The Commonwealth Faculty and Staff
Raising the Bar of Educational Excellence
Stuart E. Moen, CFSP
Interim President/Dean of Academics
Stuart Moen
Stuart Moen, a native of Rapid City, SD, graduated in 1978 with an M.A. degree in Adult and Higher Education from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. In 1980, he graduated with a B.S. degree with distinction from the University of Minnesota—Dept. of Mortuary Science.
Dean Moen began his career in funeral service education in February, 1984. He teaches Anatomy I & II, Embalming I, II & III, Forensic Pathology, Microbiology and Thanatochemistry.
In May 1988, Moen became Dean of Academics at Commonwealth Institute.
Christopher C. Layton
Dean of Students, Title IX Coordinator
Christopher C. Layton
Christopher Layton has a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a master’s degree from the University of Houston. Layton graduated from the mortuary science program at Cypress College in Cypress, Calif., and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Arizona, California and Texas.
Layton began working, as a teenager, for his cousin’s funeral home in Safford, Ariz. While attending Arizona State University, he served his apprenticeship at Messinger Mortuary in Scottsdale, Ariz. After graduation, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he taught school and continued working in the funeral profession on the weekends. In 1988, he joined the training department of Pierce Brothers Mortuaries, one of the largest and oldest funeral firms in Los Angeles. In 1991, he accepted a position with the training department of Service Corporation International in Houston, the world’s largest provider of funeral and cemetery services. At that time, he began teaching part-time at Commonwealth Institute and full-time in 1992, he accepted it. He is currently Dean of Students and teaches mainly in the funeral service arts.
In Los Angeles, Layton was a board member of the Los Angeles County Funeral Directors Association. He currently serves on the board of the Houston Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association and is a past chair of the Programs and Education Committee of the Texas Funeral Directors Association.
Cody L. Lopasky, CFSP
Associate Dean of Academics & Distance Education Coordinator
Cody L. Lopasky
Cody Lopasky has an M.A. in Psychology and History from the University of Houston-Victoria, a B.A. in Psychology from Texas State University-San Marcos, and he is an A.A.S. graduate with honors and distinction from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. As a student at Commonwealth, Lopasky was a member of the National Funeral Service Honor Society. He is a Texas-licensed funeral director and embalmer, a certified crematory operator, and sits on the Curriculum Study Committee for the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).
Starting in high school, and continuing after licensure, Lopasky worked at Schmidt Funeral Home in Katy, TX. He was employed there as a funeral director and embalmer for several years before joining the education side of funeral service in 2016 when he accepted a full-time faculty position. Currently, Lopasky is the Associate Dean of Academics and the Distance education Coordinator, and he teaches both face-to-face and online courses. He has published numerous articles, written a continuing education course for funeral service practitioners, and is a contributing author for funeral service textbooks.
Jessika Jenkins
Director of Operations
Jessika Jenkins
Jessika has been a proud Houstonian since 2005. Originally from Waxahachie, Texas she moved to College Station, Texas after graduating high school where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas A&M University. Shortly after graduation she attended Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service and became a licensed funereal director and embalmer in the state of Texas. Later, she became the Student Services Coordinator at Commonwealth Institute. This began her passion for helping people reach their dreams and goals with effective education.
In pursuit of becoming a better educator, Jessika went on to earn a Master’s in Education for Instructional Technology from Texas Tech University. After years in higher education, Jessika decided to take her talents to the K-12 classroom where she taught 6th grade science. Having a love for education and the funeral industry she was excited to return to Commonwealth Industry full-time as the Director of Operations.
Patricia Moreno
Registrar
Patricia Moreno
Patricia Ann Tamayo Moreno graduated from Commonwealth College of Sciences in 1980 and began her apprenticeship with Darling Mouser Funeral Home in her hometown of Brownsville, Texas. She completed her apprenticeship at Heights Funeral Home in Houston and came to work for the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in 1981. She is married to Jesse B. Moreno, who is also a graduate of Commonwealth College of Sciences.
Rene’ Altheimer
Admissions Specialist, Title IX Coordinator
Rene’ Altheimer
René Altheimer began her funeral service education career with Commonwealth Institute in October, 2012, as a member of the Admissions Team. René came to Commonwealth with over 25 years’ executive administrative experience in the private sector, having worked for a multi-million dollar ethnic hair care company in Arkansas.
René became the Admissions Specialist in 2015. She currently processes new applications, provides detailed information about the two programs we offer, provides admissions counseling, schedules Entrance Exams for incoming students as needed and she proctors Board Certifying exam for graduates, along with various other duties as they relate to the admissions and graduation processes. René also currently serves as Title IV Coordinator for Commonwealth Institute.
Marlene Perry
Financial Aid Advisor
Marlene Perry
Marlene joined Commonwealth Institute after spending over twenty years managing a doctor’s medical practice. Marlene coordinates all financial aid activities and assists students with finding the funding to pursue their careers.
Marlene was born in Cartagena, Colombia, and moved to the United States as a child with her parents and siblings. After finishing high school, Marlene attended Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.
Marlene is married and has four children ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-two. When not at the office helping students, Marlene enjoys the outdoors, is an avid runner, loves to cook, and volunteers at local charities.
David Taylor
Clinical Coordinator
David Taylor
David E. Taylor, Jr. is a 1994 graduate of Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. He served and completed his apprenticeship in 1995, with Huntsville Funeral Home in Huntsville, Texas. He spent 20 years, both in staff and management, serving many families and communities in the states of Texas, Missouri, and New Mexico. He joined Commonwealth Institute in 2014, where he loves teaching and being a mentor to those entering the funeral profession. In his spare time, David enjoys being out on the lake where he is licensed as a boat captain.
David is a member of the Commonwealth Institute Alumni Association, Texas Funeral Directors Association, and Southeast Texas Funeral Directors Association.
Melissa B. Davis
Librarian
Melissa B. Davis
Melissa Brady Davis received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1972. She completed her Master of Library Science degree in 1980 at Sam Houston State University. For 34 years she served an area school district as campus Librarian, Technology Coordinator, and District Library Coordinator. She joined Commonwealth Institute in 2013.
Mrs. Davis is a member of the Texas Library Association, the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, and the Texas Retired Teachers Association. She and her husband are “The Invented Wheel Education Consultants”. In her spare time Mrs. Davis enjoys reading, woodworking, and flying.
Dr. Erika Epps
Instructor
Psy. D. Argosy University
M.A. Argosy University
Jenine D. Fastuca
Instructor
M.L.A. Houston Baptist University
B.S. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Catharine Flanner
Instructor
Ph.D. Capella University
M.C.J. University of Colorado
B.S. Metropolitan University
A.A.S. Arapahoe Community College
Professional Licensure: Texas
Louise Gohmann
Instructor
M.Ed. Concordia University
B.A. Indiana University
Certificate Pittsburgh Institute
Professional Licensure: Indiana
Jane Hemberger
Instructor
M.Ed. Boston College
B.F.A. University of California Berkeley
A.A.S. Commonwealth Institute
Professional Licensure: Texas
Dr. Stephen Henry
Instructor
Ph.D. University of Texas
M.S. University of Texas
B.A. Washington University
Donald Kessler
Instructor
M.S. Texas A & M University
B.S. Wright University
Gustave Milburn, Jr.
Instructor
M.A. University of Texas at San Antonio
B.S. Texas A&M University
Remo Portelli
Instructor
M.S.W. Fordham University
B.A. Upsala College
Certificate of Proficiency, Funeral Directing – St. Louis Community College
Jennafer Schnautz
Instructor
M.S. Texas A & M University
B.S. Rice University
Stephanie Villa
Instructor
B.A. Ashford University
Professional Licensure: Texas