Faculty & Staff

ADMINISTRATION & STAFF

CIFS

CODY L. LOPASKY, CFSP

President & School Director

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 active in funeral service organizations and participates on several committees.

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JAMES W. ROBINSON, CFSP

Dean of Academics

James Robinson holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Houston and an M.S in Management and Leadership from the University of Houston – C.T. Bauer College of Business. He is also an A.A.S. graduate with honors and distinction from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service.

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JESSIKA JENKINS, CFSP

Director of Operations

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 funeral director and embalmer in the state of Texas.

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R. RENÉ ALTHEIMER

Registrar

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.

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SHANNON REGISTER

Distance Education Coordinator

Shannon has owned Houston area businesses for over a decade. She’s written real estate curriculum and taught real estate continuing education classes, which sparked her love for teaching adults.

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MARLENE PERRY

Financial Aid Advisor

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 educational careers.

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DAVID TAYLOR, JR.

Clinical Coordinator

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.

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MELISSA DAVIS

Librarian

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.

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BARBARA GARCIA

Admissions Counselor

Biography coming soon. 

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DONESIA NORMAN

Admissions Counselor

Biography coming soon.

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BRITTANY MOTON

Instructor

Biography coming soon.

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FACULTY

CIFS

DR. TATSIANA AUTUSHKA

Ph.D. Belarusian State University-Minsk
M.S./B.S. Belarusian State University

DR. AMY BAXLEY

Ph.D. Liberty University
M.Ed. Indiana University Bloomington
B.G.S. Indiana University Southwest

ANGELA CARTER

M.A. Indiana Wesleyan University
B.S. Indiana Wesleyan University

DR. JOSEPH CONDE

D.B.A. University of the Incarnate Word
M.B.A. National American University
B.A.S. South Texas College
A.A.S. San Antonio College
Professional Licensure: Texas

MADELEINE CRESPO, CFSP

M.Ed. University of Arizona, B.S. University of Arizona, A.A.S. Institute of Funeral Service, Professional Licensure: Texas

STARR DAVIS

M.F.A. City College of New York
B.A. University of Akron

DR. CATHARINE FLANNER

Ph.D. Capella University, M.C.J. University of Colorado, B.S. Metropolitan State University, A.A.S. Arapahoe Community College, Professional Licensure: Texas

JENNIE FREDRICKSON

M.B.A. Western Governors University
B.S. University of Central Oklahoma
A.A. Butler County Community College
Professional Licensure: Kansas

JERRY GARCIA

B.S.N. University of Texas at Arlington
A.A.S. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service

LOUISE GOHMANN, CFSP

M.Ed. Concordia University, B.A. Indiana University, Diploma, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Professional Licensure: Florida, Indiana, Kentucky

JANE HEMBERGER

M.Ed. Boston College, B.F.A University of California Berkeley, A.A.S. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, Professional Licensure: Texas

DR. STEPHEN HENRY

Ph.D. University of Texas, M.S. University of Texas, B.A. Washington University

CALVIN LEWIS, CFSP

M.I.S. Indiana University, B.A. Indiana University, A.A.S. Mid-America College of Funeral Service, Professional Licensure: Indiana, Kentucky

JEFFERY PERRY

M.A. University of Houston-Clear Lake, B.S. Sam Houston State University

JENNAFER SCHNAUTZ

M.S. Texas A&M University, B.S. Rice University

NICOLE STACKHOUSE

B.S. Miami University, A.A.S. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, Professional Licensure: Texas

MANDY WEAVER

M.S. Angelo State University, B.S. Angelo State University

DR. MICHAEL WICKER

Ed.D. Stephen F. Austin State University, M.I.S. Stephen F. Austin State University, B.A. Stephen F. Austin State University


Request Information

Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service

415 Barren Springs Drive
Houston, Texas 77090

Office Telephone: (281) 873-0262
Toll Free: (800) 628-1580
Fax: (281) 873-5232
Email: [email protected]


Campus Hours

Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Lecture Classes
Mon-Thu 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Mon-Thu 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Mon-Thu 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Mon-Thu 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Mon-Thu 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM

Embalming Labs
Mon-Thu 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Fri – 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The dates and times of laboratory sessions are scheduled at the beginning of each quarter.

2024-2025 CATALOG

Accreditation and Memberships of Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. See Accreditation for more information.