Our Faculty

College of Arts & Media
Faculty

Department of
Communication

Sheila S. Guzmán, M.S.

Chair,
Department of Communication
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 woman, Professor Guzmán also taught public relations and journalism courses as an adjunct faculty member at Christian universities in the Jackson, MS., 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 Writing for the Mass Media, Writing for Digital 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

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 2019.

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

Richard C. Harris, Ed.D.

Associate Professor of Communication
Nova Southeastern University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Christian Ministries, Indiana Wesleyan University

M.M. in Pastoral Ministries, Bethel College

M.A. in Communication, Spring Arbor University

Ed.D. in Adult Education, Nova Southeastern University

Biography

Dr. Richard Harris brings extensive expertise and experience to Southeastern University from a wide variety of areas. Having served as a senior pastor for 31 years in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida, and having taught public speaking at Purdue University and Spring Arbor University, he is now the lead professor of speech in the Department of Communication. Dr. Harris teaches Fundamentals of Speech, Intro to Mass Communication, Communication Theory, and Media Ethics.

In addition to his work in the Department of Communication, Dr. Harris has also taught Homiletics for the Barnett College of Ministry & Theology and graduate-level courses for the College of Education at Southeastern University.

Dr. Harris has served in various administrative roles during his years at SEU. He served as associate director of academic programs for the Division of Continuing and Adult Education and as director of evening programs.

A popular speaker on college campuses and in church and corporate settings, Dr. Harris speaks on his dramatic transformation as well as the “Three Essential Skills for Success: Thinking, Speaking, and Persuading.” He captivates his audiences with stories they’ll never hear anywhere else and challenges them with lessons he has learned on his journey. In the classroom, Dr. Harris is passionate about the subjects he teaches and seeks to provide a safe, high-energy atmosphere where students can learn real-world life skills that will advance them in their careers.

Email: rcharris@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, and Film Practicum.

Email: brmiller@seu.edu

Robert O. Scott, Ph.D.

Professor of Communication
Bowling Green State University

Degrees Earned

B.S. in Education (Speech and Hearing Therapy), Bowling Green State University

M.A. in Communication, Regent University

Ph.D. in Mass Communication, Bowling Green State University

Biography

Before starting his 20-year, full-time collegiate teaching career, Dr. Robert Scott founded a media-oriented youth ministry in Ohio and established a communication company. He has used that experience while teaching in the department of mass communications for six years at Frostburg State University in Maryland; three years at Asbury College in Kentucky; and 1 1/2 years at Northwestern College in Iowa. He joined the faculty at Southeastern University in the fall of 2007. In addition, he has taught speech communication and writing as an adjunct professor at a community college, and media production as a graduate teaching assistant.

Currently, Dr. Scott serves as the communication generalist for the Department of Communication at Southeastern University. His teaching responsibilities include several of the core communication classes: Introduction to Mass Communication, Mass Communication Theory, and Mass Communication Law. He also teaches specialized courses in the general communication and broadcast majors.

Teaching has been Dr. Scott’s primary focus since completing his Ph.D. fellowship at Bowling Green State University. To remain relevant in his academic subject areas, Dr. Scott is currently a member of the National Communication Association and past member of the Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication, the Broadcast Education Association, and the National Religious Broadcasters Association.

His research interest has most recently been focused on human perceptions of reality taken from media communication: the blurring of distinctions between real life and created images.

His greatest joy as a professor comes from encouraging students to recognize and maximize their God-given abilities. To accomplish this, he continually adjusts his instruction and, most important of all, creates a sense of safety in the classroom. He abides by the proverb that “students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Email: roscott@seu.edu

David S. Sparling, M.F.A.

Assistant Professor of Broadcasting
Regent University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Communication, University of South Florida

M.A. in Teaching and Learning with Technology, Ashford University

M.F.A. in Film-Television with a concentration in Script and Screenwriting, Regent University

Biography

David Sparling brings more than 30 years of broadcasting experience to Southeastern from a variety of disciplines. He has worked as a writer, producer, and director for stage and screen, working in front of and behind the camera. He is an Apple-certified trainer and a state vocationally certified instructor.

Professor Sparling began his career in radio as an on-air personality and production director. In addition, he wrote, produced, directed, and even performed for the Cypress Gardens water ski show and at other venues in the park. Professor Sparling also produced national television commercials for the park while coordinating with its marketing department.

Professor Sparling transitioned to television at WUSF channel 16 and worked with ESPN to produce the first “X Games,” in which he was the host of the National Pro Water Ski Tour. He has worked on post-production at Universal Studios, collaborated with Steven Spielberg’s “Amblin Entertainment,” and with Ron Howard and Tom Hanks on HBO’s “Earth to the Moon” series.

He has spent the past two decades working in the classroom, and during that time, Professor Sparling implemented the first all-digital television production classroom. His students have produced national television public service announcements on the dangers of drinking and driving and methamphetamine. Professor Sparling and his students were given special commendations from the governor’s office for their efforts.

At Southeastern University, he teaches Fundamentals of Speech, Radio Production, Intro to TV Production, Digital Video Editing, Broadcast Practicum, Radio Practicum, Advanced TV Production, Raw TV, Scriptwriting for TV and Radio, Audio for TV and Film, Advanced Editing, Directing for Television, and Color Grading.

Professor Sparling believes that Christians can either embrace technology or become afraid of it. Therefore, Christian educators have the responsibility of understanding technology and spreading God’s love effectively.

Email: dssparling@seu.edu

Department of
Humanities

Rustin B. Lloyd, M.A.

Chair,
Department of Humanities
University of Central Florida

Degrees Earned

B.A. in History, Southeastern University

M.A. in History, University of Central Florida

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.

At Southeastern University, Professor 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 graduate degree, Professor 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.

Professor 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.

Professor 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, and Advanced Fiction.

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 November 2017.

Email: hebenefield@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

Paul T. Corrigan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English
University of South Florida

Degrees Earned

B.S. in English and Intercultural Studies, Southeastern University

M.A. in English, North Carolina State University

Ph.D. in English, University of South Florida

Biography

Dr. Paul Corrigan understands higher learning is a calling from God, and he encourages students to engage deeply in the learning process and to apply what they learn to their lives and faith. He has taught at his alma mater, Southeastern University, since 2009, where his courses emphasize writing, reading, and dialogue.

Dr. Corrigan oversees the Dialogue on Teaching Excellence and helps lead the Faith Integration Seminar at Southeastern University, facilitating in-depth conversations on faith and learning among faculty.

Dr. Corrigan earned a Ph.D. in English at the University of South Florida. He earned an M.A. in English at North Carolina State University, where he studied and taught in a nationally recognized writing program. While an undergraduate student at Southeastern, he oversaw the writing center and, for an internship project, taught a series of writing workshops for high school teachers and students in Guimaras, Philippines.

Along with Dr. Rickey Cotton, Dr. Corrigan wrote “College in the Spirit: Christian Higher Education as a Calling.” This short book, available through Southeastern University’s bookstore, presents vision and practice for authentic and faithful learning. It is used in a Southeastern University course titled, “Christ, Culture, and the University.”

As a scholar, he writes about poetry, pedagogy, and spirituality.

His other interests include contemporary and multicultural literature in the United States and around the world.

Email: ptcorrigan@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

Linda S. Linzey, Ph.D.

Professor of English
University of Utah

Degrees Earned

B.A. in English Literature, Vanguard University

M.A. in English Literature, California State University, Fullerton

Ph.D. in British and American Literature, University of Utah

Biography

Dr. Linda Linzey enjoys integrating her calling as a scholar and an ordained Assemblies of God minister. As a professor of English, she has taught at Assemblies of God colleges for many years, including at a sister college in Budapest, Hungary. She has presented papers at conferences in the United States and Great Britain, directed the Writing Center at Vanguard University, and spoken at churches in the United States and Hungary.

Dr. Linzey’s research interests include the role of the Bible in English Renaissance culture and texts, especially in John Donne’s work. At Southeastern University, she teaches Intro to Literature, Integrating Faith in Language and Communication Arts, Oral Interpretation, and Introduction to Humanities.

Email: lslinzey@seu.edu

Rachel R. Luckenbill, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of English
Lebanon Valley College

Degrees Earned

B.A. in English, Lebanon Valley College

M.A. in English, Villanova University

Ph.D. in English, Duquesne University

Biography

Dr. Rachel Luckenbill is passionate about teaching her students to imitate Christ’s engagement in cross-cultural relationships and His compassionate involvement with marginalized people.

She joined the faculty at Southeastern University in July 2016 and teaches courses in Native American literature, African-American literature, women’s literature, and composition.

Dr. Luckenbill’s dissertation and her current research focus on representations of Christianity in contemporary Native American literature by women. She combines grant-supported field research, including interview studies and cultural experiences, with close attention to the literary text and its historical/cultural contexts. Her interview with Cherokee novelist Diane Glancy was published in “Studies in American Indian Literatures.” She has conferenced widely on American and Native American texts.

Dr. Luckenbill is an active member of the Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States, the Conference on Christianity and Literature, and the Association for Studies in American Indian Literatures.

She has served on the faculty at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA., where she was honored with the Knisely Award for Teaching.

Email: rrluckenbill@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 believes that studying and producing literature enables us to emulate the Spirit by “searching all things, even the deep things of God.”

She joined Southeastern University 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, medieval philosophy, and creative writing.

At Southeastern University, she has taught courses such as the History of the English Language, Early Shakespeare, and a variety of Composition and Literature courses. Dr. McNabb has been published widely on medieval and early modern literature, including several peer-reviewed articles. She is currently the editor for the “Medieval Disability Sourcebook.” 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. She has delivered more than a dozen presentations, most in conjunction with the International Congress on Medieval Studies and the Shakespeare Association of America.

She has also won numerous awards, including USF’s Alice Hearne Scholarship for Outstanding Doctoral Candidates.

Email: chmcnabb@seu.edu

Scott Morgan, M.A., M.S

Assistant 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

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.

Assistant 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 brings to his Latin American Studies and Spanish classes a wealth of experience in and passion for Latin America, where he has done extensive fieldwork. His studies range from indigenous cultures and the concept of identity to the socioeconomic impacts of foreign investment in rural areas of Latin America.

He has lived in Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras, and Argentina. After returning to the United States, Professor Old continued his education, earning his M.A. with a double-major in Spanish literature and anthropology.

Before coming to Southeastern, Professor Old taught Spanish at the University of South Florida. Since coming to Southeastern University, Professor Old has expanded the Department of Humanities by adding new courses to the Spanish minor, creating a Latin American and Caribbean studies minor, and creating and directing a four-week Spanish language and culture study-abroad program in Nicaragua.

As a language professor, Jason teaches all levels of Spanish grammar, including Spanish conversation, as well as courses related to culture such as Spanish-American Culture and Civilization, Latin American Literature, Latin American Icons, and Latin American Film.

As a historian, Professor Old specializes in political and cultural history, covering topics from surf studies and US transnationalism and interventions in the Caribbean Basin, to Latin American revolutions and social movements. This includes teaching the courses mentioned above as well as History of Nicaragua and History of Cuba as part of a four-week language and culture study abroad programs each summer to either Nicaragua and Cuba, respectively.

His tentative dissertation topic focus on the development of the “Nicaraguan Riviera” in the aftermath of the Contra War. His current working title is, From Sandinista to Surfista: A Political and Cultural History of the Development of Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast, 1990 to 2017.

Professor Old is one of the founders and the executive director of CAN Fútbol Foundation (CANFF). His foundation administers programs using fútbol (soccer) as the vehicle to promote education and community development in the underprivileged communities of eastern Roatan, Honduras. He says that CANFF is built on the belief that “all youth deserve the opportunity to grow and develop in every facet of their lives and should not be hindered by their economic statuses.”

He is also the CEO and co-founder of The SurfShare LLC, a surf-sharing social networking platform whose mission is to connect surfers and surf enthusiasts from across the globe to foster more enjoyable surf travel, as well as to create economic sustainability in the coastal communities of the developing world.

Email: jrold@seu.edu

K. Alan Snyder, Ph.D.

Professor of History
The American University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Radio, TV, and Film Production, Purdue University

M.A. in History, Old Dominion University

Ph.D. in History, The American University

Biography

After a brief stint as a broadcaster for the Christian Broadcasting Network, Dr. K. Alan Snyder entered the field of education, eventually bringing his passion for Christian education to Southeastern University.

He first served four years as headmaster of a Christian school. After earning his advanced degrees, he was given a full-time teaching position at Indiana Wesleyan University, but was then asked to join the faculty of the School of Government at Regent University, a master’s-level program, where he taught for seven years, including one year as academic dean. His greatest joy was in the relationships he developed with these graduate students as he helped prepare them to be God’s representatives in the realm of government and public policy.

In 2001, Patrick Henry College offered Dr. Snyder a position, the college’s mainly home-schooled population being a unique draw for Dr. Snyder, who is committed to the biblical mandate that parents are ultimately responsible for the education of their children. After five years there, he came to Southeastern to help further develop the growing history program. He teaches American History, Historiography, the Civil War Era, and C.S. Lewis History and Influence.

Dr. Snyder is the author of five books, his latest being “America Discovers C. S. Lewis: His Profound Impact,” published in 2016. This book traces the contacts Lewis made with Americans during his lifetime and the influence he has had on Americans ever since.

Published one year earlier, “The Witness and the President: Whittaker Chambers, Ronald Reagan, and the Future of Freedom” was a study of two conservative icons who had differing views on the future of freedom in the West. Dr. Snyder contrasted the optimism of Reagan with the pessimism of Chambers.

Earlier books were “If the Foundations Are Destroyed: Biblical Principles and Civil Government,” a primer for Christians who need to understand the principles behind civil government; “Defining Noah Webster: A Spiritual Biography,” which details the life and biblical perspective of the man who has been called the “Schoolmaster to America;” and “Mission: Impeachable–The House Managers and the Historic Impeachment of President Clinton,” a Main Selection for the Conservative Book Club in June 2001.

Dr. Snyder’s research interests are the impact of Christian faith on government and society, American intellectual history, and modern American political conservatism.

Email: kasnyder@seu.edu

John D. Wineland, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of History
Miami University

Degrees Earned

B.S. in Biology, Valparaiso University

M.A. in Near Eastern Antiquities, Cincinnati Christian University

M.Div. in Theology/Philosophy, Cincinnati Christian University

M.A. in Ancient History, Miami University

Ph.D. in Ancient History, Miami University

R.P.A. (Registered Professional Archaeologist)

Biography

John D. Wineland, who has excavated in Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for more than 30 years, serves as faculty sponsor of the Herodotus Society (student history organization) and Phi Alpha Theta (national history honorary society) chapter.

Not unexpectedly, his course offerings cover a wide range of topics, including Archaeology, the History of Christianity, Modern Europe, the Middle East, Medieval history, and Ancient history, but his main area of research and publication is the history and archaeology of the Mediterranean world.

Dr. Wineland has led over a dozen study tours to archaeological and historical sites across Europe and the Mediterranean. He has received more than $200,000 in grants for his work in technology, teaching, and archaeology.

Dr. Wineland’s academic achievements include serving as president of the Near East Archaeological Society and the Southeast Region of the American Schools of Oriental Research, and Editor of the Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin. In addition, he has presented more than 35 papers at academic conferences and been published in Fides et Histora, Journal of the ARAM Society for Syro-Mesopotamian Studies, and American Journal of Archaeology, among numerous others.

Dr. Wineland has also authored the following books: “My Father’s World: Essays in Honor of Reuben G. Bullard,” “The Light of Discovery: Studies in Honor of Edwin Yamauchi,” “Ancient Abila: An Archaeological History,” and “Ancient Abila: The Preliminary Reports 1980-1996.”

Email: jdwineland@seu.edu

Department of
Music

Charles J. Hulin, D.M.A.

Chair,
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

In addition to his duties as the chairman of the Department of Music, Dr. Charles Hulin coordinates the study of piano and music theory at Southeastern.

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 master classes 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 at Richmond Ballet performances. 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 produced works in a variety of genres, including a series for student orchestra, hymn-inspired concerts and collaborations with visual artists. His recent endeavors include “Pilgrimage of Practice,” a faith-integrating class piano curriculum currently in use at Southeastern University.

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.

Email: cjhulin@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.M.E. in Music Education, Auburn University

Ph.D. in Music Education, Florida State University

Biography

Dr. Mark A. Belfast Jr. is the assistant dean for the College of Arts & Media and an assistant professor of music education. His duties include teaching music education courses, supervising student teachers, and directing Southeastern University’s jazz ensemble. Dr. Belfast served as administrator of the Tri-State Band Festival and Conducting Conference at Florida State University, where he continues to serve as an assistant director of Summer Music Camps. While at Auburn University, he performed with, and served as business manager for, the Auburn Knights Orchestra.

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, performance evaluation procedures, music teacher curriculum and training, perceptions of performance quality, jazz performance and pedagogy, and standards-based music instruction. Dr. Belfast has presented research and educational clinics at multiple regional and national venues, including the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) Biennial National Conference, NAfME Northwest Division Conference, Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education, and the annual meeting of the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA). The results of his research have appeared in the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education and the Florida Music Director. In addition to his roles as a researcher and educator, Dr. Belfast maintains an active agenda as a speaker, clinician, and adjudicator across the region.

Email: mabelfast@seu.edu

Brian C. Blume, M.M.

Assistant Professor of Percussion
Jacobs School of Music,
Indiana University

Degrees Earned

BM in Percussion Performance, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University

MM in Percussion Performance, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University

Biography

A percussionist, composer, and educator, Brian Blume is known internationally for his exceptional skill and creativity. A native of Logansport, IN., Professor Blume has served as a percussionist with a variety of organizations, including the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra and the Lafayette Symphony., His performance experiences also include solo marimba and percussion, new music performances, electronic music, studio recording, and drum corps. In 2012, he performed in the Super Bowl alongside Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, CeeLo Green, and others.

Professor Blume joined the faculty at Southeastern University in the fall of 2013.

Locally, Professor Blume works with percussionists in public and private high schools. He relishes the opportunity to perform and has made himself known quickly, performing marimba, including his own composition of Unforced Rhythms this past November at L’Automne: A Musical Harvest for the Lake Wales Arts Council.

Professor Blume’ endorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at Southeastern University, Professor Blume is an active composer, arranger, clinician, and adjudicator. He has received numerous commissions and has works published by Tapspace Publications, PercMaster Publications, and drop6 mediaInc.

While teaching at Center Grove High School in Indiana, he led the percussion ensemble to earn invitations to the Midwest Clinic and Percussion Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) and a bronze medal at the Winter Guard International (WGI) World Championships.

Professor Blume’s debut album, Let It Snow, released in November 2012. Click here to find it on iTunes.

Email: bcblume@seu.edu

Shudong L. Braamse, D.M.A.

Professor of Music (Voice)
Michigan State University

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Music Education, Fuyang Teachers College, China

M.M. in Voice Performance, Michigan State University

D.M.A. in Voice Performance, Michigan State University

Biography

International performer and coloratura soprano, Shudong Braamse, has appeared on stages in Canada, Italy, Austria, Finland, Estonia, Spain, Latvia, Singapore, Taiwan and China. She has performed as Lucy in “The Telephone,” Sally in “Thomas and Sally,” and Josephine in “H.M.S. Pinafore.” As a recitalist, she has premiered a number of works by Asian and American composers, including Huaihua’s “I Wish I Were a Little Light Boat,” Gary Nash’s cycle “Peace, Love and Prosperity,” and Michael Bulychev-Okser’s Spanish art song “Romance de la Luna.” Critic Carol Cohan of Orlando’s “The Villages Daily Sun” praised Dr. Braamse’s “powerful upper register” and described her technique as “fluid and true,” flowing from “top to bottom effortlessly.” Dr. Braamse has been invited to judge the George Gershwin International Music Competition in NYC. She is, as a guest artist and faculty member, to perform and teach at the Alion Baltic International Music Festival in Tallinn, Estonia. She will be an artist faculty member at the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy in the summer of 2019.

Shudong Braamse has a passion for sharing the traditions of Western vocal music with her native China and sharing developments in Chinese concert music with audiences and students in America. She has given numerous master classes in China, including Wuhan Conservatory, Guangxi Fine Arts Institute, Capital Normal University in Beijing and Fudan University in Shanghai. The books she translated – “Complete Preparation: A Guide to Auditioning for Opera” by Joan Dornemann and “Basics of Vocal Pedagogy” by Dr. Clifton Ware, have been published by the prestigious “People’s Music Publishing House” in Beijing. They are kept in most university libraries and sold in major book stores in China. Her recording, “Silvery Night,” in collaboration with Dr. Charles J. Hulin, introduces American listeners to the songs of Yao Qi, a composer from Singapore. Her albums, “Voix Suprême: French Art Songs by Jules Massenet,” was praised by reviewer Gerald Fenech in the publication Music and Vision:

“Shudong Braamse has the perfect voice for this repertoire, and her performances are excellent throughout — faultless, even. How lovely that the world of late 19th century French songs can still turn up discoveries of such fragile beauty. Captivating stuff and excellent sound ambience that one feels compelled to return to with anticipated regularity.”

“Voix Suprême” was a top digital album on the Navona label in spring of 2017, receiving high numbers of streams and downloads. The album also received airplay from radio stations such as KALX (UC Berkeley), WRUV (Vermont), and KMUN (Oregon). Dr. Braamse’s new album, “Sueños de España,” has been released by Navona Records in February of 2019. Ken Meltzer, a critic writing reviews for FANFARE, wrote:

“[Dr.] Braamse has an attractive, bright lyric soprano voice that maintains its tonal beauty throughout the registers. A coloratura soprano, she easily negotiates melismatic passages, and has a fine trill as well. She sings with a beautiful legato, a keen sense of phrasing, and clear diction. All of these qualities serve her well in the featured repertoire.”

Midwest Records wrote: “Loaded with grace as well as passion, the international classical fan has a winner on their hands with this discovery.” Some songs from the album have received airplays from WCNY Syracuse in NY, and WRUV Burlington in Vermont. “Sueños de España” has received Gold Medal from The Global Music Awards in March of 2019.

Dr. Braamse has studied with Zhang Wei, Claritha Buggs Jacobs, Meredith Zara and Patricia Green. Currently she is a professor of voice at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. She is also a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).

Email: slbraamse@seu.edu

Edward Bryant, M.M.

Associate Professor of Music (Voice)
New England Conservatory of Music

Degrees Earned

B.M. in Vocal Performance, Gordon College

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

Biography

Edward Bryant majored in drama 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 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

Annabelle M. Gardiner, M.M.

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

Ronald K. Gardiner, M.M.

Associate Professor of Cello
Eastman School of Music

Degrees Earned

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

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

Biography

Ronald Gardiner teaches cello, aural theory and chamber music at Southeastern University, where he also conducts the chamber orchestra. He also is part of the faculty piano trio Spiritus.During his student years, Professor Gardiner was a prizewinner of the Midland-Odessa National Young Artist Competition held in Midland, TX. While studying in Europe, he was invited to perform for Hungarian pianist Gyorgy Sebok in his International Masterclasses held in Ernen, Switzerland. He has also performed in Masterclasses for Mstislav Rostropovich, Steven Isserlis, Ronald Leonard, Paul Katz, Hans Jorgen Jensen, and Reinhard Goebel.

Professor Gardiner has been performing with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra since 2007 and was appointed as Principal Cellist in January 2008. He is a former member of the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C. and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and he performed as a regular substitute with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a professional orchestral musician, Professor Gardiner has worked with internationally renowned conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Charles Dutoit. An avid chamber musician, he has studied with members of the Cleveland, Emerson, Juilliard, Guarneri, American, and Mendelssohn string quartets at various festivals, such as the Aspen Music Festival and the Taos School of Music.Professor Gardiner previously taught at Houghton College and was an adjunct faculty member at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester.

During the summers, Professor Gardiner teaches and performs at the MasterWorks Festival as part of the String Intensive Studies Program and Orchestral Studies Program.

Email: rkgardiner@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 30 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

Paul S. Harlan, Ph.D.

Professor of Music
University of California,
Los Angeles

Degrees Earned

B.A. in Fine Arts and Communication, Loyola Marymount University

M.A. in Music Technology, University of California, Los Angeles

Ph.D. in Composition, University of California, Los Angeles

Biography

Dr. Paul Harlan has been a professor of music at Southeastern University since 2003, where he oversees composition, music technology, music business, and church music studies. His research and professional involvement focus on music technology and composition, including MIDI, sampling, sequencing, digital recording, notation, concert music, scoring for TV and film, electronic and interactive composition, and sound design for the Web. Dr. Harlan has also been involved in many aspects of church music (traditional, contemporary, and emergent) for more than 20 years.

He attended the UCLA Extension Film Score Program from 1992 to 1993.

Email: psharlan@seu.edu

William L. Lake, Jr., D.M.A.

Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Bands
The University of North Carolina,
Greensboro

Degrees Earned

B.M. in Jazz Studies: Piano Performance, University of Maryland, College Park

M.M. in Music Education, Boston University

M.M. in Wind Conducting, University of Maryland, College Park

D.M.A. in Instrumental Conducting, The University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Biography

William L. Lake Jr. is an Assistant Professor of music at Southeastern University, where he directs the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Chamber Ensemble, and Athletic Band. Dr. Lake received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree under the mentorship of Drs. John R. Locke and Kevin Geraldi. As a graduate student, Dr. Lake was principal conductor of the University of North Carolina University Band and guest conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Casella Sinfonietta Chamber Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Lake also taught undergraduate courses in conducting.

Dr. Lake maintains an active performance schedule including, notable performances of “Through this Vale of Tears” by David Baker at the University of Nevada-Reno with the Nightingale Piano Quintet, and guest conductor of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director’s District One Middle School Honors Band, the Prince George’s County Summer Instrumental Music Camp, and the Prince George’s County Middle School and High School Honors Band. He is a finalist in the categories for the American Prize, the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music, and Band Conducting Division of the American Prize. In March 2018, Dr. Lake was invited to present a position paper, “The Oak is Inside the Acorn: Fostering Potential through Mentorship,” for the Eastern Division of the College Band Director Association at Yale University in New Haven, CT. He is a member of the Conductor’s Guild, the College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc., an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha, Sinfonia, and Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc.

Email: wllake@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

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

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

Email: adchandler@seu.edu

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

Email: kmweintraub@seu.edu

Peter Dutilly, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Violin and Viola
Florida State University

Email: pjdutilly@seu.edu

Patrick Fleitz, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Piano
University of South Florida

Email: pdfleitz@seu.edu

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

Email: mggeist@seu.edu

Daniel Joiner, M.M.
Adjunct Professor of Piano
University of South Florida

Email: dejoiner@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

David Mitchell, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Percussion
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Email: djmitchell@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

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

Email: cewhite@seu.edu

Department of
Visual Arts

Thomas W. Weil, M.F.A.

Chair,
Department of 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.

Email: sfarisi@seu.edu

Jonathan T. Simon, M.F.A.

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design/Visual Arts
New York Academy of Art

Degrees Earned

B.F.A. in Illustration, Memphis College of Art

M.F.A. in Painting, New York Academy of Art

Biography

A native Southerner, Jonathan Simon is a representational artist who graduated from Memphis College of Art. He continued his training under Tony Ryder, author of “The Artist’s Complete Guide to Figure Drawing.” Acceptance to the prestigious Water Street Atelier brought Professor Simon under the tutelage of Jacob Collins and Michael Grimaldi. He also studied at the Art Students League of New York, and he earned his master’s degree at the prestigious New York Academy of Art.

Jonathan is an established artist with a growing clientele in New York; Washington, D.C.; and his native southeast. His work includes still life, portraiture, figurative paintings, and complex narratives. He works primarily in oil on linen canvas, as well as in mixed media, acrylic, watercolor, and digital media for his 2D works; and in metal, wood, and plasteline for his 3D works. He prefers to work from life rather than from photography because it allows him to capture the essence of the sitter and the depth of the subject.

Jonathan is also an illustrator, having published work in magazines such as “Texture,” “Up-Side Media,” “Red Herring,” “Smart Partner,” “Arizona Highways,” “Test & Measurement World,” and “Memphis Downtowner.” His list of clients includes Federal Express, Houghton Mifflin, Ellis Harper Advertising Inc., Baptist Memorial Hospital, Ardent Studios, Simms & Murphy Institute, and Auburn University.

As an instructor, his goal is to equip his students with all the tools they need to achieve their artistic goals and dreams.

At Southeastern University, he teaches Drawing I, Drawing II, Survey of Western Art, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Color Theory, Painting I, Painting II, Figure Drawing, Graphic Design Capstone, Advanced Digital Imaging, and Advanced illustration.

Email: jtsimon@seu.edu

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