Faculty

Office Location
RC 212

Office Hours
Office hours available by appointment.

Dr. Deborah Nieding is an Associate Professor at Gonzaga University in the Department of Teacher Education where she specializes in literacy instruction/assessment. Dr. Nieding has twenty-five years teaching experience, ranging from elementary school to college graduate, and she has been at Gonzaga University for 13 years. Six of those years have been as an administrator serving as the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education, as the Acting Dean for the School of Education, and as the Associate Academic Vice President. Dr. Nieding completed her Ph. D. from the University of Missouri. She has been on advisory boards for the Office of the Superintendent since 1997. Dr. Nieding is a member of the National Faculty and has published and presented her research at the local, national, and international levels. Dr. Nieding was an independent educational consultant in Canada and various states as well as on the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico.

Office Location
RC 228

Anny Case received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Brigham Young University, and her Ph.D. from Michigan State University.  Prior to her doctoral studies she was an English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) teacher in private and public schools in Utah.  As a high school teacher, she was involved in school-wide efforts to improve the educational opportunities for immigrant students.  She has taught English to children in Russia, to international students at Brigham Young University, and to refugees in Lansing, Michigan.  Anny enjoys traveling, cooking, music, writing, and considers herself an amateur techie.  Anny and her husband recently relocated to Spokane.

Office Location
RC 224

Office Hours
Office hours available by appointment.

I was born in Medford Oregon and raised in a small town in the Rouge Valley. I have lived in the Washington D.C. Area and Boston Massachusetts but call Oregon Home. I have had several occupations including Banking, Construction and Farm Management, prior to enrolling in the Masters of Arts and Teaching at Lewis and Clark College in Portland Oregon. I taught elementary and middle school for 6 years before moving to Iowa where I completed my Ph.D. I enjoy researching the development of logical thought in children and have twice presented papers at the International Jean Piaget Society annual conference. The logical structures I study are those which underlie math and science concepts commonly taught in school including space, time, number and classification. I teach three classes here at Gonzaga including, Learning Theories, Instruction, Assessment and Technology in Mathematics and Elementary Math and Science methods.

Office Location
Rosauer 202C

Office Location
RC 122

Dr. Suzann Girtz is an Assistant Professor at Gonzaga University in the Teacher Education department.  She specializes in research and assessment.  Suzann began her education career in the late 90's, teaching high school math and science in a local school district.  From 2005 on, Suzann has worked at GU's School of Education in a variety of capacities:  in the Department of Educational Leadership & Administration – traveling to BC and AB to teach inservice teachers at the graduate level, in the Teacher Education program – teaching preservice undergraduates and graduates, as well as acting as the School's Director of Assessment.  Suzann was awarded as an Emerging Leader of the ASCD, and regularly presents and publishes her research work across the professional community.  In addition, she works as a consultant in grant and program evaluation.

Office Location
Rosauer 116

Office Hours
Office hours posted each semester.

I was born and raised in South Africa. I graduated from the University of Natal and taught history at the high school level for sixteen years. I received my Masters Degree in Education from Eastern Washington University and my Doctorate in Social Studies Education from Washington State University. I started teaching at Gonzaga University in 1991 where I specialize in both elementary and secondary social studies methodology. Teaching is my passion. When I am not involved in teaching or writing for publications, I play golf, tennis and racquetball. I also enjoy travelling and incorporate my travel experiences into the courses I teach.

Office Location
RC 230

Kathy Nitta is a Lecturer at Gonzaga University in the Teacher Education department. She received her B.A. in Biology and M.A. in Educational Administration from Gonzaga University.  Kathy’s 26 years of math and science teaching experience includes 14 years at the middle/elementary level and 12 years and the secondary level.  At Gonzaga University, Kathy has served as an adjunct instructor for secondary mathematics methods. She joined the faculty as a fulltime lecturer with a focus of elementary math and science methods.  Kathy’s interests include the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola and experimenting with cooking by trying new recipes on family and friends.

Office Location
Rosauer 226

Office Hours
Office hours available by appointment.

Dr. John Traynor is an Assistant Professor at Gonzaga University in the Department of Teacher Education where he specializes in the Foundations of Education, Teaching in the Middle School and Jesuit Education.  John received his B.A. from the University of Washington in Political Science, went on to receive his Masters of Initial Teaching in Secondary Social Studies from Seattle University, and finally received his PhD in Culture Studies and Social Thought in Education from Washington State University.  Prior to coming to Gonzaga, John taught for nine years as a high school social studies teacher.    John is an avid outdoorsmen with passions for skiing, biking and fly fishing.