Everything’s moved in, classes have started and students are finding their way around campus. New faces can not only be seen among new classmates and freshmen, though. They can also be found at the head of classes. Nine new faculty members have been introduced this semester.
“Ouachita really does fit the description of what I have always described as my ‘dream job’ – the opportunity to teach, perform, and study music at a small, liberal arts, religious-affiliated institution,” Ryan Lewis, assistant professor of music said.
Lewis has served for the past four years as an instructor of music at Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., while also teaching at the University of South Carolina School of Music. He has played with a number of philharmonic and symphony orchestras with performances from New York City to Rome, Italy. He looks forward to the opportunity he has with students.
“Here I have the opportunity to teach in the classroom to music majors and non-music majors,” Lewis said. “[I am able to] be a part of leading large and small ensembles, and teach applied lessons on a one-to-one basis, all within a university that is small enough to allow for mentorship relationships with students.”
Sarah Hubbard, assistant professor of chemistry, cites Ouachita’s atmosphere as a factor in the decision to come here.
“I chose Ouachita because when I visited, I was struck by how much it felt like a family,” Hubbard said.
Hubbard holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming at Laramie and has served the past year as an instructor of chemistry at Wichita State University.
“As a chemist, I was very excited at the level of teaching and research going on at OBU,” Hubbard said. “What a wonderful environment to help young people grow and develop, and also to continue to grow and develop myself.”
Chris Brune, assistant professor of finance, also appreciates the community at Ouachita.
“Everyone has been very welcoming,” Brune said. “And I have already been impressed with the quality of the students. I am excited to be here and am eager to see what God will do through Ouachita both this year and in years to come.”
Brune is a Ouachita alum and has been a certified financial planner since 1999.
“My coming here was a very definite ‘God thing’ and I couldn’t be happier about that,” Kathy Collins, visiting instructor of education, said. “I have a year appointment to serve in the School of Education and I am loving every minute of it.”
Collins has been associate director for the Center of Learning and Development in Waco, Texas since 2007.
Phyllis Kinnison, assistant professor and archivist of Riley-Hickingbotham Library, was excited about the challenges that Ouachita offers.
“Here at Ouachita I can use a full range of my archival knowledge for my work,” Kinnison said.
Kinnison has served as a graduate assistant at both LSU and the University of Louisiana at Monroe and has worked as a project archivist with the Sen. John Breaux Collection at the LSU Libraries Special Collections.
Kinnison is not the only one interested in what challenges Ouachita offers.
Some new faculty members aren’t new to the Ouachita community. Rebecca Jones, instructor of speech communications, has served at Ouachita for about 10 years.
“I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve in several roles,” Jones said. “I am blessed with talented and engaging students, and I am thoroughly enjoying the chance to interact with them in my role as an instructor.”
Amber Northam-Vincent, instructor and acting director of Athletic Training Education, is also a familiar face at Ouachita. Northam-Vincent has been at Ouachita for two years as the assistant athletic trainer in the athletic department. She has moved to academics in place of Terry Dewitt, who is serving in Iraq for the year.
“This year I want to maintain Terry’s program to his standards and try to light a fire in our students about the athletic training profession,” Northam-Vincent said.
Summer Bruch, assistant professor of visual arts, is also a not-so-new face among faculty. Bruch taught part-time last year at Ouachita, and has served as an adjunct instructor at Henderson since 2006.
“Ouachita because it provided the unique opportunity to use a broad range of my artistic skills as an instructor,” Bruch said. “It’s also very appealing to work at a small intimate University setting. I can really get to know the students.”
Bruch has high hopes for her new position.
“I plan to revitalize the Ceramics area and hopefully create some exciting new opportunities with our neighbors next door at Henderson,” Bruch said.
Ruth Plymale, the new assistant professor of biology, has also joined the Ouachita community.
Plymale has served as a postdoctoral associate in entomology at Penn State and at Cornell University and while at Penn State also served as a laboratory instructor for several undergraduate courses, including general biology. n
