Shorter University welcomes new faculty members

September 3, 2010 - Shorter University welcomed 20 new full-time faculty members to the campus for the 2010-2011 academic year. Classes began on Aug. 23.

	Julie Bearden will serve as assistant professor of music. Bearden has a Master of Music degree in Chamber Music and Accompanying from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy with a voice minor from Shorter College. Her prior experience includes serving as an adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University, Edison College, Parkland College and Truett-McConnell College. She also served as interim director of choirs at the Community School of Naples and instructor at the Florida Gulf Coast University Renaissance Academy and the Oak Book Academy of Music.
	Dr. William A. Carson III will serve as assistant professor of management. Dr. Carson holds a certificate in financial planning from Florida State University and received a doctoral degree in organization and management from Capella University and a Master of Business in Administration from the University of Scranton. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. Joseph’s University. His prior experience includes serving as the business development manager of Dynamic Systems Solutions, and consulting practice manager from Oracle, Inc., PeopleSoft, Inc. and JD Edwards, Inc. He also served as director of services for American Software, materials operations manager for MAI Basic Four and as an internal auditor for Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Inc.
	Lynda Chisholm will serve as assistant professor of education and assistant director of undergraduate education in the Center for Teacher Preparation. Chisholm received an education specialist degree from Georgia State University, a Master of Education in Early Childhood from West Georgia College and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from West Georgia College. Her prior experience includes serving as adjunct professor at Shorter College and 29 years of service in a public school setting.
	Dr. Steven R. Carney will serve as assistant professor of sport management. Dr. Carney earned his doctoral degree from Florida State University, a Master of Science degree from Brooklyn College and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina. His prior experience includes serving as instructor for The Princeton Review, serving as adjunct instructor at Drexel University, assistant professor of sport management at DeSales University, visiting assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, assistant professor of sport management at James Madison University, visiting assistant professor at the University of North Florida, director of student services for the United States Sports Academy and lifetime activities instructor for Tallahassee Community College.
	Dr. John S. Connell joins the faculty as professor of Christian studies and chair of the university’s Christian Studies Department. Dr. Connell holds a Doctor of Theology degree and a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Alabama. Including many years of service as a senior pastor, Connell has also served as professor of apologetics and life philosophy for Calvary Day School, adjunct professor for Brewton Parker College and North Georgia Center for Theological Studies.
	Dr. Neville Forlemu will serve as assistant professor of chemistry. Dr. Forlemu earned a doctoral degree in physical chemistry from the University of North Dakota and a Bachelor of Science with honors in biochemistry with a minor in medical laboratory technology. Prior experience includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and serving as a teacher of general chemistry, organic, analytical and physical chemistry and biology at Oxford College in Cameroon.
	Richard Gillert will serve as assistant librarian. Gillert received a Master of Science in Information Systems from Valdosta State University and a bachelor’s  degree  in English from John Brown University. Previously, Gillert served as library assistant for the Art Institute of Atlanta, a contract worker for legal libraries, Library Specialists, Inc. and as a library aid for Siloam Springs Public Library.
	Clint Helms will serve as a biology lab instructor. Helms received a Master of Science in biological studies, a Bachelor of Science in biology (magna cum laude), and a Bachelor of Science degree in ecology and field biology (magna cum laude). He previously served as a teaching assistant for Shorter College, a research assistant for the University of Mississippi and instructor of biology for Columbia State Community College.
	Warren Kennedy will serve as instructor of music. Kennedy received a Bachelor of Art degree in piano and English education from Shorter College. His prior experience includes serving as a collaborative pianist for Shorter College, musical director for Summer Productions for the Grand Theatre, interim director of music education for Shorter College, organist for Heritage Baptist Church of Cartersville, director of choirs for First Methodist Church of Rome, fine arts faculty member for Cass High School and organist for Sam Jones Memorial Methodist Church in Cartersville.
	Dr. Rebekah Jordan-Miller will serve as assistant professor of music. Dr. Jordan-Miller earned a Doctor of Music Arts degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. She received a master’s in music criticism from McMaster University and a bachelor’s degree in applied music at the Eastman School of Music. Prior experience includes serving as an adjunct faculty member at Oklahoma City University, a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Oklahoma and a graduate teaching assistant at McMaster University. She also served as a piano faculty member at International Music Camp and at the Community School for Music and Art.
	Kelly Sutherland Mills will serve as assistant professor of art. He earned as Master of Visual Arts degree from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree at Eckerd College. His prior experience includes serving as adjunct instructor at Johnson County Community College, adjunct instructor at Avila University, adjunct instructor at the Kansas City Art Institute, instructor at the Savannah College of Art and Design, PhotoShop instructor at the Photography Center of Atlanta, visual media specialist for MARTA, independent consultant for American Tower, photographer for the Sun Newspaper in Overland Park, Kan., manager of photography for Turner Broadcasting Systems and as a medical photographer for the Emory School of Medicine.
	Dr. Deborah Popham will serve as assistant professor of music. She received her doctoral degree in musical arts from Arizona State University, a Master of Music from Arizona State University, a Bachelor of Music in voice performance, a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Akron. Prior experience includes serving as a visiting assistant professor of voice at Northeastern State University and a graduate teaching assistant in music theory at the University of Akron.
	Dr. Rebecca Ann Salter joins the faculty as assistant professor of music. She earned a Doctor of Music Arts degree in vocal performance at the University of Oklahoma, a master’s in vocal performance and a bachelor’s in vocal performance from Oklahoma City University. Her prior experience includes serving as an adjunct professor of voice for Oklahoma City University, a guest voice instructor for Mid-America Bible College and a graduate assistant of voice at the University of Oklahoma.
	Dr. Amy Savage-Austin will serve as assistant professor of management and chair of undergraduate professional studies. She has a doctoral degree in organization and management with a specialization in leadership from Capella University, a Master of Business Administration in finance from Philadelphia University and a Bachelor of Science in finance from Hampton University. Her past experience includes serving as a controller for Mead Westvaco Packaging Systems, a senior financial analyst for Cooper Industries and the Home Depot, a financial analyst for Norththrop Gruman/Newport News Shipbuilding and as a team leader for the New York Times.
	Joyce W. Smith joins the faculty as assistant professor of accounting. She holds an executive Master of Business Administration degree from Mercer University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stephens College. Smith’s past experience includes working as a contractor/controller for The Baker Group; a contractor and accounting manager for Shared Services; an accounting director for the State of Georgia; and a general accounting manager, finance liaison, accounting manager in the treasury department and fixed asset accounting manager for Atlanta Public Schools. She has also served as a billing manager, fixed asset accounting manager and accounts operations manager for the General Electric Company.
	Dr. Cheryl Thrash will serve as assistant professor of English. She earned her doctoral degree from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University. Her prior experiences include serving as assistant professor of English for the University of West Georgia, a teaching assistant and graduate assistant for Emory University, the director of After School Zone and as a substitute teacher for the Douglas County School System.
	Cindy McDonough Upton will serve as associate professor of economics. She earned her Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science from Sam Houston State University and an associate’s degree from North Harris Community College. Her prior experience includes serving as an economics professor at Lone Star College, an instructional coordinator at Willow Chase Center for Business and Technology, an instructional professor at North Harris College, an adjunct economics instructor for the University of St. Thomas, a graduate assistant at Sam Houston University and as an interim coordinator for programs and instruction at North Harris College Carver Center.
	Dr. Karen Watkins will serve as assistant professor and field placement coordinator in human services. Watkins earned a doctoral degree from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in social work from New York University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University. Her prior experience includes positions at North Carolina State University, Kennesaw State University and the University of Georgia.
	DeWayne Williams will serve as assistant librarian. He holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Jacksonville State University. His prior experience includes cataloging, serials management, bibliographic instruction and library technical services at Shorter. He also served at Shorter as an adjunct faculty member.
	Dr. Charles T. Wynn returns to the Shorter faculty as professor of history and education. Dr. Wynn received his doctoral degree from Georgia State University, a Master of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Georgia College. His past experience includes serving as assistant professor of history education and history at Kennesaw State University, dean of the School of Education and associate professor of education at Shorter, a social studies teacher at Statford Academy, associate professor of education and department chair at Wesleyan College and associate professor of education at West Georgia College

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian college committed to excellence in education. Since 2003, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Shorter among the South’s best baccalaureate colleges, and the Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Leadership. General education and calculus courses are offered in an online format, and Shorter recently launched online programs that lead toward the Associate of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Master of Accountancy degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.


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