The faculty members of University of Phoenix are teachers, as well as dedicated working professionals. They have advanced degrees and substantial experience in the fields they teach. This enables them to bring a powerful combination of theory and practical expertise to the classroom.
Faculty Profiles
Nancy Clifton-Hawkins
"I wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned working on an international level, and on a grassroots level here in the United States, to show my students how they can better empower people to take control of their health care."
Nancy has been a faculty member in the College of Health and Human Services at University of Phoenix for over five years, and is also currently the Principal at Clifton-Hawkins and Associates, a non-profit consulting firm. She has master’s degrees in both Health Education/Promotion and International Health, with an emphasis in Maternal/Child Health from Loma Linda University - School of Public Health (1995). She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), a Certified Lactation Educator and is fluent in Thai.
Nancy received the Health Educator of the Year Award presented to her by the Southern California Chapter of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). In 2006 she was honored with the Gerald Wagner Excellence in Health Education Award, presented to her by the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Coalition for Health Education.
Bob Leonik
"The Criminal Justice Program [impacts] society as a whole...the difference is that connectivity with society...The Criminal Justice Program is expanding...So it's a combination of being educationally prepared, but it's not just the education. It's the decision making process. It expands the horizons."
Bob Leonik has been a faculty member at University of Phoenix since 1982, where he teaches classes in Criminal Justice, as well as in the School of Business. He attended Michigan State University where he earned a degree in Criminal Justice. After working with the Baltimore Maryland Police Department, he returned to Michigan State for graduate studies and enrolled in the US Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program. He earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Master of Labor and Industrial Relations while in the Air Force. In 1999, he earned a Master in Strategic Studies and National Security Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
He has been responsible for reporting to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and has served as congressional liaison for personnel issues. He worked as the Department of Defense representative to the International Technology Transfer Agency of the Department of Commerce, which required partnering with several multinational corporations to protect vital United States technologies. His final assignment in the Air Force was as the Director for Requirements, Testing and Evaluation for Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command. Presently, in addition to teaching, he works as a private consultant.
Dr. Tom Schmidt
"When a student comes to class, I want them to leave with something they can apply the next day at work, but I also want them to focus on their long-term goals--their success and their graduation."
A New York native, Dr. Tom Schmidt is a faculty member at the University of Phoenix College of Information Systems and Technology; he also serves as the Campus College Chair. His primary areas of study include Information Systems, Web Programming, Networking, and Computer Logic. Dr. Schmidt has been closely involved in curriculum development for departmental courses, as well as for the University of Phoenix’s new doctoral program in Information Systems. Dr. Schmidt is a graduate of Tulane University, where he received his D.Sc. in Computer Science.
Dr. Jillian Skelton
"We want to do the best job we can possibly do, because we want to see our students succeed. We want to see each individual flourish and become something beyond what they ever expected."
Residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Skelton is a faculty member and doctoral mentor at University of Phoenix. She teaches in the College of Arts and Science and mentors doctoral students in a variety of subject areas. Dr. Skelton’s areas of research include: leadership, business models, educational administration, female leadership, and history of public education. She earned her doctorate degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of Alabama. Currently, Dr. Skelton continues to teach, research, and write.
Dr. Maureen Steinwall
"The classroom process is one of dialogue. We share stories, and we learn from each other. And in essence, I'm a student in the classroom also. My skill is one of knowing how to facilitate conversation, how to get point and counterpoint, how to get scholarly debate."
Dr. Maureen Steinwall has been a faculty member at University of Phoenix since 2006. She teaches classes in management and statistics. Dr. Steinwall received a BS, as well as an MBA, from the University of Minnesota, and received her Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University School of Business.
Dr. Steinwall is President and Owner of Steinwall, Inc., a thermoplastic injection molding company based in Minneapolis. She lectures widely around the country on the subject of operations management and employee relations, and has served on the boards of educational institutions, industry councils, and advocacy groups. She is currently an Executive Board Member of the Society of the Plastics Industry.
Michael Cannizzo
"It's just very rewarding to know that you have an opportunity to impact the students, what they're learning, and also what they bring back to their organization."
Michael Cannizzo is a faculty member at University of Phoenix. He teaches undergraduate courses in business management. In addition to teaching, Mr. Cannizzo is a Regional Director at United Parcel Service, where he oversees a large consulting business unit. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from University of Phoenix.
