Our Faculty

College of Arts & Media
Faculty

Department of
Communication

Sheila S. Guzmán, M.S.

Chair,
Department of Communication and Department of Visual Arts
University of Southern Mississippi

Degrees Earned

B.S. in English, University of Southern Mississippi

M.S. in Public Relations, University of Southern Mississippi

A.P.R. (Accredited in Public Relations), the Universal Accreditation Board

Biography

Sheila Skipper Guzmán is an accredited public relations professional with 30 years’ experience in the field. Her professional career has given her expertise in strategic communication planning, writing and editing, media relations, design and layout, and website and social media management.

While a public relations career professional, Professor Guzmán also taught public relations and journalism courses as an adjunct faculty member at Christian universities in the Jackson, Mississippi, area.

A love for Jesus and the Christ-centered environment of a Christian college campus are the factors that led Professor Guzmán to change professions at the height of her career. She believes that bringing the Christian faith into the classroom is critical for students to understand how to integrate their faith into the work world.

She teaches public relations courses, Writing for the Mass Media, Introduction to Mass Media, and Fundamentals of Speech.

Email: saguzman@seu.edu

Christopher R. Clark, M.F.A.

Associate Professor of Film Production
Hollins University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in English and Psychology, Taylor University

M.Div, Covenant Theological Seminary

M.F.A. in Screenwriting, Hollins University

Biography

Christopher Clark is experienced in local and national TV production, independent filmmaking, and short and feature-length filmmaking. After receiving his M.F.A. in screenwriting, he taught filmmaking at Bryan College for seven years. Professor Clark successfully developed Bryan College’s first film program by emphasizing story and craft. His program included such film classes as scriptwriting, photography, silent film, European cinema, and documentary filmmaking, producing well-rounded filmmakers. Within the first four years of the program, Professor Clark sent a graduate to the American Film Institute, one of the top film schools in the nation.

At Southeastern University, he teaches Film Appreciation, Narrative Structure in Film, Directing for Film, Documentary Film Production, Film Practicum, Screenwriting, Communication Seminar, and Senior Capstone Development.

Professor Clark continues to write, produce, and direct short films, feature films, and documentaries. His most recent film, “Two Guys Over Lunch,” is in post-production, and he plans to enter it into the film festival circuit.

Professor Clark has spent the past year as a chaplain for an international school in the Dominican Republic. He combines his knowledge of film and ministry experience to leave a lasting impact on students.

Email: crclark@seu.edu

Adrienne S. Garvey, M.S.

Assistant Professor of Broadcasting
Kutztown University

Program Coordinator, Digital Journalism, Broadcasting

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Communication Studies, Evangel University

M.S. in Electronic Media, Kutztown University

Biography

Adrienne Garvey spent 13 years in the television news industry before she started her teaching career. She worked as a reporter, producer, and fill-in anchor at two stations in Missouri, then spent 10 years at WGAL in Lancaster, PA., as a producer and assignment manager. While at WGAL, Garvey produced the governor’s two inaugurations and live shows for four Olympics. She was also part of the team that won a Regional Emmy Award for the coverage of the Amish school shooting in 2006.

Professor Garvey has been teaching for several years, focusing her efforts on courses like Writing for News Media, Broadcast News Writing, Public Speaking, Professional Performance Skills, and Video Production. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA., which she intends to complete in 2021.

Professor Garvey’s research in the field of trauma and journalism has won two first-place awards at the Broadcast Education Association’s national conference. She has presented that research and has served on a number of panels during the BEA Conference over the last few years. She has also served as co-chair for the Radio News Division for the BEA’s Festival of Media Arts. Outside of BEA, Garvey has presented her research at the Southeast Colloquium of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), and she has served as an evaluator for writing and photography for the Assemblies of God’s Fine Arts Festival on the district and national levels.

With the acceptance of her paper, “Are We Teaching Trauma? A Survey of Accredited Journalism Schools in the United States, to Journalism Practice,” written in conjunction with Dr. Gretchen Dworznik of Kent State University, Professor Garvey became a published author in 2018.

Garvey serves as a certified lay chaplain with Christ in Action, a volunteer organization that assists people in crisis.

Email: asgarvey@seu.edu

Bethany R. Miller, M.F.A.

Assistant Professor of Film
Florida State University

Degrees Earned

B.S. in Film Studies, Southeastern University

M.F.A. in Film Production, Florida State University

Biography

Bethany Ruth Miller is an active filmmaker with an adoration for empowering the next generation of Christian filmmakers. She has worked in multiple capacities throughout the film production process on more than 50 short films, as well as five feature-length films.

While earning her Southeastern University film degree, Professor Miller attended the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) program. While there, she was selected as the only female director that semester. She interned at Terri Taylor Casting, aiding with the casting of four feature films as well as assisting in a casting session with director Spike Lee.

At FSU, Professor Miller served as a Graduate Assistant and was elected, by her peers, as the Head of Thesis Casting. Her master thesis film, “Death at Dinner,” as well as her other short film, “Dad in a Box,” are currently being shown in the festival circuit. She is presently in pre-production for her feature-film directorial debut.

Overjoyed to return to her alma mater, Professor Miller is excited to equip her students with the knowledge and skills they need to go out and create society-shaking art for the glory of God. At Southeastern University, she teaches Intro to Film Production, Film Appreciation, Cinematography, Edit for Story, Film Practicum, Screen Acting, Directing for Film, Producing for Film, Senior Capstone Production, and Digital Video Editing, .

Email: brmiller@seu.edu

Paul B. Stewart, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Communication
University of Maryland, College Park

Degrees Earned

B.S. in Speech Education, Greenville University

M.A. in Communication Theory, Wichita State University

Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Public Address, University of Maryland, College Park

Biography

Paul B. Stewart comes to the College of Arts and Media at Southeastern University with a B.S. in Speech Education (Greenville University), an M.A. in Communication Theory (Wichita State University), and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Public Address (University of Maryland, College Park).

Dr. Stewart’s research interests include propaganda, communication ethics, and media ecology – particularly the way in which technological forces totalize our culture and manage and manipulate human experience. Dr. Stewart thinks that Jacques Ellul is the most amazing rhetorical scholar since Augustine and is pleased to know that both scholars were devout Christians!

Dr. Stewart’ students can be expected to read primary source texts (real live books). He believes that reading is the soul of education and that Christians, if they hope to build the Kingdom of God, must be reading people. In fact, “Till We Have Faces,” by C.S. Lewis is one of his top five books (Lewis was most proud of this book – a book that few people have ever read).

Dr. Stewart is married to Ruth, a nurse, and together they have 5 kids (artists, teachers, a communication expert, and one law enforcement officer). In his spare time he likes to compose music, keep bees, and go to yard sales.

Email: pbstewart@seu.edu

ADJUNCT COMMUNICATION FACULTY

JORDAN BRIAND, M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Speech
University of Colorado

Email: jlbriand@seu.edu

Andrew Gash, M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Broadcast/Production
National University

Email: ajgash@seu.edu

Department of
Humanities

Rustin B. Lloyd, Ed.D.

Chair,
Department of Humanities
Southeastern University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in History, Southeastern University

M.A. in History, University of Central Florida

Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, Southeastern University

Biography

Rustin Lloyd has a strong connection to Southeastern University. He spent four years actively involved in student life at Southeastern as he pursued his undergraduate degree. Professor Lloyd completed his M.A. degree at the University of Central Florida, where he concentrated in public history. He recently completed an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University.

At Southeastern University, Dr. Lloyd teaches Western Civilization 17th Century to Present, American History from Discovery to 1877, American History from 1877 to Present, Public History, The United States (1917-1945), American Christianity and Culture since 1945, American Religious History, The Emergence of Modern America, The United States since 1945, The Vietnam Era, and The History of Florida.

While at the University of Central Florida, he worked on numerous public history projects ranging from an exhibit on the civil rights movement to the creation of an online digital repository and exhibit focusing on various Central Florida histories. His M.A. thesis, titled “The Politics of the Righteous,” explored the political activism of conservative evangelicals in Central Florida during the 1970s and 1980s.

After obtaining his master’s degree, Dr. Lloyd became the lead social science instructor at a private secondary academy in Orlando, where he developed and taught courses in philosophy, government, economics, and history.

Dr. Lloyd seeks to diminish the perception that history is just a list of facts. He encourages his students to think deeply about the narrative of humanity and challenges them to establish connections with the past that can make their lives and faith more meaningful.

Dr. Lloyd is proud to be a faculty member at his alma mater. He feels that a private Christian liberal arts education allows for a more holistically developed person and believes that Southeastern University has the opportunity to uniquely foster both faith and intellect without compromise.

Email: rblloyd@seu.edu

Hannah Benefield, M.A.

Instructor of Creative Writing
Southern New Hampshire University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Southeastern University

M.A. in English and Creative Writing, Southern New Hampshire University

Biography

Hannah Benefield is passionate about the transformative process of writing and is committed to preparing students to think deeply and creatively and to apply what they learn practically.

She began teaching for the Department of Humanities as an adjunct in the fall of 2017 and joined the department full-time in July 2018, teaching English Composition, Creative Writing, Advanced Fiction, and Advanced Nonfiction.

Professor Benefield worked as a writing tutor and later trained tutors as the Academic Success Coordinator in ACE, the learning center at Southeastern University. These experiences taught her how to guide students in finding patterns within their writing and to dig into the common issues that students face when developing as writers.

In the classroom, Professor Benefield is dedicated to helping students rewrite the script for their literary identities, showing them the beauty of constructive peer feedback, and connecting their creativity to the real world.

During her graduate studies, Professor Benefield conducted research in the fields of writing and literature, including the publishing industry, fiction and poetry composition, and modern and realist literature. In addition, she completed a 33,500-word novella to satisfy the thesis requirement for her degree. Her short story, “Rumination,” was published in the online literary journal Typishly in 2017 and her short story “Blue Spot” was published in Chaleur Magazine in 2019. Profesor Benefield will finish her Master of Fine Arts in Fiction at University of Tampa in January 2021.

Email: hebenefield@seu.edu

Joshua Britt, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of History
University of South Florida

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Classical Civilizations, University of South Florida

M.A. in Early Modern European History, University of South Florida

Ph.D. in Medieval European History, University of South Florida

Biography

Dr. Joshua Britt joined Southeastern University in 2017 as an online instructor before joining the Department of Humanities as an assistant professor of history in 2020. His research interests center on medieval monasticism and how the radically ascetic practice of religious reclusion, called anchoritism, informed medieval notions of salvation. At the University of South Florida and at SEU, he has taught courses such as the The Medieval West, Historical Analysis, Modern European History, Acquisition of Knowledge, U.S. History to 1877, and World Civilizations. He presents regularly at academic conferences.

Through his teaching, Dr. Britt hopes to convey to his students the sheer delight of engaging with the voices of the past, but also to help them acquire the skills of critical reading, critical thinking, and clear and persuasive writing. By allowing students to craft their own historical narratives based on primary sources and critiqued through group and class discussions, the students in his classes hone skills they will continue to use in whatever profession they choose.

In addition to teaching history, Dr. Britt also serves SEU as the Director of Global Education, overseeing all study abroad programs, and he serves part-time on the staff of Lakeland Vineyard as the pastor of worship ministry.

Email: jebritt@seu.edu

Debra A. Brown, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Degrees Earned

B.S. in Public Relations, University of Florida

M.A. in English, East Carolina University

Ph.D. in Composition & TESOL, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Biography

Debbie Brown’s most cherished possession is her relationship with God and His son, Jesus Christ. She believes Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” to be a beautiful example of ethos, pathos, and logos in action, and frequently includes it in her classroom.

At Southeastern University, she teaches English Composition I, English Composition II, Intro to Literature, and Intro to Humanities.

Professor Brown spent 15 years helping organizations communicate more effectively with their internal and external audiences. She has worked with IBM, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Red Cross, CARE International, and many other national and international organizations. In 1999, Professor Brown opened her own P.R. agency, The P.R. Guru, to help clients build confidence, credibility, and trust through communication. Her clientele has included companies throughout the United States and London.

Eight years ago, Professor Brown brought her excellence in corporate communications to the classroom, where she teaches college students the No. 1 skill all employers want from their employees: the ability to write well. A successful writer herself, she has 38 published articles in consumer and professional publications.

Email: dabrown@seu.edu

Marlon M. Dempster, M.A.

Associate Professor of
Literature & Composition
California State University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in English, Vanguard University

M.A. in English, California State University, Long Beach

Ph.D. Studies, King’s College, University of Aberdeen, Scotland

Biography

Marlon Dempster, who brings a passion for active, student-led education to his classes, has been leading university-level students through the learning process since 1993. Professor Dempster served as an adjunct instructor for Azusa Pacific and Vanguard universities for several years before joining the full-time faculty at Vanguard in 1999.

Professor Dempster’s areas of research are modern Irish and postmodern American literature, James Joyce, metafiction, and post-structural literary theory. At Southeastern, Professor Dempster teaches Composition I & II, Introduction to Literature, World Literature, and British Literature I & II.

His passion in college was literature, and he wants to lead his students to experience and develop a similar passion for intellectual stimulation through literature. In pedagogy, Professor Dempster is committed to active learning theory and strategy, and he designs his classes to induce students to engage with the interpretive process. To him, pure lecture and “content-transfer” are not the best ways to create critical thinkers and competent interpreters.

Professor Dempster has served as a copy editor for “Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies” and assisted in the building of, and supported the continuance of, Vanguard University’s undergraduate journal “Synecdoche.” Currently, he serves as one of two faculty supervisors for “The Oracle” at Southeastern University. Professor Dempster has also been a visiting lecturer in graduate courses at Vanguard University and conducted pastoral lectures in Southern California on postmodernism and the post-modern church.

Email: mmdempster@seu.edu

Annette Graves, Ed.D.

Associate Professor of English
University of West Florida

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Religion, University of Iowa

M.A. in English, University of Iowa

Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, University of West Florida

Biography

As the coordinator of the English and Intercultural Studies (EIS) major, Dr. Annette Graves infuses her classes with a heart for missions and her passion for Jesus Christ. Dr. Graves teaches College Reading and Writing, English Composition I and II, Introduction to Literature, Advanced Grammar, and Advanced Creative Nonfiction.

In 2013, Dr. Graves initiated and co-led the department’s first literary study tour of England––a short-term study abroad option for SEU undergraduates interested in fulfilling general education humanities course requirements with international experiences. Dr. Graves also serves as the faculty sponsor of the Timothy Project, a student organization providing mentoring opportunities for students with a call to missions.

Prior to her position with Southeastern University, Dr. Graves taught English at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa and Centerville, Iowa. She coordinated the TESOL certification program at the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry in Pensacola, Florida, from 2001 to 2005. She taught English as a foreign language (EFL) in Ramallah, Palestine, and Ammon, Jordan, in 2000, and was senior instructor of EFL at the University of West Florida from 2006 to 2009.

Dr. Graves was acting director of the Intensive English Program at UWF in 2009 and director of the Ashland Center for English Studies at Ashland University from 2009 to 2010. She has written several articles on homeschooling for trade magazines and was a supervising teacher for home educators in Iowa from 1993 to 1998.

She is a member of the George MacDonald Literary Society, the National Association for Developmental Education, the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education and TESOL, and the International Association for English Language Professionals.

She and her husband, Andrew, are ordained ministers with Liberty Network (a cell of Church Foundational Network). They maintain membership with Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola while supporting local, student-inspired ministry outreaches, such as Heart of the Father Ministries.

Email: nagraves@seu.edu

Cameron H. McNabb, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English
University of South Florida

Degrees Earned

B.A. in English, University of Maryland

M.A. in English, University of South Florida

Ph.D. in English, University of South Florida

Biography

Dr. Cameron Hunt McNabb joined Southeastern in 2012 after several years of teaching English at the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa. Her academic interests include medieval and early modern drama, disability studies, and pedagogy. She has taught courses such as the History of the English Language, Introduction to Shakespeare, Milton Across the Disciplines, and Medieval Philosophy, Theology, and Literature as well as a variety of Composition and Literature courses.

Dr. McNabb has published widely on medieval and early modern literature, including peer-reviewed articles in Early Theatre and Studies in Philology. She is also the editor for The Medieval Disability Sourcebook, an open-access volume on disability in the Middle Ages. She is an active member of the Medieval and Renaissance Drama Society as well as the Society for the Study of Disability in the Middle Ages, and her work has won numerous awards, including Early Theatre’s Best Interpretive Essay for 2017.

Email: chmcnabb@seu.edu

Scott Morgan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English
St. John’s University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in English, Iona College

M.S. in Secondary Education: English, Queens College, City University of New York

M.A. in English, St. John’s University

Ph.D. in English, St. John’s University

Biography

Scott Morgan has been an educator in Christian schools since 2001. He began teaching in a small Lutheran school in Queens, NY., and he has taught students of all ages and in most subjects during his career. In 2010, Professor Morgan felt that God was leading him to teach writing to college students, and he has been doing so ever since.

Professor Morgan believes in creating a culture of active writing in his classrooms. Students will write independently, collaboratively, analytically, and creatively during each class session. This mixture of techniques has proven to be successful for Scott in helping students enjoy becoming better writers.

At Southeastern University, he teaches English Composition I, English Composition II, Intro to Literature, British Literature I & II, American Literature, and Intro to Shakespeare.

In 2007, Professor Morgan was the Lutheran Schools’ Association Teacher of the Year award winner (Grades 4-8) for the New York Metropolitan Area. He was Warner University’s Professor of the Year in 2016-2017.

Scott and his wife, Kelly, have a daughter, Eloise, and they enjoy visiting the Disney theme parks together.

Email: semorgan@seu.edu

Jason R. Old, M.A.

Associate Professor of Spanish
University of South Florida

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Spanish Literature, North Carolina State University

M.A. in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies, University of South Florida

Biography

Jason Old is an Associate Professor of Latin American Studies and Spanish who specializes in political, cultural, and transnational histories in Latin America. His main areas of expertise are Cuba and Nicaragua.

Since coming to Southeastern University, Jason has expanded the Department of Humanities by adding new courses to the Spanish minor, creating a Latin American and Caribbean Studies minor, and developing and directing two, four-week Spanish language and culture study-abroad programs in Nicaragua and Cuba.

Jason teaches the following courses at Southeastern University: Spanish Grammar (Levels 1-4), Spanish Conversation, Spanish-American Culture and Civilization, Central America, Latin American History, Latin American Literature, Latin American Icons, History of Nicaragua, History of Cuba, American History II (1877 to present), Women and Guerrilla Movements in Latin America, and Latin American Film.

Jason was also the co-founder and executive director of CAN Fútbol Foundation (CANFF) from 2008-2018. CANFF was a sport and development nonprofit organization that used soccer as the vehicle to promote education, community development, and public health in Roatan, Honduras. He is also the founder and CEO of Anthrotourist Travel—a Tampa-based adventure, education, and immersion travel company whose mission is to provide its clients with authentic and immersive travel experiences.

He has been recognized for his work in Latin America, including, among other accolades: receiving the Paul G. and Ernestine G. Hatcher Modern Language Lecture Series from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY (2011); speaking at the Latin American Congress of Thought in Holguin, Cuba (2013); speaking at the University of South Florida, Tampa’s Spanish Fair on multiple occasions; speaking at a forum on Cuba hosted by the University of South Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (2017); and presenting his research on surf transnationalism at the Global Wave Conference at Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, Australia (2020).

He has authored the following books: “Cuba: Behind the Embargo (2^nd ed.),” 2015 and “Anthrotourist: An Improvised Journey through Latin America (2^nd ed),” 2011.

Jason is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in history at the University of South Florida. His working dissertation is titled: “Transnational Surfistas: A transnational surf history of the development of Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast.”

Email: jrold@seu.edu

ADJUNCT HUMANTIES FACULTY

Linda Combee, M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Sign Language
University of North Florida

Email: lmcombee@seu.edu

Marissa Pope-Beck, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of German
University of South Florida

Email: mepopebeck@seu.edu

Alan Snyder, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of History
American University

Email: kasnyder@seu.edu

Angela Yopp, M.A.
Adjunct Professor of English
University of Nebraska

Email: alyopp@seu.edu

Department of
Music

Edward Bryant, M.M.

Chair,
Associate Professor of Music (Voice)

New England Conservatory of Music

Degrees Earned

B.M. in Vocal Performance, Gordon College

M.M. in Vocal Performance (Concentration in Opera), New England Conservatory of Music

Biography

Currently the Chair for the Department of Music at Southeastern University, Edward Bryant majored in drama (acting option) at Carnegie-Mellon University before transferring to Gordon College, where he graduated with a degree in vocal performance. While at Carnegie-Mellon, Professor Bryant also performed for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera summer stock company.

As a graduate student at the New England Conservatory of Music, he performed several leading tenor roles with the New England / Boston Conservatory opera theatre under the direction of John Moriarty. In Boston, Professor Bryant also served as the tenor section leader and tenor soloist at Historic Park Street Church on the Boston Commons. He has been a member of the Walt Disney World Voices of Liberty, toured with the Mantovani Orchestra, apprenticed with the Orlando Opera, and was a resident artist for several years with the Central Florida Lyric Opera.

Currently a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Professor Bryant teaches voice lessons, vocal pedagogy, and vocal diction. In addition, he is the music department artistic and stage director at SEU and has directed several operas, including “Le nozze di Figaro,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Die Fledermaus.”

Email: ebryant@seu.edu

Mark A. Belfast Jr., Ph.D.

Assistant Dean,
Associate Professor of Music Education
Florida State University

Degrees Earned

B.M.E. in Music Education, Auburn University

M.Ed. in Music Education, Auburn University

Ph.D. in Music Education, Florida State University

Biography

Dr. Mark A. Belfast, Jr. is an associate professor of music education at Southeastern University. He serves as Assistant Dean of the College of Arts & Media, coordinates the music education degree program, teaches music education courses, supervises student teachers and directs instrumental ensembles. Dr. Belfast holds a PhD in music education from Florida State University, where he continues to serve as an assistant director of the FSU Summer Music Camps. Dr. Belfast earned the degrees of Master of Education in music education and Bachelor of Music Education from Auburn University. While at Auburn, he performed with and served as business manager for the Auburn Knights Orchestra, an 18-piece big band established in 1930.

Dr. Belfast’s teaching experience includes undergraduate and graduate music education courses, as well as directing public school instrumental music programs in Alabama and Georgia. His research interests include teacher effectiveness, music teacher curriculum and training, jazz pedagogy and performance, and music for special populations. Dr. Belfast has presented research and educational clinics in regional, national, and international venues, including the NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference, NAfME Biennial Northwest Division Conference, Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education, Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference, and the Special Music Education and Music Therapy Pre-Conference Seminar for the International Society for Music Education World Conference. The results of his research have appeared in the Florida Music Director, The Journal of the Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education, the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, and the NBA Journal. In addition to his roles as a researcher and educator, Dr. Belfast serves as the National Association for Music Education Collegiate Advisor for the state of Florida and maintains an active agenda as a speaker, clinician and adjudicator.

Email: mabelfast@seu.edu

Annabelle M. Gardiner, M.M.

Assistant Chair,
Associate Professor of Violin
Eastman School of Music

Degrees Earned

B.M. in Violin Performance, Eastman School of Music

M.M. in Performance and Literature, Eastman School of Music

Biography

Annabelle Gardiner, a member of the Spiritus faculty piano trio, teaches violin, string techniques, chamber music, chamber orchestra, and music theory at Southeastern University.

While earning her degrees at Eastman School of Music, she studied violin with Zvi Zeitlin and Oleh Krysa, and chamber music with members of the Cleveland Quartet.

Professor Gardiner has been performing with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra since 2006 and was appointed as Assistant Concertmaster in August 2010. In September of 2017, she began her post as Associate Concertmaster.

She is a former member of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. A regular substitute violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, she has worked with internationally renowned conductors such as James DePreist, Sir Neville Marriner, Leonard Slatkin, and John Williams. Abroad, Professor Gardiner has performed with her husband, Ronald Gardiner, in the Philippines, Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany, and China.

As a chamber musician, Professor Gardiner performs with the Kozmik String Quartet and the Bella Musica Ensemble. In addition to her orchestral career, she has extensive performing experience ranging from Broadway musicals and pop/rock concerts to 20th century music. She has appeared in concerts with orchestral backup for the likes of Idina Menzel, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Carrie Underwood, and Rascal Flatts. She has also been a member of several recording projects for Busch Gardens, Disney, and Hal Leonard Music Publishers.

Professor Gardiner also performs as Associate Concertmaster with Opera Tampa, Concertmaster of the Bach Festival of Central Florida, and as a Disney musician. At Disney, she performs with the Candlelight Orchestra at Epcot, and at Hollywood Studios, she was a member of the orchestra for the Music of “Pixar Live! A Symphony of Characters.”

During the summers, Professor Gardiner teaches and performs at the Masterworks Festival, where she directs the String Intensive Studies Program.

Email: amgardiner@seu.edu

Daniel A. Gordon, Ph.D.

Professor of Choral Music Education
Florida State University

Degrees Earned

B.M.Ed. in Music Education, State University of New York, College at Fredonia

M.M. in Music Education, Florida State University

Ph.D. in Music Education, Florida State University

Biography

As a career educator for the past 40 years, Dr. Daniel Gordon has helped spread the joy of music to schools, communities, and churches across America.

After teaching for 15 years in the public schools of New York and Florida, he served as choral director and chair of music education at The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, and director of vocal studies at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. Dr. Gordon also spent three seasons as musical director of the Ottawa Choral Society, where he collaborated with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the direction of Pinchas Zukerman.

In addition to overseeing the choral education program at Southeastern University and teaching, Dr. Gordon is also the director of fine arts ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, where he works with choirs of all ages. He believes that, with God’s help, Southeastern is developing one of the most dynamic music programs in America.

Dr. Gordon’s research and performance interests are the teaching of music in urban schools, involvement with secondary schools’ choirs, and different aspects of church music and traditional worship.

Email: dagordon@seu.edu

Charles J. Hulin, D.M.A.

Associate Professor of Music
Peabody Institute of
The Johns Hopkins University

Degrees Earned

B.M. in Piano Performance, Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

M.M. in Piano Performance, The Juilliard School of Music

D.M.A. in Piano Performance, Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

Biography

A prize-winner in the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and a recipient of special recognition for collaborative work in the Liszt-Garrison International Piano Competition, Dr. Hulin studied with Yoheved Kaplinsky at Juilliard and Ellen Mack at Peabody while participating in the masterclasses of Leon Fleisher. Before moving to Florida in 2010, he performed extensively in the Mid-Atlantic states frequently appearing with members of the United States Naval Academy Band and as a soloist for performances of the Richmond Ballet. He has participated in a wide range of festivals including the Third Practice Festival of electro-acoustic music, the University of Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium, and the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.

At Peabody, Dr. Hulin also studied composition with Thomas Benjamin and has since produced works in a variety of genres including a series of pieces for student orchestra, hymn-inspired concert works, and collaborations with visual artists. His recent endeavors include “Pilgrimage of Practice,” a faith-integrating class piano curriculum currently in use at Southeastern.

Dr. Hulin’s academic appointments have included lecturer in piano at the College of William and Mary, visiting assistant professor at the University of Richmond, and assistant professor of Music at Chowan University. At Richmond, Dr. Hulin taught new courses in the music of the United States, and he introduced world music to the curriculum at Chowan in addition to developing an interdisciplinary course titled Music and Revolution. He has presented research regarding the music of Franz Liszt for the College Music Society and numerous lecture-recitals on the practice of parlor music in the Antebellum South for museums and historical societies, particularly in his home state of North Carolina.

At Southeastern, Dr. Hulin teaches piano and music theory. In the summers, he coordinates the Lasker Summer Music Festival, an organization that supports Christian musicians in the integration of their artistic work and faith. His recording, “Be Thou My Vision,” is available through the CD Baby Music Store.

Email: cjhulin@seu.edu

Dunwoody Mirvil, D.M.

Assistant Professor of Music
(Low Brass)
Florida State University

Degrees Earned

B.S. in Music Education, Florida A&M University

M.M. in Brass Performance, Florida State University

D.M. in Brass Performance, Florida State University

Biography

With an innate love for the arts, passion to perform, and drive to teach others, Dunwoody Mirvil is a world-traveled and well-versed trombonist from Miami, FL. For more than 20 years, he has honed his skills as an instrumentalist and educator, performing with various ensembles and sharing his knowledge of the trombone with musicians of all skill levels.

An active performer, Professor Mirvil is currently the second trombonist of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he performs regularly with multiple ensembles throughout North Florida and South Georgia, including the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, and the Big Bend Orchestra. He has also been featured with the Tallahassee Winds, with which he was privileged to perform as a guest soloist several times. Recently, he performed as a featured soloist with the MCoE Army Brass Band of Ft. Benning, GA.

In addition to his regular appearances, he can be found performing on stage with the cabaret cover band, Tallahassee Nights Live. Through this experience, he has been able to showcase his range, playing music across a variety of genres that include jazz, R&B, gospel, and funk. Additionally, he had the unique opportunity to tour the U.S. and Japan as a cast member in the stage production, “Drumline Live,” an experience that allowed him to showcase his talents as a dynamic soloist for audiences in Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles, among others.

Currently, he instructs Southeastern University students in trombone, euphonium, and tuba. Prior to that, he was a doctoral teaching assistant in the Florida State University Trombone Studio, where he taught undergraduate trombonists, coached various brass ensembles, and served as a liaison between the professor and students. In 2016, he presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL., and has been a featured presenter over the past two years at the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa, FL.

Professor Mirvil is an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association, and a member of the International Trombone Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity of America and more.

Email: dmirvil@seu.edu

Martin Reynolds, D.M.A.

Director of Bands and Orchestra, Professor of Music
University of Arizona

Degrees Earned

B.M.E. in Music Education, University of Central Arkansas

M.M. in Trombone Performance, University of Maryland

D.M.A. in Conducting, University of Arizona

Biography

A versatile performer and music educator, Dr. Reynolds has substantial experience in the classroom and on the performance stage. On the stage, his work as a conductor and low brass performer highlights his strong collaborative practices and thoughtful musical intent. In the classroom, Dr. Reynolds challenges his students with vigorous subject matter, relevant content application, and supportive mentorship.

Dr. Reynolds begins an appointment as Director of Bands and Orchestra at Southeastern University in the fall of 2020. His previous experiences in higher education include positions as Director of Bands at Southeast Missouri State University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Dr. Reynolds has also served as Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Arkansas and Associate Director of Bands at New Mexico State University. His performing ensembles have appeared at the Las Vegas Bowl, the Tazon Aztec Bowl in Mexico City, as guest entertainment for the Denver Broncos (NFL), meetings of the Arkansas Music Educators Association and the Missouri Music Educators Association, and the National Meeting of the American School Band Directors Association.

Dr. Reynolds has ten years experience in public school education. At Kelly Middle School in the Springdale (AR) Public Schools District, he taught beginner instrumentalists and supervised a program of 200+ band students. In 2010, he was selected the Kelly Middle School Teacher of the Year. His secondary school teaching experience also includes positions as Director of Bands/Coordinator of Instrumental Music for the Alma (AR) Public Schools, Director of Bands/Fine Arts Coordinator for the Warren (AR) Public Schools, and Associate Director of Bands at Springdale (AR) Senior High School.

Through his professional association with Radio City Music Hall Productions and Walt Disney Entertainment, Dr. Reynolds has served as Assistant Conductor for the “We the People” Fanfare Unit (CBS TV), the Opening Ceremonies of the International Summer Special Olympics (ABC TV), and the All-American College Symphony Orchestra at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center. He has also performed as bass trombonist in the Disney World All-American College Band.

Dr. Reynolds has served as a clinician and adjudicator in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington, D.C. He continues to be in demand as a conductor and adjudicator for all types of instrumental music events and also performs as a member of the group, the Water Street Brassworks.

Email: mcreynolds@seu.edu

Greg Satterthwaite, D.M.A.

Assistant Professor of Music
University of North Texas

Degrees Earned

B.M. in Jazz Piano, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

M.A. in Commercial Music, Florida Atlantic University

D.M.A. in Jazz Studies, University of North Texas

Biography

Dr. Greg Satterthwaite is the director of music business, church music, and music technology programs, and an assistant professor at Southeastern University. He is passionate about all aspects of the field of music, from the creative process to the completed contract. Dr. Satterthwaite has written and produced an album entitled “Who I Am,” which is available on Pandora, iTunes, and Spotify. He was a John Lennon Songwriting Contest Finalist for his original song “I Praise.” He enjoys the collaborative process and is always excited for the opportunity to create, perform, and record new music.

Dr. Satterthwaite has extensive experience as a performer. He served as the music director for Christ Fellowship Church in South Florida for over 12 years. As an experienced professional, he is comfortable in many musical settings ranging from solo piano to big-band jazz ensembles. Dr. Satterthwaite has performed at festivals including the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, SunFest, as well as at universities, concert halls, and clinics around the country.

As a doctoral teaching fellow in the jazz department at the University of North Texas, Dr. Satterthwaite was the instructor for several courses including Understanding Jazz in US and World Cultures, Jazz Piano Fundamentals, as well as conducting private piano lessons. Passionate about service and the arts community, Dr. Satterthwaite has also served as a music expert panelist for the Artist Innovation Fellowship, a grant program administered by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

Email: gosatterthwaite@seu.edu

Tyson Voigt, D.M.A.

Assistant Professor of Percussion
Frost School of Music,
University of Miami

Degrees Earned

B.M.E. in Music Education, Baylor University

M.M. in Percussion Performance, Baylor University

D.M.A in Percussion Performance, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

Biography

Dr. Tyson Voigt is an avid orchestral, chamber, and contemporary percussionist whose performances range from the latest avant-garde to early music classics. His performances frequently include cross-genre and interdisciplinary collaborations, spanning coast-to-coast and beyond. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Southeastern University.

His current engagements include orchestras (Midland/Odessa Symphony and Chorale, Big Spring Symphony Orchestra), musical theater companies (Basin Theater Works, Midland Pickwick Players), jazz and commercial music (Current Nine, Erica Lane, Basin Brass Band), and chamber music (Resound Duo). Past engagements include The Orchestra Now, Sebastians Period Ensemble, Seraphic Fire, Unbound Improv Ensemble, Florida Grand Opera, West Palm Beach Symphony, and Miami Symphony.

Dr. Voigt’s love for chamber music is fueled by contemporary music advocacy and a desire for social dialogue. A prime example is the soprano/percussion Resound Duo, with Dr. Jennifer Voigt, soprano. The duo is devoted to commissioning new works addressing social topics through dramatic performance. They have had thirteen commissions thus far, the most recent being Scott McAllister’s “Little Jagged Jesus,” exploring the inner spiritual struggle of a cancer patient.

Dr. Voigt has worked with several composers of musical renown, such as Pulitzer Prize-winners David Lang and Steve Reich, as well as Alejandro Viñao, Scott McAllister, Paul Dooley, and Charles Mason. He has performed and studied with many of today’s top percussionists including Steve Schick, Meehan/Perkins Duo, Svet Stoyanov, So Percussion (quartet), Michael Burritt, Matthew Strauss, Tom Freer, and others.

In addition to performing and teaching, he enjoys spending time at home with his wife and two children.

Email: tjvoigt@seu.edu

Young-Ah Tak, D.M.A.

Artist in Residence
Peabody Institute of
The Johns Hopkins University

Degrees Earned

B.M. in Piano Performance, the Juilliard School

M.M. and Graduate Diploma in Piano Performance, New England Conservatory of Music

D.M.A. in Piano Performance, Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

Biography

Praised for her “thrilling blend of fury and finesse” (San Antonio Express-News) and her “winning combination of passion, imagination, and integrity” (New York Concert Review), pianist Young-Ah Tak enjoys a remarkable career that has taken her throughout the United States, Canada, Austria, Germany, Italy, Korea, and Japan.

Dr. Tak made her New York City debut at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ Alice Tully Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra. She has since appeared in the United States with the Roanoke, Lansing, Imperial, Venice, North Arkansas, NEC, and Crane symphony orchestras. She has appeared abroad with Filharmonia Pomorska (Poland), Oltenia Philharmonic (Romania) and, in Korea, with the Seongnam, Busan, Ulsan, KNN philharmonic orchestras, and the Korean Symphony Orchestra. And she has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater in Philadelphia and the Seoul Arts Center, Jordan Hall in Boston, among others.

She has also appeared at major concert halls and international music festivals in her native Korea, including those of Busan, Seoul, and Tongyeong.

Active as a chamber musician, Young-Ah Tak has collaborated with violinist Robert Mann, cellist Bonnie Hampton, the Ma’alot Quintet, and members of the Florestan Trio. She is also a passionate advocate of contemporary music and has performed at Sequenza 21 and at the Piano Century concert series in New York City. Young-Ah Tak has been awarded top prizes in numerous international competitions, including the San Antonio International Piano Competition (also receiving the “Best Performance of a Classical Work” award).

Dr. Tak was a faculty member at the Preparatory Division of the Peabody Institute, Eastern University, and served as a Founder/Artistic Director of the Eastern University Piano Festival. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of piano at the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam, and is an Artist-in-Residence at Southeastern University.

Dr. Tak’s debut recording of Judith Zaimont’s “Wizards––Three Magic Masters” was released by Albany Records to critical acclaim. Her solo album––performances of compositions by Haydn, Schumann, Liszt, and Kirchner––is available on MSR Classics. Most recently, she has been invited to record for the Steinway’s Spirio catalogue, becoming a Spirio Recording Artist. Dr. Tak is a Steinway Artist. [www.youngahtak.com]

Email: ytak@seu.edu

ADJUNCT MUSIC FACULTY

Aric Brian, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Trumpet
University of South Florida

Email: ajbrian@seu.edu

Charles Beutel, M.M.E.
Adjunct Professor of Bassoon
Florida State University

Email: beutelce@aol.com

Shudong Braamse, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Voice
Michigan State University

Email: slbraamse@seu.edu

Dionne Chandler, D.M.
Adjunct Professor of Oboe
Florida State University

Email: adchandler@seu.edu

Ronald Gardiner, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Cello
Eastman School of Music

Email: rkgardiner@seu.edu

Gretchen Geist, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Voice
University of South Florida

Email: mggeist@seu.edu

Victoria Keller, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Piano
University of South Florida

Email: vrkeller@seu.edu

Steve Luciano
Adjunct Professor of Commercial Guitar

Email: smluciano@seu.edu

Stacey McColley, M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Clarinet
University of California at San Diego

Email: swmccolley@seu.edu

Mark Neuenschwander, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of
Bass Guitar
Butler University

Email: mlneuenschwander@seu.edu

Robert Phillips, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Classical Guitar
University of Miami

Email: rmphillips@seu.edu

Marissa Pope-Beck, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Voice
University of South Florida

Email: mepopebeck@seu.edu

Richard Sparrow, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Horn
University of South Florida

Email: rpsparrow@seu.edu

Jennifer Voigt, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Voice
University of Miami

Email: coming soon

Katherine Weintraub, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Saxophone
Eastman School of Music

Email: kmweintraub@seu.edu

Claudia White, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Flute
Northwestern University

Email: cewhite@seu.edu

Department of
Visual Arts

Thomas W. Weil, M.F.A.

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design/Visual Arts
Academy of Art University

Degrees Earned

A.A. in Photography and Art, Ventura College

B.F.A. in Fine Art Painting, Photography and Printmaking, Columbus College of Art & Design

M.F.A. in Fine Art Painting, Graphic Design, Academy of Art University

Biography

Thomas Weil began studying art at Columbus Art School’s Saturday youth class, then continued his pursuit throughout elementary and high school. After high school, he entered the Marine Corps, spending six months aboard ship in the Mediterranean Sea.

Professor Weil attended Ventura College after leaving active duty and was a member of Xi Gamma Iota (Ex G.I.). After graduating from art school in Ohio, he worked a variety of jobs in the graphic arts industry prior to the digital revolution. As computer technology entered the industry, he obtained on-the-job knowledge by experimentation and sharing. Professor Weil joined the Army Reserve and worked as an illustrator in a Psyops (Psychological Operations) unit, where he designed propaganda leaflets in anticipation of the Cold War possibly escalating in Europe.

After moving to New York, then Florida, Professor Weil continued reserve duty in the Army National Guard as an infantryman. He trained in the Panama Canal Zone and Jungle School, but considers Hurricane Andrew Relief the most important experience of his military service. Military training included instructional schools and leadership academies with non-commissioned officer promotions from E-4 corporal to E-8 company first sergeant.

After years of professional experience in the field, Professor Weil turned his attention to acquiring a professorial role. He was able to turn his industry experience and leadership training into a fulfilling vocation teaching art and computer graphics on the collegiate level. He earned his master’s degree with a concentration in painting and graphic design through the Academy of Art University.

Currently, Professor Weil pursues painting and researching the history of technology as it relates to the visual arts. At Southeastern University, he teaches 2-D Design, Color Theory, Digital Layout & Design, Typography, Senior Capstone, Photography, Magazine Design & Production, Web Page Design, Advanced Digital Imaging, Advertising Design, and Advanced Illustration.

Email: twweil@seu.edu

Saied Farisi, M.F.A.

Associate Professor of Graphic Design/Visual Arts
California State University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in English Language and Linguistics, Tabriz Azad University, Iran

B.F.A. in Design, University of Utah

M.F.A. in Design, California State University of Fullerton

Biography

After getting his bachelor’s degree, Saied Farisi immigrated to the United States to continue his education, translating and publishing numerous books and articles.

He received his B.F.A. in Design, then moved to California and worked in various design and entertainment firms in Los Angeles and Orange County while in graduate school at California State University of Fullerton. During his graduate studies, Professor Farisi began teaching as an adjunct faculty member at California State Fullerton University and Cal Poly Pomona. After receiving his M.F.A., he taught as an Assistant Professor at Cal Poly Pomona and then at San Diego State University before joining the faculty of Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates and Chapman University in California. In addition, he was accepted into a Ph.D. program at the Ozyegin University in Turkey.

Professor Farisi’s primary research interests complement each other. Recently, he has been researching a more effective and objective pedagogical methodology for creative fields, using language and linguistics as a base. His other research interests are Motion Design, Ux/Ui, App and 3D design, and constantly training himself in the most current technology.
He has done a comparative analysis of Latin and Persian/Arabic typography and typeface design, and is a practitioner “Tazhib,” a form of Islamic art, designing Persian rugs.

Finally, working as a freelance designer, he maintains his connections with the design industry, learning the most current trends. This benefits his students at Southeastern, where he teaches Fundamentals of Digital Design, Intro to Web Design & Development, Magazine Design & Production, Digital Layout & Design, Web Page Design, Advanced Digital Imaging, Advertising Design, Advanced Illustration, and Senior Capstone. Currently, he is pursuing an Ed.D. in Higher Education at Southeastern University.

Email: sfarisi@seu.edu

ADJUNCT VISUAL ARTS FACULTY

Gabriel Fennmore, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Art
Ohio State University

Email: gmfennmoreanderson@seu.edu

Scott Wheeler, B.S.
Adjunct Professor of Photography/Photojournalism
University of Florida

Email: sawheeler@seu.edu

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Young-Ah Tak, D.M.A.

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