Dr. Gabriel Barreneche, provost and vice president for academic affairs, recently announced new full-time and part-time faculty members for the 2025-2026 academic year, plus notable academic position changes.
Faculty promotions
Dr. Sarah Terry promoted to Professor of English
Dr. Iona Wynter-Parks promoted to Associate Professor of French
Dr. Gregory Gabriel promoted to Senior Lecturer of Chemistry
Dr. Christine McCulloch promoted to Senior Lecturer of Core Studies
Division Chairs
Division I – Dr. Kate Keib
Division II – Dr. Glenn Sharfman
Division III – Dr. Mariel Meier
Division IV – Dr. Lisa Hayes
Division V – Dr. Jeremy Bennett, Business Department Chair; Dr. Cassandra Copeland, Economics Department Chair
Division VII – Dr. Sarah Terry (Fall 2025); Dr. Nick Bujak (Spring 2026)
Division VIII – Dr. Mario Chandler
Division IX – Dr. Brian Patterson (Fall 2025); Dr. Lynn Gieger (Spring 2026)
Core Director – Dr. Judith Levy
Rank/Title changes
Dr. Dylan Collette – Lecturer and Lab Coordinator, Physics
Dr. Zack Deckner – Lecturer, Biology
Dr. Maura Dudley – Lecturer, Biology & Ecology
Dr. Carley Haulk – Lecturer and Lab Coordinator, Chemistry
Mr. Nicholas Karimi – Instructor, Mathematics
Dr. Kimberly Watkins ’01 – Visiting Assistant Professor, Psychology
New 2025-26 Full-time faculty
Dr. Joanmarie Bañez – Assistant Professor, English (Division VII)
B.A., English, Georgia State University
M.A., English, Georgia State University
Ph.D., Literature, UC San Diego
Dr. Cassandra E. Burney – Assistant Professor, Accounting (Division V/Hammack School of Business)
B.S., Accounting, Shaw University
M.Acc., North Carolina State University
D.B.A., University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Dr. Nico Gutierrez – Visiting Assistant Professor, Music (Division I)
B.Mus., Music Theory and Composition, Texas Christian University
M.F.A., Music Composition for the Screen, Columbia College Chicago,
Doctor of Music, Music Theory & Composition, Florida State University
Dr. Emma Lynn – Assistant Professor, Communication, Film, and Media Studies (Division I)
B.A., Media Arts, Brigham Young University
M.A., Popular Culture Studies, Bowling Green State University
Ph.D., Communication Studies, Colorado State University
Dr. Nourhan (Nour) Mansour – Instructor, Chemistry (Division III)
B.S., Chemistry, The American University in Cairo
M.S., Chemistry Education
Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, Georgia State University
Dr. Andrew Schmidt – Assistant Professor, Music (Division I)
B.M.E., Music Education Secondary Choral Emphasis, Northwestern University
M.Mus., Choral Conducting, University of Washington
Ph.D., Teaching and Learning, Music Education, Georgia State University
Dr. Micaela Wood – Assistant Professor, Economics (Division V/Hammack School of Business)
B.B.A., Economics, Valdosta State University
M.S., Economics, Ph.D., Economics, University of Oregon
New 2025-26 Part-time faculty
Ms. Natalie Beckenbaugh – Adjunct Instructor, Music / Affiliate Artist in Oboe (Division I)
B.Mus., University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music
M.Mus., Carnegie Mellon University
Mr. Ryan Black – Adjunct Instructor, Music / Affiliate Artist in Brass (Division I)
B.Mus., Florida State University
M.Mus., University of Alabama
Mr. John-Thomas (JT) Burson – Adjunct Instructor, Music / Affiliate Artist in Brass (Division I)
B.Mus., Music Performance, Kennesaw State University
M.Mus., Music Performance, Stony Brook University
Ms. April Carswell – Adjunct Instructor, Theatre (Division VII)
B.A., German Studies, Furman University
M.F.A., Costume Design & Technology, University of South Carolina
Ms. Carolyn Cook – Adjunct Instructor, Theatre (Division VII)
B.A., French, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College
Ms. Rebekah Cordeiro – Adjunct Instructor, Chemistry (Division III)
B.A., Chemistry, Emory University
M.A.T., Chemistry, Kennesaw State University
M.S., Chemistry, California State University Los Angeles
Dr. Josip Derado – Adjunct Instructor, Mathematics (Division IX)
B.S., Mathematics, University of Zagreb – Zagreb, Croatia
M.S., Applied Statistics, Kennesaw State University
Ph.D., Mathematics, University of Connecticut
Dr. Sean Dolan – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.A., Anthropology, American University in Cairo
B.A., Philosophy, St. Cloud State University
M.A., Anthropology; M.A., Philosophy, Northern Illinois University
Ph.D., Anthropology, Emory University
Dr. Maxine Donnelly – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.A., English Literature, Berry College
Ph.D., English Literature, University of Florida
Dr. Thomas Jared Farmer – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
Bachelor of Philosophy, University of Illinois
Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), Master of Theology (Th.M.), Emory University
M.A., Philosophy, M.A., Religion, Claremont Graduate University
Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Munster – Germany
Mr. Andres Gonzalez Socorro – Adjunct Instructor, Chemistry (Division III)
B.S., Chemistry, University of Florida
Ph.D. (in progress), Chemistry, Emory University
Mr. Justin Han – Adjunct Instructor, Music / Affiliate Artist in Piano (Division I)
B.Mus., Music Education; B.S., Biology, University of Georgia
M.Mus., Choral Conducting and Piano Performance; M.S., Medical Sciences in Biology, Georgia State University
Ms. Lisa M. Hunter – Adjunct Instructor, Business (Division V/Hammack School of Business)
B.A., English/Women’s Studies, Holy Cross College
M.S., Marketing/Innovation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Ms. Joan McElroy – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.F.A., Theatre, University of Montevallo
M.Ed., Mercer University
Dr. Grant (Vy) Nunn – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.A., Physics, Hendrix College
Ph.D., Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Ms. Rachael Orbeta – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.A., English, Florida International University
Ph.D. (ABD), Comparative Literature, Emory University
Dr. R. Barton Palmer – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.A., English and History, Dartmouth College
B.A., Honors English Language, Durham University
M. Phil., Medieval Studies (French, German, English), Yale University
Ph.D., Medieval Studies, Yale University
M.A., Ph.D., Cinema Studies, New York University
Ms. Michele Peters – Adjunct Instructor, Business (Division V/Hammack School of Business)
B.S., Marketing, Southern Illinois University
M.B.A., Marketing, University of Phoenix
Dr. Kristin Stultz Pressley – Adjunct Instructor, Theatre (Division VII)
B.A., Drama & English, Furman University
M.A., Theatre, University of Kentucky
Ph.D., Theatre & Film Studies, University of Georgia
Mr. Modou Lamin Sanyang –Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.S., Mathematics, The University of the Gambia
M.S., Mathematics and Statistics, Georgia State University
Taryn Spires ’17 – Adjunct Instructor, Core Studies
B.A., Theatre Studies, Oglethorpe University
M.F.A., Dramatic Media, The University of Georgia
Dr. Alexandra Toll – Adjunct Instructor, Business (Division V/Hammack School of Business)
B.A., International Relations & Economics, M.A., Economics, University of Southern California
M.B.A., Florida International University
Ph.D., Management & Organizations, University of California, Irvine
