WHEELING, WV, Sept 17, 2009 - Wheeling Jesuit University has announced its hires and promotions for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Changes in Enrollment Management resulted in Becky Forney being promoted to the Dean of Enrollment at the university. Forney has responsibility for undergraduate, professional and graduate enrollment including marketing, admissions and financial aid. Her office is located in the Enrollment Management Department on the second floor of the National Technology and Transfer Center (NTTC) building. Forney is a 1985 graduate of West Liberty State College with a bachelor's degree in Communications and a 2000 graduate of West Virginia University with a master's degree in Journalism. She has been with the university since 1991 and most recently held the position of Associate Dean for Professional and Graduate Studies.

Beth Loy has also been promoted to director of Admission and her office is located in the NTTC building. Loy has been employed at the university since 2005 and earned a degree in chemistry from Wheeling Jesuit in 2002. She was formerly employed at DeVry University in Columbus, Ohio.

Melissa Rataiczak has been promoted to director of Admission/Professional and Graduate Studies. Her office is located in the Center of Professional and Graduate Studies in Donahue Hall. Rataiczak has been with the university since 2006 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Development in 2009.

Also newly hired as admissions counselor in the department of Enrollment Management is King Miner. Miner is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit (2007) and formerly worked at Enterprise.

Other new hires or promotions include:

Margaret Erickson hired as Pastoral Associate in the office of Campus Ministry. Erickson is a graduate of Wheeling College with biology degree and earned master degrees in biology and library science at Case Western Reserve.

Kerry Przybysz was named an administrative assistant in the English Language Institute (ELI). This compliments Przybysz’s part-time duties as an instructor in the ELI and results in her gaining full-time status. She is a graduate of Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., with a degree in mathematics and began working at Wheeling Jesuit in August of 2002.

Senior biology major Wilhelm Castellon was hired as a scientific researcher in the Office of Global Outreach. Also hired as a research technician in the biology department is Tara Richards. Richards is a 2009 graduate of the university with degree in biology.

Amy Cronin was hired as nurse coordinator of the Student Wellness Center. She is a graduate of West Virginia Northern Community College and was formerly employed at Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

In the department of Business and Finance, Lewis Honaker was selected for the position of grants administrator. Honaker earned an accounting degree from West Virginia University in 2002, and master’s in public administration in 2005. He was formerly employed at California University of Pa.

Theresa Parsons was hired as manager of Sponsored Programs finance. Parsons is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit, with a bachelor’s in accounting and a master’s in business administration. She formerly worked at the Marshall County Family Resource Network.

Also in Sponsored Programs, Christopher Ruckman was selected as computer programmer for the CET. He is a 2008 graduate of Wheeling Jesuit with a degree in computer science and was formerly a programmer for Prosite Business Solutions in New Martinsville.

Ronnie Cooper was promoted to the new position of grounds supervisor. He has been with the university since 1988.

Joining the university faculty for 2009-10, are the following instructors: Jane Neuwenschwander, Professional Education department; Angela Thompson, assistant professor nursing; Elizabeth Prather, mathematics instructor; and Marimar Weeks, nursing clinical instructor.

Neuwenschwander was formerly employed by the Center for Educational Technologies® since 1996 and has a master's degree in elementary education.

Thompson, a graduate of West Virginia University with a master’s degree in nursing, is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

Prather is returning to the university after completing courses at Carnegie Mellon. She has a master’s in mathematics and instructional design, both from the University of Kentucky.

Weeks was formerly employed at Ohio Valley Medical Center for 12 years, and worked as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit for three years during that time. She earned bachelor degrees in psychology and nursing at Wheeling Jesuit and is currently completing her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner at the university.

The Wheeling Jesuit athletics department announced that Kathleen Hine was hired as Cardinal head women’s basketball coach for 2009 - 2010. She was formerly assistant coach and is a 2007 graduate of Wheeling Jesuit with a degree in elementary education. She is currently working on a master’s degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia University and expects to graduate in May 2010.

Other new employees for fall include 10 graduate assistants: Tyler Absalom, women’s soccer; John Eberhart, baseball; Urko Fernandez, Office of Global Outreach/International Office; Maqsood Harrington, athletics; Erin Kinter, basketball; Anthony Mazza, Mother Jones House mentor; Jacek Przednowek, men’s soccer; Nicole Stanley, swimming; Tony Trabert, business and finance; and Armando Vazquez, Office of Global Outreach/International Office.