Catching Up with New Faculty
Bottom row, l to r: Ashley Dehart, Xiaoxia Zhang, Chrissy Martin; Second row: Lalita Rogers, Dewan Russel Rahman; Third row: George Tiller, Kat Williamson, Lisa Johnson; Fourth row: Kyra Reitveld, Patrick Morgan (Director of Library Reference & Instruction), Rachel Johnson, Matthew Blasi. Not pictured: Michael Futreal, Saad Mohamed. New faculty members profiled below are listed in bold.
Centenary welcomed a strong cohort of new faculty members at the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year – check out their introductions in this news item from earlier this fall. Now that they’re settled in and approaching a well-deserved holiday break, Centenary Magazine is checking in with some of them to see what they’ve been up to and how they’re making a difference on campus.
Matthew Blasi, Assistant Professor of English
The victorious English Department at Boo at the Bandshell.
Courses taught this fall: Two sections of TREK 115, Introduction to Literature, and African-American Literature.
Memorable Moment: There’s been a lot of memorable moments ranging from outstanding student essays and presentations to meeting prospective students at Preview Days, but the most memorable moment for me was when the English Department absolutely CRUSHED the competition to win Best Overall at Boo at the Bandshell. Let other departments quail in fear and may the glorious reign of English begin!
Classroom Blooper: Once, when trying to present a digital assignment sheet to my class, the projector in Jackson 304 stopped working. Even worse, it took me 15 minutes to determine that I couldn’t fix it!
Christine Martin, Visiting Assistant Professor of English
Courses taught this fall: Creative Writing: Poetry at both the 200/300 levels and two sections of Trek, our first-year course.
Memorable Moment: I was the faculty sponsor for a midnight Pajama Run on campus. It was such a joy to see students pour out of the dorms in their fun pajamas and wrapped in blankets–and to see them get a burst of energy at the starting line. I hope we can make this a Centenary prep week tradition!
Can you write a poem for us?:
Open mic in the Meadows,
precious purr from campus cat,
chapel hymn lit by candle–
one more cookie from the Caf.
What They’re Saying (Dr. Jeff Hendricks): Matthew Blasi and Chrissy Martin, in just a single semester on campus, have made a tremendous impact on not only the English Department, but also the College as a whole. Matt, a specialist in fiction writing and contemporary American fiction, and with his background in contemporary music (he was a heavy metal musician before becoming an academic!) has brought a rock 'n roll energy worthy of Mick Jagger to the classroom experience this fall. Chrissy Martin, a specialist in poetry writing and contemporary American poetry, has captivated students with her exquisite fashion and design taste and her infectious enthusiasm for pop culture poetics (she also bakes some mean sweater-designed cookies!). Both Chrissy and Matt have over-enrolled classes this spring and have created a wonderfully vibrant atmosphere where students are developing keen analytical and expressive writing skills. Coupled with Bellee Jones-Pierce (only in her second year at the College) and her passionate zeal for the beauty of classic English literature, the English Department is in great shape to give our students the kind of cultural education and communication skills that will help them not only survive but also thrive in their chosen profession.
Michael Futreal, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology
Courses taught this fall: SOC 101, Introduction to Sociology
Transition Tales: Even though I taught during my first decade at Centenary in the 00s, getting back into the swing of it again required a level of energy that could have been used, alternatively, to propel me into actual orbit.
How many bonus points did you offer for students who are fans of Twang Darkly? Ha! I think that I've successfully Clark-Kent-ed the entire semester and none of my students are the wiser. At the very least, they don't seem to want to discuss modal music or building instruments from gourds.
What they’re saying (Dr. Michelle Wolkomir): Professor Futreal brings to his classroom a daily example of the importance of a liberal arts education. His background and experience with sociology, web development, and musical performance and instrument crafting enable him to make unique connections in his discussions of societal processes. He demonstrates how we can use ideas from any academic discipline to construct greater understanding of ourselves and our communities.
Lisa Johnson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Accounting
Courses taught this fall: Auditing and two sections of Principles of Accounting
Spring semester advice for students: Take notes in class! Studies show that writing by hand on physical paper leads to improved memory!
Memorable moment from the fall semester: Seeing it in a student’s eyes when an accounting concept “clicks!” Accounting can be exciting – let me prove it to you!
What they’re saying (Dr. Barbara Davis): Lisa is such a great fit for the Frost School of Business. She has embraced the position with grace, dedication, and professionalism. She cares about every student in her classes and strives to make sure each student is successful. We are thrilled she is part of the team!
Saad Mohamed, Assistant Professor of Geology
Courses taught this fall: I taught two courses this semester; one introductory course called Geology and Environment and an upper-level course called Sedimentary Geology.
Memorable moment: I think the most memorable moment from my first semester at Centenary was meeting with a Shreveport geologist working in Colorado at a local scientific meeting. He told me that he, his father, and his grandfather are Centenary geology alumni! It showed an illuminating and inspiring history of Centenary College!
What’s your favorite rock, and why? There are a lot of rocks that pique my interest. However, one of my favorite rocks is the Banded Iron Formation (BIF- see the picture above!). This rock is one of the primary sources of global iron mining today. Also, it is significantly helpful for understanding Earth's deep history and the development of its systems.
What they’re saying (Dr. Scott Vetter): Saad brings an expertise in Paleontology (the study of ancient life) which the department has not had for many years. In addition, he brings to Centenary a wealth of both teaching and research in the environmental field. The field of geology is moving more toward environmental studies with less emphasis on petroleum studies. Saad’s expertise will be important as the geology department branches out into the environmental field.
Kyra Rietveld, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art
Courses taught this fall: ART 101: Ancient through Medieval Art & Culture, ART 201: Issues in Public Art & Architecture, ART 250: History of Design
Memorable Moment: A moment that stood out to me was the beginning of the year: The annual President’s Day Convocation. This tradition marked becoming a part of the Centenary community for me.
Most beautiful spot on campus: The most beautiful spot to me is the Meadows Museum of Art. I absolutely love the building and the gallery spaces.
What they’re saying (Dr. Michelle Glaros): Dr. Rietveld is on fire! Centenary students are enraptured by her storytelling as she weaves tales that reveal the continuing cultural impact and importance of art history. The campus eagerly awaits her new spring semester course Intro to Museum Studies: Mythology, which promises a fresh take on Aphrodite's presentation in video games and Ares' characterization in Wonder Woman.
George Tiller, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
Courses taught this fall: Biology 101 and Virology 395
Memorable Moments: I greatly enjoyed helping students learn about the scientific process in both courses. The Virology students had opportunity to isolate and sequence bacterial viruses to determine their identity. This was a great semester-long lab because it taught them many molecular techniques and had them apply their newly acquired skills throughout the entire semester.
Best thing about teaching at your alma mater: The best thing about teaching at my alma mater is that I get to work with many of the professors who inspired me to earn my PhD and to be part of the students’ learning process.
What they’re saying (Dr. Scott Chirhart): George has been such an asset to the department. He provides a unique perspective being able to teach at his alma mater. He knows the importance of the learning process itself but is able to bring his Centenary experience to the students’ experience. He is bringing interesting and unique labs to class; for instance, his Virology students had the opportunity to isolate and sequence bacterial viruses to determine their identity.
Xiaoxia Zhang, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
Courses taught this fall: KNES 101-102: Introduction to Kinesiology & Exercise Nutrition
Memorable Moment: Many memorable moments! The faculty appreciation night at the Ladies Soccer Game in Mayo Field is top of my head! This theme for a soccer game is very creative! And more interesting is that many faculty stepped into the field and shot a goal. I will never forget that my ball hit the top of the goal gate. So close…
Favorite way to get moving: I love a lot of sports! As a Kinesiology professor, I enjoy talking about sports and playing different sports myself. If I have to choose a favorite, I would say my favorite sports are basketball, tennis, and table tennis. The competitiveness of sports always empowers me to be stronger and keep moving forward. Hanging out with friends and getting sweaty is just such a stress reliever!
What they’re saying (Dr. Anna Leal): Dr. Zhang won the Broyles Chair, so she hit the ground running. In her first semester, she has started her research project and is currently collecting data with student participants. She also has formed a relationship with Holy Angels, a community nonprofit that provides support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Next semester, students will work with Holy Angels as part of the class KNES 348 Exercise for Special Populations. And she started a Special Olympic Club!