Faculty

Dr. Amy Hogan earned a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Vocal Music and a MLA from Baker University. She earned her PhD with a specialization in Advanced Classroom Instruction from Capella University. Her research focused on the relationship between preservice teachers and mentor teachers. Dr. Hogan served on the KS Regulations Board for teacher education, workgroups for the KEEP and KPTP evaluation tools, KS Teacher of the Year selection committees, task-forces for the Military Childhood Coalition, as a reviewer for NCATE and CAEP, and chaired a committee charged with revising the KS elementary education teacher licensure standards.

Her background includes mission coordination in the Tennessee Cumberland region, classroom teaching in the Shawnee-Mission School District, grant writing, developing small business enterprises, supporting programming for military families and children, and consulting in technology education and teacher assessment. While teaching in Shawnee-Mission, she was awarded twice West Antioch Elementary teacher of the year. Dr. Hogan has presented at numerous regional and national educational conferences, including TECHLearning. She has administrated several grants in technology and teacher education preparation. One of these grant projects regarding parent-community-school involvement is featured in the Harvard Family Research archives.

While at Ottawa U, Dr. Hogan has been a Division Chair, the Director of Teacher Education, an Associate Dean, the Dean for the School of Education, the Academic Dean of Arizona, and the inaugural Academic Dean for Surprise. In July 2019, she returned to the role of Dean for the School of Education. 

Dr. DeVinney has dedicated his life to sport. An athletic background led to his career in education, coaching, and business. Playing all sports growing up, through college, he started coaching as a GA. Advanced degrees in sport education opened international opportunities. He spent several years overseas in leadership positions with National Governing Bodies in multiple countries. Returning to the US he started a sport business then returned to higher education with Ottawa University.

Dr. DeVinney has a deep apperception for the importance of sport and its impact in all societies. Ottawa University offers a unique fulfillment of his passion for sport education and his commitment to helping every individual reach goals. Dr. DeVinney is committed to Ottawa’s mission, he wants to see every student live a life of significance, vocational fulfillment, and service to God and humanity.

Jacqueline Dillon is the District Lead School Counselor for Paradise Valley Unified School District, where she leads and supports comprehensive school counseling programs serving students in grades PK–12. She collaborates with district and school leaders to strengthen college and career readiness, implement data-informed school counseling practices, and align school counseling programs with district strategic priorities.

In addition to her district leadership role, Jackie serves as the Professor in Charge of Ottawa University's Master of Arts in School Counseling program. Since joining Ottawa University in 2017, she has taught graduate courses in school counseling, ethics, group counseling, practicum, career development, and counseling theory while mentoring future school counselors entering the profession.

With more than 15 years of experience in education, leadership, and school counselor development, Jackie is passionate about preparing school counselors to become collaborative leaders who use data, advocacy, and comprehensive counseling programs to improve student outcomes. She regularly presents at state conferences on college and career readiness, comprehensive school counseling, and data-driven practices, and has earned multiple ASCA U Specialist certifications in areas including leadership, data, equity, mental health, trauma, and the ASCA National Model.

Dr. Hesse boasts over two decades of expertise in education, specializing in the seamless integration of sport leadership and physical education throughout America's educational landscape. Dr. Hesse holds a Ph.D. in Education focusing on Sport Psychology, Physical Education and Leadership, coupled with a post-doctorate administration certification from the University of Arizona. His accolades include recognitions as the DVUSD district's Teacher of the Year, Shape Arizona PE Teacher of the Year and most recently AFUHSD Community Partner of the Year award. Subsequently, Dr. Hesse’s time with Arizona State University, swiftly ascending to national recognition as an expert in fostering healthy leadership and boosting his public speaking and professional development training opportunities.

Dr. Hesse's fervent dedication to revolutionizing America's educational systems is reflected in his extensive publications, which underscore his commitment to enhancing the integration of sport leadership across various spheres. Noteworthy publications also include "Recess Was My Favorite Subject, Where Did It Go?" and "Shaping Minds of Aspiring Athletes: The Impact of Specific Coaching Strategies", which delve into leadership strategies that cultivate self-efficacy and enhance performance, as well as draws from Dr. Hesse's own experiences as a NCAA Division 1 baseball All-American.

Dr. Hesse's influence extends beyond academia, as he has been featured in prominent state and national agencies, including Shape Arizona, ActiveSchools.US.org, the American School Health Association, and the NCAA Final Four PLOC in Phoenix. He has served as a keynote speaker, program designer, professional development trainer and webinar series host for numerous institutions across the US. His extensive professional background also encompassed roles such as a head college and high school baseball coach, assistant professor of physical education at Arizona State University, as well as various leadership positions within K-12 education including Principal, District Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, Dean of Students and CEO of Clash Sports Management.

Dr. Hesse's innovative approach to fostering healthy learning is underscored by his initiatives such as the Minutes Out of Your Seat Contest, funded by the NCAA Final Four, which promotes engagement through movement-driven learning in schools, OUAZ’s Student Oriented Approach to Recreation, Sport and PE (SOAR), Arizona Department of Education’s“Recess Toolkit”, “Fundamentals of Pickleball” currently featured in PE Central/Human Kinetics, and the Arizona Senate passing of Recess Bill 1083.

Dr. Kent Kessinger came to Ottawa University in 2004 as head football coach and currently ranks second all-time in Ottawa University in football victories. His nearly 30 years in higher education has taken him from Kansas, to Minnesota, to South Dakota, and back to Kansas. As head football coach for the Braves, Dr. Kessinger has led the Braves football team to 4 KCAC Championships (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014) and 6 trips to the NAIA Football Championship Series (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Dr. Kessinger was the American Football Coaches Association Region 3 Coach of the Year in 2009, as well as, earning KCAC Coach of the Year honors in 2009, 2011, and 2014. His 2011 football team was honored with the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award by the NAIA.

Prior to coming to Ottawa University, Kessinger served as assistant football coach and offensive coordinator at Augustana College (now Augustana University) in Sioux Falls, SD and graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State University – Mankato. While on staff at MSUM, the Mavericks won the 1993 North Central Conference Championship in NCAA Division II.

Dr. Kessinger is a transplanted native of Kansas, growing up in Lindsborg, KS and completing his undergraduate degree a Bethany College graduating Cum Laude in Biology. At Bethany College he played on football teams that won the KCAC Championship 3 times (1988, 1990 and 1991) and was named to the All-KCAC football team in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Kessinger was also a member of the NAIA All-District 10 and NAIA All-American teams in 1990 and 1991. He also earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards in 1990 and 1991. In 2001, Kessinger was inducted into the Bethany College Hall of Honor.

Dr. Kessinger a master’s degree in the Minnesota State University-Mankato’s Department of Human Performance in Physical Education with a concentration in Preventative and Rehabilitative Cardiovascular Health.  In 2020, he earned his PhD in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University – Chicago.  The majority of his teaching experience has been at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD and Ottawa University.  While at both institutions he has taught several courses in the Physical Education and Exercise Science majors. 

Dr. Kessinger’s teaching experience includes Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Introduction to Stress Management, Methods of Coaching Football, Psychology and Sociology of Sport, Introduction to Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Exercise Science Comprehensives.  He is a published author with articles in Strategies (Journal for Physical and Sport Educators), Translational Journal of the ACSM, and the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation.

His wife, Amy, is a Student Life Operations and Conduct Coordinator at Ottawa University. Together, they have two children Courtney and Caleb ’26.

His wife, Amy, is a Associate Director of Financial Aid at Ottawa University. Together, they have two children Courtney and Caleb.

Jennifer Raybern, a native of Lawrence, KS attended the University of Kansas where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Athletic Training Emphasis. While at KU, Jennifer served as a student athletic trainer working with the Jayhawk softball, football, women’s tennis, and swimming and diving teams.  She served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Baker University while completing her Master of Science in Kinesiology and Sports Psychology from the University of Kansas.

Jennifer has been a member of the faculty in addition to leading the Athletic Training staff for more than 25 years. She has been a member of the faculty in addition to her Head Athletic Trainer position for over ten years.  She is the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare, the Director of Sports Medicine, and Senior Woman Leader for the Braves Athletic Department. Jennifer uses her experiences as an athletic trainer to help her students by creating practical, real world applications for course material.  Jennifer describes herself as a lifelong learner who realizes the importance of always looking to learn from others and improve her skills.  This continued learning has helped to create a strong exercise science major based on the most current techniques and theories. Jennifer is a certified and licensed athletic trainer, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a Performance Enhancement Specialist and is certified in Active Release Technique, Graston Technique and Kinesio Taping.

Dr. Kenneth Urakawa is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at OUAZ.  He was born and raised near Seattle, Washington, before earning his bachelor's degree as a student-athlete at Butler University.  After moving to Arizona for graduate school, Ken began working in various fitness and strength and conditioning roles, including owning his own facility for over a decade.  Seeking a new challenge, he returned to school to earn his PhD, defending his dissertation over Zoom during the early days of the COVID pandemic.

Dr. Urakawa has a passion for athletic performance, as a competitor, coach, and researcher.  He has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for over 30 years and has had the opportunity to work with athletes in a wide range of sports and tactical professions.  Ken strives to bring both academic rigor and real-world experience to the classroom.

Carine Ullom, who joined Ottawa University in 2005, holds a double-major B.S. in computer science and German from McPherson College and an MA in German Languages and Literatures from the University of Wyoming.  She has over twenty years of experience with implementing educational technology in higher education, having served in roles at The University of Kansas and St. Lawrence University (SLU) prior to joining Ottawa University.  Ullom received a Fulbright grant to study computer-assisted language learning at Oldenburg Universitӓt in Germany in 1988. At SLU she was the Director of the Language Resource Center, a role that was the perfect blend of her love of technology, language learning, and international education.  At Ottawa University she has designed and co-taught three Globally Connected Teaching and Learning (GCTL) courses, one of which received an Exemplary Course Award from Blackboard in 2014 and another which formed the basis for her doctoral research.  Ullom completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Change at Fielding Graduate University, researching the impact of GCTL on global identity development among pre-service teachers.  Ullom has lived for extended periods in Germany and Macedonia, is fluent in German, and has travelled to over twenty countries.  She is passionate about the role that well-designed courses that leverage robust and easy-to-use technologies can have in supporting the intercultural competence development of undergraduate students. 

Kirk Wren has been with Ottawa University for 17 years.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Allied Health with an Emphasis in Education from Fort Hays State University.  He earned his master’s degree in higher administration in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in physical education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

Kirk’s previous experiences include the head men’s and women’s cross country and track/field coach and health and physical education instructor at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan.  He has also served as the assistant track and field coach and clinic speaker at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Before coming to Ottawa he was the head cross country coach and instructor in physical education at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Mo.

While at Ottawa University, Kirk has served as the assistant athletic director and currently serves as the head men’s and women’s cross country and track/field coach as well as associate professor in the liberal arts and physical education. 

Some of Kirk’s honors include the Class of 1966 award from Ottawa University, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, KCAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003), KCAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (1996, 2001, 2004), KCAC Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year (2000), and Cross Country Academic All-American Team.