Employee Directory

Meng Tian

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Technology Center 262

Travis (William) Trentham

Senior Lecturer of Mathematics

MeWaldt-Jensen 217

Stacy Trentham

Associate Professor of Mathematics

MeWaldt-Jensen 216

Steven A Usitalo

Professor of History/Department Chair

Technology Center 369

PH.D. McGill University, 2003

M.A. Carleton University, 1991

Master's Program/Certificate, University of Helsinki, 1990

B.A. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1988

Steven Usitalo is a specialist in Russian and Soviet history, modern genocide studies, and Roma studies. A recipient of numerous research grants, he has co-edited an anthology on Russian and Soviet history and published a monograph on the Russian polymath Mikhail Lomonosov. In fall 2023 he completed a revised Russian translation of his Lomonosov book. His present research focuses on the history of the Roma in the Soviet Union. He is at work on a book-length study of the genocide of the Roma people on Soviet territory during the Second World War.
 

He received a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, a master’s certificate in political history from the University of Helsinki, an M.A. in Soviet and East European studies from Carleton University, and a Ph.D. in history from McGill University. In his spare time, he’s driven by a love for travel. Even when life gets busy, his passion for exploring the world never slows down. More and more, however, he can be found wandering, silently, through Nothern Minnesota or any forest in Finland, with his family by his side—including a wonderful Labrador companion. Always moving forward, always seeking new adventures—there’s no looking back! 

Courses Taught

HIST 122 Western Civilization II

HIST 256 Modern World History

HIST 313 The Middle East

HIST 329 The French Revolution and Napoleon

HIST 330 Nineteenth Century Europe

HIST 420 Twentieth Century Europe

HIST 443 Imperial Russia

HIST 444 Twentieth Century Russia

HIST 470 The Second World War

HIST 485 History of Genocide in the Modern Era

HIST 492 Amerika through Soviet Eyes

HIST 492 Introduction to Japanese Film

HIST 492: The Genocide of the Roma

HIST 492 The Ottoman Empire and the Caucasus

HIST 492 War, Nationalism, and Terrorism

HIST 492 The Roma in Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union

HIST 492 The First World War

HIST 492 Stalin and Stalinist Civilization

Kylie Waldo

Nursing Program Assistant

Technology Center 357

Kylie Waldo serves as the Nursing Program Assistant, bringing a wealth of administrative expertise to support the program's operations and growth. With a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of North Dakota and a strong background in Human Resources, Project Management, and Healthcare, Kylie excels in managing the multifaceted aspects of the nursing program. Her responsibilities span administrative and faculty support, program coordination, student assistance, recruitment, and outreach efforts.  Kylie's dedication to student success coupled with her ability to streamline processes, makes her an invaluable asset to the nursing team.  

Kylie grew up in North Dakota and has resided in Aberdeen for almost 20 years with husband Aaron and their six children.  When she isn’t working, she is chasing after their children and attending all of their activities. She enjoys spending every summer minute possible at the lake....any lake.  In the fall and winter, you will find her cheering on her Minnesota Vikings.

Tanya White

Instructor of Communication Studies and Spanish

Technology Center 250

M.A., Spanish, Arizona State University

M.A., Communication, University of North Dakota

B.A., Spanish and English Philology, Kiev National Linguistic University, Ukraine

Resume/CV

In her Spanish, linguistics, and communication classes, Tetiana (Tanya) White gives students opportunities to develop new and various lenses through which to see themselves and other cultures. She enjoys watching students gain the confidence to speak publicly and carry that skill into their future careers.

Ms. White’s research interests lie at the intersection of linguistics and communication. Her latest master’s thesis studied critical cultural awareness of students, the structure of their mental lexicon, and their cultural values and beliefs. Her scholarly writing has appeared in Across Languages and Cultures and The Journal of Developmental Communication.

Lucas Wiscons

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice

Technology Center 349

Ph.D., Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2024
M.S., Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020
B.A., Sociology & Community Studies, University of California-Santa Cruz, 2013

Bio:

Dr. Lucas Wiscons joined Northern State University in 2024 as an assistant professor.  He taught previously at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  His research focuses on police-civilian interaction, criminal case processing, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and the use of science and technology in the criminal justice system. Dr. Wiscons has taught classes in sociology, criminal justice, social psychology, and research methods. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Wiscons managed a law firm in San Diego, California that specializes in matters involving criminal and immigration law as well as appellate litigation. Dr. Wiscons particularly enjoys involving students in his research and mentoring undergraduates interested in pursuing independent study, honors projects, and graduate school.

NORTHERN Courses

(Current, Previous & Scheduled)

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Prisons and Penology
• Community Corrections
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• American Extremism and Domestic Terrorism
• Criminalizing Mental Illness
• Cybercriminology
• AI and Algorithms in Criminal Justice

UW-Madison Courses

• Social Psychology
• Criminal Justice in America
• Sociology of Race & Ethnicity
• Statistics for Social Scientists
• Talk & Social Interaction
• Criminal-Legal Interaction