--- title: Dordt University welcomes new professors to the Biology Department date: 2024-07-29T09:20:00-05:00 author: Sarah Moss canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-university-welcomes-new-professors-to-the-biology-department" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [Academics](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=academics) Jul 29, 2024 # Dordt University welcomes new professors to the Biology Department Dordt University has hired two new biology professors: Dr. Brette Feldhacker, who brings veterinary science expertise, and Dr. Preeti Shinde, who has experience with zoology and developmental biology. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/Preeti_Shinde.JPG?mode=crop&pos=0.4146-0.3693&w=66&h=57&f=webp&c=9bd69e85&v=016ac3224c1b3c32f19287b26a3a55b9d21fa96a8eba8a94bcf4d8197388c7c8) ![]()Two biology professors have been hired at Dordt University. [Dr. Brette Feldhacker](https://www.dordt.edu/people/brette-feldhacker) has accepted Dordt University as Assistant Professor of Biology, and Dr. Preeti Shinde accepted a position as Associate Professor of Biology. Both bring many years of experience in the biology field to Dordt University. Feldhacker, a Sioux Center native, graduated from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 and interned at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. She owns Siouxland Equine in Sioux Center. She became interested in teaching when Dordt students would job shadow her during veterinary appointments. “I enjoyed their enthusiasm for learning and eagerness to gain hands-on skills, so was interested in spending more time with students in an educational capacity,” Feldhacker says. Feldhacker previously taught in the Biology Department as an adjunct professor. Shinde brings over eight years of experience both in person and online as a zoology lecturer in India. She graduated from Rajasthan University and completed her post- graduation and Ph.D. from Shivaji University, Maharashtra. Shinde and her husband moved from Mumbai, India to Sioux Center, Iowa this summer. “I have always wanted to work at a Christian university that supports the integration of faith with academics,” Shinde says. “In my search, I found that Dordt University stands out for its exceptional reputation in this regard.” Dean for Foundational and Health Sciences [Dr. Jeff Ploegstra](https://www.dordt.edu/people/jeff-ploegstra) says both instructors contribute new areas of expertise to the biology department. “Dr. Shinde’s experiences in zoology and developmental biology in India will enrich our biology program and deepen our students’ engagement with the global church and their own discipleship,” Ploegstra says. Feldhacker’s work in veterinary science diversifies the department’s offerings in anatomy and physiology, adds Ploegstra. “Dr. Feldhacker’s addition to the department is very timely. She is the kind of person who will easily adapt to Dordt’s growth in the health sciences.” **About Dordt University** As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. --- [Previous Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/2024-07-17_005010.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=456b3b6b&v=fe1a21ca22889606a187e1d7f246dfd8d62b6e27e68655e6c34b4a6c72361308) Academics Research and Scholarship Jul 30, 2024 ## Having fun with discrete mathematics Undergraduate researchers and mathematics professors at Dordt University are developing strategies for games on graphs, demonstrating mathematics' enjoyable side and exploring new concepts in discrete mathematics and graph theory. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/having-fun-with-discrete-mathematics) [Next Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/2024-06-25_004931.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=c08fa19a&v=72b1c61b954884a486015415e140e570d1618f927461bdffc211a8bc0882b229) News Jul 19, 2024 ## Dordt in the News: Summer Edition Here’s where Dordt University has been mentioned in the media and by news sources this summer. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-in-the-news-summer-edition) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Aug 19 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-19) Aug 20 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-20) Aug 20 Athletics Men's Soccer #### [8/20 8:00 PM Dordt University Men's Soccer at Carroll - Nelson Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-22-100-pm-dordt-university-mens-soccer-at-carroll) ![A picture of campus behind yellow prairie flowers](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2021-22/Buildings-and-Campus/2021-09-23_001574-1.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=50&f=webp&c=3d670641&v=d2bdb7cbdc83e5be46d3a10afe8a1214a0e770536697eb0ddbe29e017d2e9577) <![CDATA[YII-BLOCK-BODY-END]]>