Science Faculty

Department Chair
Robert Rhoda

Dr. Rhoda retired from practice in 2001 to pursue a career in teaching. During his first year, he taught Physical Science and Integrated Physics and Chemistry. In 2003, he moved to General Biology and was appointed Chairman of the Science Department at the end of the 2003-2004 academic year. He was certified as a composite science teacher in 2004. Dr. Rhoda earned a BBA from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York in 1964. After working for Price Waterhouse & Co in New York City for two years, he joined the U.S. Army, becoming a helicopter pilot in 1967. He served two years as a medical evacuation pilot in Vietnam. He also trained and served as a test pilot during his active duty military career. Following Vietnam, he completed his pre-medical studies at the University of Buffalo, New York. He attended The National College of Chiropractic in Chicago, Illinois, earning B.S. in Human Biology and a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine. He continued his military career in the U.S. Army Reserve, holding command and staff positions, including Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel for the 30th Hospital Center and Reserve Brigade Commander at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Rhoda retired from the military in 1966 with the rank of Colonel. He practiced chiropractic for more than 20 years, including serving as Director of Clinics for Parker College of Chiropractic in Irving, TX. At Parker College he was responsible for training over 300 interns per year and managing a college clinic system seeing about 1500 patients per week in the Greater Dallas area. Dr. Rhoda left Parker College to come to the Rio Grande Valley where he worked as Chief of Staff for Wipf Chiropractic Clinics. He managed the clinical operations and was instrumental in the growth of the clinic group from two to seven

Darrell Nimerick

Darrell Nimerick graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas Pan American with degrees in biology and chemistry. Mr. Nimerick teaches Chemistry, Chemistry (Honors), and Biology. He has been teaching since 1989 and first came to Marine Military Academy in 1991. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas Pan American with degrees in Biology and Chemistry. In addition, Mr. Nimerick has also taught Physical Science and Earth Science for the Academy. Mr. Nimerick is both a father and a grandfather, and his family has a long history of farming and ranching in the Rio Grande Valley. His interests include local flora and fauna. Hobbies include primitive hunting which involves the making and using of primitive bows and arrows. Other hobbies include archaeology, flint knapping, plant collecting, fishing, and kayaking.

David Allen

Mr. Allen teaches both General Biology and Honors Biology. He received his B.S. in Biology from Texas A&M in 1980. He worked for five years at the Laguna Madre Shrimp Farm in Bayview, TX as a hatchery biologist before taking his first teaching position at the San Benito High School in 1988. Mr. Allen has taught at MMA since 1996 and has taught both chemistry and biology for the academy. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, shooting and playing with his six children.

Kevin Coleman

Mr. Coleman teaches Physics I and A.P. Physics for the Marine Military Academy. His undergraduate work was completed at the University of South Florida and UT-Pan American, graduating Cum Laude from UT Pan-American with degrees in physics and mathematics. Mr. Coleman earned his master's degree in Physics from New Mexico State University. Mr. Coleman's undergraduate research was published in Physical Review. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow for 2 years working with middle and high school teachers in Las Cruces N.M. strengthening their content knowledge and exploring ways to better present science concepts to potential young scientists. Mr. Coleman has taught undergraduate level courses in physics and mathematics at New Mexico State as well as junior colleges the Las Cruces area before coming aboard at the Marine Military Academy. In his free time he enjoys sports, playing chess, spending time with his grandchildren and continuing doing independent research.

Kathleen Charey

Kathleen Charey teaches Chemistry I and Advanced Placement Chemistry. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Sam Houston State University in 1992. Ms. Charey began teaching as an Assistant Instructor for laboratory sciences at SHSU, and during this time completed her Master’s degree in cell biology. After graduate school she began a career as a Research Associate in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Texas. The teaching field called her back, however, and Ms. Charey returned to the classroom in 1997 at MMA. She completed her education coursework at the University of Texas, and in 2001earned certification in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. Ms. Charey has special interests in microbiology, rock collecting and geology, and is a member of the American Chemical Society. During the summer she enjoys working with MMA’s summer camp as an ESL instructor.