Faculty – Math & Computer Science

Nickolas Hein grew up in Wichita and came to BC in 2016. He earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at Texas A&M after receiving B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics at KU in Lawrence. His research includes algebraic geometry, combinatorics, and numerical analysis. In particular, his interests include Schubert calculus, Catalan objects, certification of numerical solutions, reality in algebraic geometry, and experimental mathematics. Dr. Hein is an active reviewer for the American Mathematical Society Mathematical Reviews. He began a one-year term as chair for the Kansas section of the Mathematical Association of America in Spring 2022.

Nickolas is grateful to have been called to Atchison and enjoys raising his four children, with his wife, surrounded by the stable presence of the local Benedictine community. Dr. Hein is the faculty advisor to the Mathematics and Computer Science club at BC. He also helps run the St. Benedict Elementary School chess club.

Dr. Don Bagert grew up in New Orleans, then spent 20 years in Texas before moving to the Midwest 20 years ago.  He has over 40 years of experience teaching computer science to college students, including 14 years at Texas Tech University.  Don’s research interests include various issues in software engineering.  He is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) and a senior member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  Don was also a licensed Professional Engineer in software engineering for 14 years in the State of Texas (currently inactive).

Don enjoys volunteering in campus ministry: he helps out with the Benedictine College Council for the Knights of Columbus, and is very involved with the Awakening Community group on Facebook of over 5,900 alumni of Awakening college retreat programs nationwide. He delivers sandwiches for the Hunger Coalition in the summer and during school breaks. Don also has a wide range of reading interests.

Dr. Angela Broaddus is originally from New York and received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from The College of William and Mary in Virginia (1986). She served the US Army as a commissioned officer for four years and then received her M.A.Ed. (1993) and secondary mathematics teaching license. She taught high school and college mathematics in several locations as her Army family moved in support of her husband’s military career. In 2011 she received her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with dual emphases in Mathematics and Research, Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Broaddus joined the faculty at Benedictine College in 2016. Prior to her appointment she participated in research projects focused on building learning maps that model how people learn mathematics, and leveraging those maps to design innovative teacher professional development and instructional materials. She enjoys applying the principles used in this research to her teaching. When away from school, Dr. Broaddus enjoys singing with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, knitting, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Joshua Cole studied mathematics and classics at the University of Dallas and earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, specializing in mathematical logic. Interest in the philosophy of mathematics has led to a project on Zeno’s Paradoxes. He has mentored students completing directed mathematical research in the areas of Ramsey theory and quantum computing. In the classroom active learning strategies are promoted, and he uses (bad, but funny) magic tricks to illustrate why theorems are true. (Interested students are also shown impressive mathematically-based magic tricks.) In his free time, he enjoys basketball, reading novels, and working on projects around the house with his wife.

Dr. Heidi Hulsizer was raised in Springfield, Missouri and attended Drury University there. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Missouri. Heidi’s research interests include Commutative Algebra and Statistics Education; however, she enjoys all types of mathematics. She lives in Atchison and spends her free time gardening. She is an active member of the Mathematical Association of America.

Deacon Nicolaas tenBroek lives in Atchison with his family. He has been teaching Computer Science for 30 years, with interests in accessible computing, mobile computing, networking, and databases.

Dr. Eric West is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has taught at Benedictine College since August, 2001. His favorite areas of math are abstract algebra and the mathematics of cryptology. He is a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, and the mathematics honor society, Kappa Mu Epsilon.

Eric enjoys playing the string bass, is a member of the Atchison/Benedictine College Orchestra, and teaches bass lessons at the Mount Conservatory of Music. Eric and his wife, Lara, enjoy hiking and camping, and travel to Colorado most summers for some relaxation.

Alan Cipolone has come to us from the telecommunications industry, where he has worked as a developer, analyst, and consultant.  He started at Benedictine in the Fall semester of 2022.  His background is Computer Science and Operations Research. His interests include software development and mathematical optimization methods and heuristics.

Meraiah Martinez grew up moving between California and Colorado and graduated from BC in 2019.  She received her M.S. (2021) and Ph.D. (2023) in mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Meraiah’s primary research area is coding theory, although she greatly enjoys combinatorics, cryptography, and graph theory, as well.  In her free time, she enjoys reading and making a variety of things from yarn.