Academics

Get more than a major — develop skills that will last a lifetime.

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The Power of Exploration

This is where it all begins. Where you start a journey of academic exploration, take chances, tap into your curiosity and discover the path that’s right for you. With 31 undergraduate programs,  eight pre-professional programs, seven master’s programs, and two doctoral programs at Graceland University, you’ll have plenty of room to explore — both in the classroom and with hands-on experiential learning. In fact, we believe that building strong leaders and changing lives happens through all our educational opportunities, be that academic or otherwise, and joining the Graceland community is about more than just earning a quality degree — it’s about discovering who you are, what you want to become and going after it.

Explore Programs
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A Second Major for Our Leaders

With over 35 areas of study, including nine pre-At Graceland, we mold professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and performers, and for 125 years we’ve walked with our students as they’ve become leaders in their industries. Starting in 2022, students who graduate with a 4-year degree will take with them at least two majors — one or more within their discipline and one in transformational leadership. It’s our mission to send our leaders out into the world prepared and ready to change it for the better.

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It’s All in the Numbers

Lamoni Campus

15:1

Student to faculty ratio

2021-22 Fact Book

71.5%

Job placement rate after graduation

Based on graduates surveyed by Career Services (2018)

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Graceland Student’s Perspective
Graceland helped me realize my individual potential as a learner. The nursing school's faculty and administration always made me feel like they wanted me to succeed. Building on their support, I've had the confidence to apply myself and get into a competitive overseas nurse training program.
Claudia Higdon Tang '20 Healthcare Support Worker, Addenbrooke's Hospital and BMI Nursing
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Graceland Student’s Perspective
The Graceland community is extremely kind and helpful. Ranging from the administrative staff, to the professors, and students everyone is always ready to help and contribute to the development of each student.
Evaristo Casimiro '19 MBA Graduate Student Business Administration, Economics
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Graceland Student’s Perspective
Because of the small class sizes I was able to ask questions and learn so much more from my professors than I would have otherwise. Still to this day I am in contact with former professors asking for advice and recommendations. They all care so much about us and want what is best for us well beyond our time in their classroom.
Allie Kaminski-Krabbenhoft '16 Math Teacher Mathematics and Secondary Education
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Graceland Student’s Perspective
Attending classes and building relationships with my professors were a highlight of my time at Graceland. I loved it. I love being challenged and learning new material. My professors all worked tirelessly to provide a supportive environment for students to grow. The CSIT Department is unparalleled when it comes to providing students with opportunities that will later benefit students tremendously after graduation.
Dylan Fox '21 Software Engineer & Project Management Computer Science and Information Technology, Data Science, Mathematics
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Graceland Student’s Perspective
We were fortunate to have some incredible professors in the C.H. Sandage School of Business & SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise, now Enactus) Program. Professors who had been successful in the world of business world before offering up their knowledge as professors to students. Even the ones who had been in education their whole careers found a way to relate their course material to real-world scenarios.
Brady Blankenship '12 Cloud Transformation Services Lead, TEK Systems Business Administration, Economics
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Graceland Student’s Perspective
The single most valuable thing about Graceland for me are the people – the students, the lecturers and professors, the coaches, and other faculty and staff. The people at Graceland are the at the heart and core of the University which I believe is why the school is not only successful itself, but produces well-rounded, balanced and progressive people who go on the flourish in many industries all across the whole.
Ellena Finneran '20 Teacher, PE Direct Sport Management
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Meet Graceland's Talented Faculty

The majority of Graceland’s faculty members hold the highest degree they can achieve. Studying at Graceland gets you personal access to talented and caring professors.

Leigh Murray, PT, PhD
Leigh Murray, PT, PhD Program Director, Clinical Professor View Bio
Stephanie Anderson, PT, DPT, OCS
Stephanie Anderson, PT, DPT, OCS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Matthew Casale, PT, DPT, PhD
Matthew Casale, PT, DPT, PhD Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Darla  Cathcart
Darla Cathcart Assistant Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Jamie Dyson, PT, DPT
Jamie Dyson, PT, DPT Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Wendy Herbert, PT, PhD
Wendy Herbert, PT, PhD Associate Clinical Professor View Bio
Jamie Holloway, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS
Jamie Holloway, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS Director of Student Affairs, Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Mareli  Klopper, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT
Mareli Klopper, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Patricia R. Nelson, PT, ScD, OCS, FAAOMPT
Patricia R. Nelson, PT, ScD, OCS, FAAOMPT Director of Curriculum, Clinical Professor View Bio
Taylor Rees, DPT, PhD
Taylor Rees, DPT, PhD Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Becca Reisch, PT, DPT, PhD
Becca Reisch, PT, DPT, PhD Director of Research and Faculty Development, Clinical Professor View Bio
Shaen  Polasky
Shaen Polasky Assistant Professor of Education View Bio
Aryn  Kruse
Aryn Kruse Assistant Professor of Education View Bio
Iqra Shagufta Cheema
Iqra Shagufta Cheema Assistant Professor of Humanities View Bio
Austin  Harrington
Austin Harrington Assistant Professor of Humanities View Bio
Layne  Nowlin, M.S.
Layne Nowlin, M.S. Assistant Professor of Health and Movement View Bio
Jake McGinnis
Jake McGinnis Assistant Professor of Humanities View Bio
Keith  Jenkins, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, AGNP-C
Keith Jenkins, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, AGNP-C Assistant Professor View Bio
Vanessa K. King, DC, MS, MTAA
Vanessa K. King, DC, MS, MTAA Faculty Associate in the Nutrition & Human Performance MS Program View Bio
Rhonda Pittman, DC, MS
Rhonda Pittman, DC, MS Faculty Associate in Nutrition & Human Performance MS Program View Bio
Yubu Kazungu, MFA
Yubu Kazungu, MFA Assistant Professor of Graphic Design View Bio
Wendy Berdych, MSN, RN
Wendy Berdych, MSN, RN Assistant Professor of Nursing View Bio
Nicole  Ortiz, MEd
Nicole Ortiz, MEd Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Health View Bio
Kevin Brunner, PhD
Kevin Brunner, PhD Professor of Information Technology and Ackerley Scholars Director View Bio
Darrell  Johnston
Darrell Johnston Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre View Bio
Sehwan Kim, PhD
Sehwan Kim, PhD Assistant Professor of Sport Management View Bio
Sean  McMannamy
Sean McMannamy Assistant Professor of Data Science View Bio
Ioseb
Ioseb "Soso" Gabelaia, PhD Assistant Professor of Business View Bio
Nancy  King, Ph.D.
Nancy King, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology View Bio
Matt  Schneider
Matt Schneider Visiting Associate Professor of Criminal Justice View Bio
Jacques Hendieh, DBA
Jacques Hendieh, DBA Assistant Professor of Accounting View Bio
Breann McMannamy
Breann McMannamy Assistant Professor of Mathematics View Bio
Yong Wang, PhD
Yong Wang, PhD Assistant Professor of Sport Management View Bio
Christopher  Brandt, DMA
Christopher Brandt, DMA Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of Music View Bio
Shawnna  Jackson
Shawnna Jackson Assistant Professor of Nursing View Bio
Debra Stedem, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
Debra Stedem, MSN, RN, FNP-BC Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing View Bio
Melanie Mason, DAT, LAT, ATC, CES, PES
Melanie Mason, DAT, LAT, ATC, CES, PES Health and Movement Science Department Chair - Assistant Professor of Health and Movement Science View Bio
Mary Elizabeth Shawgo, PhD
Mary Elizabeth Shawgo, PhD Natural Sciences Department Chair, Professor of Biology View Bio
Jason Smith
Jason Smith Department Chair Math and Computer Science - Assistant Professor of Mathematics View Bio
Brian White
Brian White Director of the Honors Program - Dr. Brian White, Professor of English View Bio
Chante Campbell-Nixon, DNP
Chante Campbell-Nixon, DNP Assistant Professor of Nursing View Bio
Elise Hector, PhD, RN, CPN
Elise Hector, PhD, RN, CPN Assistant Dean of the School of Nursing, Assistant Professor of Nursing View Bio
Jack Ergo, MM
Jack Ergo, MM Piano/Harpsichord Orchestral Studies, Associate Professor of Music View Bio
James Geiselman, DC
James Geiselman, DC Associate Professor of Allied Health View Bio
Drew Sams
Drew Sams Instructor of Health and Movement Science View Bio
Evan Kennedy, PhD
Evan Kennedy, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology View Bio
Jeana Wilcox, PhD, APMHCNS-BC
Jeana Wilcox, PhD, APMHCNS-BC PMHNP Track Coordinator, Professor of Nursing View Bio
Eric Elliott
Eric Elliott Instructor of History View Bio
Daniel Pratt, PhD
Daniel Pratt, PhD Professor of Chemistry, Dan and Alice Waite Endowed Chair for the Sciences View Bio
Allison Roberts, DNP, AGACNP-BC
Allison Roberts, DNP, AGACNP-BC AGACNP Track Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Professor View Bio
Sharon Little-Stoetzel, PhD, RN, CNE, CCRP
Sharon Little-Stoetzel, PhD, RN, CNE, CCRP RN-BSN Track Coordinator, Professor of Nursing View Bio
Wilai Rojjanasrirat, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FILCA, FAAN
Wilai Rojjanasrirat, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FILCA, FAAN Professor and Director of Research & Scholarship View Bio
Jeri Sindt, PhD, RN
Jeri Sindt, PhD, RN Professor of Nursing View Bio
Robert Poulton, PhD
Robert Poulton, PhD Professor of Economics View Bio
Paul Binnicker
Paul Binnicker Director Center Graduate Studies, Adjunct Faculty - Business Administration View Bio
Jeff McElroy, EdD
Jeff McElroy, EdD Department Chair - C.H. Sandage School of Business, Professor of Business Administration, Sam Walton Fellow View Bio
Steve Anders, PhD
Steve Anders, PhD Distinguished Professor of Economics View Bio
Robert T. Davidson
Robert T. Davidson Director of Master of Science in Nutrition and Human Performance Program – Associate Professor of Nutrition and Human Performance View Bio
Allison Dudley
Allison Dudley Associate Professor of Education View Bio
Tanya Coffelt
Tanya Coffelt Education Department Chair - Associate Professor of Education View Bio
Barbara Walden
Barbara Walden Faculty Associate View Bio
Brittany Longsdorf
Brittany Longsdorf Faculty Associate View Bio
Katie Harmon-McLaughlin
Katie Harmon-McLaughlin Faculty Associate View Bio
Matt Frizzell
Matt Frizzell Faculty Associate View Bio
Charmaine Chvala-Smith
Charmaine Chvala-Smith Seminary Chaplain, Focus Session Coordinator View Bio
Jared Beverly
Jared Beverly Faculty Associate View Bio
David Anderson
David Anderson Faculty Associate View Bio
Zac Harmon-McLaughlin
Zac Harmon-McLaughlin Dean of Community of Christ Seminary, David and Betty Nipper Dean Chair View Bio
Mike Hoffman
Mike Hoffman Campus Minister, Director of Spiritual and Religious Life, Adjunct Faculty View Bio
Michele Dickey-Kotz
Michele Dickey-Kotz Professor of Education View Bio
Melanie Hijaz, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Melanie Hijaz, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC FNP Track Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing View Bio
Max Pitt, MBA, CMA
Max Pitt, MBA, CMA Associate Professor of Business View Bio
Kimberly Manuel
Kimberly Manuel Theatre Department Coordinator, Assistant Professor of Theatre and Design; Technical Director for the Theatre Department View Bio
Kathy Lenz
Kathy Lenz DNP Track Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing View Bio
Kathleen Mammen, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC
Kathleen Mammen, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing View Bio
Jolene Lynn, PhD, RN
Jolene Lynn, PhD, RN Dean, School of Nursing and Associate Professor of Nursing View Bio
Jennifer Poulton, PhD
Jennifer Poulton, PhD Professor of Biology View Bio
Jeffrey Draves, PhD
Jeffrey Draves, PhD Director of Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics, Professor of Chemistry View Bio
Jane Garrow, MSN-Ed, RN
Jane Garrow, MSN-Ed, RN Clinical Coordinator, Assistant Professor of Nursing View Bio
Steven Glazer
Steven Glazer Social Sciences Department Chair - Professor of History View Bio
Ethan Patterson, DMA
Ethan Patterson, DMA Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass View Bio
Anthony Chvala-Smith
Anthony Chvala-Smith Associate Professor of Religion, Paul E. Morden Seminary Chair of Religion View Bio
Barbara Voshall, DNP, RN
Barbara Voshall, DNP, RN Professor of Nursing View Bio
Karen Gergely
Karen Gergely Associate Professor of Art, Art Department Coordinator View Bio