Tom Heydman
Director, Western Kansas Education Center – Outreach / Assistant Professor of Education
Department: School of Education
Phone #: 620-227-9616
E-mail: HeydmanT@newmanu.edu
Office #: Dodge City, Kan.
Heydman is the assistant professor and director of Newman’s Distance Teacher Education Programs (TEP) at NU’s Western Center in Dodge City and in Southeastern Kansas at Independence Community College. Newman’s Distance TEPs include Elementary Education, English as a Second Language and Graduate Education. Besides teaching courses in the Elementary Education Program, he is responsible for all administrative duties including recruitment and advisement of students and recruitment and supervision of distance teacher education adjunct faculty. Heydman earned his bachelor’s at Phillips University and his master’s at West Texas State University. He completed additional graduate study at the University of Denver and Southwest Texas State University. Heydman joined the NU faculty in the fall of 2002, after thirty years of teaching experience in Texas. He taught at the public school, community college, and university levels. In 1995, Heydman was designated by the University of Michigan as one of the Ten Most Innovative Community College Teachers in the United States. In 1996, the Institute of Staff and Organizational Development of the University of Texas at Austin named him a Master Teacher. In 1999, the world’s largest professional speaking organization awarded him first place in the Toastmasters International Humorous Speaking Contest.

Linda Clarkson
Instructor of Elementary Education - Western Kansas
Department: School of Education
Phone #: 620-227-9616
E-mail: ClarksonL@newmanu.edu
Office #: Dodge City, Kan.
Clarkson joined the faculty of Newman University full time in July 2005 after serving for two years as Adjunct Professor. She received her undergraduate degree from Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma and her graduate degree from Pittsburg State University. Teaching assignments include teaching 5th and 6th grades in Gardner-Edgerton, Kan.; Carl Junction, Mo.; Dodge City, Kan.; and Cimarron, Kan. After receiving her Gifted Education Endorsement from Fort Hays State University, Clarkson served as Gifted Education Facilitator in Cimarron for eight years. She was selected to attend the NASA Educational Workshop for Elementary Science Teachers at Johnson Space Center. She has also presented at the State Gifted Convention and local workshops. Retiring from the public school system with 32 years of teaching, Clarkson joined the NU faculty at the Distance Teacher Education Center in Dodge City. Her responsibilities include teaching Methods and Instructional Media at Dodge City and Garden City, Math Methods K-9, Geometry and Statistics for Elementary Education, as well as serving as Coordinator of the Internship Program and supervising student teachers. Additional responsibilities include Coordinating the English as a Second Language Outreach Program for Southwest Kansas. Clarkson participates in her community and church, serving on the Church Board and elected as Missions President.

Nancy Finch-Folkerts
Program Assistant for the School of Education - Western Kansas Outreach Office in Dodge City
Department: School of Education
Phone #: 620-227-9616
E-mail: FolkertsN@newmanu.edu
Office #:
Nancy Finch-Folkerts joined the Newman staff in July 2004. She has previous experience in business, retail, and higher education. Finch-Folkerts served as Library Director for the Ness City Public Library for nine years and was the Personnel Manager and Administrative Assistant to the President of Dodge City Community College for four years. She earned her associate’s degree in Business Marketing from Dodge City Community College and also has additional coursework from Friends University, Wichita State University and Emporia State University. Finch-Folkerts and her husband, Alvin, live in Dodge City.