Staff directory
Nate PetersenWelcome Center Temporary Assistant
Muskegon Community College
Nathan BenderFaculty
Applied Technology
![Nathan Bender](https://muskegoncc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0252723-482x480.jpg)
Applied Technology
Office Location
Sturrus Technology Center - 220DMY BACKGROUND
- Hometown: Big Rapids, MI
- High School: Morley-Stanwood High School
- Professional Experience: Instructor at Thompson M-Tec. – 11 Years
Instructor at Careerline Technical Center – 4 Years
Machining Paraprofessional at Careerline Technical Center – 7 years
Tool and Die Apprentice at TransMatic – 3 years
Screw Machine Operator at H&R Screw Machine Products – 2 years - Academic Degrees: A.A.S. Manufacturing Tooling Technology/Ferris State University, B.A. Technical Education/Ferris State University, M.A. Workforce and Educational Development/Western Michigan University
- Classes Taught: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Machining, NC/CNC Programming, 2D and 3D CAD/CAM, Moldmaking, Basic Diemaking
MORE ABOUT ME
- I have two daughters.
- I enjoy hunting and fishing.
- I enjoy boating and spending time on the water.
- “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right” – Henry Ford
Navidad CortezDepartment Secretary
Counseling & Advising
![Navidad Cortez](https://muskegoncc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0062155-425x480.jpg)
Nicholas BudimirFaculty
Social Sciences
![Nicholas Budimir](https://muskegoncc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0036538-720x480.jpg)
Social Sciences
Office Location
2012AMY BACKGROUND
- Hometown: Dearborn, Michigan
- Professional Experience: In addition to teaching at Muskegon Community College, professor Budimir has taught sociology at Ferris State University and Western Michigan University while working on his graduate degree. As an active leader in the Michigan Sociological Association since 2006, Budimir organizes conferences, speakers and panels. Professor Budimir’s specialties in sociology include economic sociology, the intersection of class, race, and gender, the sociology of education, and the sociology of labor.
- Academic Degrees: A.B.D Sociology PhD- Western Michigan University, M.A. Industrial Relations- Wayne State University, B.A. History and Anthropology- University of Michigan
- Classes Taught: Professor Budimir teaches a wide range of classes at MCC: SOC-101: Principles of Sociology; SOC-102A: Race Ethnicity and Immigration; SOC-202A: Modern Social Problems; SOC-205: Marriage and the Family; HIST/PSCI-220: Labor Studies, ,
MORE ABOUT ME
- Languages pursued: Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and French
- Favorite thinkers: Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, Pierre Bourdieu, and Slavoj Zizek
- I love teaching at Muskegon Community College because the small class sizes allow students and instructors to talk.
- I became interested in the topics of capitalism, injustice, and exploitation initially from my family members who immigrated to the United States from the Balkans. They were in search of work and fleeing from ethnic persecution. They brought with them a deep love and respect for history, a suspicion of the powerful, esteem for intellect and a yearning for justice. Maybe a little of that Eastern European radicalism rubbed off!?
Nicholas PalmerFaculty
Arts & Humanities
![Nicholas Palmer](https://muskegoncc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0260702-514x480.jpg)
Arts & Humanities
Office Hours
Mon : 10:00 am - 12:00 pmMon, Tue, Wed, Thu : 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Thu : Or By Appointment
Office Location
1202BMY BACKGROUND
- Hometown: Flint, MI
- High School: L.M. Powers
- Professional Experience: Church musician, freelance composer, keyboardist, conductor
- Academic Degrees: BA University of Chicago, MA University of Chicago
- Classes Taught: College Singers, Collegiates Choir, Music Theory, Introduction to the Humanities
MORE ABOUT ME
- I have five cats.
- I love dark chocolate.
- Cooking and baking are favorite pastimes.
- I’m learning Polish.
- I learned how to make authentic pączki recently
Nicole HorneAdjunct Faculty
Math & Physical Sciences
![Nicole Horne](https://muskegoncc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0162325-449x480.jpg)