Executive Team

Joe L. “Joey” Cope, JD

Founding Executive Director, Duncum Center Solutions

Joey is responsible for building and expanding the Duncum Center for Conflict Resolution and Duncum Center Solutions. He currently served as Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies from 2017 – 2022 and currently serves as Associate General Counsel, Dallas Campus. A mediator for more than 18 years and a practicing attorney for more than 30 years, Joey served the Duncum Center as founding executive director from 2000 – 2017, casting vision for the organization while serving as the center’s lead trainer and consultant.

He also serves as an associate professor in Abilene Christian University’s (ACU) graduate programs in conflict management and resolution and has served as an adjunct professor for the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law, the William H. Bowen Law School at the University of Arkansas – Little Rock, and the Southern Methodist University Center for Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.

Lori Anne Shaw, EdD

Vice President, Learning Design & Operations, Dallas Campus

Lori Anne oversees the Learning Design & Operations division which integrates the operational work of learning design, development, and delivery to provide a set of centralized services to academics and enrollment management for the sake of students, faculty, and staff at ACU’s Dallas campus. The division is comprised of Duncum Center Solutions, registration operations, and faculty operations.

Lori Anne has served at Duncum Center Solutions at ACU since 2007. She is practicing workplace mediator and the center’s lead trainer with experience providing training and leadership retreats around the U.S. for Fortune 500 companies, small non-profits, and across the globe in Kenya and Rwanda.

Lori Anne has served in ACU’s online academic programs since 2007 working in Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution program as an online course developer, the practicum coordinator, and as an online course facilitator in Negotiation and Mediation, Managing Conflict in Schools, Managing Conflict in the Workplace, Communication and Conflict Theory, and Advanced Mediation courses. She also served as co-trainer for program’s Conflict Resolution Residency Session – a five day, practice-based negotiation and mediation training, and the 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training.

Lori Anne served three years as a board member for the Texas Association of Mediators, five years as an officer for the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable, and is currently serving as chair of the board of Come before Winter. Connect with Lori Anne on LinkedIn.

Amanda Goetzke, EdD

Associate Vice President of Instructional Design & Innovation

Amanda oversees Duncum Center Solutions, which houses the ACU Dallas Instructional Design team. In her role, Amanda oversees a growing team of Instructional Design staff focused on course development, design and delivery for ACU online academic programs, as well as Executive Education and Professional Advancement and Sports Learning and Leadership initiatives.

Serving on the senior leadership team at ACU Dallas, Amanda works collaboratively with the other divisions to ensure high quality course offerings are delivered to students and learners, following current best practices for accessible online teaching and learning. Amanda is passionate about exploring how ACU Online can be innovative within online higher education while providing an excellent student experience.

Amanda has worked in higher education since 2013 and joined ACU Dallas in January of 2016. Amanda holds a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University.

Brenda McAdoo, JD

Executive Director, Executive Education and Professional Advancement

Born to two ACU graduates and missionary parents, Brenda was no stranger to the impact of the university she would later attend. Brenda graduated from ACU in 1991 with a degree in both political science and public service. She found her passion through the Jack Pope Fellows Program which offers scholarships to exceptional students who are pursuing a career in public service and provides them with real-world experiences outside of a traditional classroom. After graduating from ACU, Brenda attended law school at Pepperdine University, passed the California bar exam and became a prosecutor with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Influenced by the amazing cases she worked as a prosecutor, Brenda joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shortly after. Additionally, she received her Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Southern Methodist University (SMU), all while obtaining numerous certifications, traveling to talk at conferences overseas, and teaching in-session courses at SMU. Brenda now leads the executive and education and professional advancement team at ACU Dallas working with companies like MLB’s Texas Rangers, Worldwide Flight Services, Kodiak Building Partners, and Avanzar Interior Technologies.

Lacy Castleman, MEd

Associate Manager of Instructional Design

Lacy oversees the course development and curriculum update processes while also providing support and training resources for faculty, staff, and the contracted instructional team. She has a passion for improving the online learning experience for both faculty and students, and she enjoys collaborating with departments throughout the college as well as working one-on-one with colleagues in order to best meet the needs of those she is serving.

Lacy’s higher education experience includes serving as the Quality Enhancement Plan Coordinator and the Curriculum Coordinator, while also serving as an Adjunct Accounting Professor for Collin College. In these roles she worked closely with faculty, staff, and administrators from divisions throughout the college on projects such as the implementation of district-wide student-success initiatives, curriculum management and development, and establishing resources to guide the curriculum revision and development processes. Lacy’s educational background includes earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Education from Texas State University, as well as additional graduate hours in both Accounting and Higher Education Leadership from Texas A&M – Commerce

Sarah Laster, MS, MBA

Course Materials and Instructional Design Support Specialist

Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Sarah currently lives near St. Louis, Missouri. Sarah is a three-time graduate of ACU (B.S. Psychology, Abilene, 2014; M.S. Counseling Psychology, Abilene, 2016; Master of Business Administration, Online, 2019). Sarah has been on staff at ACU since 2016, with the Abilene Honors College, Dallas Student Financial Services, and Dallas Instructional Design. Sarah joined the Instructional Design team in Fall 2020 as a contract builder and transitioned to a full-time position with Instructional Design in Fall 2022.

On the Instructional Design team, Sarah oversees the acquisition, adoption, and dissemination of all course materials for ACU Online (textbooks, courseware, etc.). Sarah also works with faculty and program directors to troubleshoot issues, offer Canvas guidance as needed, and keep courses running smoothly. Sarah enjoys collaborating with instructors, staff, and administration at ACU to ensure that students and faculty alike have the tools they need to succeed at ACU.

Adam Aguilar, MEd

Educational Technology Specialist

My name is Adam Aguilar, I was born in Dallas and have lived most of my life here. I have over 10 years working in education. I’ve been an educator, enrollment specialist, program coordinator, instructional technologist, and now an education technology specialist.

I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Dallas Baptist University. While in college I spent time working in the international office and was able to make amazing friendships with students from across the globe. This led me to be curious about other cultures, religions, foods and sent me to travel around to a few countries and even a brief time working as an English instructor in Tokyo and the Ukraine. One of my favorite memories is traveling to Indonesia with a friend, we heard about the spicy food in Indonesia, but both thought it was overrated. We decided to order some spicy Indonesian chicken and instantly regretted it. We cried, laughed, and went through all types of emotions with that meal. My other hobbies include landscape photography, watching the Dallas Mavericks, Cooking, watching movies and spending time with my family.

Julie “Jules” Stoltz, MS

Instructional Design Specialist

Jules serves faculty, staff, and students at ACU by assisting in the design of courses and exploring how new technologies can improve the ways we teach and learn. Jules has prior experience working in higher ed with a focus on supporting technology usage, incorporating new technology, and training faculty and staff on various technology tools used for online education. She has also worked in the corporate world designing, developing, and delivering internal and external training programs, building knowledge bases, and improving communication channels.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Jules currently resides in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She earned a B.S. in Marketing Management in 2014 from Western Governors University and a M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology in 2016 from Walden University. She is currently working on an Ed.S. in Educational Technology and Learning Engineering at Indiana Wesleyan University in preparation for doctoral work to research improvements for Learning Management Systems.

Joenie Myers, PhD

Director of Training and Development

Dr. Joenie Myers currently holds the position of Director of Training and Development at Abilene Christian University’s Executive Education and Professional Advancement division. In this influential role, Dr. Myers oversees training programs and development, ensuring alignment with client requirements and optimizing training effectiveness.

Dr. Myers’ journey in education and communication spans over a decade, showcasing a rich tapestry of experiences. In addition to her role as the Director of Training and Development, she also serves as part of the Adjunct Faculty for the College of Graduate and Professional Studies in the Applied Communication program. As an Instructional Designer, Dr. Myers excelled in designing and developing engaging courses and training. Utilizing a comprehensive approach reflects Dr. Myers’ commitment to enhancing the online learning experience through strategic design and continuous improvement.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Myers served as an Assistant Professional Professor at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, contributing significantly to supporting students’ academic journeys and the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The role highlighted Dr. Myers’ proficiency in teaching various communication courses, and fostering integrative and lifelong learning. Dr. Myers engages in academic research and curriculum development, contributing to a holistic understanding of the educational landscape. Beyond academia, roles in administration, market research, and communication consultancy further refined Dr. Myers’ leadership, communication, and program development skills.

Dr. Myers holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Arts in Communication, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and English. Passionate about creating impactful learning experiences and contributing to the success of individuals and organizations, Dr. Myers welcomes connections to explore opportunities for collaboration, education, and growth.