Board of Directors

Dr. Amy Scrima is the Director of the Honors Program and Psychology Faculty at Lake Michigan College. Amy attended Western Michigan University where she earned a Ph.D. in Behavioral Science and did her undergraduate work at Purdue University in both Psychology and English. She has worked in training and system development, instructional design and organizational management but found her greatest source of motivation in teaching and has been committed to improving her student’s educational opportunities at LMC for over 15 years. Amy is on several civic engagement boards and actively volunteers in her community of Southwest Michigan where she lives.

Dr. Patty Williamson serves as the Director of the Central Michigan University Honors Program and is a full Professor in the School of Communication, Journalism and Media at CMU. Patty earned her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2007. Her research and teaching interests revolve around media depictions of race, gender and sexuality, glass ceiling effects in the media industry, television binge-watching, and reality television. She has won awards for her documentary film Breaking the Sound Barrier, which focuses on the struggles and achievements of women in the male-dominated radio industry, and for her former podcast Depth of Field. Patty also serves as the Vice Chair of NCHC’s Assessment and Evaluation Committee. When she’s not at work, Patty is probably playing pickleball or doting on her two dogs, Riley and Ditto.

Dr. Nina Rytwinski is a licensed Psychologist who works as an Associate Professor of Psychology and Co-Director of the Honors Program at Walsh University. She frequently teaches Human Development, Abnormal Psychology, Health Psychology, and the Behavioral and Social Sciences Internship seminar. Prior to arriving at Walsh University, she received her B.Sc. at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Then, she earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Kent State University. As part of her graduate training, she completed a 12-month internship at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. Following graduate school, Dr. Rytwinski worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Case Western Reserve University. Her research focuses on depression, anxiety, and student adjustment.

Dr. Victor Piercey is the Director of the Honors Program and a Professor of Mathematics at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics, a J.D. with a certificate in International and Comparative Law, and a B.A. in Humanities. Passionate about interdisciplinary learning, Dr. Piercey enjoys engaging with honors students and exploring their work across a wide range of academic fields. At Ferris, he teaches courses in Quantitative Reasoning and Actuarial Science, and his research interests include data science applications for genocide prevention, ethics in mathematics, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. His service includes a position on the Board of Directors for the Mathematical Association of America, a position on the Board of Directors for the Malta Conferences Foundation, and since 2016, he has served as Treasurer for Our Brothers Keeper, a homeless shelter in Big Rapids. He views treasurer work as a meaningful opportunity to apply his expertise in financial mathematics—alongside his working knowledge of financial accounting—to support organizations that serve his communities.

Dr. Greg Shufeldt is the Associate Dean of the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College and a Professor of Political Science at the University of Indianapolis. He previously worked at Butler University and the University of Arkansas – Little Rock. He earned his PhD in Political Science with a concentration in American Politics from the University of Notre Dame. He also earned an MSW from Saint Louis University with a focus on community organizing and policy advocacy. Prior to earning his PhD, he worked in St. Louis and Missouri politics for several years. Within American Politics, his teaching and research interests are state politics, political parties, and political inequality. He regularly teaches honors students and has supervised more than thirty honors theses, apprenticeships, and independent studies and finds supporting undergraduate research the most rewarding aspect of an academic position. Committed to promoting a healthy and vibrant democracy, he currently serves as the Board Chair for Common Cause Indiana.

Karrie M. Jean is the Assistant Director of the Indiana University South Bend Honors Program. She also holds two bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and philosophy with honors from IU South Bend. Karrie has worked full-time at IU South Bend since September of 2017. She also received her M.S. in Applied Mathematics from IU South Bend in May of 2026. Karrie’s master’s thesis focused on improving retention in higher education using operations research methods. She is passionate about the honors education experience and the ways in which the Mid-East Honors Association enhances that experience for students, faculty, and staff. Karrie was honored to host the 2026 MEHA Conference at IU South Bend. As an honors alumna, honors programs/colleges and those who participate in them hold a special place in her heart.

Grayson Arndt is a senior at Indiana University Kokomo pursuing a degree in History and Political Science, with minors in Pre-Law and Philosophy. His academic interests include public policy, government, international affairs, and political institutions. Through undergraduate research, student leadership, and community engagement, Grayson has developed a passion for public service and helping others connect with opportunities for growth and success.
Throughout his time at IU Kokomo, he has been actively involved in research, student organizations, and campus leadership. Grayson currently serves as an At-Large Senator in Student Government and Chair of the Student Outreach Committee, where he helps support student engagement across campus. He also founded the History and Political Science Club (HPSC) and participates in organizations including Pi Sigma Alpha and the Student Sustainability Council. Grayson’s research on Narrativism and Legalized Aggression Narratives has been presented at both the MEHA Conference and the Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference.
Following graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in public service, whether through elected office, public policy, or legislative service. Grayson’s goals are to help expand opportunities for others, strengthen communities, and contribute to meaningful solutions to public challenges. Having previously presented at a MEHA Conference, he experienced firsthand the value of connecting with students and faculty from across the region. As a Student Representative, Grayson hopes to help future students discover those same opportunities, build meaningful connections, and expand their horizons through MEHA.

Katherin Cotner is a junior at the University of Indianapolis majoring in nursing with a philosophy minor. She has a passion for medical ethics, structural philosophy, public health, and emergency preparedness. She hopes to begin her career as an emergency department nurse while building a foundation for leadership in emergency preparedness and disaster response.
Through the University of Indianapolis Honors College, Katherin conducts undergraduate research in structural philosophy, examining the relationship between the structure of the healthcare system and provider burnout. She also works for the university’s Ethics Department, where she helps engage students in discussions on various real world topics and encourages students to think critically. She interned with the Indiana Department of Health in the Division of Emergency Preparedness, where she helped develop emergency action plans and website updates that support preparedness efforts. Katherin is excited to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to MEHA as a student representative and looks forward to inspiring others to think critically about the world around them and serve different communities.
Outside of the classroom, Katherin works at her family’s pizza shop, which strengthened her appreciation of community, adaptability, and hard work. She also loves spending time with her Australian Shepherd-Great Pyrenees mix, who makes sure her days are filled with endless cuddles and excitement. Katherin hopes to bridge clinical experience, ethics, and emergency preparedness to improve healthcare systems and help communities better prepare for and respond to emergencies.

El Day is an undergraduate at Bowling Green State University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Technology with a major in Visual Communication Technology (VCT). She strives to approach everything she does with empathy and creativity, and she is a member of her school’s Honors Learning Community and the VCT Organization. Through her activities, she has taken on leadership roles that have allowed her to contribute to her organization’s actions and gain insight into the background processes of how they are managed.
El is particularly passionate about the impact her work can have on others and aspires to channel that passion into her professional career. She has especially loved working in her honors community and believes in their mission of fostering an environment of curious academics. In the future, El hopes to work in designing interactive and immersive experiences that will help to engage others in both their physical and digital environments.

Rosemary Jackson is an undergraduate at Indiana University Southeast majoring in secondary education social studies with a literature minor. She presented at MEHA in 2026 and admired the interdisciplinary approach to research that presenters displayed. As a substitute teacher and an honors student, Rosemary strives to learn something new with every opportunity she is presented. She is passionate about curating creative outlets for others to learn and grow. Rosemary is excited to be a student representative and looks forward to working with others to make the 2027 MEHA Conference memorable.