Dana Horgen joins the Department of Chemistry as assistant professor. She attended St. Olaf College, where she received a BA in chemistry, and Baylor University, where she received a PhD in organic chemistry. Most recently, Dr. Horgen has been a teaching assistant at Baylor for Organic Laboratory, Advanced Organic Laboratory, and Qualitative Analysis Laboratory. Jamie Jirout joins the Department of Psychology as assistant professor. Dr. Jirout received a PhD in psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. Most recently, she was a research fellow at Temple University’s Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center in their Psychology Department. Ryan Johnson joins the Department of History as assistant professor. Dr. Johnson received his PhD in history from the University of Oxford. He comes to Rhodes from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, where he was an assistant professor in the history of science and medicine. Yuanting Lu joins the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as assistant professor. Dr. Lu received a PhD in mathematics from Florida State University. Dr. Lu comes to Rhodes from Mercer University, where he taught courses such as Introductory Statistics and Pre-calculus. Yi Lu joins the Department of Modern Languages and Literature as instructor of Chinese. Ms. Lu is currently pursuing a PhD in media studies from the University of Texas at Ausrhodes.edu
tin and will graduate in Spring 2015. There, she was a teaching assistant in the Department of Asian Studies. Bradley Onishi joins the Search Program as assistant professor. Dr. Onishi received his PhD in religious studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He comes to Rhodes from Washington and Lee University, where he was a visiting assistant professor of religious studies. Joel Parsons ʼ07 continues his work with the Department of Art and Art History in his new position as director of the Clough Hansen Gallery and assistant professor. He is an alumnus of Rhodes and received an MFA on a President’s Fellowship from the Sculpture Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His work has been exhibited in Chicago, Atlanta, and Memphis as well as Turkey, South Africa, and India. Leigh Pittenger continues her work with the Department of Religious Studies in her new full-time position as assistant professor. Dr. Pittenger received a PhD in comparative literature and religion from Emory University. Benjamin Purkis joins the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as assistant professor. Dr. Purkis received a PhD in mathematics from the University of Colorado. While there, he taught a broad range of courses from the introductory level Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills to Calculus III. Ashanté Reese joins the Department of Anthropology and Sociol-
ogy as the William Randolph Hearst Teaching Fellow. Ms. Reese is currently pursuing a PhD in anthropology from American University. Cynthia Ryder joins the Department of Biology as assistant professor. Dr. Ryder received a PhD from Wake Forest University. Most recently, she was an undergraduate research mentor and taught courses in general biology and microbiology as well as molecular genetics and immunology at Lincoln Memorial University. Thilina Surasinghe joins the Department of Biology as assistant professor. Dr. Surasinghe received a PhD in fisheries and wildlife biology from Clemson University in South Carolina. Most recently he taught Organismal Biology, Vertebrate Zoology, General Biology, and non-major courses as a visiting assistant professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Rebecca Tuvel joins the Department of Philosophy as assistant professor. Dr. Tuvel received a PhD in philosophy from Vanderbilt University. Most recently, she taught Introduction to Logic, the Philosophy of Consumption, and the Meaning of Life. Keith Veal joins the Department of Political Science as assistant professor. Dr. Veal received a PhD in political science from the University of Michigan. Most recently, he has taught courses at the University of Michigan such as American Politics, Political Theory, and Contemporary Issues in American Politics.
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