Language Arts & Social Sciences Faculty

Ryan Bay has taught in the social science department for Northern Oklahoma College since the fall 2014. He obtained his Master’s Degree in education at Northwestern Oklahoma State in 2002 while minoring in Psychology. Ryan also served as Head Baseball Coach on the NOC Tonkawa campus for 9 seasons from fall 2014 through spring 2023. Bay is currently in his 3rd year as Head baseball coach on the NOC Enid campus.

I have been teaching English for thirty-two years, and I still love teaching as much as I did when I started my career. I have a bachelor’s in Secondary English Education, a master’s in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Reading, and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. My love for teaching was fostered by my aunt, a teacher for over forty years. I used to watch her create lesson plans and grade papers, and I loved every aspect she shared about her profession. I consider the ability to teach as my gift to others, and I feel that words have the power to create positive change.

I have an eighteen-year teaching background in history and geography, bringing the past and the world to life for my students. I completed a bachelor’s in history and a master’s in education. I am passionate about helping young people understand their place in the world, and strive to make every lesson engaging and meaningful. I am happily married with two children, and my family remains the heart of my motivation and joy. Outside the classroom, I love to garden and find peace in nurturing things that grow. My life reflects a blend of curiosity, dedication, and a deep commitment to lifelong learning. 

My research explores the psychology of misinformation and belief formation, integrating cognitive and sociocultural perspectives. I am deeply dedicated to student success and emphasize critical thinking, applied learning, and self-discovery in my classroom. My teaching philosophy centers on my passion for fostering intellectual curiosity and connecting psychological principles to real-world contexts. Beyond the classroom, I serve as a mentor and advocate for student research and professional development, encouraging learners to bridge theory with practice in meaningful ways. 

I completed my BA in English Education and my MA in English at the University of Central Oklahoma. I completed my PhD in English at Oklahoma State University.

My academic areas of interest include Ancient Greek and Roman literature, culture, and philosophy; Medieval European literature, culture, and philosophy; and critical genre theory as is applies to first-year composition instruction. I am a husband (my wife and I have been married for 33 years as of this writing), father of five, and grandfather of one, with the hopes of that number increasing greatly over the next few years.

Breanna Beaty is a Language Arts instructor on both the Stillwater and Tonkawa campuses. She teaches Composition I, Composition II, and literature courses. She received her Associate’s in Arts from Eastern Oklahoma State College, her Bachelor’s in English from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and her Master’s in English at Oklahoma State University.

Her primary academic interest is pre-18th century British literature. In her personal time, she enjoys reading both classic literature, and thriller novels. She lives in Stillwater with her fiancé and their two cats.

My name is Alicia Sharp, and I have been teaching at NOC since 2008. I teach Oral Communication, Interpersonal Communication, and American Literature classes at Stillwater campus, but I have had the pleasure of teaching students at all of NOC’s campuses, including the University Center at Ponca City. I was a small-town kid who graduated with 19 classmates, and I started my educational journey at NEO A&M College in Miami. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English from Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, a Master’s degree in English from University of North Texas at Denton, and a Master’s degree in Communication from University of Oklahoma at Norman. My husband, Jim, teaches Chemistry at NOC in Stillwater, and we have two Maltese-Shi Tzu dogs named Herb and Spice. We enjoy creating escape room games for our nieces and nephews and our students at NOC as a means to practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

 

Ashley Kruse earned her Master’s Degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and her Bachelor’s Degree from Oklahoma State University. She graduated from Morrison Public School, where she is now raising her two kiddos with Mr. Luke Kruse. Mrs. Kruse has almost two decades of early childhood teaching experience and loves helping new teachers at NOC! When she is not teaching, you can find her volunteering, reading, or supporting her kids at an event.

 

Hi, my name is Luke Kruse and I am originally from Stillwater, OK. I have been a teacher for nearly two decades, teaching in public schools in and around the Stillwater area, and teaching at the collegiate level for NOC-Stillwater since 2018. I teach Government, American History, Geography and Oklahoma History. My wife, Ashley, also works at NOC teaching child development courses and we are raising our two children, Lexi and Silas, in the Morrison community, where they attend public school. My hobbies outside of the classroom include coaching my kiddos basketball and football teams, mowing my church’s lawn, and helping run chains at Morrison home football games, as well as spending quality time with my family.

 

Troy Cochran is the Criminal Justice Program Director at Northern Oklahoma College and currently serves as National President of the American Criminal Justice Association Lambda Alpha Epsilon. He holds a bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from Central Christian College of Kansas and a master degree in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Behavioral Analysis from the University of Cincinnati. He is currently pursuing a PhD focused on Criminal Justice and Online Learning. Prior to higher education, Troy worked in law enforcement and served in the United States military. His professional interests include leadership development, police training standards, and expanding access to high-quality online criminal justice education. Outside the classroom, Troy enjoys time with his son and his Yorkie, both of whom have learned that chaos, snacks, and patience are all it takes to win.

 

My name is Darrell W. Frost and I am a faculty member in the Language Arts and Social Science division at Northern Oklahoma College. I teach primarily on the Tonkawa campus. I have over two decades of teaching and administrative experience and try to take a role in advancing student learning in psychology, sociology, and the broader social sciences. My education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Phoenix. My professional focus centers on promoting academic excellence, student engagement, and critical thinking across language arts and social sciences. I look forward to meeting everyone and want you to know my door is always open to assist you in any manner needed.

 

Lauren Kennedy has been a full-time faculty member on the Tonkawa campus for 3 years. She is an advisor for associate degrees in English, Elementary Education, and Arts and Sciences. She teaches English Composition I, English Composition II, Supplement to Composition I, and Late American Literature. Lauren earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Oklahoma State University; Master’s degree in 19th Century American Literature from University of Central Oklahoma. Lauren Kennedy has 2 cute and energetic cats. She enjoys reading classic literature and genre fiction in her spare time. She especially loves horror and gothic fiction. She also enjoys musicals, watching anime, and creative writing.

 

 

 

Brenda Pennington teaches geography and history in the Language Arts/Social Sciences Division at Northern Oklahoma College. In the classroom, I enjoy helping students explore how people, places, and cultures shape the world we live in today. I really am passionate about history and its connections to the present as well as encouraging students to think critically about global issues. My classes often focus on how humans interact with their environments and how history continues to influence our modern world. Outside of the classroom, I am a mom to 3 grown boys (they prefer the term men), and a very much-loved cocker spaniel named Sophie. I also enjoy reading, baking, and traveling.

I graduated from Northern Oklahoma College with an Associate’s Degree in Social Science in 2006, the University of Central Oklahoma in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies Education, and Graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2013 with a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. My beautiful wife Jill works as the art teacher for Newkirk High School, and I have three amazing children Kevin, Arabella, and Blake. Government is an important subject that impacts everyone’s daily life. It is critical for all individuals to comprehend their role in government and why government is necessary. Becoming an informed rational voter allows individuals to select the candidate that can best bring about effective change. By understanding the roles and responsibilities of elected officials, the legislative process, and the means and methods of peaceful change, individuals can help positively impact the federal, state, and local levels of government.

Dr. Alyce Webb earned a BA and MA from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a PhD from Oklahoma State University. She lives in Pawnee, OK, where she raises her two daughters and volunteers for the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum by portraying showwoman May Lillie from horseback at events throughout the state. She teaches Early American History, Late American History, and occasionally American Studies and a Field Study Tour to Santa Fe, NM, from the Tonkawa and Stillwater campuses. In her classes, Dr. Webb enjoys using primary documents, and helping students learn to do hard things!