Meet Our Staff
Eric Bucher, PhD
CTE Faculty Director and Chair of the CTE Faculty Advisory Board
Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Eric Bucher serves as Faculty Associate for the CTE during this Fall 2023. He completed his B.S. in Mathematics at Gonzaga University (2008), an M.S. in Mathematics at Oregon State University (2010), and a Ph.D. in Mathematics at Louisiana State University (2016). As a member of the Xavier community he has been heavily involved in the Center for Teaching Excellence and is particularly passionate about inclusive pedagogy and alternative classroom techniques.
Victoria Vogelgesang, EdD
CTE Administrative Director
Victoria D. Vogelgesang, Ed.D. joined Xavier University in 2023 and the Center for Teaching Excellence as the Administrative Director in 2024. Victoria is from Cincinnati, completed her BA in Sociology at Wittenberg University (2010), an MPA in Nonprofit Management (2013) and her doctorate in Educational Leadership (2021) at Northern Kentucky University. Victoria’s research and previous professional experience has been in High Impact Practices (HIPs). She is also a yoga instructor and coaches the club field hockey team on campus.
Nykara Brown
CTE Assistant Director
Nykara Brown joined the Center for Teaching Excellence in August 2023. She earned both her B.S. (2016) and M.S. (2019) in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Indiana State University. Her academic training and research background focus on breast cancer and population genetics. She is the founder of the Students as Partners program on Xavier University’s campus, established through the HHMI IE3 grant to support increased engagement of diverse students in gateway STEM courses. In addition to her commitment to STEM, teaching, and research, Nykara is also an entrepreneur who manages a candle business. Outside of work, she enjoys shoe shopping and thrifting, which she considers her favorite sports.
Tara Koch
CTE/Library Operations Coordinator
Tara Tate Koch joined the Center for Teaching Excellence on August 1, 2023. Tara has an MBA from Xavier University (2000) and a B.A.-Interpersonal & Public Communications degree from Bowling Green State University (1992). Tara’s background is in brand marketing, event planning, budget management and communications. Fun facts: Tara met her husband (Dave) in the Xavier MBA Program. She also loves “all things Disney” and cheering for both of her daughters’ competitive dance teams.