Helms School of Government Faculty and Adjunct Faculty

Poverbs 3

Area of Specialization:

Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure

Professional Career:

• B.B.A., James Madison University,
• J.D.,  George Mason University School of Law

Biographical Statement:

I have been blessed with the opportunity to challenge, mentor and pray with some of the finest faculty,staff and students in the kingdom.

Area of Specialization:

Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, Criminal Law, Judicial Process, Corrections

Professional Career:

• L.L.M., Military Law, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, Charlottesville, Virginia 1994
• Juris Doctorate, University of South Dakota School of Law, Vermillion, South Dakota 1985
• Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 1981
• Resident, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 1999
• Professional Development Series, Emergency Management Institute, National Emergency Training Center, Emmetsburg, Maryland 2005

Biographical Statement:

Dr. Parke is a Christian, conservative, attorney.  He retired from the United States  Army after having served for 21 years, primarily as a supervisory Staff Judge Advocate.  His last duty station was as the Staff Judge Advocate for Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Each day he thanks God for the priviledge of being able to teach young champions for Christ.

Psalms 1:2
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."

Area of Specialization:

Jurisprudence, Advanced Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Legal Research and Writing, Judicial Process, Criminal Law

Professional Career:

• L.L.M., University of London, in progress
• Juris Doctorate, cum laude, George Mason University School of Law
• Bachelor of Science, Government, magna cum laude, Liberty University: Liberty University School of Law: Dean for Admissions
• Supreme Court Economic Review, Managing Editor
• Kent County Superior Court, Dover, Delaware: Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable William Witham, Jr.
• Amster, Rothstein, & Ebenstein, New York, New York: Associate - Intetellectual Property Boutique Firm

Biographical Statement:

Dr. Rickert's call is to equip students to excel in the legal profession. She advises students from any major who are planning a career as an attorney.  She is a mother of three active children and enjoys cooking, painting, watching movies and reading.

"Truth Never Fears a Challenge"
Provers 3:5,6

Area of Specializations:

Strategic & Intelligence Studies; International Relations; American Government

Professional Career:

• U.S. Marine Corps; Central Intelligence Agency
• Pastor in Oklahoma
• B.A., International Relations
• M.A., Public Administration, Oklahoma State University
• B.R.E., Temple Baptist Theological Seminary
• Ph.D. University of Tennessee
• Post-doctoral studies at Middle Tennessee State University

Biographical Statement:

Dr. Murphy was born in Duncan, Oklahoma; high school in Blackwell, Oklahoma. Married to Nancy Murphy and have five children: two live in Lynchburg, two in Georgia, and one in Heaven.

 “Political freedom, as the Western world has known it, is only a political reading of the Bible.”
-Whittaker Chambers, Witness

Area of Specialization:

Judicial Process, International Law, Politics of Latin America, American Foreign Policy

Professional Career:

• A.B., Political Science, History & Math, Indiana Wesleyan University, 1988
• M.A., Public Policy, Regent University, 1990
• Ph.D., International Studies, University of Miami, 1998

Biographical Statement:

Prior to becoming a devoted professor, Dr. Metallo and his wife, Joyce, served as missionaries with YWAM. He is fluent in Spanish and has traveled extensively throughout Central America. During the summer, Dr. Metallo travels to Antigua, where he teaches a course on the Politics of Latin America. Throughout the school year, he and his wife frequently host upper division students for dinner. Dr. Metallo is also the Liberty men’s lacrosse coach. When not haranguing his poor, unsuspecting students, Dr. Metallo enjoys reading, jogging, bird watching (he is still searching for the elusive quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala), photography, and traveling the world. He also enjoys a good cup of coffee and has been rumored to be the dictator of a small Latin American country

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declared the LORD, "plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Area of Specialization:

Political Theory, International Relations, Politics of Europe, Political and Economic Development, Comparative Economic and Political Ideas, Political Geography, and American Constitutional History.

Professional Career:

• B.A., 1969
• M.A., Political Science, University of Colorado (1974)
• Ph.D., University of Oregon (1984)
• Teacher Certification, worked as a free-lance writer and editor, pursued graduate studies in history and later in library science
  

Biographical Statement:

Dr. Samson enjoys travel, writing, and his collections of books and symphonic and chamber music recordings. His research interests focus on European and American intellectual, cultural, and constitutional traditions and their challengers. 

Deuteronomy 5

 Area of Specialization:

Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise, American Government Honors, State and Local Government, Political Economy and Public Policy, American Political Ideas, American Constitutional History and Public Policy Development in the Political Environment

Professional Career:

• B.A., in History/Political Science, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Institutional contributions towards B.A.: University Madison-Wisconsin, Wheaton Graduate School,
• M.A., Robertson School of Government and Public Policy, Regent University, 1994
• Ph.D in 17th century British political thought, University of Leicester, 2004

Biographical Statement:

Dr. Ferdon was born in Portage, Wisconsin.  Her educational background has been interspersed with life-changing missionary experiences and teaching positions in many interesting and intriguing parts of the world. Her own experience relative to teaching and instruction spans approximately 25 years both in the United States and abroad.

Psalm 119:165 
"Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble."

Area of Specialization:

Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Criminal Justice Ethics and Compartive Criminal Justice

Professional Career:

• Certificate from Word Life Bible Institute
• B.S., Government, Liberty University
• M.S., Peace Operations and Policy, George Mason University
• M.C.J., Faulkner University
• Graduate Diploma, Social Policy and Administration, Longwood University
• Ed.S., Liberty University: Ed.D. completed coursework, Liberty University

Biographical Statement:

Professor Rickert is an avid science-fiction fan, and enjoys good coffee, good debates on politics, economics, policy, history and the value of Western-Civilization.  He is married to Dr. Michelle Crawford Rickert and together they have three children: Jacob, Sophia and Chloe.

“It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government.”
-Ronald Reagan
1st Inaugural Address

Area of Specialization:

American Government, Ancient Political and Economic Ideas, American Executive Processes/ Institution and American Political Processes

Professional Career:

• M.A., Government, Notre Dame
• M.A., Bible, Maranatha Baptist Bible College
• B.A., Lehigh University

Biographical Statement:

Mr. Witham was born and raised in New Jersey.  He came to what was then Liberty Baptist College in 1977.  Along with teaching courses in American politics, he has also been an active participant in the political process.  His activities have included election to a city council position in Wisconsin in 1975, serving as chairman of his local county Republican Party for almost two decades and participating in every campagin in this area since 1980.

Romans 8:28
For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

Area of Specialization:

Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise, Introduction to Intelligence, Introduction to Political Science

Professional Career:

• Intelligence Analyst, Department of the Army
• Contractor for Defence Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and USMC Intelligence Activity
• Regional Specialist, US Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB, Special Operations Command Europe at Patch Barracks, and 1st Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg
• Professor of Government at colleges in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia
• Ph.D., University of Tennessee and Area Studies Certificate Foreign Services Institute
• Author of numerous publications on East European politics and low intensity conflict
• Director of Center for Security and Science, www.c4ss.net

Biographical Statement:

Dr. Bowers works with students who are interested in careers in various aspects of government service.  He is married and the father of two children.  He has taught at the college and university level for over 25 years, is retired from the US Army and is a native of Tennessee.