Five new full-time faculty members will join the departments of kinesiology, music, biology, and sociology at Cornell College this fall. Among the scholarly interests they bring to the Hilltop are explorations of choral conducting and the role of movement in music, autism and autistic perceptions in the workplace, silent film accompaniment and composition, organismal biology, and sociological perspectives on health and equity.
Pictured: New Cornell faculty, from left: Doug Wohlstein (kinesiology), Neil Krzeski (music), Amanda Huntleigh (music), Patrick Lane (biology), Phil Tostado (sociology)
Amanda Huntleigh, visiting assistant professor in music, will lead Cornell’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, as well as teach Fundamentals of Music, History of Western Music, and Music Education Methods courses. As a Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst, her creative work explores the functional and expressive roles of movement across conducting and singing pedagogies. Huntleigh holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington.
Neil Krzeski, studio artist in piano, is a pianist and collaborative musician based in Iowa City whose work spans classical performance, jazz, composition, and popular music. His versatility has led to international performances, collaborations with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, silent film accompaniments, featured solo appearances with orchestras, and projects with the band Arches and Outlaws. In 2025, he released his debut solo album, "The Piano Music of Marc Mellits". Krzeski is the principal keyboardist with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance, with a secondary area of jazz studies, from the University of Iowa.
Patrick Lane, biology organismal lab coordinator, will assist with Vertebrate Zoology, Field Biology, Foundations: Organismal Biology, Population Genetics & Conservation, Conservation Biology, Entomology, and Biological Problems. Lane worked for the United States Forest Service as a wildlife technician, the Denver Downtown Aquarium as an interpreter, and the Iowa Neuropathology Resource Lab at the University of Iowa as a research assistant. He has also done research on the effects of annual anthropogenic flooding on cottonwood forests and habitat partitioning between species of native and invasive species of garter snakes. He has a Bachelor of Science in biology.
Phil Tostado, visiting assistant professor in sociology, will teach Sociological Thinking, Community Health & Social Equity, and Health & Well-Being in Sociological Context. Tostado has researched autism and autistic perceptions in workplace environments, adolescent self-esteem, and the association between friendships and self-esteem. He holds two Master of Arts in sociology degrees, one from Portland State University and one from the University of Iowa, and is completing the dissertation phase for a Doctorate of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Iowa.
Doug Wohlstein, lecturer in kinesiology, will teach Lifetime Physical Fitness and Activities, Coaching Endorsement or Authorization, and Sports and American Society. His research has centered around the primary factors that influence college choice for NCAA Division III student-athletes, and he is experienced in mentoring undergraduate students, advising majors, and supporting diverse learners. Wohlstein has a Doctor of Health Science degree from Radford University.