Dr. Paulsen is a First-Generation college student who received a B.S. in Agricultural Education from Northwest Missouri State, in 1987; an M.S. in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University in 2001; and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University in 2011. Paulsen grew up on a family farm in southwest Iowa near Atlantic, where he was actively involved in 4-H, FFA, football, basketball, and band. He taught and coached at Lynnville-Sully and Carroll High Schools in Iowa from 1992 to 2008 before completing his doctorate and teaching at Iowa State University for eight years. Paulsen has received numerous teaching awards such as the 1992 American Vocational Association National Outstanding New Vocational Teacher Award,  Iowa Teacher of the Year 2000, 2001 Milken National Teaching Award,  North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture Graduate Student Teaching Award (2011), Teacher Educator Award (2016), and Teaching Scholar Award (2021). He also received the Journal of Agricultural Education Runner-up article of the year in 2015 and 2016, and the NACTA Journal's Jack Everly Outstanding Article Award in 2021.  Paulsen teaches courses in agricultural teacher education, greenhouse management, and the department's Capstone course. Paulsen recently began his eighth year at Morningside University. 

Dr. Annie Kinwa-Muzinga has been a Professor of Agribusiness in Applied Agricultural & Food Studies at Morningside University since 2018.  Dr. Annie earned her B.S. degree in Applied Economics from the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a Financial Management Emphasis (1988).  She also received both her MBA in Finance (1993) and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics with specialization in Food and Agribusiness Management and Strategic Management with a significant Marketing component (2001) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Annie began her sixth year at Morningside with 16 years of experience teaching at UW-Platteville where she  taught a wide range of agribusiness courses at both universities.  In addition to teaching, Dr. Annie finds time to stay active in her profession by participating in numerous organizations including NACTA where she has been successfully presenting her scholarship of teaching and learning every year at the NACTA national conference since 2019.  Her dedication to teaching earned her many awards including the 2023 NACTA Educator Award,  the 2005, 20013, and 2018  Outstanding Faculty in the School of Agriculture from UW-Platteville; the 2015 Underkofler Teaching Excellence Award from the UW System; the 2015 College of BILSA Outstanding Advisor from UW-P; the 2011 AASCARR Distinguished Educator Award, the 2010 recipient of the Thomas and Lee Ann Lindahl Teaching Excellence Award, and the 2008 Outstanding Woman of Color from the UW-System.  

Dr. Annie is very active in the community of Sioux City, IA. She served as an elected member of the Woodbury County Extension Board (2020-2022).  Dr. Kinwa-Muzinga continues to serve as Vice President of the African Association, and she oversees outreach activities of the association.  She received the 2023 Heartbeat Award for her dedication and service. Dr. Annie enjoys babysitting her granddaughters Malia (4 yrs) and Amaya (2 yrs).

Dan has started his sixth year as a faculty member and twenty sixth year in agricultural education.  Prior to coming to Morningside he served as the agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Westwood CSD in Sloan.  He holds his BS in Agricultural Education and Master of Agriculture from Iowa State University.  On campus he serves as the Cargill Outdoor Classroom Coordinator and is also the Ag Club advisor.  He has many hobbies but his most enjoyable is spending time with family, including his grandkids Leo and Ava.   

Dr. Keren Brooks is the recently hired Assistant Professor of Agronomy in the Ag Department and came to the land at Morningside after completing her PhD. at Virginia Tech. Her Ph.D. research focused on soybean plant nutrition. She had projects studying sulfur fertilizer application in grain soybean and nitrogen fertilizer application in edamame production. When she’s not growing plants Keren enjoys knitting, sewing, and any other crafting hobbies. Since their move to Iowa in June, Keren and her husband, Josh, have thoroughly enjoyed getting more involved in the Le Mars community where they live.

Melissa Nelson serves as the Internship/Externship Coordinator for the AAFS Department. She works with students from the time they come in on recruitment visits as prospective students until they graduate, helping them accumulate experiences that guide them on their career journey in agriculture. Melissa and her husband Mark farm, feed cattle and have a cow herd near Moville, Iowa. They have three farm kids; Roy-5, Charlie-3, and Jeannie-4 months. Melissa and Mark both enjoy serving their rural communities through volunteer efforts in their free time.

Dee McKenna has been an adjunct faculty member at Morningside for seven years. She passionately oversees the Morningside Garden to Table Experience. Her favorite aspect of the program is working closely with students and staff. In addition to her academic role, Dee is deeply rooted in rural Sioux City, where her family manages a small Simmental herd. Committed to her community, she actively volunteers at her church, leads 4-H initiatives, and shares her expertise as a master gardener.

Nick Schoenfelder has been an adjunct faculty member at Morningside for three years. He brings extensive Agricultural industry experience to share with students.  He really enjoys spending time with students and staff discussing agriculture and opportunities for career success. In addition to his academic role, Nick is engaged in the Akron-Westfield community, where he has a Popcorn business called SchoenPop Popcorn. Nick is also a School Board member at Akron-Westfield, volunteers at his church, Poultry superintendent at the Plymouth County Fair, and the busy dad of five kids.

This fall marks Audrey's third academic year in the Ag Department. Audrey brings her talents and experience from growing up on a dairy farm in Northeast Iowa, involvement in row-crop operation, and many years in office administration. Prior to landing at Morningside, she worked for the Iowa Farm Bureau in Monona County. Audrey recently moved to Sioux City and has two children. In her spare time, she likes to travel, cook, read, do puzzles, spend time with her large family!