Meet Your Faculty and Directors

Julie C. Luecke, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for the Division of Education, received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her M.Ed. in Curriculum from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was an elementary classroom teacher for nine years before moving into higher education. During her graduate studies, she took a year off to volunteer at Ongwediva College of Education in Namibia. Julie joined the Edgewood faculty in 2006, teaching undergraduate courses in educational foundations, courses in children's literature for the undergraduate program and Advanced Certification Elementary (ACE) graduate program, and a course for the Edgewood College COR program, The Conception of Gender. This class grows out of Julie's research interests in building support structures for gender expansive students and their peers, both through educational policy and practice and through children's and young adult literature.

Tom Holub is the Director of the department of Curriculum and Instruction and a professor in the Division of Education.  He routinely teaches Education 306, 614, 671A, and 616. Tom has facilitated a partnership with Cabrini Green, in Chicago, IL and has hosted two Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction grants at Edgewood. Tom recently returned from a visiting scholar experience at the U.S Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC and is interested in patterns of oppression toward individuals with disabilities.

Suzanne serves as the Director of the EdD and MA Educational Leadership programs. She leads the EdD Research and Writing Center by coordinating consultation and academic writing programming. She is also a Sr. Lecturer who teaches courses in both the Higher Education and Leadership Studies and Doctoral Completion concentrations. Suzanne’s research interests focus on gender inclusive leadership, ethical leadership, and ethical leadership development.  She brings over 20 years teaching experience that spans from 6th grade to post-secondary education and in diverse settings. She is a first-generation student who earned her BA from the College of St. Benedict, her MA from Cardinal Stritch University, and her EdD from Edgewood College. 

Brian S. Busler is a recently retired school superintendent from Oregon School District and has over thirty-five years of experience as an administrator.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and a master’s degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  In 1992, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.  His researched focused on strategic planning, decision-making and school culture.  He has taught graduate classes at Edgewood College and other universities for the past thirty years.  His public-school experiences include improving educational outcomes for all students, leading numerous school/community planning sessions, advancing equity work, leading school referenda and  construction projects, mentoring and training school administrators and a special interest of serving as a Schools of Hope mentor in his previous district.  In his free time, you can find him spending time with his wife and adult children, training on his bicycle and fly fishing in Wisconsin and Montana.

Dr. Lee’s research focuses on evaluating and resolving the challenges empirical researchers may encounter in data analysis, such as evaluating the violation of normality assumption and obtaining trustworthy conclusions when complex statistical models are adopted with a small sample size. She enjoys collaborating with empirical researchers and has worked with researchers in the fields of educational leadership, policy analysis, health education, psychology, human development, and disabilities. She has a M.S. in Psychology from Chengchi University in Taiwan, focusing on psychometrics, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on statistical methods.

Gerardo Mancilla is an Associate Professor of Education for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, M.S. in Counseling Psychology, and Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to working at Edgewood College, Gerardo was working for the Madison Metropolitan School District where he was a Dual Language Immersion teacher. Gerardo teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses at Edgewood College. Gerardo’s research interests include Critical Race Theory, LatCrit, the school-to-prison pipeline, bilingual education, and immigration. Gerardo has also been active in the Madison community for many years.

Michael Meissen, a native of Madison, is a second-generation educator who has served in public education for 38 years as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, coach, athletic director, middle school principal, high school principal, college level adjunct professor, school superintendent and, educational leadership consultant. Dr. Meissen earned a doctorate degree in educational administration and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance, both from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. Meissen joined the Edgewood College Division of Education in July 2019 and serves as the Associate Director of Clinical Experiences.

Meissen’s daughter, Katelyn, BA ‘10, School of Education – Edgewood College, is a third-generation teacher in the family.

Tamara Mouw, M.H.R., M.Ed., is a systems-level, equity-focused innovative instructional leader. She has served as a high school English teacher, an instructional coach, and an administrator in curriculum and instruction where she led district-wide professional learning in literacy. Tamara is currently serving as Director of Partnerships and Equitable Practices at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction where she enacts an anti-bias, antiracist approach to creating just and equitable learning environments.

Heather O’Neil is an assistant program coordinator of Language and Literacy as well as an assistant professor. Heather has a BA in History and Secondary Education from St. Norbert College and an MA in Language and Literacy Development from Cardinal Stritch University. She is completing her Ph.D. in Language and Literacy at Concordia University-Chicago. Prior to Edgewood College, Heather was an assistant professor of undergraduate elementary education at Concordia University-Wisconsin for six years. She also worked as a district reading specialist, reading teacher, and literacy coach in various school districts in southeastern Wisconsin. Heather’s research interests include the identity formation of pre-service teachers, writing instruction, and culturally responsive instruction.

Julie Petersen is the Clinical Placement Specialist for the Division of Education.  Julie coordinates and maintains the Clinical placements for all practicum, field placements and student teaching assignments, and works in collaboration with the Coordinator of Clinical Experience and Assessment to select, develop, and assign cooperating personnel.  Julie received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds an associate degree in Accounting.  Julie brings 16 years of experience in public K-12 classrooms including student services experience.  During her public school career, Julie supported candidate teachers in her role as cooperating teacher, and served on committees focused on standards reporting and positive behavioral interventions and supports. Julie has a strong commitment to equity and inclusion in her work at Edgewood and beyond.  Julie enjoys engaging in partnerships to ensure meaningful learning experiences and helping students to become successful future educators.

Donna Vukelich-Selva received her Ph.D. in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011.  She also holds a Master of Arts in Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies from UW-Madison.  Before coming to Edgewood College in 2008, she taught at a K-12 bilingual school in Managua, Nicaragua, where she also founded and ran a study abroad program for US college students.  Vukelich-Selva teaches both undergraduate courses in the Division of Education, as well as bilingual and ESL education graduate courses in the Language and Literacy program.  She also teaches in Edgewood’s COR program for first year students and piloted a course on the history of immigration in the United States that is cross-listed with Ethnic Studies.  Among her college responsibilities, Donna serves on the advisory board for Edgewood’s Center for Multicultural Education.  Donna’s research interests include critical race theory, education and immigration, bilingual education and restorative justice.  She has been active in the Madison community for many years.

Dr. Reno D. Wright is a native of Detroit, MI and has over 20 years of professional leadership and training experience in Workforce Development, Human Services, and Adult Education.  His research interests include traditional versus historical critical interpretive methods used in Christian Education; Black Church history; Black Liberation, Womanist, and Queer theologies; Queer Theory; and the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexual orientation and identity.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication at Michigan State University, a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) at Edgewood College.  Dr. Wright is passionate about social justice, the exploration of systems that have historically marginalized individuals, and empowerment through education.  He is also a pastor at Grace United Church of Christ in Milwaukee, WI.

Dr. Emily Zoeller is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of ESL, Bilingual, and Reading Education. Emily holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. from the University of San Diego. She earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College, where she researched teacher leadership in two-way dual language education. Emily’s research interests include biliteracy development, educational leadership, and bilingual teacher preparation. Prior to her role at Edgewood College, Emily worked in Madison Metropolitan School District as a bilingual teacher, a reading specialist, and an instructional coach. She is passionate about leading for equity among teachers of multilingual learners.