Ratio Studiorum  >  RSP 200  >  Pre-Major Advisors
Are you in the College of Arts & Sciences and not sure where you are headed for a career? 
Think you have an idea, but you need more advice?

What exactly does "pre-major" mean?  Are you and/or your parents still deciding on your best direction to take?  Do you have lots of interests?  Are you just not ready to be in a major yet?  Or, do you not know what you can do with that major? If so... 

Choose a Pre-Major Advisor from the list below.

RSP 200 is designed to provide the student beyond the first year with core curriculum and pre-major advising. YOU choose the advisor that fits your interests for where you are right now. Your RSP 200 experience begins when you personally select one of the Pre-Major Advisors from the list below.

RSP 200 is NOT a class, but a relationship with a Pre-Major Advisor who will remain your advisor until you formally apply for a major. Upon acceptance into the major, your primary advisor will be a faculty member from the department in which the major is offered.

If you are on a two- or three-year track leading to acceptance into the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions to pursue Pharmacy, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy, and acceptance into a major is not necessary, the Pre-Major Advisor remains your advisor until entrance into the professional program.

Students may apply for a major after one semester at Creighton. You must have an overall GPA of 2.0 and in some majors you must meet some special requirements. If you are ready to apply for acceptance into an Arts & Sciences major, please discuss this with your current advisor to make certain that you meet the major's special requirements for admission. Some departments offer more than one degree in the field, so please clarify with the department faculty which one interests you. This information can also be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

If you do meet the requirements, you may apply online by clicking here. If you are not accepted into the major, you will remain with your Pre-Major Advisor until you have completed the special requirements and are accepted.

Note: You may not declare a minor until you have been accepted into a major program of study.



Shama Ali
Coordinator, International Student and Scholar Services, International Programs
sali@creighton.edu 
Available to students who are "still deciding" and exploring different career options.
Background includes more than 12 years of experience working with international students. M.Ed. Educational Administration and M.A. Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska Lincoln; M.A. Psychology and B.A. Psychology, Philosophy and Economics, University of Karachi, Pakistan.

 

Jim Bretl
Senior Director,
Creighton Career Center
jbretl@creighton.edu
Available to students having an interest in the CoBA minor and/or those wanting to pursue employment immediately after graduation and who want exposure to careers/internships in business, non-profit and government organizations.
Background includes over 31 years of experience working in career centers and student services at four different Midwestern universities.M.S. StudentDevelopment/Counseling, St. Cloud State University; B.S. Sociology, Minors in Economics and Business,Northern Illinois University.

Lisa Brockhoff Fitzsimmons
Associate Director,
Creighton Career Center
lisabrockhoff@creighton.edu
Available to students who are "still deciding" and students planning to attend medical school.
Background includes assisting students with choosing a major, deciding what career to pursue, and general career development, i.e. internship/job searching, resume writing, and applying to graduate and professional school.
M.S. Human Development/College Student Development, University of Nebraska Lincoln; B.S. Psychology, Nebraska Wesleyan University.

 

Tami Buffalohead-McGill
Director, Student Support Services
tamib@creighton.edu
Available only to students enrolled in the Student Support Services program.
Background includes assisting undergraduate students with academic, career and professional/graduate school planning. Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), University of Nebraska Omaha; B.A. Classical Civilization and Political Science, Creighton University.

David Belieu
Admission Counselor, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
davidbelieu@creighton.edu
Available only to students interested in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy.
Background includes experience in both business and higher education. M.A. Higher Education Administration and B.S. Business Administration, University of Nebraska Lincoln.

 

Shane Bumsted
Admission Counselor, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
shanebumsted@creighton.edu
Available only to students interested in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy.
Background includes careers in education, business management and higher education. Completing M.A. in Elementary Education, University of Nebraska Omaha; B.S. Elementary Education, University of Nebraska Omaha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Channing Bunch
Assistant Director, health Sciences-Multicultural and Community Affairs
channingbunch@creighton.edu
Available to all students, especially diversity students interested in health professions. Background includes 14 years of recruiting and retaining students. Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Bellevue University;
B.S. Marketing, Grand Canyon University.

 

 

Mackenzie Buxcel
Director of Admission, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
mackenziebuxcel@creighton.edu
Available only to students interested in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, or Occupational Therapy.
Background includes more than ten years of admissions counseling, including six years as an academic advisor. Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) and B.A. Sociology, University of Nebraska Omaha.

Lisa Chipps
Academic Coordinator and CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator, Athletics
lbchipps@creighton.edu
Available only to student-athletes in all areas.
Background includes 10 years of advising in all areas of A&S and CoBA, as well as vocational and disability counseling. M.S. College Counseling and Student Development Services and B.A. Psychology, Creighton University.

Matthew Sullivan
Assistant Director of the Center for Student Integrity
matthewsullivan1@creighton.edu
Interested in working with first-generation students, students interested in social sciences, those pursuing graduate or law school, and those "still deciding." Background includes career in education and a stint in law school. M.S., Educational Leadership Studies, Oklahoma State University; B.S., Sports Administration Comprehensive, UN-Kearney.

Katie Christenson
Academic Success Counselor, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
katherinechristenson@creighton.edu
Available to students interested in health professions as well as those who are "still deciding."
Background includes more than nine years of higher education experience. M.S. Counseling and B.S. Education, Creighton University.

Sandy Ciriaco
Assistant Director, Career & Academic Exploration,
Career Center
ciriaco@creighton.edu
Available to students interested in health professions or law, as well as those exploring different career options who are "still deciding." 
Background includes careers in education and business. M.S. College Counseling and Student Development Services, Creighton University; B.S. Physical Education, Springfield College.

Shawn Cook
Director of Student Affairs, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
shawncook@creighton.edu
Available only to students interested in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy.
Background includes 12 years in Student Affairs and higher education, most recently in admissions. Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), University of Nebraska Omaha; B.S. Mass Communications-Public Relations emphasis, University of Southern Colorado.

 

Linda Dunn
Career & Academic Advisor,
Career Center
ljdunn@creighton.edu
Available to students interested in health professions as well as those who are "still deciding."
Background includes over 12 years as a freshman/sophomore advisor and eight years working with pre-med students. Completing M.A. Liberal Studies, Creighton University; B.A. English, Bellevue University.

Joe Ecklund
Director, Office of Student Success
josephecklund@creighton.edu
Available to students interested in social sciences, helping professions, nonprofit opportunities, and those thinking of graduate school.
Background includes 19 years of working in education, at several college campuses and one elementary school, having graduated from Marquette with little direction at the time as to a career. Ph.D., Higher Education, University of Toledo; Master of Education, B.A. History, and Teaching License, Marquette University.

 

Mary Higgins
Assistant Vice President for Student Retention and Associate Director of Ratio Studiorum Program 
mhiggins@creighton.edu 
Interested in working with students pursuing a health profession as well as those who are "still deciding."
Has been very involved with freshman and sophomore advising for many years. M.S. Physical Education, University of Nebraska Omaha; B.A. American Studies, Creighton University.

Alynne Wize
Assistant Director of eLearning and Academic Technologies, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions/Dance Team Advisor, Creighton Athletics
awize1@creighton.edu
Available to students interested in health professions as well as those who are still deciding. Background includes careers in education/technology with six years in Extension at University of Nebraska and ten years of higher education at Creighton University. M.S. in Education emphasis in Instructional Design/Technology, University of Nebraska; B.S. in Education, Vocational and Family and Consumer Sciences in Secondary Education, University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Lindsay Johnson
Assistant Director of Admission, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
lindsayjohnson@creighton.edu
Available only to students interested in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy.
Background includes eight years of experience in admission and academic advising at three Midwestern universities. Completing M.S. in Higher Education Administration, Drexel University; B.A. Sociology/Anthropology, Truman State University.

Denise Le Clair
Assistant Director, Office of Disability Accommodations and Instructor, "Strategies for Academic Success"
leclair@creighton.edu 
Interested in working with first generation college students, those interested in teaching or humanities, and those "still deciding." 
Background includes working for over 20 years with non-traditional students and adult education in the Metro area. M.S. Library Science and B.A. English, University of Illinois; Secondary Certificate-English, McKendree College.

 

Kate Linden
Assistant Director for Academic Initiatives, Office of Student Success
klinden@creighton.edu
Interested in working with "still deciding" students, as well as those interested in humanities-related career options. 
Background includes extensive experience with service learning, study abroad, Latin American immersion, and ministry positions. M.Ed. Curriculum Development, University of Notre Dame; B.A. Theology/Spanish, Saint Louis University.

Michelle Morrison
Instructor, "Strategies for Academic Success", Center for Student Success and Retention
michellemorrison@creighton.edu 
Interested in working with students who are definitely on a professional school career path.
Background includes developing adult enrichment programming for teachers and counselors in the Metro area, and presenting programs targeted at women's career and health issues. M.S. Counseling, University of Nebraska Omaha; B.S. Education, University of Arizona.

 

Becky Nickerson
Assistant Director,
Multicultural Affairs
bnickerson@creighton.edu
Available to multicultural students and Markoe Leadership/Diversity Scholars, as well as those who are interested in health sciences and helping professions.
Background includes 13 years of experience in various academic settings, with six of those years at Creighton working with multicultural students. M.S. Counseling, Creighton University; B.S. Social Work, University of Iowa.

Mark Patten
HCOP Program Supervisor, Health Sciences -Multicultural and Community Affairs
markpatten@creighton.edu
Available to multicultural students, those interested in health professions, as well as those "still deciding."
Background includes 26 years of experience in Program Management in non-profit, public and private business.  Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) and B.S. Communication, University of Nebraska Omaha.

Wade Pearson
Director,
Educational Opportunity Programs
chess@creighton.edu 
Available to students interested in humanities, social sciences or who are "still deciding."
Background includes 31 years of experience working in education at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. M.A. History, University of Nebraska Lincoln; B.A. History, Southwest Minnesota State University.

Kevin Powers
Academic Success Psychologist, Counseling Services/Student Success
kevinpowers@creighton.edu
Available to students who are considering social sciences, professional school, and those "still deciding."
Background includes experience in academic counseling and instruction on keys to academic success, as well as navigating professional school. Ph.D. and M.A. Clinical Psychology, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale; B.A. Psychology, Saint Louis University.

 

Alice Smith
Office of Medical Education
alices@creighton.edu 
Available to students interested in careers in education, medicine, as well as those "still deciding."
Background includes teaching grade school, as well as college students in the Education Department, and working in faculty development and technology. M.Ed. University of Nebraska Omaha; B.S. Elementary Education, Creighton University.

Karen Thurber
Assistant Director, Student Support Services
kthurber@creighton.edu
Available only to students enrolled in the Student Support Services program.
Over 21 years of experience working in career services and five years of experience as an academic advisor. 
M.S. Student Personnel/Counseling, University of Nebraska Omaha; B.S.B.A. in Business Administration, major in Management and minor in Sociology, Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Heather Torres
Study Abroad Coordinator, International Programs
heathertorres@creighton.edu 
Interested in working with students considering a study abroad experience and those "still deciding."
Background includes working with study abroad, language learning, and cross-cultural awareness. M.A. International Education, School for International Training (S.I.T.); B.A. Spanish and Intercultural Communication, Luther College.

Richard Super     
Director, Ratio Studiorum Program 
super@creighton.edu   
Available to students interested in humanities, social sciences or who are "still deciding."
A faculty member in the History Department for more than 30 years. Administrative background includes terms as Department Chair, Assistant and Associate Dean, and currently Director of RSP. Ph.D. History, Arizona State University; M.A. and B.A. History, Creighton University.

Wayne Young
Associate Vice President of Student Life
waynejr@creighton.edu
Available to students with interest in communication, non-profit work, marketing, education, as well as those who are "still deciding."
Background includes 17 years of professional experience in higher education on four different university campuses throughout the Midwest and South.  Ph.D. Philosophy in Educational Administration, University of Nebraska Lincoln; Master of Education, Texas A&M University; B.A. Organizational Communication, Creighton University.

Jessica Swisher
Educational Outreach and Retention Specialist, Student Support Services
jessicaswisher@creighton.edu
Available only to students that are Gates Millenium Scholarship recipients who are "still deciding."
Background includes careers in education and non-profit experience.  M.S. Human Services, Bellevue University; B.S. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies, University of South Dakota.

Cindy Fendrick
Assistant Director of Residence Life cfendrick@creighton.edu Available to students interested in social sciences, halping professions and those "Still deciding". Background includes 10 years of experience working in student services at two different universities. M.S. Ed. in Counseling with Emphasis in College Student Affairs, University of Nebraska Kearney; B.S. in Psychology and concentration in Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Katie Wadas-Thalken
Assistant Director, Alumni Relations
kwadas@creighton.edu
Available to work with students interested in humanities, social sciences and nonprofit opportunities, as well as those who are "still deciding."
Background includes nonprofit work, including time in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and working with college students in various student organizations and leadership programs.  M.Ed. College Student Personnel, University of Maryland; B.A. English and Theology, Creighton University.

 

 

 

Jeffrey Lang
Academic Success Counselor, Health Sciences-Multicultural and Community Affairs, & Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry
jeffreylang@creighton.edu
Available to students interested in health professions as well as those who are "still deciding." Background includes 12 years in higher education as both faculty and administrator. Currently provides academic support to post-baccalaureate students entering medical or dental school. Doctoral Candidate, Educational Psychology, MS Educational Psychology, BA Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.