Faculty & Staff
Small class sizes, lots of office hours and an open-door policy are just some of the ways our faculty and staff set JBU's Construction Management program apart. Members of our dedicated CM faculty share an uncommon commitment to the success of each student.
Mr. Jim Caldwell, Professor of Construction
B.S., John Brown University; M.S., Purdue University; Certified Professional Constructor; Registered Land Surveyor
jcaldwel@jbu.edu
Jim Caldwell is head of the department. He earned his Master of Science degree in Construction Management from Purdue University in 1984 and his bachelor's degree in Building Construction from JBU in 1980. Mr. Caldwell is a Certified Professional Constructor, a Professional Land Surveyor, and a member of the American Association of Cost Engineers. Prior to teaching at JBU, Mr. Caldwell worked on large industrial construction projects in the areas of construction surveying, cost control, and supervision. He is now involved with commercial estimating and land surveying during the summer months. Mr. Caldwell and his family have been on mission construction projects in central Africa, Haiti, Guatemala and Mexico. He and his wife Barbara have four children.
Mr. Rick Faust, Instructor
B.S., Minnesota State University at Moorhead; A.S., John Brown University
rfaust@jbu.edu
Rick Faust earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Minnesota State University at Moorhead in 1979. In 1986, he finished an
associate's degree in Building Construction from JBU and spent the next several years designing and building homes and other wood-frame
structures in Northwest Arkansas and at various locations in the U.S. and Mexico where he led church teams on short-term mission projects. In
1991, Rick settled in Siloam Springs and started his own residential design company Upright Design, Inc. which specializes in designing local
custom homes and custom stock home plans for publication on the internet and through local magazine outlets such as Lowe's. Rick is a
professional member of the American Institute of Building Design. Along with his design experience, Rick has a great deal of
first-hand knowledge in construction methods and materials from all the structures he has both designed and built himself. He and his wife
Connie have three children.
Mr. Matt Pearson, Assistant Professor
B.S., John Brown University; M.Arch., University of Minnesota; Registered Architect (Arkansas); American Institute of Architects
mpearson@jbu.edu
Matt Pearson, assistant professor, earned a bachelor's degree from John Brown University in Building Construction in 1985 and a Master of
Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota in 1991. He is a registered architect in Arkansas and a member of the American
Institute of Architects. Mr. Pearson began work in architecture and construction in 1980 and has been either in an architect's office, on
the construction site, or in school studying or teaching design and construction since that time. Before coming to JBU he taught Design and
Professional Practice courses at the University of Arkansas and currently has his own architectural practice with a focus on residential and
light commercial design. He has extensive experience as a project architect working for architectural firms in Minneapolis, MN and Little
Rock, AR. He and his wife Kirsten have two children.
Mrs. Shermana Philpott, Administrative Assistant
sphilpot@jbu.edu
Shermana Philpott was hired in July 1990 as Secretary for the Division of Engineering and Technology. Dr. Jim Pearson was the Chair of the
Division and Dr. Davis was Head of the Construction Management Department. Shermana was Dr. Pearson's assistant, but worked for all eight
professors and assisted Tom Wright, the Electronics Technician whenever she could. Her title was changed somewhere along the way to
Administrative Assistant and she is currently assisting her fifth Division Chair. Shermana has assisted both departments in their
accreditation efforts and continues to assist all nine professors, instructors, adjuncts, and staff in the Division. She loves her job and
hopes to continue in her present capacity for many years to come.
Mr. Mark Terrill, Adjunct Professor
B.S., New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; M.S. University of Texas at Austin
mterrill@jbu.edu
Mark Terrill earned his Master of Science degree in Engineering (Construction Management) from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998,
and his bachelor's degree in Geological Engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 1985. Mr. Terrill is a Professional
Engineer (Civil) in the state of Virginia. Prior to teaching at JBU, Mr. Terrill spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps
retiring in 2008 at the rank of Commander. His experience includes construction management, construction contracting, contingency
construction, and facilities management in various locations including Virginia, Arizona, Guam, Spain, the Philippines, and Iraq. He and his
wife Dine have four children.
Emeritus
Kent Davis, Professor of Construction (Emeritus)
B.S., John Brown University; M.S., University of Maine; Ph.D., Clemson University; Certified Professional Constructor
Kent Davis, BC class of 1963, started teaching at JBU in 1969. Originally, he taught half in engineering and half in construction, but
eventually transitioned into teaching full time in construction. Davis spent 1975-1977 in Kenya as a missionary and 1985-1987 at graduate
school. He became head of the construction department in 1987. During his tenure, the CM Department received accreditation with ACCE. Dr.
Davis retired in May, 2004 and, with his wife, moved to Florida where he has a structural engineering practice. He remembers his students and
co-workers fondly.
Charles Willis, Professor of Construction (Emeritus)
B.S., John Brown University; M.S., University of Arkansas
Charles Willis graduated from JBU in 1942. He joined the faculty in 1946. In addition to teaching at various times, Mr. Willis was involved
in supervising the furniture factory and the design and construction of many campus buildings. Willis ensured that the curriculum evolved
over the years to reflect changes in the construction industry and university curriculum mandates. In 1968, John Brown University became a
member of the Associated Schools of Construction, which provided a valuable source of information about similar programs at other
schools. Charles retired in 1968.
