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Rick Coles

• M.A. in physical education, University of Northern Iowa
• B.A. in history and physical education, Coe College

Hi, I’m Rick Coles, Professor of Exercise Science and Assistant Coach of Football. I have taught and coached at Ripon College since 1999 after teaching and coaching at two high schools and three other colleges prior to 1999. I have stayed at Ripon this long because of the quality of the community, my colleagues on the faculty and staff, and the excellent young people I have to privilege to teach and coach.

In my time at Ripon I have served as Chair of the Exercise Science Department (seven years), and have taught several different classes including physiology of exercise, motor learning, kinesiology (an anatomy and biomechanics course), functional anatomy, as well as coaching courses.

I have coached the offensive line each year I’ve been at Ripon, and was the offensive coordinator from 2004 through 2019. In addition, I have been an assistant track coach (throws) for five years from 2000 through 2004, and was head swimming coach for five years from 2004 through 2009.

Jacqueline Clark

• Ph.D., Sociology, North Carolina State University
• M.A., Sociology (minor in Appalachian Studies), Appalachian State University
• B.A., Sociology, University of North Carolina-Asheville

I am a qualitative sociologist who studies social inequalities, the sociology of health and illness, as well as the sociology of jobs and work. In my spare time, I also like to scout thrift stores, flea markets, and antique stores for quirky collectibles. I’ve combined these interests in my most recent research project, which focuses on how and why some people collect contemptible collectibles or racist objects from the past.

I teach classes on social inequalities, medical sociology, death and dying, as well as sociology through film and research methods, among others.

Colleen Byron

• Ph.D., analytical chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• B.A., chemistry, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota

Brian Bockelman

• Ph.D., in History, Brown University
• A.M., in History, Brown University
• A.B., in Religion, Dartmouth College

Hi! I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska (about 25 miles from Prof. Matzke!) and did my studies in New England and abroad before coming to Ripon in 2008. I am a specialist in Latin American history (Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, etc.) but also teach a wide variety of courses at Ripon, from historical methods to the history of cartography to the history of the modern world as seen through the evolution of soccer, the global game. Someday I’ll get brave enough to offer a class on Japan, a side interest ever since a high school friend moved there. My research and writing focus on the intellectual, cultural, and environmental history of modern Argentina, which has some surprising similarities to our country, especially Chicagoland and the greater Midwest. These days I live in Madison with my wife Emma (a history professor at Northern Illinois University), son Teddy, and annoying cat Basia.

If you would like to learn more about my scholarship or other professional activities, feel free to peruse my CV.

Catherine “Katie” Astrauskas

• B.A. in Business Administration, St. Norbert College
• M.S. in Education, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Robert Amsden

• Ph.D., Bowling Green State University
• M.A., Indiana University
• B.A., University of Toledo