August 25, 2022 (Jackson, Miss.) - Belhaven welcomed ten new professors to the University. These top professors come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with students.
Dr. KC Chew, Professor of Business Administration and China DBA Academic Director, has more than ten years of academic experience and 30 years of financial services experience. Dr. Chew received his B.A. from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, and M.B.A. and D.B.A. from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California. He also holds the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Dr. Chew's research focused on business strategy, knowledge management, and servant leadership.
Brittany Davis ('16), Gallery Director and Specialty Instructor of Art and Design, teaches photography and art appreciation. She received a B.F.A. from Belhaven University and M.S. in Studio Art from Mississippi College. Before joining the Belhaven Art Department faculty, she worked as a photographer, production manager, gallery director, social media manager, and elementary and high school art teacher.
Dr. Stacey Donaldson, Assistant Professor of Education, is the director of Ed Tech and TESOL Programs at Belhaven. Dr. Donaldson previously served as Belhaven's Director of Instructional Design. She is a 24-year-educator and has influenced learners in rural, urban, and suburban schools in south and central Mississippi. She has a B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi, M.Ed. from William Carey University, and Ph.D. from Walden University.
Carleigh Dunbar ('14), Specialty Instructor of Dance, has been teaching at Belhaven as an adjunct professor for the past eight years. She has choreographed and taught a variety of dance styles in both public and private school settings in the Jackson metro area, including eight years of experience in the Jackson Public School District. She received her B.F.A. in Dance from Belhaven.
Dr. Rebecca Geihsler-Chittom, Interim Chair of the Music Department, Associate Professor of Music, Voice Area Coordinator, and has been teaching at Belhaven for 13 years. In addition to teaching private voice and other music related courses, she has served as the music director for several Belhaven theatre productions. Dr. Geihsler-Chittom holds a B.A. in Music from Centenary College of Louisiana, a M.M. in Vocal Performance and Ph.D. in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Mississippi.
Casey Kirk, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands, has been leading the band program at Belhaven since 2016, and has previously served as adjunct music instructor from 2006-2007. Kirk has taught within Virginia and Mississippi public schools for 12 years, prior to his appointment at Belhaven. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Mississippi College and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi.
Chrissy Hrivnak, Assistant Professor of Music, joined the Belhaven University faculty in 2012. Hrivnak received her M.M. in Voice Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory (CCM) of Music, where she also completed coursework for a D.M.A. degree in Voice Performance. After CCM, she served on the faculties of Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Mount St. Joseph University, and California State University at Los Angeles. In addition to teaching applied voice and serving as the music director for Belhaven's Theatre Department, Hrivnak collaborates with the University of Mississippi Medical Center for Voice and Swallowing.
Arianna Marcell ('16), Specialty Instructor of Dance, joined Belhaven faculty in 2018 as an Adjunct Instructor of Dance. Marcell received her B.F.A. in Dance from Belhaven University in 2016. Marcell is particularly interested in collaborative choreography and community engagement. She leads a group of Belhaven's Dance Ministry Ensemble members to serve as creative movement instructors at the Stewpot after-school program. Marcell is also a dancer and choreographer with Kinetic Etchings, a local contemporary dance company.
Katie Moody ('14), Specialty Instructor of Collaborative Piano, has taught at Belhaven as an adjunct since 2014. She has been actively involved in the music community in the Jackson Metro Area for the last eight years. Moody currently serves in part-time staff positions at First Baptist Madison and St. Andrew's Episcopal Upper School in addition to her teaching at Belhaven. She received her B.A. from Belhaven University and her M.M. from Mississippi College.
Samantha Shelton, Associate Professor of Ballet, is a National Adjudicator and Faculty member for American Ballet Theatre. She has previously taught at Alma College and Wayne State University, among others. She received her B.A. in Political Science and an M.F.A in Dance from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Shelton received her professional training from the Joffrey Ballet in New York and in Michigan with Rose Marie Floyd. She also studied in London with Anita Young (Royal Ballet) and at the Cecchetti International program in England.
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