The University hired 17 new faculty members this semester, across a variety of academic disciplines.

The new faculty members are listed below.

• Dr. Jakelyn Abad, assistant professor, Department of Engineering and Physics.
• Dr. Joseph Atchison, assistant professor, Department of Engineering and Physics.
• Sonya Bartz, college assistant professor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition.
• Miguel Chavez, visiting scholar, Department of Managing Sciences.
• Dr. Bailee Cooper, assistant professor, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition.
• Kara Covey, Instructor, Department of Music.
• Dr. Mark DeHart, associate professor, Department of Engineering and Physics.
• Cristi Doty, college assistant professor, School of Education.
• Dr. Tony Fillmore, college assistant professor, Department of Biology.
• Dr. Sam Funk, associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
• Dr. Heather Gorman, college associate professor, Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry.
• Dr. James Gorman, associate professor, Graduate School of Theology.
• Dr. Randy Nguyen, assistant professor, Department of Mathematics.
• Ethan Lewis, instructor, Brown Library.
• Dr. Greg McKinzie, assistant professor, Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry.
• Shannon Que, assistant professor, School of Social Work.
• Dr. Josie Recktenwald, assistant professor, School of Education.
• Dr. Matthew Vechione, college assistant professor, Department of Engineering and Physics.
• Débora Viana, instructor, School of Social Work.
• Kelly Young, college associate professor, Dukes School of Finance.

McKinzie said he was excited when the job opened up because he wanted to teach at a Church of Christ school. Although he has only been full-time for a few weeks, he is already working on a proposal to restructure the degree plans in the Bible department so the coursework is more specialized.

“At this point, there is nothing firm in the works,” McKinzie said. “But imagining what sort of restructuring the Bible department’s degree plans would look like, where we have clearer tracks to choose from: A Bible degree, a ministry degree and a mission degree, which is not the case right now.”

Before coming to the university, McKinzie worked for six years in Peru as a missionary and then returned to the States to pursue a doctorate and teaching. In Peru, his primary goal was evangelism, church planting and discipleship, but he also worked to train teachers on reading comprehension. Now that he is back in the States, he also does a long-form theology podcast called “Theology on the Way.”

Across campus in the Department of Physics and Engineering, Dr. Joseph Atchison is continuing his research in experimental nuclear physics while also teaching a full class load for the first time. Previously, he had taught a few classes at a time while working in a postdoctoral research position.

Atchison said that what first drew him to the university was the Christian aspect of the education and the ability to form better connections with students.

“It’s this opportunity to be in a place where I can have the lower student-teacher ratio,” Atchison said, “and get to know the students and help them, not just in teaching them physics but hopefully help them a little bit in life too.”