Natural and Mathematical Science

Lauren Schellenberger, Ph.D.
Assistant professor of biology and Chairperson of the Natural and Mathematical Science Division

Dr. Lauren Schellenberger received her B.S. in crop science from the University of Illinois. She earned both a Master’s degree in botany and plant pathology and a Ph.D. in biology education from Purdue University. Prior to joining the Culver-Stockton College faculty in 2008, Dr. Schellenberger served as a consultant for BASF and Bayer CropScience. She has been published in journals including Science Education and the International Journal of Science Education, and she has presented at a variety of local, regional, and national conferences. In 2011, she was awarded the Walter S. Reuling Prize for Innovation in Student Learning.

Robert W. Carmichael, MA, ATC
Athletic training education program director and senior lecturer
Associate athletic trainer

Rob Carmichael has been an athletic trainer at C-SC since 1994. He has been the athletic training education program director since the inception of the academic program in 2000. Carmichael received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1990. He received a master's degree in health education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1992, where he also served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. His primary sports responsibility is with the C-SC football program. His teaching responsibilities include: organization and administration of athletic training, care and prevention of athletic injuries, and therapeutic modalities. In 2011, Carmichael was named the NAIA Head Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

Gary G. Cochell, Ed.D.
Professor of mathematics

Gary Cochell received his bachelor’s degree in 1971 from the Colorado School of Mines before going to Oklahoma State University to earn his master’s degree in 1973 and Ed.D. in 1976.

Cochell has spent the last 30 years teaching at Culver-Stockton. He also teaches online courses for the University of Maryland University College as an adjunct and grades AP calculus exams for the College Board.

In his free time Cochell enjoys being a runner and bicyclist. During his running career, he has finished 14 marathons and in cycling he has completed his first century (ride of at least 100 miles) during the summer of 2008.

Mohamed El-Bermawy, Ph.D.
Professor of chemistry/biology

Dr. El-Bermawy completed his bachelor’s degree at the School of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. He earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. El-Bermawy did his postdoctoral work at the School of Pharmacy, Medical College of Virginia-VCU, Richmond, VA. Before joining the Culver-Stockton faculty in 1999, El-Bermawy was a visiting associate professor of Medicinal Chemistry at Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y., and an assistant professor of pharmaceutical organic chemistry at the School of Pharmacy, Zagazig University. El-Bermawy also served as a pharmacist at El-Gala Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. He has received several “Excellence in Teaching” awards from different places including the C-SC Helsabeck Prize in 2002 and the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003. El-Bermawy is a member of the American Chemical Society and served as the chairman of the Mark-Twain section of the American Chemical Society in 2005 and 2010.

Kali Engels
Lecturer in Athletic Training, Associate Athletic Trainer and Clinical Instructor

Kali Engels joined the Culver-Stockton family in August 2012. Engels received her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with an emphasis in athletic training at Iowa State University in 2010. She received her Master of Education in educational administration with an emphasis in post secondary athletics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2012. While at University of Nebraska, Engels also served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the track and field team.

At Culver-Stockton, Engels' main sport responsibilities include men's and women's soccer and softball. Her teaching responsibilities include athletic training explorations, concepts of rehabilitation, advanced rehabilitation and evidence-based practice.

Holly LaFerriere, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology

Dr. Holly LaFerriere earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Dakota before going to the University of Missouri in Columbia to earn her Ph.D. in biology. While pursuing her Ph.D., LaFerriere served as a graduate teaching assistant for biology courses for three years. She also worked as a graduate research fellow, having received one of the University of Missouri’s Life Sciences Fellowships. She has presented research on Drosophila neurogenetics at local, national, and international meetings and published research in the journals Genetics and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA.

Travis Peters, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Dr. Travis Peters joined the Culver-Stockton faculty in 2012. He earned his B.S. degree in mathematics secondary education from Mount Mercy University in 2006. He then completed a Master's degree in mathematics at the University of Northern Iowa before pursuing a doctorate in mathematics at Iowa State University, which he completed in 2012. Dr. Peters is committed to teaching and earned a Teaching Excellence Award while a graduate student at Iowa State University.

Robert Sadler, Ph.D.
Professor of physical sciences

Robert Sadler earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics from Missouri S&T in Rolla before going on to the University of Wyoming in Laramie to earn his master’s degree and doctorate, also in Physics. Before coming to Culver-Stockton in 1991, He served as a professor of Physics, Astronomy, and Computer Science at Eastern Wyoming College from 1974-1991. He also was an instructor of extension classes at the University of Wyoming. Dr. Sadler was awarded the Helsabeck Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 1998 and 2010 as well as the Walter S. Reuling Prize for Innovation in Student Learning in 2008.

Dr. Sadler’s academic interests include Climatology, Decision Science, Geographic Information Systems, and several areas of Astronomy. He is also the coordinator for activities related to the WeatherBug meteorology station on the Culver-Stockton campus. In addition, he has been employed as a Summer National Park Ranger at Ft Laramie National Historic Site and Yellowstone National Park, and maintains an active interest in the National Park system and the history of the Old West.

Christe Thomas, MS, ATC
Senior lecturer, athletic training
Associate athletic trainer

Christe Thomas joined CSC in August 2002. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in 1999 from Old Dominion University. In 2002 she completed her Master's degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences with an emphasis in Athletic Training from University of Florida. Currently she serves as the Clinical Coordinator for the Athletic Training Education Program and teaches Care and Prevention, Therapeutic Rehabilitation, Pharmacology, and Senior Seminar. Christe is also the Head Athletic Trainer for Men's and Women's Basketball and Track and Field.