Arts & Sciences - Faculty

Dr. John Davenport

John Davenport joined the North Central faculty in 2001. Previously he served as Head of Special Collections (rare books and manuscripts - 1977-2000) and acting director of libraries (1989-1991) at the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN). At St. Thomas, he occasionally offered Irish history courses and regularly taught classes in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library’s bibliographic instruction program, emphasizing Special Collections materials. These classes focused on the history, language, literature, folk-lore, and religion of the Celtic nations, particularly Ireland and Scotland; Luxembourg history and culture; the works of G. K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc; and the books and scholarly papers of Christopher Dawson. Davenport also was employed as Assistant Curator of Special Collections in the Chester Fritz Library at the University of North Dakota, in Grand Forks, 1974-1976. Davenport has authored a scholarly guide to research materials at UND, several scholarly articles, and a number of book reviews. At North Central Davenport regularly teaches the American history survey courses, the second half of the Western Civilization survey, the second half of the church history sequence (Reformation to the present), modern British history, and introduction to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Dr. Farella Shaka

Dr Farella Shaka joined the faculty at North Central University in 1998. She currently teaches mathematics and science courses. Prior to her work at NCU she taught for five years in the Physics and Materials Science Department at Missouri State University. During that time she developed and directed several professional development workshops for K-8 teachers of science, and a science and mathematics Summer Camp for middle school students. She also taught for three years in the Curriculum and Instruction Department at West Virginia University, and three years in the Physics Department at West Liberty State College. In addition, she came to the USA with ten years of teaching experience from Sierra Leone.

Dr. Shaka is a Co-Pastor, ministering with her husband, Rev. Dr. Richard Shaka at All Nations Christian Assembly in Minneapolis. She also works with him in crusades and other evangelistic and church planting activities in the US and overseas. She loves entertaining friends and enjoys traveling, meeting new people and trying different ethnic foods.