FMU welcomes 25 new faculty members for new academic year

Francis Marion University welcomed 25 new faculty members to campus as the 2016-17 academic year began this week.

The class of new faculty is one of the largest at FMU in recent years, reflecting the accelerating pace of new programs coming on line at the university. Two of the new faculty members will teach in FMU’s brand new Physician Assistant program, and another is a third faculty member hired for FMU’s fast-growing Industrial Engineering program.

The new faculty members will teach in 13 different departments. They come from an array of academic backgrounds, and hold terminal degrees from 19 different universities including Penn, Texas Tech, George Washington, Florida, Indiana, Harvard and Colorado.

A list of this year’s new faculty is below.

New faculty at FMU for 2016-17

Dr. Enoch Agbesi Adogla, Assistant Professor of Chemistry. B.S. from University of Ghana, M.S. from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from University of South Carolina.

Dr. Brittany B. Baker, Assistant Professor of Physics. B.S. from Northern Michigan University, M.S. from Texas Tech, Ph.D. in Physics from Texas Tech University.

Dr. Suzanne L. Barnett, Assistant Professor of English. B.A. from Hunter College of the City University of New York, Ph.D. in English from University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. David Baxley, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication. A.S. from Central Alabama Community College, B.S. from Mississippi State University, M.A. in Journalism from Mississippi State University.

Mr. Joseph Kennedy Bethle, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies. B.S. from Slippery Rock University, M.S. in Sports Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Capt. Christian Bonno, Instructor of Military Science. U.S. Army.

Mr. Michael L. Del Vecchio, Instructor of Mathematics. B.A. from Rutgers University, M.S. in Mathematics from College of Charleston.

Mr. Joseph Arthur Kennedy, Assistant Professor of English. B.A. from Duke University, M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, M.A. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University.

Dr. Zilola Khashimova, MD, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences PA Program.

Dr. Candace Lapan, Assistant Professor of Psychology. B.A. from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, M.A. from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Mr. Edgar L. Larrea, Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish. B.A. from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, M.A. from Instituto Cervantes, Ph.D. in Spanish from University of South Carolina.

Dr. Alexander Lu, Assistant Professor of Sociology. B.A. from Centenary College of Louisiana, M.A. from Louisiana State University, Ph.D. in Sociology from Indiana University.

Ms. Kathryn Mann, Instructor of English. B.A. from Coastal Carolina University, M.A. in Writing from Coastal Carolina University.

Ms. Christine L. Masters, Assistant Professor of English. B.A. from University of Washington, M.A. from Western Illinois University, Ph.D. in English from Purdue University.

Ms. Johannah Maynor, Instructor of Mathematics. B.S. from University of North Carolina, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from North Carolina Central University.

Dr. Bryan T. McLeod, Assistant Professor of School of Business. B.S. from Southern Illinois University, J.D. from Southern Illinois University, M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University, Ph.D. in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University.

Dr. Lisa F. Midcalf, Assistant Professor Education-Literacy. B.S. from Bob Jones University, MAT from Saginaw Valley State University, Ph.D. in Reading Education from Oakland University.

Dr. Michelle R. Murphy, Assistant Professor Education – Special Education. B.A. from University of North Carolina, M.A.Ed. from East Carolina, Ph.D. in Special Education from University of South Carolina.

Dr. Doris Páez, Assistant Professor Psychology. B.A. from University of South Florida, M.A. from University of South Florida, Ed.S. from University of South Florida, Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Florida.

Dr. Tiffany A. Phillips, Assistant Professor of Nursing. B.S. from University South Carolina, B.S. from Medical University of South Carolina, M.S./Ph.D. in Nursing from Medical University of South Carolina.

Mr. Rahul S. Renu, Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering. B.S. from Visvesvaraya Technological University, M.S. from Clemson University, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University.

Dr. James Ritter, Assistant Professor of Education. B.A. from Western Carolina University, M.A. from Western Carolina University, Ph.D. in Literacy from University of Southern Mississippi.

Dr. Dillon S. Tatum, Assistant Professor of Political Science. B.A. from University of Arizona, M.A. from The George Washington University, M.A. from The George Washington University, Ph.D. in Political Science from The George Washington University.

Dr. Paul H. Thompson, Assistant Professor of Voice / Chorus. B.A. from Marian University, M.M. from University of Wisconsin, Ph.D. in Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Literature from University of Colorado.

Dr. Megan Woosley-Goodman, Assistant Professor of English. B.A. from Southern Illinois University, M.A. from Southern Illinois University, Ph.D. in English Literature from University of Missouri.