Meet Our Faculty
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Muhammad I. Hussain, Ph.D.
Faculty, Marine Engineering
Dr. M. Imtiaz Hussain is a renewable energy expert who has been intimately engaged in providing innovative and sustainable energy solutions. He earned his Doctorate in Engineering from Kangwon National University, South Korea. Throughout his career, he has been awarded some of the most prestigious scholarships and fellowships including the Higher Education Commission Scholarship, Pakistan and the Brain Pool Fellowship South Korea. He has almost 12 years of experience leading research groups and teaching core energy subjects at a university level and working with industries that specialize in energy and power.
He supervised several national and international research projects and published more than 50 research articles in high-rank peer-reviewed energy journals. He solely reviewed several research grant applications for funding organizations and research publications for prestigious publishers. His research mainly focuses on the development of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) & Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Technologies, Energy Systems Modeling, Advanced Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Modeling, AI-driven Cooling Techniques and Thermal Management, Hybrid Nano-Fluid Technologies, and Green Energy Storage Technologies.
He has expert-level proficiency with major modeling, computational and advanced engineering Tools.
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April L. E. Allen EdS, EdD
Faculty, English
April served in the Air Force National Guard from 2002-2016 as a Personnel Specialist. She has exciting memories of traveling around the United States and overseas to Okinawa, Japan, and Ballad, Iraq (during the Operation Iraqi Freedom War). She completed her service as a Technical Sergeant (E-6: Non-Commissioned Officer).
Before beginning her journey at CFK, April taught high school English at Boiling Spring High School (SC), Adult Education in the Monroe County School District (FL), and abroad in China during the summer of 2014. She volunteered to teach Chinese teachers how to teach English Language Arts to their high school students in Shijiazhuang and Handan, China. April enjoys teaching Introduction to the Teaching Profession, English Composition I, English Composition II, and Short Fiction at CFK.
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Daniel Brooke
Faculty, Nursing
Biology - M.S./Biomedical Science - Barry University, 2019B.S./Biology - Stetson University, 2016. -
Peter Burzynski, PhD
Faculty, English
PhD/Creative Writing - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 2018MA/Polish Literature - Columbia University, 2014MA/Creative Writing - The New School, 2012BA/Creative Writing and Polish Language and Literature - University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008 -
Kelly Conklin-Penwell, DBA, MSEd
Faculty, Business
Kelly Conklin-Penwell holds a BS in Marketing from Bentley University, an MBA from SUNY Empire State, an MSEd from Dowling College, and a graduate certificate in forensic accounting from Southern New Hampshire University. Dr. Conklin-Penwell completed her doctoral studies at Touro University Worldwide in 2023. Her research interests include ethics, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship. In 2014, Kelly Conklin-Penwell's research was awarded an innovation in practice grant by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for her work related to student-athletes and access to internships. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys travel (especially to see her daughter, who lives in London, UK), reading, cooking, and upcycling.
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Laura Cox, MSN-Ed., RN
Faculty, Nursing
Laura Cox has worked in Critical Care and Emergency Nursing since graduating from Florida Keys Community College in 2011. She went on to obtain an RN-BSN and a Master's in Nursing Education from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is certified as an Acute/Critical Care Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K) and is a member of the National League of Nursing (NLN).
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David Duff
Faculty, Science and Nursing
David has been a dedicated mathematics educator since 2002. Originally from Pennsylvania, he began his teaching career at Delaware County Community College, where he was once a student himself. After earning his MS in Statistics in 2006, he served as a senior analyst for the State of Delaware, applying his expertise in statistics.
Known for his approachable demeanor and engaging sense of humor, David excels at creating a relaxed atmosphere in his classroom, making even the most math-averse students feel comfortable. He teaches a diverse range of subjects, including Developmental Math, the Calculus sequence, and Statistics.
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Marcial Echenique , Ed.D
Faculty, Math
Dr. Echenique’s formal education includes a doctorate in Education (Florida Atlantic University), an MBA (University of Georgia), a master's in Mathematics (University of Texas at Arlington) and a bachelor's in Applied Mathematics (Auburn University). In addition to formal education, attending workshops and conferences contribute to his pursuit of education as a life-long learner.
Dr. Echenique has extensive experience teaching a wide range of mathematics and education courses ranging from developmental courses to differential equations. Other courses include statistics and math methods for teachers. In addition, Dr. Echenique has worked outside academia for multiple companies as an engineer, computer programmer, systems analyst and consultant.
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Luiz Fernandes, Ph.D.
Faculty - Marine Resource Management
Dr. Fernandes’ journey in marine biology is one of adventure, discovery, and impact. Born and raised in Brazil, he earned his undergraduate degree in Biology while interning at the Marine Biology Center. His passion for ocean research took him to Antarctica with the Brazilian Antarctic Program and to Germany, where he collaborated with the Alfred Wegener Institute on larval crab development. After graduation, an invitation from a NOAA researcher led him to the University of San Diego for his master’s, where he analyzed Antarctic specimens preserved at the Smithsonian. His expertise then took him to Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of South Florida before he pursued a Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, focusing on krill research with the U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources program.
For 25 years, Dr. Fernandes was a driving force in marine science at the Federal University of Espirito Santo. He led groundbreaking projects, participating in the Millennium Initiative and the Census of Marine Life, earning the prestigious International Mercocities Prize for his work on mangrove crab restoration. His research extended to Marine Protected Areas and fisheries, culminating in a couple of books published. Partnering with Petrobras, he spearheaded an innovative aquaculture project, cultivating cobia, oysters, mussels, and lions-paw scallops—an effort that gained media attention, even featuring a celebrity chef. Never one to shy away from new frontiers, he completed postdoctoral research at the University of Miami, working on a lab-grown fish project proposal. Now, embracing a fresh challenge, he brings his passion and expertise to CFK in Florida, continuing his mission to inspire and innovate in marine science.
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Charles Goulding
Arts, Hospitality, Business and History Faculty
Charles Goulding is a dedicated public servant with a strong academic background and diverse professional experience. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and later received a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Kutztown University.
A Pennsylvania native, he moved to Florida to be closer to his grandson, who was just a year and a half old at the time. Throughout his career, he has worked in a variety of roles, including in a Juvenile Detention Center, a County Mental Health Office, and as a Coordinator of Arts, Hospitality, and Business.
Professor Goulding’s career began at CFK, where he excelled as the Coordinator of Arts and Hospitality. However, his true passion is education, and he currently works as a history professor at CFK. He teaches four courses: Introduction to Political Science, National Government, American History (2020 and 2030), and Preparing for Student Success. Additionally, Professor Goulding serves as an advisor to Outcasts for Christ.