Professors, lecturers earn promotions, tenure

The Indiana University Board of Trustees has approved promotion and/or tenure for 15 faculty members on the Kokomo campus.

Scott Jones, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, commended the faculty members.

“Tenure and promotion are a key milestone for faculty, recognizing their achievements and potential,” he said. “IU Kokomo is very fortunate to have these outstanding faculty members teaching our students.”

Those receiving promotions include:

Kevin Clark, professor of psychology. He joined the faculty in 2003. Clark earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, with specializations in human development, learning, cognition, and instruction from Indiana University, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in computer science and music from the University of Michigan. He serves as psychology coordinator. Clark has earned the IU Trustees Teaching Award three times and received an IU Kokomo Summer Faculty Fellowship.

Hisako Masuda, professor of biochemistry. She joined the faculty in 2013. Masuda earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Hiram College. She’s earned a Senior Research Grant from the Indiana Academy of Science, IU Kokomo’s Distinguished Research Award, and the IU Kokomo Junior Faculty Annual Research Award. She is a Fellow of the Indiana Academy of Science.

Peter Sposato, professor of history. He joined the faculty in 2013. Sposato earned a Ph.D. in Medieval and Early Modern History and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in History from the University of Rochester, New York. He received a Richard Lounsberry Foundation Grant and a National Foundation for the Humanities Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Grant. He’s also received IU Presidential Arts and Humanities research and travel grants.

Carolyn Townsend, professor of nursing. She joined the faculty in 2013. Townsend earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from University of Southern Indiana, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from IU Kokomo. She served as interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions for the 2024-2025 academic year. Townsend received the Rebecca T. Markel Excellence in Mentoring Award from Sigma Theta Tau, and the Distinguished Member Award from the Indiana Association for Healthcare Quality.

Christine Taff, teaching professor in Spanish. Taff joined the faculty in 2006. She’s completing a Ph.D. in Spanish at Purdue University, where she also earned an M.A. in Spanish. She earned a B.A. in Spanish at the University of Tulsa and participated in the AIFS Undergraduate Study Abroad program at the Universidad de Salamanca, Spain, and served in the Peace Corps in Honduras. She has led student trips to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Poland.

Sonya Green, associate clinical professor of nursing. She joined the faculty in 2016 and serves as nursing simulation director. Green earned an MSN from the University of Phoenix, and a BSN from IU Kokomo. She is a certified mental health nurse and a mental health first aid instructor.

Christopher Buckman, senior lecturer in philosophy. He joined the faculty in 2019. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from University at Buffalo, an M.A. in Philosophy from Stony Brook University, and a B.A. in Political Science from State University of New York New Paltz. His areas of specialization include social and political philosophy and aesthetics. He represented IU Kokomo on the IU Faculty Council, has coordinated Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) program travel, and advised the Student Philosophy Club.

Cheryl Moore-Beyioku, senior lecturer in special education. She joined the faculty in 2018. Moore-Beyioku earned a Doctor of Education from Ball State University, an M.A. in Special Education from California State University Los Angeles, and an M.A. in Urban Planning and a B.A. in Environmental Design from the State University of New York, Buffalo. She’s led the campus poverty simulation and has received grants for educator wellness communities and an educator wellness and resilience program. Moore-Beyioku also helped develop the Emerging Educator Mentor Network.

Susan Ploughe, senior lecturer of nursing. She joined the faculty in 2019. Ploughe earned a BSN and an MSN from IU Indianapolis. She was named Outstanding Case Manager of the Year for the Central Indiana Chapter of the Case Management Society of America. Ploughe is vice chair of the Indiana Council of Parish Nurses and treasurer of Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Chapter.

Those who were promoted and received tenure include:

Lalatendu Acharya, associate professor of health sciences. He joined the faculty in 2019. He earned a Ph.D. in Health Communication from Purdue; an MBA from Xavier University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; and a B.S. in Physics from BJB College. Utkal University, Odisha, India. He’s earned grant funding as co-investigator in a plant-based diet and health project, and was an IU FACET Mack Fellow, studying institutional data about student learning, persistence, retention, academic skills, and student engagement indicators in general education courses.

Christopher Caruvana, associate professor of mathematics. He joined the faculty in 2018. He earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics from University of North Texas, Denton, and a B.S. in Mathematics from Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas. He’s served as chair of the IUK research affairs committee and the IU Generative AI Task Force.

Jim Coby, associate professor of English. He joined the faculty in 2020. He earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, an M.A. in English from the University of North Alabama, and a B.S. in Business Marketing from Western Kentucky University. He is the English and language studies department coordinator and faculty advisor for the campus journal, Field: A Journal of Arts and Sciences. He received the Randall Kenan Prize for Interview with Nathan Ballingrud, gave an IU Kokomo School of Humanities and Social Sciences distinguished lecture, and was a presenter and workshop facilitator for the Indiana Collegiate Press Association conference.

Erin Geiselman, associate professor of nursing. She joined the faculty in 2019. Geiselman earned a DNP from the University of Southern Indiana, and an MSN and a BSN from IU Kokomo. She is MSN program director for non-nurse practitioner tracks. She earned an Indiana Association for Healthcare Quality Rising Star award, and a Sigma Theta Tau International Alpha Chapter Excellence in Mentoring Award.

Sarrah Grubb, associate professor of education. She joined the faculty in 2018. Grubb earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; a Master of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and a B.S. in English Writing with a minor in secondary education from DePauw University. She’s received the IU Trustees Teaching Award. She is coordinator for Paraprofessional Pathways and for teacher residency for the School of Education.

Aaron Pickens, associate professor of new media. He joined the faculty in 2019. Pickens earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University, Ohio. He earned the Sherry Daily Award of Distinction in the 79th Wabash Valley Exhibition, an Award of Merit from the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association member exhibition, and a Richmond Art Museum Merit Award, among other distinctions for his artwork.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.