Cooper Center > Meet Our Staff

Dr. Rick Cypert, Director
 When he's not working in the Cooper Center, Dr. Cypert teaches in the English Department. His specialty is language theory, which includes a whole series of topics: history of the language, composition theory, linguistics, history of rhetoric and rhetorical theory. In addition, he serves as the custodian of what he calls NWU's Hellenic Cultural Center; his office -- Old Main 117 -- is full of posters, artwork, slides and books on ancient and modern Greece. From time to time he sponsors trips (for academic credit) to Greece.

Consultants

Juan Luis Alvarez is a Business major from Mexico.  He invites you to come see him for assistance with your studies in Spanish.

Chante Bauer, recently returned from two semesters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is attempting to finish her last semester at Nebraska Wesleyan University.  Chante is studying history and Spanish, and likes to fill her time knitting and sewing her own designs, and baking fun treats (when she can afford the ingredients).  So come for a Cooper Center consultation and you may find yourself with some bonus treats as well.

Alicia Dallman, a NWU junior, hails from Macon, Nebraska. She has recently declared majors in English, Spanish, and Secondary Education.  Beyond the classroom, she takes part in SOS, Alpha Mu Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, Order of Omega, NRHH, Delta Zeta Sorority, SEA, Women’s Choir, and intramural sports.  She also serves as a Peer Assistant and works at the circulation desk in Wesleyan’s Cochrane-Woods Library.  In her free time, she loves to be with her friends, watch and play most sports, run, shop, camp/fish, sew, chase tornados, speak Spanish, and volunteer.  She currently delights in planning her study abroad experience to Argentina and experimenting to determine how many words she can fit into one sentence.  (She sometimes likes to sleep as well.)    

Tristan Foy is completing his fourth year at Nebraska Wesleyan.  He is a Global Studies and German major, and spent his junior year studying in Trier, Germany.  He enjoys reading, writing, jogging, movies, studying languages, chatting with friends, and daydreaming.  His favorite animal is a snake.  His favorite color is red.  He dislikes stress, most country music, writer's block, and being cold.  In the future he would like to work abroad, perhaps in the field of archeology or linguistics.

Lauren Gengenbach is a junior biology major with minors in chemistry and psychology. As she diligently prepares herself for the MCAT (the entrance exam into medical school), Lauren also finds time to be involved on campus as a PA, participating in NSR, NSO, Tri-beta, Relay For Life, Society of Scholars, intramurals, tutoring and TAing biology labs. Likes: Running, bike rides, reading, country music, the lake, babies, and Grey’s Anatomy!!! Dislikes: spiders (or really any little insect that manages to find its way indoors), thunderstorms, and lack of organization…

Amanda Hefner is a healthy part of a balanced breakfast.  And, in her seventh semester of working at the Coop, she is also a mighty fine writing (and speaking) consultant.  Amanda is a super senior - she is also a fifth year student, majoring in music and scraping to pull together two minors in art and in Spanish.  Available for a limited time only!  After graduating in December, Amanda will be journeying to South America on a Peace Corps assignment and working in the field of youth development for a little over two years.  Take advantage of this offer while it lasts!  No purchase necessary.  See Cooper Center for details.

Lacey Johnson is a junior English, German and Secondary Education major, who obviously enjoys spending all of her time studying.  When she decides to be normal, she enjoys writing, reading, getting off of campus and spending time outdoors.  She’ll only be available in popular demand until her departure for Germany this late spring and summer.

Kyle Karthauser is a senior working toward an English major and a German/Japanese minor.  He tends to get winded walking the three flights of stairs to the Cooper Center every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.

Evan Knight wants to read your paper.  Being a Spanish and history double major, he is open to about any topic, especially if it deals with Spanish or history.

CJ Koozer is a biology major with minors in music and chemistry. She is a part of University Choir, Tri Beta, Student Affairs Senate, NSO/NSR and volunteers off campus at Nebraska AIDS Project. This past year she was a finalist in the National AlcoholEdu Essay Contest. When she has free time, CJ enjoys watching "The Office" and various shows on  Discovery Health. She also listens to all kinds of music and is always open to suggestions, except country, that is not her thing.

Maggie Mitteis harbors an obsession for the works of Neil Simon, and Wendy Wasserstein, as well as anything relating to the Tour de France. Originating from the itty-bitty town of Ashton Nebraska, she is presently beginning her third year at NWU, and is perusing degrees in English and Theatre. She enjoys intellectual/philosophical conversations, French toast, bike rides on the Mopac Trail, and the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack.

Jacki Smith, currently a sophomore at NWU, is a transplanted Colorado resident thrilled to be on Nebraskan soil for the time being. She is a history major considering a second major or a minor in Spanish, but her options are still wide open. Jacki is an active member and officer of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, a copy editor and writer for the student newspaper, a member of Society of Scholars, and a member of the college youth group at First United Methodist Church. In addition to writing and helping other people with their writing, she also likes to read many types of literature, watch movies and theater, listen to music, sing, and play the piano.

Alicia Weixelman is a Sophomore at NWU majoring in English with an area of focus in either Writing or Literature.  She has nearly completed a minor in Spanish and intends to minor in French and German as well; she's very psyched about taking all three languages at once.  While not attending classes, working in the Cooper Center, or confusing one language with another, Alicia entertains herself by reading a good book and being shamelessly addicted to shows like The O.C., America's Next Top Model, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.   

Jordan Wipf grew up in Weeping Water, a small town in Cass county. He trains there in mixed martial arts under the Rosenbach Warrior Training Branch on the weekends, where he also teaches a class on weapons to his fellow students. He is currently a blackbelt in the first degree and ready to become an official instructor in December. His greatest hope is to make a living as a writer, and to help anyone else who shares his dream.