Waynesburg University

This year, Waynesburg University welcomed three new faculty members and one new staff member to the university. Another previous faculty member has also been welcomed into a new role.

Paula Sexton, after receiving a master’s degree in nursing with a focus in education earlier this year, took a position as an instructor of nursing at Waynesburg University beginning this fall semester.

Sexton said she wanted the position because of Waynesburg’s mission of faith, learning and service and the reputation of the nursing department.

Sexton said she got to see just how prepared Waynesburg’s nursing students were during her 22 years working for West Virginia University Medicine in a level one trauma center and academic learning center, and wanted to come be a part of that education.

“It’s really nice to experience the students,” said Sexton. “To see the spark in someone’s eye when I tell them something and they get it for the first time.”

Sexton is in the process of applying to Waynesburg to get her doctorate in nursing.

Jennifer Roy, instructor of Business Administration, looked at multiple schools in the Pittsburgh area to teach full-time at before choosing Waynesburg. Roy said she chose the school for its unique mission.

“I think you have many schools incorporate faith in their mission, however, to bring that service component into the mission speaks volumes,” said Roy.

Originally from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Roy received her undergraduate from Boston University and her MBA at Queens University of Charlotte. Now, Roy lives in Butler County.

Roy says she hopes she can help her students feel as excited about business as she does.

“I am passionate about business, and I hope to impart that enthusiasm to the students,” Roy said.

Roy believes her new position will also help to grow her mentally and spiritually as an instructor.

Takashi Suyama moved to Pennsylvania all the way from Oregon to start his new position as an assistant professor of chemistry.

Suyama received his undergraduate degree at Oregon State University and his PHD at the University of California.

For the 2016-17 school year, Suyama taught classes at Corban University as a fill-in chemistry professor. When looking for full-time work, Suyama said he was interested in a similar experience of a small Christian university. As both Suyama and his wife were curious about living on the other side of the country, Suyama widened his search and found Waynesburg University.

Suyama said it didn’t take long for his students to find out that he’s “really all about Jesus.”

“I hope that my students would remember me as somebody who loved Jesus and loved organic chemistry,” Suyama said.

As a long-term goal, Suyama said he wants to acquire an MMR machine for the school to help undergraduate education in organic chemistry research.

Melinda Roeder-Skrbin, a new instructor of communication, served at Waynesburg University as an adjunct professor for one and a half years before gaining an opportunity to work full-time this year.

Roeder-Skrbin said she originally decided to work at Waynesburg because she “felt ready for a fresh challenge,” and Richard Krause, chairperson of the Department of Communication, reached out to her.

“A small Christian school with a strong sense of community, [Waynesburg University] was everything that I was looking for,” Roeder-Skrbin said.

Roeder-Skrbin graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and, after spending 20 years in broadcasting, went back to school to receive her master’s in communications of leadership studies at Gonzaga University.

As a Communication instructor and the new faculty advisor for WCTV, the campus television station, Roeder-Skrbin said her goal is to grow the electronic media program and WCTV, but also to “challenge the students to be involved in as much as they can.”

Roeder-Skrbin is currently enrolling in a program to get her Ph.D next year.

Ben Brudnock is the new director of Graduate and Professional Enrollment. Brudnock said that after working for 15 years with big banks in the country, the position at Waynesburg University was the right position for him at just the right time.

Having lived near Pittsburgh for most of his life and also graduating from Waynesburg University, Brudnock said working at Waynesburg “was like a homecoming” for him, and the transition into his new workplace has been great so far.

“After a decade and a half in a large for-profit corporate environment, it’s really wonderful to be working for a non-profit university that promotes and believes in the same values and morals that I hold,” said Brudnock.