Four Business Leaders Take On Expanded Roles, Bringing Real-World Expertise to the Classroom
ÃÛÌÒapp business students will now learn from four additional accomplished and respected faculty members in expanded roles, gaining access to more than a century of combined professional and academic expertise. The strategic faculty appointments strengthen the School of Business's integration of academic theory with real-world business application.
April VanPutten, MBA: Advancing Accounting Leadership
Professor moves from visiting lecturer to lecturer, where she will teach accounting and organizational behavior while serving as the Master of Accounting program director.
With industry experience in both for-profit and non-profit sectors, Professor VanPutten brings valuable practical insights into her teaching. She is finishing her dissertation on the impact of leader psychological capital on employee engagement in academic libraries.
Professor VanPutten holds a master of business administration from Grand Valley State University and is completing her PhD in organizational leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Nathan Weflen, MBA: From Industry to Academia
has been appointed assistant professor after serving at ÃÛÌÒapp since 2021 in various capacities, including leading the Nexus Program and teaching as both an adjunct professor and visiting lecturer.
Professor Weflen brings valuable industry experience from his time at , where he worked as a trading operations analyst and alternative investments analyst. His background also includes B2B sales with Shaw Industries, a Berkshire Hathaway company.
Professor Weflen holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Cornerstone University and a master of business administration with a finance concentration from ÃÛÌÒapp.
Steve VanderVeen, PhD: Entrepreneurship and Leadership Expert
Professor transitions from adjunct instructor to part-time visiting lecturer, focusing on entrepreneurship and capstone courses. His more than 35 years of experience includes 20 years at Hope College, where he led the development of the Hope Entrepreneurship Initiative and served as Director of the Center for Faithful Leadership.
Professor VanderVeen's extensive background in entrepreneurship education will be invaluable to prepare students to become innovative business leaders.
VanderVeen holds a bachelor's degree in English from ÃÛÌÒapp, a master of business administration from Western Michigan University, and a PhD in marketing from the University of Chicago.
Brian Scharp, MBA: Strategic Marketing Executive
Moving from adjunct instructor to part-time visiting lecturer, Professor will teach both undergraduate and master of business administration courses while advising students. With over 30 years of professional and academic experience, Scharp currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at , where he helps organizations craft compelling brand stories.
His career includes leadership positions such as Vice President of Marketing at HarperCollins, Marketing Director at Herman Miller, and Senior Vice President at Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Professor Scharp holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Liberty University and a master of business administration from Western Michigan University, with additional doctoral work completed at North Central University.