Academically Speaking

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Dr. Jared Bryant ’03, assistant professor and director of Degree Completion in the School of Divinity, successfully defended his dissertation in April 2016. He now holds a PhD in Religion — Ancient Christianity from Temple University.

Dr. Stephanie Chung, associate professor and Special Education program advisor in the School of Education, presented two seminars at the MSCSA Annual Conference in Lancaster, PA, on November 12. Her topics were “Do Your Struggling Readers Have a Reading Disability?” and “Classroom Interventions for Struggling Readers.” Dr. Chung has also been developing Cairn’s new online Applied Behavior Analysis program with Autism Spectrum Disorder endorsement.

Charlotte Gleason WWC’97/’00, part-time faculty in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SLAS), led a roundtable discussion at the 2016 Northeast Modern Language Association conference in Hartford, CT, in March. Alongside five other presenters speaking on the topic of “The Writing Classroom: Alternatives to Direct Instruction in Introductory Composition Classes,” she specifically presented on “Formative In-Class Writing Assignments for the Post-Secondary Classroom.” In addition, she taught a seven-week class on “A Kingdom Imagination: Speaking Art in a Contemporary World” at New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, PA. Through the course, adult members of the church and community discussed how to appreciate various forms of art and how this appreciation points us to God the Creator. In April, she presented at the CREATE high school arts conference hosted at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference in Ocean County, NJ, alongside several others from the Cairn community.

Dr. Edgar Hardesty ’75, professor and director of the Israel and Archaeology First Year Program, successfully defended his dissertation in November 2015. He now holds a PhD in Jewish Studies — Bible and Archaeology from Towson University.

Robin Leigh Massie, part-time faculty in the School of Music and director of opera theater, returned to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in December for the 30th-anniversary performance of Yuletide Celebration, featuring gospel legend Sandi Patty as hostess. This is Miss Massie’s fourteenth appearance in Yuletide.

Dr. Jonathan L. Master ’98, professor of theology and dean of the School of Divinity, published a book in March, The God We Worship: Adoring the One Who Pursues, Redeems, and Changes His People (P&R Publishing). He served as a speaker for the Langhorne Presbyterian Church men’s weekend retreat on April 29–May 1, as well as for the Harvey Cedars Bible Conference on July 3–9.

Dr. Kevin McFadden, associate professor of New Testament in the School of Divinity, published an article, “Does Pistis mean ‘Faith(Fulness)’ in Paul?” in Tyndale Bulletin 66.2 (2015).

Dr. Jim Meyer ’83/G’96, associate professor of counseling in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, presented on blended families and substance abuse in families at Foundations Christian Counseling Conference in April. He also presented at Cairn’s Faith in Practice Conference in April, alongside fellow counseling faculty Dr. Jeffrey Black, Dr. William Librizzi, Dr. David Wiedis G’06, Rev. Chuck Arnold G’96, and Sarah Ensslen G’11, as well as Baron King ’04/G’06.

Suzanne Schmidt, adjunct professor of music theory in the School of Music, delivered an October workshop to the Main Line Music Teachers Association on developing music students’ aural skills within the context of private/small group instrumental and vocal lessons. At November’s District 11 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Workshop Day, she presented a workshop focusing on technology resources for music educators and strategies on developing online music classes, sharing her online Music Fundamentals course offered through the Cairn Community Arts Academy. In November, Mrs. Schmidt adjudicated piano auditions sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Music Teachers Association at Moravian College, in addition to judging students’ auditions for the National Guild of Piano Teachers. As a member of the AP leadership team and the assistant to the chief reader, Mrs. Schmidt is responsible for the preparation and distribution of all training materials and the compilation of all documentation related to the yearly grading of the Advanced Placement Music Theory examination.

Dr. Gary Schnittjer ’89, professor of Old Testament in the School of Divinity, published an article, “Bad Ending of Ezra-Nehemiah,” in Bibliotheca Sacra in January.

Dr. David M. Shockey, professor and chair of the Voice Studies program in the School of Music, sang the tenor role in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem (conducted by music alumnus Tom Hong ’95) at Montgomery County Community College on March 6. On March 12, he and his wife performed a recital at United Methodist Church in
Haddonfield, NJ. On Good Friday (March 25), he sang the role of the evangelist in a performance of Charles Woods’ Passion at Tenth Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Debbie Lynn Wolf, professor and chair of the Music Education program in the School of Music, presented a workshop on preparation and study tips for certification exams at the PA Music Educators Conference in Hershey, PA, on March 30–April 1.

Steven Condy, adjunct professor, artistic director of opera theater, and affiliate artist in the School of Music, was a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Masterwork Chorus at Carnegie Hall, NYC, on December 23. He also performed the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff (pictured above) with both Baltimore Concert Opera (April 2016) and OperaDelaware (May 2016).