Laura Watkins received her B.A. and M.A. in Communication from Bethel University where she conducted research on nonverbal communication factors of compliance gaining.

Watkins began teaching at the collegiate level in 1999 and has enjoyed teaching a variety of topics ranging from speech and communication to understanding computers and technical writing.

She has spoken at numerous church and homeschooling events on topics relating to parenting, homeschooling, leadership, and personal finance.

Watkins’ research interests include topics within interpersonal, nonverbal, and cross-cultural communication. Her most recent research examines the connection between listening to podcasts at a sped-up rate and perceived interest/ability to pay attention in the college classroom.

Laura is married to Jonathan and has greatly enjoyed homeschooling her five children. She enjoys travel, photography, outdoor adventures of all sorts, and learning through reading and experience.

Jon “Cisco” Cermin began his professional career in 1988 as a Director of Photography and “one-man band” at FlightSafety International’s Center for Instructional Services (FSI CIS) in Irving, Texas. At FSI CIS he wrote, shot and edited aviation linear and non-linear training videos for corporate and military aircraft manufacturers (having a private pilot license helped secure the job). After almost three years at FSI CIS, he was hired away by AMS Production Group in Dallas, Texas, to start their Production Department. After seven years and hundreds of ENG, EFP and studio shoots for broadcast, corporate and agency clients, he left AMS Production Group to start Cine-Cermin Productions, Inc., a full-service media production company.

Cisco enjoys a 30-year career that has afforded him many opportunities to go places, see things and meet interesting people. His business travels have taken him to all 50 U.S. States and 19 foreign countries.

He’s worked for most broadcast and cable companies, and he’s shot from bridges, cranes, trains, cars, helicopters, ships, sailboats, military vehicles, an elephant, small planes, the wing of a Lockheed F-16 Falcon fighter jet (it was not moving) and a NASCAR race car (it was moving at 160 mph). He is also a licensed drone pilot. His expertise includes, jibs, dollies, drones, car mounts, miniatures and green screen.

Cisco has filmed and taped countless interviews and commercials for senators, congressmen, a presidential candidate, sports figures, recording artists, movie stars, astronauts, puppets and just regular people. He has won numerous awards over his career and has earned five Telly Awards for his camera work since 2004.

He has previously taught video and audio production for two quarters at the Minnesota School of Business Digital Video School, and a drone class at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul.

Cisco has had a very blessed career and is very much looking forward to this opportunity to assist in teaching tomorrow’s Christian communicators, using, in part, real world examples from his extensive media production experiences.

Sara Vande Kamp is the Program Manager for the University of Northwestern and oversees the Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSM). She has over 13 years of experience working in higher education and is excited to utilize her passion for people, business, and faith in one setting.

When Sara was in high school and college she worked for Union Pacific Railroad, a fortune 500 company, which sparked her interest in the world of business. This encouraged her to major and pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business Administration. After graduation, God had different plans than Sara about working in corporate business and she began her higher education career in 2007.

Sara has worked in different areas of private higher education that include admission, development, and the registrar’s office. In her most recent role as an administrator, she also taught first year undergraduate students to understand master-oriented, information process and metacognitive learning strategies. Helping students achieve their highest potential is one of her favorite parts of work.

Furthermore, she has expertise with co-owning a small retail business, serving on a non-profit jewelry board, organizing mission trips (Mexico, England, and Haiti), and actively working with the plant church that she and her family attend in Sioux Falls (Invitation 605).

Her M.B.A. graduate work focused on student engagement and retention, while her current areas of study for her doctoral dissertation include student responsibility and advising. Sara was also elected to the Creighton University Graduate Alumni Advisory Board as a leadership fellow for the 2018-2019 school year.

Outside of the office you can find Sara spending time with her husband (Kendall) and their daughter (Ivy), enjoying the outdoors, shopping, drinking coffee, and traveling!