About Us
Center for Faculty and Academic Administration
John serves as an Associate Dean for the School of Professional Studies and the KU Edward Campus (KUEC). In that role, he leads the Center for Faculty and Academic Administration, where he is responsible for faculty affairs and professional development and oversight of the Organizational Communications, Information Technology, Engineering Management, Professional Management, and Project Management programs within the School. John is the liaison to KU Graduate Studies, KU Libraries, KU Information Technology, the School of Engineering, the School of Journalism & Mass Communication, and the School of Law’s Homeland Security program. John also oversees annual academic program reviews, academic budgeting and finance, academic policy, and KUEC academic space planning. He also coordinates activities for KUEC with the Center for Faculty Development and Mentoring, the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), and the Center for Online and Distance Learning (CODL).
John has more than 31 years of progressive experience in various industrial settings. His experiences include positions in general management, operations management, engineering management, purchasing, product engineering, and project management. He has worked for a Fortune 500 company and a small privately-held company and managed mid-sized departments, multiple-location operations, and small entrepreneurial subsidiaries. He holds an Ed.D. in educational policy and leadership studies with an emphasis in higher education administration from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), a master’s degree in industrial engineering (engineering management option) from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. John has taught at KU in Engineering Management since 2009 and Project Management since the program began in 2013. He was Assistant Director for the Project Management program from 2015 to 2020 and Director for the Engineering Management and Project Management Programs from 2020 to 2022.
In his free time, John enjoys spending time with his wife Carol and stays busy keeping up with their three daughters and their families. John and Carol have three grandsons, one granddaughter, and another granddaughter on the way!
Jennifer provides administrative support for the School of Professional Studies (SPS) and KU Edwards Academic Units including the SPS Associate Deans, Academic Affairs Team, Resident Academic Program Leaders, and Center for Faculty and Academic Administration team at the KU Edwards Campus.
Jennifer was born and raised in Lawrence Kansas and received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas. Crimson and blue runs through her veins! When not at work, Jennifer loves spending time with her family and a very special Morkie dog.
swerninger@ku.edu
913-897-8443
Regnier Hall 370U
Steve has worked as Academic Technologist at the University of Kansas since July 2012. He joined the Center for Faculty and Academic Administrationteam in 2015 where he began coordinating professional development activities and workshops for faculty and staff at the Edwards Campus. He also coordinates the annual convocation and faculty orientations. He was a K-12 Mathematics Instructor for seven years.
Steve received his B.S. in Education at the University of Arkansas. He completed his Master's Degree in Educational Technology online in 2011. In his spare time, Steve enjoys time with his family, wife, and three children.