Jack Shields is an assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College. A graduate of the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill., Shields earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Reinhardt University, where he also served as a graduate assistant basketball coach. He has served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Sterling College for the past three seasons before transitioning to the classroom. Shields enjoys fishing with his dog, Rizzo, and is an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan.

Tami Schepmann is the director of teacher education at Sterling College. She brings 20 years of experience in K–12 public education, including classroom teaching, administration, and instructional coaching. Schepmann holds master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction, educational administration, and youth development from Emporia State University and Kansas State University. She and her husband, Trent, have two children, Teagan and Tacy. The family enjoys traveling together and exploring God’s creation.

Vianay Ortega is an assistant clinical faculty of athletic training at Sterling College. Ortega grew up on a cattle ranch near Jerome, Idaho, and completed her undergraduate studies at Tabor College, where she also played softball. She recently earned her master’s in athletic training from Sterling College in May 2025. She enjoys paddle boarding, working on the ranch, and watching baseball and softball games.

Ashley Laudermilk is an assistant professor of business at Sterling College. Laudermilk holds a Bachelor of Science in animal sciences and industry from Kansas State University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in marketing from Emporia State University. She is committed to creating a values-based, faith-forward classroom where students connect learning with real-world application. She and her husband, Kevin, live in Sterling with their three children—Liam, Zoe, and Wren.

Stephen English is an associate professor of theatre and technical director at Sterling College, having previously served in the same role from 2019 to 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Prairie College in Ontario and both an M.A. and M.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma. English brings extensive experience in technical theatre and enjoys music, cooking, reading, and travel.

Dr. Brett Ehrman is a assistant professor of mathematics at Sterling College. Ehrman holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Lynchburg. His research centers on the stability of nonlinear waves arising from partial differential equations. With a lifelong passion for both learning and teaching, Ehrman enjoys tennis, video games, and spending time with his three nephews and niece.

Dr. Waters came to Sterling College in the spring of 2025 from the University of Buckingham, England where she was a Lecturer in English Literature. She grew up in the East of England in Ely, Cambridgeshire before moving to the University of Buckingham where she majored in English literature with a minor in French and then went on to a Master of Arts in English Literature with a dissertation centered on Narnia and Shakespeare. She completed her Ph.D.

Jack started at Sterling College in January 2026. He studied for an integrated master’s degree in Bioscience at Durham University, then stayed to complete a PhD. His laboratory research focused on pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, primarily the expression of the N2O reductase enzyme of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. He also has research experience in industrial drug development, antibiotic resistance inhibitors, novel methods in microscopy, and seabird ecology.

Dr. Jennifer R. Bolton started at UNC-Chapel Hill as a Biology major, but after interning for a year with Cru in Uppsala, Sweden, became a Religious Studies major, Biology minor. After graduation she spent the better part of ten years doing campus ministry in Uppsala, Sweden. During that time, she completed a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Regent College taking a mixture of online and in-person classes. Her dissertation was on secularism in Sweden. She then left staff with Cru and moved to Durham, England where she competed her Ph.D.

Jill Rowland is a 1993 Graduate of Sterling College and joins us after 30 years in public education. Her master’s degree is from Emporia State University in Health Physical Education and Recreation which she earned in 2001. Jill is hired as an Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance. She has taught at Concordia Jr/Sr High School, Nickerson High School and Sterling Jr/Sr High School. She has taught PE/Health and Psychology in all the respective schools.