Faculty

Kevin Neibert

Faculty Member	Game Design Degree
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Areas of Expertise	System Design Gameplay Design

Biography

Kevin is a Video Game Designer with a unique background and over 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at both indie and AAA sized studios, most recently with Wizards of the Coast and Ubisoft Montreal.

Kevin loves teaching and is eager to share his design know how with the next generation of developers.

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Mira Niagolova

Faculty Member	Filmmaking Degree
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	Sofia University Saint Kliment Ohridski, Master of Arts; Concordia University, Post Graduate Diploma in Communications
Areas of Expertise	Award winning documentary filmmaker and educator Producing, directing, editing, marketing, dissemination
Connect Online	LinkedIn Personal Website
Contact	CCM 402

Biography

Mira Niagolova is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Since her first documentary Trafficking Cinderella (1999), she has been committed to telling stories of global concern, portrayed with sensitivity and compassion. Mira has received numerous fellowships and awards, including the Sundance Documentary Grant. Her films have been screened in more than 30 countries around the world.

She has also worked nationally and internationally as a producer, programmer, distribution and festival manager with nonprofit film organizations and industry institutions, including The National Film Board of Canada.

In 2017, Mira received a Fulbright Scholarship to film and teach at the National Theater and Film School Sofia, Bulgaria, her original hometown. In 2020 in recognition for her valuable experience as a documentary filmmaker and educator, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) added Mira to its roster of Fulbright Specialists.

Mira is passionate about teaching filmmaking and making learning a meaningful endeavor. She believes in creating an environment for her students that is inspiring and challenging, encouraging them to generate new ideas and develop their own voices that can be heard and trusted.

Distinctions & Awards

Numerous awards in filmmaking and at various festivals around the world. Most recent – Fulbright Scholarship Recipient in 2017 and 2022

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

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Aimee Nolan

Faculty Member	Champlain College Online  Criminology & Criminal Justice Degree
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	National University - California, Master of Science; Trinity College of VT, Bachelor of Arts; Trinity College of Vermont, Bachelor of Arts; Trinity College of Vermont, Associate in Science
Areas of Expertise	Crime Scene Investigation Death Investigation Criminal Justice
Connect Online	LinkedIn

Biography

Aimee is a native Vermonter, and career law enforcement officer from 1995-2023. She specialized in crime scene investigation and death investigation for the last 16 years of her career. She holds her Master of Forensic Science, a Bachelor of Art in Sociology/Criminal Justice and Psychology, as well as an Associate of Science in Business Administration. In retirement, Aimee is a career Advanced-EMT, and a Medicolegal Death Investigator with the Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. She enjoys being outdoors hiking, camping, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite Quote

“I see no more than you, but I have trained myself to notice what I see.”

—Sherlock Holmes

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Kerry Noonan

Faculty Member	Core Division  Filmmaking Degree  General Education
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	University of California-Los Angeles, Doctor of Philosophy; University of California-Los Angeles, Bachelor of Arts; University of California-Los Angeles, Master of Arts
Areas of Expertise	Folklore, vernacular religions, vernacular/folk artistry, women's informal cultures, ethnic cultures Women & religion, New Age religions, Neopaganism, Irish folklore, Chinese religions folklore in general, acting, directing, traditional Irish music
Contact	Aiken 301

Biography

Kerry Noonan holds a Master’s Degree and a Ph.D. in Folklore & Mythology from UCLA, and her research focuses primarily on new religious movements, and women’s roles in various religions; she has published articles on Catholic Charismatic women, online religious communities, feminist witchcraft, Goddess spirituality, and New Age religious folk art, and is also a specialist in Celtic folklore, and Chinese vernacular religions. Kerry often incorporates these topics into her Core classes, and twice led a travel course about Harry Potter. She also co-teaches the FLM capstone. Kerry was a professional actor in theater, TV, & film in Los Angeles, appearing in Friday the 13th Part VI, The New Twilight Zone, China Beach, Knot’s Landing, Mr. Belvedere, Family Ties, and Taxi, plus on stage with the Los Angles Theater Center, South Coast Rep, Arizona Rep, the Grove Shakespeare Festival, and co-founded City Stage. She was part of the Irish traditional band The McGuffins. For Champlain Theatre, Kerry directed Rough Magic: A Shakespeare Compilation, Sweeney Todd, The Lion in Winter, and Blue Stockings, as well as appearing as Gertrude in Hamlet, and is now the adviser for The Champlayers. She has been a contestant on Jeopardy! and Win Ben Stein’s Money.

Distinctions & Awards

Champlain College Diversity Award: International 2013; Faculty Internationalization Initiative Grant (Champlain College) 2009

Publications & Abstracts

Publications & Abstracts

Professional & Scholastic Affiliations

• American Folklore Society
• American Academy of Religion

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

One of my favorite books is The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin. I’m also a Tolkien nerd, and a Jane Austen fanatic. I could go on and on …
A movie that I love is Fanny & Alexander, directed by Ingmar Bergman.

Favorite Quote

“The idea is like grass. It craves light, likes crowds, thrives on crossbreeding, grows better for being stepped on.”

—Ursula LeGuin, The Dispossessed

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Samone Norsworthy

Faculty Member	Champlain College Online
Education	A T Still University of Health Sciences, Doctorate of Education; Armstrong Atlantic State University, Bachelor of Arts; Duquesne University, Master of Science

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Arthur Omran

Faculty Member	Champlain College Online

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Kaitlyn Opperman

Faculty Member	Applied Mathematics Degree
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Areas of Expertise	Embedded aerospace software engineering design, review, test, and verification Application lifecycle management system administrative support

Biography

Kaitlyn graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in Computer Engineering and has recently transitioned into an instructor role, taking on adjunct work for the first time in Spring 2023. Prior to this, she worked in the aerospace industry as an embedded software engineer.

Favorite Quote

“Be kind.”

—Anyone

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Albert Orbinati

Additional Roles	Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Faculty Member	Champlain College Online
Education	Capella University, PhD; Central Michigan University, Master of Arts in Education; Binghamton University, Bachelor of Arts
Areas of Expertise	Accounting Business Management Project Management Human Resource Management Military Leadership
Connect Online	LinkedIn Personal Website

Biography

Dr. Albert Orbinati is an Associate Professor of Business Administration and Department Chair of Business for Champlain College Online. He is also the owner of North Madison Publishing, LLC. Prior to Champlain, Dr. Orbinati was the Vice President of Continuing Education at Medaille University, Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at Russell Sage College, and Director of Online and Non-Traditional Programs at Utica University. In addition to his career in higher education and publishing, Albert is a commissioned officer in the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) where he directs marketing efforts for the VTANG recruiting and retention team. Dr. Orbinati holds a BA in Urban Planning from Binghamton University, an MBA from Champlain College, an MA in Adult Education from Central Michigan University, and a PhD in Adult Education from Capella University. Albert is a lifelong musician and has performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He enjoys live theater and the performing arts.

Publications & Abstracts

Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Cookbook: Over 100 Science-Based, Superfood Meals for Improved Gut Health, Stress Reduction and Detoxification

Anti-Inflammation Starter Guide: A 5-Step Path to Improve Immune Function, Calm Your Gut, Reduce Stress, and Feel Great!

Spirituality and learning: An exploration into the understanding of spirituality in adult education 

Professional/Scholastic Affiliations

Society for Human Resource Management

Project Management Institute 

Military Officers Association of America 

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Douglas Orr

Faculty Member	Champlain College Online
Education	Washington State University, Doctor of Philosophy; Gonzaga University, Master of Arts; Saint Leo University Grad School, Master of Science; Saint Leo University, Master of Business Administration
Areas of Expertise	Digital Forensics Mobile Forensics Cybercrime
Contact	Remote

Biography

Douglas A. Orr is a 30-year law enforcement veteran who has served as a commissioned law enforcement officer in South Carolina, Idaho, and Washington. He is a native of Philadelphia, PA. Over the years, Dr. Orr has assumed various roles such as Collision Reconstructionist, Street Crimes, Truancy, Sexual Assault and Polygraph. He recently retired as a Detective in the Major Crimes Unit of the Spokane Police Department (SPD) in Spokane, Washington. During the last ten years of his tenure at SPD, Dr. Orr specialized in digital forensics, cybercrime, child exploitation, and sexual assault. He was also an adjunct professor for Gonzaga University teaching crime scene investigation.

Dr. Orr also holds membership in various organizations to include High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA), Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), the American Society of Criminologists (ASC), and the Homicide Research Working Group (HRWG). He is certified as an EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE) computer forensic examiner; a Certified Cellebrite Mobile Examiner (CCME), and CompTIA Security+. He is proficient with SPSS.

Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Washington State University.
M.S. in Cybersecurity, Saint Leo University.
MBA in Human Resource, Saint Leo University.
M.A. in Organizational Leadership, Gonzaga University.

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Ricky Padgett

Faculty Member	Business Administration Degree
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Areas of Expertise	Cost Accounting, Auditing, and Budgeting Strategic Planning Leadership Development and Coaching
Connect Online	Personal Website LinkedIn

Biography

Ricky Padgett brings over thirty years of professional experience and passion to developing leaders and teams to reach their full potential, for themselves and their organizations. Ricky coaches in various industries, including healthcare, health and human services, financial services, technology, start-ups, higher education, pharmaceuticals, and media services. He offers a wealth of progressive leadership experience – from front-line manager to executive – and an experiential and evidence-based approach to his work.

Ricky has served in many leadership roles – from Director of Corporate Accounting and Controller to Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. His experience has included oversight of accounting and finance, human resources, facilities, information technology, and risk management.

Ricky’s coaching approach focuses on improving leaders’ performance and strengthening the connection between their goals and those of their organizations. He works to discover, clarify, and align with what leaders want to achieve, encourage self-discovery, elicit leader-generated possibilities and solutions, and provide a framework for accountability for leaders as they move their work forward. His coaching may include MBTI®, Hogan®, Korn-Ferry ESCI®, and MSCEIT® assessments, resonant leadership exercises, and 360º leadership self-studies. Ricky’s work is grounded in the theories of intentional change, cycle of experience, self-determination, and emotional intelligence, as well as positive psychology concepts.

Ricky holds a MBA with an emphasis in human resources from Florida State University and a B.A. in accounting and business administration from Troy State University. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and is credentialed by the International Coaching Federation as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He completed his coach training at Teleos Leadership Institute and holds certifications in MBTI®, Hogan®, MSCEIT®, Korn-Ferry ESCI®, and Conscious Business Coaching, and a European Mentoring and Coaching Council accreditation in Global Individual Team Coaching. In addition to his coaching practice, Ricky is co-director of the THRIVE leadership development program, offering leadership and executive leadership programs in the New England area, and is an adjunct faculty member at Champlain College in the Robert P. Stiller School of Business.

Hobbies

Backyard gardening, chickens, paddleboarding, kayaking, baking gluten free treats, and hiking

Favorite Local Eateries

Sneakers for breakfast; Restaurant Poco for dinner — love the views from the top of Mt Philo

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Thomas Panico

Faculty Member	Champlain College Online
Contact	Remote Email Me

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Joseph Paquin

Faculty Member	Business Administration Degree  Computer Networking & Cybersecurity Degree  Computer Science & Innovation Degree  Digital Forensics Degree
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Areas of Expertise	Information Technology Accounting/Business Government
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Contact	Remote

Biography

Joseph joined Champlain in 2023 in the Stiller School of Business as Adjunct Faculty. Joseph’s career has been focused on business and information technology. Currently he is a Director of Information Technology for the Vermont Judiciary. He has held various information technology roles in State government including Senior Software Developer and IT Business Analyst. Before his service in government, Joseph was in management in the private sector managing businesses greater than $100m. Joseph is passionate for education and experiential learning. He holds his Bachelors of Science in Networking and Telecommunications and a Master’s of Business Administration in Information Technology Leadership. In his spare time he volunteers with local government and works on his homestead with his family.

Fvorite Quote

“If knowledge does not have primacy in public decision making, then no truth can be said to be self-evident, and we are left with the tyranny of ideology, with shots called by the wealthy and enforced by might.”

~ Shawn Lawrence Otto, the war on Science

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Matthew Parillo

Faculty Member	Filmmaking Degree
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Education	Fairfield University, Master of Arts; Burlington College, Bachelor of Arts
Areas of Expertise	Global Film History: French, German, Soviet, Italian, post WWII Japanese, post-independence African American Film History

Biography

Matthew has been teaching in the Burlington area since 2010 and is currently an adjunct professor of film history and film studies at Champlain College. He has taught several courses at three different colleges including: Film History 1 & 2, Screenings, Censorship in American Cinema, The Hollywood Renaissance, Film Noir: America’s Dark Mirror, Italian Cinema, and The Cinematic Space Odyssey.

Matthew’s primary research interests are in Italian Neorealism and its influence on modern cinema, cinematic censorship and space travel cinema. As well as being an educator, Matthew is also a musician, DJ, golfer, and hockey player.

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Parthiv Patel

Faculty Member	Business Administration Degree
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Education	San Diego State University, Master of Science; University of Cincinnati, Master of Business Administration
Areas of Expertise	International Business Business Management & Entrepreneurship Quantitative Analysis, Business Strategy, Marketing, and Sales
Contact	Ireland Bldg. 212 D

Biography

Pat Patel has lived and worked in 3 different countries (India, the UK, and USA). He comes from a pioneering industrial family which started the Agricultural Tractors and Earthmoving Machinery Manufacturing industry in India. He worked in the family business for two years as a Management Trainee after graduating with his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay. After successfully completing the Management Trainee program, he moved to London where he worked for an affiliated British company that provided crankshafts and related parts to his family’s tractor and earthmoving machinery company.

In 1980, he moved to the United States to begin his graduate education, and he earned his Master of Business Administration degree, double majoring in Finance and Marketing, from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. Subsequent to getting his MBA, he moved to San Diego, California, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Information and Decision Sciences from San Diego State University.

After completing the two Master’s degree programs, he began his professional career in the Investment Software, Database, and Quantitative Modeling business with a leading Chicago based company called Zacks Investment Research, Inc. where he rose to become Vice President and Regional Manager for the company’s Los Angeles office. After working at Zacks Investment Research for 9 years, he worked directly in the Institutional Investment and Mutual Fund industry for 4 years as Vice President at Putnam Investments in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1998, he started his own business in the hospitality industry and he purchased two franchised hotels which he owned and managed for 9 years with his team of professional hotel managers and staff. He subsequently sold the properties and the business to a Houston,Texas, based hotel company.

He was hired by Champlain College in 2009 to teach in the business school, and he has been teaching a variety of business courses ever since at the Stiller School of Business. During his time at Champlain College, he also earned his Doctorate degree in Business Administration. In 2022, he was offered and he accepted the additional position of Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Distinctions & Awards

Distinguished Service Award for serving as President of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Enlightenment Now by Howard Gardner
• Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig

Favorite Quote

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

—Mahatma Gandhi

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JoAnn Patel

Additional Roles	Professor
Faculty Member	Animation Degree  Game Art Degree
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	Florida Atlantic University, Master of Fine Arts; The New School University, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Areas of Expertise	Hard surface modeling and texturing, game environments Procedural 3D modeling Procedural material creation, Unreal Engine art integration,
Connect Online	LinkedIn Personal Website
Contact	CCM 231C Email Me

Biography

JoAnn Patel has a MFA in Computer Arts from Florida Atlantic University and a BFA in Environmental Design from Parsons School of Design. Her exploration with computers as a creative tool began with digital music creation and expanded to the visual arts. Her digital art career started with web design, then moved on to 3D art, compositing and game art.

JoAnn was 3D Art Director at D2 Creative/D2 Team-Sim where she worked on training simulations for Raytheon and the US Military as well as marketing videos for pharmaceutical clients and continuing medical education projects for doctors. While freelancing in New York City, she worked on projects for the History Channel, A&E, HBO, Discovery, MSNBC, BMW and Hasbro Toys.

JoAnn has taught at Pratt Institute, New York Institute of Technology, Florida Atlantic University, Digital Media Arts College, Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami International University of Art and Design Online. JoAnn’s animated short films “Reflections”, “Idea Hunting”, and “Casandra The Chameleon” have been shown at international film festivals and on the Tampa Educational Channel. “Casandra The Chameleon” won the grand prize at the Homestead Animated Film Festival in 2003.

JoAnn’s current creative focus is on hard surface modeling and texturing, procedural modeling, game environments and the use of game engines for filmmaking and visual effects.

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

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