Academically Speaking: Fall 2022

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School of Divinity

Dr. Keith Plummer, dean, is featured in a Bible study video series for the forthcoming book Following Jesus in a Digital Age by Jason Thacker (Lifeway Press, December 2022). He was also interviewed in The Apologetics Podcast’s “Doubt, Deconstruction, and an Apologetic of Kindness” episode.

Dr. Gary Schnittjer was given the designation of distinguished professor of Old Testament in May 2022. He recently wrote “Long-lost Grandparent Texts of the Old Testament” for the Didaktikos journal and “Say You, Say Ye: Individual and Collective Identity and Responsibility in Torah” for the Center for Hebraic Thought.

Dr. Jared Bryant wrote “Cosmological Trinitarian Polemics in Gregory of Nazianzus’s Theological Orations” for Studia Patristica 115. He was also named the associate dean of the School of Divinity in July 2022.

Dr. Gregory Parker Jr. joined the divinity faculty full time in July 2022. He successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in the same month.

Dr. Bryan Murawski joined the divinity faculty full time in July 2022. He wrote “4 Tips for Preaching Geography-Heavy Texts” for The Gospel Coalition blog in September 2022.

Dr. Matt McAlack, chair of the youth and family ministry program, spoke at the Youth Leaders’ Summit at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference May 25–27, 2022.

Dr. James Dolezal wrote “Aseity and Simplicity” for Tabletalk Magazine in May 2022.

School of Education

Barbara Cooper, chair of special education, joined the education faculty full time in July 2022. She presented two sessions in four parts at the annual MACSA conference in October 2022: “Executive Functioning in the Classroom” and “Building Supportive Classrooms for Mental Disorders.”

Dr. Dianne Alexander presented two sessions at the annual MACSA conference in October 2022: “Integrating Social-emotional Development within the PK-5th Academic Curriculum” and “Classroom Environment: Creating an Interactive Classroom Community.”

Dr. Marti MacCullough, professor emeritus, presented two sessions in four parts at the annual MACSA conference in October 2022: “Handling the Current Stream of Cultural Ideas Using a Biblical Worldview Approach” and “Student’s View of ‘Self’ in the 21st Century: Human Identity in the ‘Selfie Age.’”

Elizabeth Evangelous joined the education faculty in July 2022. She is teaching courses in the elementary education program.

School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Dr. Aneesh Khushman, dean, took a group of biology students on a medical missions trip to India in June 2022.

Victoria Aquilone joined the liberal arts and sciences faculty full time in July 2022. She is teaching courses in English and the humanities.

Chris Lloyd joined the liberal arts and sciences faculty full time in July. He is teaching criminal justice courses.

Michael Zimmerman joined the liberal arts and sciences faculty full time in July 2022. He is teaching history courses.

School of Business

Deborah Rice joined the business faculty full time in July 2022. She is teaching courses in marketing and operations.

Brandon Petcaugh joined the business faculty in July 2022. He is teaching courses in information systems, computer science, and cybersecurity.

School of Music

Dr. Benjamin Harding, dean, performed at the annual Sing! worship music conference in Nashville, TN, in September 2022.

Graeme Burgan directed five weeks of Csehy Summer School of Music on Cairn’s campus in July 2022.

Dr. Scott Watson presented two sessions on band pedagogy at the 95th Annual Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference in May 2022. He was commissioned by the New Holland Band to compose original music for the 23-minute long 1921 silent film, The Goat, as well as music for two short scenes from Charlie Chaplin films. The three silent film pieces will be performed live (with films projected) as part of the band’s New Year’s Day 2023 concert.