A spotlight on Linfield’s newest faculty members
Linfield University continues to welcome outstanding educators whose expertise and mentorship shape the student experience in meaningful ways. Over the course of the 2025-26 academic year (as recently as the start of January Term), new faculty members have joined the Linfield community. These new faculty bring fresh perspectives, deep disciplinary knowledge and a shared commitment to Linfield’s mission.
Although these appointments started throughout the year, their impact is being felt right now — in classrooms, labs, studios and conversations across campus. Together, this group of scholar-practitioners reflects Linfield’s student-centered, experiential approach to learning. From advancing nursing practice and sport leadership to expanding creative expression and computer science innovation, they are already helping prepare Wildcats for lives of purpose, leadership and service.
Creative writing: Storytelling that connects
Georgia Imogene Cloepfil joined Linfield as the Phillip Renshaw Visiting Professor in the Department of English. She brings a powerful blend of literary craft and mentorship to the classroom. Cloepfil holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Idaho and is an accomplished writer. Her nonfiction debut, “The Striker and the Clock,” was published by Riverhead (U.S.) and Bloomsbury (U.K.) in July 2024.
Nursing: Expertise Rooted in Care and Practice
Linfield’s School of Nursing continues to grow its faculty excellence with the addition of four accomplished educators whose experience bridges clinical practice, research and student mentoring.
Debora Burger, assistant professor of nursing, previously worked as an ambulatory care nurse at Oregon Health & Science University focusing on caring for pediatric patients with congenital heart disease. Originally hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, she earned a Ph.D. in nursing science at OHSU.
Kristine Dukart-Harrington, assistant professor of nursing, brings experience in advanced practice and educational leadership. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Duke University, where she focused on evidence-based care and clinical instruction. She is dedicated to improving palliative care education for nurses at all levels.
Jeremy Hutson, assistant professor of nursing, integrates simulation-based learning and critical thinking into nursing education. His expertise is in helping students build clinical judgment that transfers directly from classroom to practice. Hutson earned his doctorate in health sciences from Texas Christian University.
Ames B. Thomas, assistant professor of nursing, joined Linfield after completing a Ph.D. in nursing at Washington State University. Thomas centers their teaching and research on health equity, accessibility and transforming care for historically underserved populations.
Denise Sartz started as assistant professor of nursing on Jan. 1, 2026. She comes to Linfield after serving in as senior clinical leadership roles at Legacy Health and PeaceHealth, among others. Sartz brings both executive practice experience and direct patient care insight into the academic environment. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Regis University.
These faculty members enrich Linfield’s nursing curriculum by grounding instruction in real-world practice, research and leadership — supporting students as they prepare for complex health care careers.
Sport leadership and management: Preparing leaders on and off the field
Linfield’s programs in sport management and leadership gained new momentum with two faculty appointments that bridge scholarship, leadership and applied learning.
Max Klein, assistant professor of sport management, earned his doctorate in sport management from the University of Connecticut. Klein’s expertise supports students interested in the business, social justice and leadership dimensions of sport. His teaching emphasizes strategic thinking, data-informed decision-making and real-world application — preparing students for careers across the sport industry.
Enrique Washington, assistant professor of management and sport management, holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Southeastern University. Washington brings a leadership-focused lens to both management and sport contexts, helping students understand how culture, communication and values shape effective organizations. He is the co-author of “Competencies at Work: Providing a Common Language for Talent Management.”
Computer science: Innovation with purpose
Yujie Wang, the W.M. Keck Chair in Computer Science and assistant professor, joined Linfield with a doctorate in computer science from Shandong University. Her research interests lie in 3D scene reconstruction and generation, as well as computer-generated holography. Before coming to Linfield, she was a postdoctoral researcher at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A community enriched by expertise
For students, these faculty members represent access to deep expertise, close mentorship and learning experiences that are grounded in real-world application. Joining Linfield at different points throughout the academic year, each brings strengths that enhance core programs, support student learning and align with the university’s academic priorities.
As Linfield navigates a changing higher education landscape, these appointments reflect a continued focus on investing in areas of greatest impact: excellent teaching, meaningful mentorship and disciplines that prepare students to succeed in their professions and communities. Their work will continue to shape learning at Linfield in practical, measurable and enduring ways.
