Academic Summer Camps

Art & Design

Do you have an interest in drawing or like taking photographs? Have you ever wondered how books are made? Spend a week learning the fundamental skills of drawing, exploring the compositional properties of photography, and discovering the art of papermaking and bookbinding.

During the week, students will:

• Master the construction of forms and composition of drawing,
• Explore how to use light, depth of field, color, and the rules of photography, and
• Design and bind a book sustainably from start to finish.

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Laura Tabbut, M.F.A., MVNU Adjunct Instructor of Art (Book making)
Laura is based in central Ohio and works in installation, new media, and textiles. Her work considers current ecological issues and questions the rituals and routines of the American landscape. She holds undergraduate degrees in fashion design and sculpture, an M.A. in English from The Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, and an MFA in visual art from Azusa Pacific University. She currently teaches at MVNU and serves as the gallery administrator for the Schnormeier Gallery.

Sara Keith, MFA, MVNU Adjunct Instructor of Art (Beginning Drawing)
A native of Northwest Florida, Sara Keith earned a BFA from the University of North Florida and an MFA with a concentration in drawing from the New York Academy of Art with a focus on classical fundamentals in drawing and painting. She has instructed art classes from elementary to university levels. Now happily transplanted to Ohio with her husband and five children, her work can be seen on display at Kudos Artist's Co-op in downtown Mount Vernon and on Instagram @Sara.B.Keith.

Margaret Allotey-Pappoe, M.A., MFA, Professor of Graphic Design (Digital Photography)Margaret Allotey-Pappoe is a graphic designer and professor of graphic design at MVNU. She earned her M.A. and MFA in visual communication and design from Bradley University, Peoria, Ill. She has a background in visual communication, and her work focuses on historical narratives. She has taught photography for more than a decade.

Education

Do you want to learn more about the teaching profession? Do you love working with children?

Spend a week learning more about teaching and learning, working with children, and the role of teachers. You'll design lessons, create interactive activities, spend time observing teachers, and work with small groups of children.

During the Education camp, you will:

• Learn about different grade levels and content areas you can teach;
• Observe teachers working in the YMCA's summer program;
• Learn how to plan engaging lessons and activities;
• Put your new knowledge into action—you will teach a small group of students in the YMCA's summer program!

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Jessica Grubaugh, ED.D, Education Department Chair and Professor of Education.
Jessica Grubaugh earned her Ed.D. from Grand Canyon University in organizational leadership/higher education leadership. She earned her M.A. in education with a focus on intervention/special education and her B.A. in integrated social studies education from MVNU. She oversees all teacher education programs at MVNU and is passionate about training new teachers. She is a former high school social studies teacher and currently teaches in MVNU’s residential and online teacher preparation programs. She has served as co-director of MVNU’s Summer Quest program, an academic summer camp program for children ages 3-13 years, for 10 years and is excited to provide opportunities for future teachers to practice their skills in partnership with Summer Quest.

Nicci Lambright, PH.D., Assistant Professor of Education
Nicci Lambright earned a Ph.D. in psychology with a specialization in educational psychology and a focus on curriculum and instruction from Capella University. She also has a B.S. in special education from The Ohio State University and a master's in intervention from MVNU. She came to MVNU after many years of teaching in public education at the high school level where she served as an intervention specialist with the English department and taught dual enrollment courses in psychology. Currently, she is teaching in both traditional and graduate programs at MVNU. She is excited to work with teachers and students over the summer to build enthusiasm for the teaching profession.

Engineering

Do you like exploring, creating, building, and solving problems? Are you considering a career as a coder, designer, robotics engineer, mechanical engineer, or electrical engineer?

Spend a week exploring the fields of engineering and computer science.

During the Engineering camp, you will:

• Design and build hands-on unique projects
• Work in teams to brainstorm solutions and solve design challenges
• Learn concepts in computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D fabrication using 3D printers
• Learn introductory concepts in programming and gain knowledge of engineering principles while working with gears and motors

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Jose Oommen, PH.D, Associate Professor and Chair of Engineering
Jose Oommen earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is in his sixth year at MVNU and has been chair of the engineering department for the last two years. He is very passionate about teaching and has taught nearly all the electrical engineering courses at MVNU. He has multiple years of teaching experience in India and more than three years of experience in the oil and gas industry and the communication industry in a variety of locations including Kuwait and Canada.

Michael Robbeloth, PH.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Michael Robbeloth is in his sixth year at MVNU with a background in image processing, computer vision, and machine learning. He brings more than 17 years of industry development experience as a software engineer in the embedded and distributed computing space from such companies as Eastman Kodak, Data Science Automation, and PDi Communication Systems, Inc. At those companies, he worked on commercial inkjet printing systems, flapping-wing micro-air vehicle drones, and Android-based smart televisions for hospitals.

Peter Baonhe Sob, D.TECH., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Peter Baonhe Sob earned his D.Tech. in mechanical engineering from Vaal University of Technology, South Africa. With research specialization in thermal-fluid science and nanomaterials, he has a solid foundation in thermal fluid and special wettability surface, and experience with various laboratory techniques and instrumentation used by thermal fluid and membrane industries. As a passionate professional, he hopes to pass on his enthusiasm for mechanical engineering to his students.

Film Production

Do you have a passion for telling stories through videography?

Conceptualize and direct a compelling short film. You’ll write an original script, direct scenes, edit using professional software, and watch your finished film alongside your peers.

During the Film Production camp, you will:

• Learn about each phase of video creation
• Experience writing, filming, and producing a film
• Showcase your finished film

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Jayme Mcmillan, MFA, Assistant Professor of Communication
Jayme McMillan teaches video production and communication courses. He brings professional experience as a television editor, screenwriter, and freelance videographer to the Film Production summer camp. Prior to coming to MVNU, he worked professionally as a videographer for more than 10 years.

Joe Rinehart, M.A., Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Communication
Joe Rinehart is the department chair for communication and the director of broadcasting at MVNU. This is his 18th year teaching after spending 13 years in the commercial broadcast industry as a station manager, program director, and sports director. He stays active in the industry by hosting a weekly afternoon radio show on WNZR and supervising the video streaming teams for MVNU athletics and campus events.

Nursing

Are you interested in becoming a nurse?
Explore the many career choices in the field of nursing and learn how to best prepare yourself for a future in the nursing profession.

During the Nursing camp, you will:

• Take on the role of the nurse as you learn how to assess patients and provide basic nursing care in a state-of-the-art simulation lab using human patient simulators
• Have the opportunity to obtain CPR certification
• Learn more about the nursing profession as you discover what it means to be a nurse

(There is an additional $30 cost for CPR training and certification.)

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Karla Adu, PH.D., DNP, R.N., FNP-BC, Associate Professor of Nursing
Karla Adu has been a registered nurse and certified family nurse practitioner for over 20 years. She enjoys teaching pharmacology and pathophysiology to undergraduate nursing students. She has a special passion for advocating for culturally congruent nursing care and has led numerous service-learning trips for nursing students. She earned her BSN from Capital University, her M.S. from The Ohio State University, and her Ph.D. in nursing from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh.

Malinda Ashcraft, MSN, R.N., Assistant Professor of Nursing

Malinda Ashcraft has more than eight years of experience as a registered nurse and received the BSN and M.S. in nursing degrees at MVNU. Her experience includes medical surgical nursing, inpatient oncology, case management, inpatient hospice, and nursing education. She enjoys teaching basic care skills and foundations of nursing at MVNU. Her greatest passion in nursing is hospice care, educating her students on the importance of compassionate and dignified end-of-life care.

Debra Garee, MSN, R.N., Assistant Professor of Nursing
Debra Garee is a registered nurse with a background in gerontology. Her passion for teaching is evident as she engages learners in applying nursing principles to practice and care for vulnerable populations through her ministry in nursing. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BSN and from Indiana Wesleyan University with an MSN in nursing education. Currently, she is working to obtain the DNP.

Pre-Med

Are you interested in a career in medicine or healthcare?

In this summer camp, you will explore the biological sciences to learn more about the field of medical diagnostics. Throughout the week you will follow a medical case that involves a cardiovascular crisis. As you dive into the science of pathology, you will perform a dissection of the heart, participate in a medical simulation, conduct microbiological testing, and complete genetic analysis, all in the hope of making a diagnosis in time to save your patient’s life.

Maximum Enrollment: 20

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Carrie Beal, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chair of the Department of Biology and Physical Sciences
Dr. Beal earned her Ph.D. in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis from Emory University. She also completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in the Department of Neurosciences at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute. Dr. Beal has taught in the biology program at MVNU for 17 years and is an active member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions.

Geoff Fuller, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Dr. Fuller earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University where his research focused on the biosynthesis and molecular biology of natural antibiotics. From there he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Plant Physiology at Washington State University where he worked on the biosynthetic pathway of the anti-cancer drug Taxol. Dr. Fuller teaches courses in genetics, molecular biology, and microbiology. Most recently, he directed the on-campus lab that performed PCR surveillance testing for COVID-19 for the MVNU community.

Psychology

Have you ever wondered why you think a certain way or why some of your friends struggle to communicate well with each other?

This camp will explore the field of psychology and related career and professional options through interactive activities, demonstrations, discussions, and your very own research project. Potential topics and activities include counseling skills, personality assessment, play therapy, learning and memory, and interviewing. Come and learn more about yourself, your peers, your vocational options, and how your interests and passions in psychology can fuel a future career!

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Colleen Bryan, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Department of Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management/Homeland Security 
Dr. Bryan has taught psychology in in-seat, online, and hybrid formats for over 30 years. She has a BA in social work, a MEd in counseling and development, and a PhD in Organizational Psychology.  Her primary areas of interest are in developmental psychology, play therapy, and organizational behavior.

Anna Harper, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology 
Dr. Harper earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Bowling Green State University and completed her doctoral psychology internship with the University Counseling Center at Grand Valley State University. Her research and clinical interests include compassionate love and virtue development, relational spirituality (i.e., intersections of interpersonal relationships and religion/spirituality), stress-related growth, spiritually-integrated psychotherapy, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Harper’s Love Lab research group investigates the development of love as a human virtue and implications of compassionate love for human flourishing.

Terry Kwon, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr. Kwon received his Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences from Purdue University and completed post-doctoral research at Purdue University and The Ohio State University. His research topics span from measuring cognitive ability to modeling visual perception. Dr. Kwon worked for an IT company and a testing company in Seoul, South Korea, where he was born and raised. Dr. Kwon brings diverse experiences in academia and industry to the classroom.

Science Exploration

Do you know that science can help you understand everything in your daily life, from the toothpaste that you use in the morning to the pizza that you ordered late last night?

Join us for a week of scientific exploration. Each day you will investigate different scientific topics with hands-on laboratory activities. You will have an opportunity to perform experiments in food science, learn why things combust (catch on fire), and discover potential career opportunities in the sciences.

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Zach Graber, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Graber earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Kent State University. He completed his post-doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the impact of cancer development on the properties of cell membranes as part of the Physical Sciences Oncology Center there. At MVNU, Dr. Graber’s chemistry courses emphasize the connections between chemistry and living systems. His courses include organic chemistry, biochemistry, introductory general, organic, and biochemistry, and a seminar course on the science of cooking. Dr. Graber is passionate about showing the wonders of chemistry that can be found in simple everyday things, including the food we eat.

Luiz Oliveira, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Oliveira earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Lyon in France. He completed post-doctoral research at the University of Toulouse in France and at the University of Washington. Dr. Oliveira brings a passion for teaching and research in computational biophysics and materials science. An aspect he particularly enjoys when teaching is the inclusion of hands-on demonstrations in the classroom.

Worship Arts

Have you ever wanted to plan your own worship service?

The Worship Arts camp will introduce students to the different aspects of planning a worship service in a local church. In this camp, you will explore music selection, graphic and video production, and the incorporation of service elements such as prayer, scripture, and teaching. Throughout the week you will learn from worship pastors currently working in the field. At the end of the week you will apply what you have learned by presenting a worship service for your peers, staff, and parents. Musical experience on one or more of the following instruments is highly encouraged: voice, piano, guitar, bass guitar, or drums.

Registration cost: $495

FACULTY

Carrie Vail, M.A. Assistant Professor of Music, Program Coordinator for the Worship Arts Degree, and Voice Coordinator of the Department of Music
Professor Vail graduated with her B.A. in Music Education from Northwest Nazarene University and her M.A. in Music Education from University of Nebraska-Kearney. She has extensive experience with praise and worship in multiple church settings both as a leader and team member. Currently, she directs MVNU's Goliards Chamber Ensemble, teaches private voice, class piano, and other courses in the areas of music and worship. Prof. Vail is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and National Association of Teaching Singing.