Community College, business consultant, research project coordinator for an agricultural research company, financial advising assistant for ING, web page designer, and as a business manager. He believes that true teaching results in change and that teachers can have a great influence on the lives of their students.
Email: james.hyatt@ashford.edu

Amy Kramer, PhD

Dr. Amy Kramer holds a PhD in Organization and Management from Capella University, a Master's of Organizational Management from University Of Phoenix, and a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources and Marketing. Prior to joining AU full-time, she worked within the corporate arena for more than 14 years. She currently teaches Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, Research Methods, Marketing, Management, Leadership, Change Management, Business Communications, Marketing Research, Social Issues, Group Behavior in Organizations, Operations Management, and Strategic Planning. She has a passion for learning and enjoys helping students realize the joy that learning can bring. Some of her key goals are to teach students to seek knowledge and understanding in everything they do or experience, to help students learn to think in new and different ways, and to help students to gain confidence in themselves and see what they have to offer to the world both personally and professionally. Of her students, Kramer says, "It is an honor to work with them here and it is my pleasure to support and guide them every step of the way." She lives near the campus with her husband (who is a firefighter & paramedic) and their three children.
Email: amy.kramer@ashford.edu

Matt Slaymaker, MA

Matt Slaymaker is a digital artist specializing in 3D animation and computer graphics. He received his BA from Mount Saint Clair College May 2003, and his Master's degree in 3D Animation and Special Effects from Digital Media Arts College in Boca Raton, Florida, in 2004. He has teaching experience from Brown College, Digital Media Arts College, and Champlain College previous to joining Ashford in 2010. He also has freelance experience creating all forms of digital media dating back to 2003 doing work in 3D modeling, animation, and character rigging.
Email: matthew.slaymaker@ashford.edu

Ray Smith, MA

Ray Smith has been on the faculty of Ashford University since August 2007. He has a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, also in mathematics. During the last few years, he has obtained certifications as a Cisco Certified Networking Instructor and also as a Cisco Java Instructor. After enjoying many years as a technology/math teacher at Clinton High School, he is now enjoying teaching at the college level. To his students, Smith says, "Learning is a life long process. Ashford University can help you in that process of living a rewarding and exciting life."
Email: ray.smith@ashford.edu

David Stedwell, MA

David Stedwell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a Secondary Education Certification from the University of Iowa, and an Master of Arts in Journalism / Public Relations from Ball State University. He taught journalism, mass media, and photography courses, and also advised student publications (newspaper and yearbook), at West High School, Davenport, Iowa for 12 years. Stedwell also served for 18 years at Marycrest College/Marycrest International University in the Computer Graphics program, where he advised the student newspaper and literary/graphics magazine. Additionally, for 35 years, he developed curriculum, taught, and directed programs at various summer journalism workshops around the country (Michigan State University, Ball State University, The University of Iowa, University of Nebraska, Western Kentucky University). He is currently an Associate Professor teaching graphic communication courses in the Computer Graphic Design program. He says he encourages students to do the best work with the skills they bring to any project, and to embark on a life-long quest to continue developing those skills. "I think that life-long learning is important for anyone who wants to keep pace with the constantly changing graphic communication environment." Read more about David Stedwell.
Email: david.stedwell@ashford.edu

George Sztajer, MBA

George Sztajer is a professor in the College of Business and Professional Studies. His undergraduate degree is in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Champaign. He holds an MBA from Eastern Illinois University, and he took doctoral classes at the University of Iowa in Policy and Planning. His early career was in the construction industry as an architect and later as an executive. He has been teaching for about 20 years, the last 8 of those here at Ashford. He has taught most of the business courses at one time or another. Says Sztajer, "I have taught at large and small schools and one of the advantages of Ashford is its small size. Take advantage of that by talking with your professors whenever you have questions."
Email: george.sztajer@ashford.edu

David Ward, MBA, CPA

David Ward has a Bachelor of Science in Grain Science & Technology from Kansas State University, an MBA from St. Ambrose University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Western Illinois University. He is a certified public accountant, and has taught in the areas of accounting and business for Ashford University since 2005. A poem excerpt that Ward likes to share with students is from Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken:"

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Email: david.ward@ashford.edu

Charles West, MBA, CPA, CMA, CFM

Charles West started teaching at Ashford in 1981. He has taught accounting, business, and finance courses. He holds CPA, CMA, and CFM certifications. His degrees include a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University. He is happy to report that, "every year for over 20 years, our university has had exceptional students successfully complete one of the accounting professional certification examinations."
Email: charles.west@ashford.edu

William Woods, PhD

Dr. William Woods instructs management, leadership, and marketing courses in the undergraduate and graduate business programs at Ashford University. He began instructing classes for the University in 2005, and currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Core Faculty Member. For the last four years, he has instructed classes both online and residentially. While he enjoys campus life, he believes it is an extra bonus to interact with students online who are working for many different companies, the Military, and government agencies all over the United States. Dr. Woods is also the campus advisor for the Golden Key National Honor Society. Prior to Ashford, Dr. Woods was an Assistant Professor for St. Ambrose University and a Management Degrees Program Coordinator for Kaplan University. He has worked in sales, management, and warehousing in Iowa, Illinois, and California. He received his AA degree from Scott Community College (Davenport, Iowa), his BA and MBA degrees from St. Ambrose University (Davenport, Iowa), and his PhD degree from Capella University. Read more about Dr. William Woods.
Email: william.woods@ashford.edu


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