In addition to the new students on campus this fall, Virginia Wesleyan is welcoming a few more new faces. With the start of the 2006-07 academic year, nine new faculty members are joining the Virginia Wesleyan family.
Lynette Holman joins the communications faculty as Assistant Professor of communications. Holman received her master of arts degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and has won awards for page design. She will be teaching Introduction to Journalism, Design and Editing and Photojournalism courses.
Lydia Kennedy joins us from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. As the newest member of the math faculty, she will serve as assistant professor of mathematics, teaching three levels of algebra. Kennedy received her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, the new assistant professor of biology, received her Ph.D. from the Florida Institute of Technology. A predoctoral fellow studying Panama Mollusks, she worked at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Va., where she attended as an undergraduate. She will be teaching courses and labs in biology and environmental science.
Terry Lindvall was named the C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought at Virginia Wesleyan in December 2005 and begins his full-time position this fall. Having taught two courses at the College in the spring, he will be teaching courses in American Film, Religion and Literature and Saints and Heretics this fall. Lindvall received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and served as the former president of Regent University.
Gavin Pate joins Virginia Wesleyan as a visiting instructor of English. He holds an M.F.A. in writing and poetics from Naropa University in Boulder, Colo. He will be teaching College Writing and Poetry this fall.
Yvonna Carnieri also joins the English faculty as a visiting instructor. She received her M.F.A. in creative writing from Columbia College in Chicago, Ill., and will be teaching College Writing in the fall, working with students' "authentic experience."
Donna Mitchell joins the Hofheimer Library faculty as a reference librarian and instructor of library science. Mitchell received her master of science degree in library and information services from Drexel University and worked at a library in Pennsylvania with a collection of rare Quaker materials.
Megan Storey also joins Hofheimer Library as a reference librarian and instructor of library science. She received her bachelor's degree in arts media and design from James Madison University, an M.S. in library and information studies from Florida State University and an M.A. in applied linguistics from Old Dominion University.
David Lorenzo joins the College as associate professor of political science. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and will be teaching American Government, Foreign Policy and Ancient Political Theory at Virginia Wesleyan.
The Virginia Wesleyan community welcomes these new faculty members to the College and wishes them a successful semester.