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2010 Course Faculty & Afternoon Seminar Staff
Mr. Tim Barrington -- Mr. Barrington is the instructor/technical director and sound designer with the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts at UT Martin. While in graduate school at Memphis State University, he was selected as one of five honors students in theatre. A 30-plus-year employee of UT Martin, he is also production coordinator for the Office of Student Life, advisor to the Student Activities Council and technical director of the award-winning Miss UT Martin pageant. For the past 14 years, Mr. Barrington has also been entertainment/technical director of the Tennessee Soybean Festival. He has been the technical director/sound designer for more than 250 theatre, dance and opera productions and has acted roles in more than 50 productions. He is a member of the Southeastern Theatre Conference, The United States Institute of Theatre Technicians, Alpha Psi Omega National Honor Theatre Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha National Honor Music Fraternity, The National Association of Campus Activities and The Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. Mr. Barrington has worked with the Governor's School for the Humanities for 19 years and is the public address announcer for UT Martin's Skyhawk football and men's and women's basketball programs. He is also proud to say he is a 26-year veteran volunteer firefighter with the Martin Fire Department.
Dr. Chris Baxter -- Chris Baxter is an assistant professor of political science in UT Martin's Department of Management, Marketing and Political Science, teaching courses in public administration and American government. He graduated with a B.S. in political science from UT Martin in 1994 and obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. Dr. Baxter also serves as a pre-law advisor. His research interests include constitutional law and judicial politics; his recent articles have focused on how interest groups attempt to influence judges' decisions and the outcomes of judicial elections. His wife, Lisa, is also a UT Martin alum and they have one son, Jake. Chris is proud to be participating in the Governor's School for the Humanities for a second time.
Dr. Charles Bradshaw -- Dr. Charles Bradshaw was born and raised in the intermountain west, attending Brigham Young University for his B.A. and M.A. degrees. As an undergraduate at BYU, he worked his way through school as a house cleaner, mover, mechanic, referee, and as a river guide on the Colorado River. He has taught at Brigham Young University, Westminister College, and at the University of Missouri, attaining a Ph.D. in English there in 2002. He is now an assistant professor of English at UT Martin where he has taught for the past five years. He loves Mobey Dick, Early American literature, Film and Literature, and first-year composition courses, where he loves to challenge students' writing and thinking skills. Currently a Coffey Outstanding Teacher nominee and the 2006 College of Humanities and Fine Arts Outstanding Junior Faculty Member of the Year, he has also published articles for The New England Quarterly, The Southern Quarterly, The Dictionary of Literary Biography, and other reference material. He is working on a book-length project about conspiracy fears and literature in early America.
Dr. Chris Brown -- Christopher M. Brown is an assistant professor of philosophy at UT Martin, where he teaches courses in ancient and medieval philosophy, metaphysics, the philosophy of religion, and ethics. He received the bachelor of music degree in percusion performance from Western Michigan University, the M.A. in humanities from Western Kentucky University, and the Ph.D. in philosophy from St. Louis University. Dr. Brown's recent publications include a book on St. Thomas Aquinas's philosophy of material objects and an article on God and the problem of evil in an anthology entitled, Star Wars and Philosophy. He enjoys living in Martin with his wife Merry Elizabeth and their three sons, Judah Christopher, Leopold Edward, and Thomas Patrick.
Mrs. Merry Brown -- Merry Brown is a full-time lecturer in philosophy at UT Martin, where she introduces students to the history of philosophical ideas and encourages contemplation of what it means to lead a good human life. She received the Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and psychology from Azusa Pacific University and the M.A. in humanities from Western Kentucky University. She participates in the UT Martin Philosophy Forum and enjoys meeting with her students outside of the classroom to do thought experiments and service projects. She loves small town life in Martin with her husband Christopher and their three boys, Judah, Leopold and Thomas.
Mrs. Anna Clark -- Anna Clark, who views reading, writing, and travel as creative arts, is a faculty member in the Department of English at UT Martin where she also serves as co-coordinator of the Hortense Parrish Writing Center. She received the M.A. in English from the University of Missouri and has done additional graduate work at the University of Mississippi. She teaches composition and literature courses at UT Martin and has become increasingly involved in leading inter-disciplinary travel-study experiences (primarily to Great Britain, Italy and France) for university students, often co-leading these trips with professors from UT Martin's Department of History and Philosophy. Clark has also traveled personally throughout Europe and in Japan, Korea, and Peru; she has participated in university-sponsored faculty development trips to Venezuela, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. She is an advisor for Writers Guild,a group of student writers who meet weekly to write and discuss their work.
She is a member of the Tennessee Writers Alliance, and her poetry has appeared in a number of state and regional publications. She has received many teaching awards, including the 2003 University of Tennessee National Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award. Special academic interests include the study of modern Southern literature and various forms of creative expression. Personal interests include a love of the outdoors and hiking; she has hiked in many of Tennessee's state parks as well as in Great Smokey Mountains National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, and in Austria.
Dr. David Coffey -- Born in New Mexico and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, David Coffey holds the Ph.D. from TCU. He is currently associate professor and Chair of the Department of History and Philosophy at UT Martin, where he offers classes in United States, military and Latin American history. He also serves as an interim dean of UT Martin's College of Humanities and Fine Arts. His books include John Bell Hood and the Struggle for Atlanta; Historic Abilene: An Illustrated History; and Soldier Princess: The Life and Legend of Agnes Salm-Salm in North America, 1861-1867. Dr. Coffey has contributed to eight major historical reference works and is associate editor of two award-winning, three-volume projects: the Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War and the Encyclopedia of American Military History. In addition, he has had chapters published in critically acclaimed anthologies of Civil War and Mexican history. His latest book is Sheridan's Lieutenants: Phil Sheridan, His Generals, and the Final Year of the Civil War.
Dr. Carol Eckert -- Carol Eckert, an associate professor of art at UT Martin, teaches all of the University's art history and several art education courses. She earned the BFA in sculpture from Austin Peay University, an M.A. in art history from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in art education from the Union Institute and University. Prior to coming to UT Martin, Dr. Eckert taught at Austin Peay State University and ran a private art studio for 10 years. She received the Higher Education Division Educator of the Year Award for 2005 from the Tennessee Art Education Association. In addition, she was recognized by the UT Martin College of Humanities and Fine Arts as Outstanding Junior Faculty Member of the Year for 2005.
Dr. Chris Hill -- Chris Hill is Tar Heel bred, having received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005. Before that, he spent his college career at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He met his wife Weslee there, so naturally he remembers the place fondly. Dr. Hill is originally from Manila, Phillippines, where he spent his entire childhood. Dr. Hill has been an English professor at UT Martin for three years, and lives happily within biking distance of campus with his wife of eleven years, a three year old little boy, an infant son, and two tabby cats. He teaches Shakespeare, Milton, sixteenth and seventeenth century literature, and various composition courses. In his spare time, when not playing Candy Land with the little boy, he likes to read anything he can get his hands on, and to ride his bike in the countryside around Martin.
Dr. Julie Hill -- Julie Hill, director of percussion studies at UT Martin, is highly regarded as a performer and pedagogue specializing in contemporary and world percussion. She has presented clinics and concerts for universities and state Day of Percussion festivals throughout the United States and is a frequent guest lecturer and performer on the topic of Brazilian percussion. As a member of the acclaimed Caixa Percussion Trio, she has performed at international festivals in Mexico, Brazil, France, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) international conventions in 2003 and 2004. The Caixa Trio released its new CD, “Commissioned Works,” in October of 2007. Dr. Hill received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from UT Martin, holds a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University and has a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky. She is researching and studying percussion extensively throughout Brazil, primarily in the regions of Salvador da Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Dr. Hill serves on the international advisory board for Escola Dida, a project in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, dedicated to social transformation for black women and at-risk children through music. The June 2004 Percussive Notes journal featured a cover story written by Dr. Hill on the Brazilian-based project. She currently serves on the PAS World and Scholarly Research committees. She is also on the PAS board of directors and has been a member of PAS since 1989.
Mr. Brian Johnson -- Originally from the Tall Corn state of Iowa, Brian Johnson has felt at home since joining the UT Martin faculty in 2001. Currently a lecturer of psychology, he holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in general experimental psychology from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), where his undergraduate classmates included NFL quarterback Kurt Warner. He has also done additional graduate work in social-organizational psychology at Northern Illinois University. Prior to arriving in Tennessee, Mr. Johnson spent a year as a visiting instructor at UNI. He has taught many courses in his eight years, including: Experimental Psychology I and II, General Introductory Psychology I and II, Human Relations and Personal Adjustment, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Social Psychology, and Social Psychology and the Law. Mr. Johnson recently served as UT Martin’s faculty senate executive committee secretary and as secretary for Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society Chapter 127. He has also contributed as a reviewer to textbooks in general introductory psychology, experimental psychology, industrial-organizational psychology and social psychology. His research interests include the factors involved in prejudice and discrimination, group dynamics and topics related to teaching. He has presented research on how personality impacts instances of road rage, factors in human decision-making, the development of a measure of age and generation identity, and a meta-analysis on causal factors in sexual harassment. Mr. Johnson is honored to be participating in the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Humanities for the first time and welcomes the return of psychology to its curriculum
Dr. Leslie LaChance -- A native of upstate New York's beautiful Hudson River Valley, Leslie LaChance joined the Department of English at UT Martin in 2002 after completing her doctoral work in English at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She teaches composition, drama, and creative writing, and has published numerous poems and articles in literary journals and magazines. When she's not writing or teaching people about writing, Dr. LaChance spends her time on the road looking for adventure in the U.S. and abroad.
Mr. Lane Last -- Lane Last is an associate professor of art at UT Martin in the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts. He is a filmmaker and artist based in Union City, Tenn. Lane holds M.F.A. and B.S. degrees in art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with primary concentrations in Painting, Digital Art, Video, and New Media, though he has worked in Film Production, Installation/Non-Static Forms, and Printmaking. He was previously on the faculty at Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, Wisconsin and Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois his hometown. Lane has been exhibiting his animations and media works in international venues and competitions for the past nine years. He has also been exhibiting his paintings in international, national, and regional museums and galleries for the past eighteen years. His works can be found in public and private collections across the United States., Italy, Korea, and Japan.
Dr. Robert Nanney -- Robert Nanney, associate professor of journalism and Chair of the Department of Cummunications at UT Martin, teaches features/editorial writing, desktop publishing, and senior seminar. He received his master's degree in journalism from Louisiana State University and a Ph.D. in mass communications from Ohio University. Prior to joining the UT Martin faculty, Dr. Nanney worked in the newspaper field for 15 years. He received the UT National Association Outstanding Teaching Award in 1999 and has earned numerous other teaching recognitions at UT Martin.
Dr. Henry Parker -- A high school valedictorian, Henry Parker entered St. John’s Abbey to become a monk and a priest. Realizing his true vocation was in the secular world, he left the monastery after three years, enrolled at the University of St. Thomas and graduated magna cum laude in English. He received an M.A. in English from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Latin and Greek from the University of Illinois. Dr. Parker taught at the University of Minnesota, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Illinois before assuming his current position as Cunningham Distinguished Professor at UT Martin. Dr. Parker’s most recent American publication, co-authored with his wife Marilyn Crist, is Apollo vs. Dionysus: A Philosophy to Increase College Success by 85%. His most recent foreign publication, an essay entitled "Minnesota's Golden Age: A Tribute to Saul Bellow," was published in Paris inPoesie Premiereand describes Dr. Parker's friendships with Nobel laureate Saul Bellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning poets John Berryman and James Wright. Dr. Parker has alsowritten a monograph entitled Linnaeus on Intoxicants, published at Lund University, Lund, Sweden. He hasserved as co-director of the People to People Citizen Ambassador Program to South Africa and Zimbabwe, and he returned to South Africa in February 2003 to continue his work with preschool children. In April 2004, Dr. Parker served as a member of the People to People education and humanitarian delegation to China, where he spoke on "A Pre-School Curriculum for Developing Nations."In April 2005, he spoke in Alexandria, Egypt, as a member of the People to People delegation hosted by Suzanne Mubarak, wife of Egypt’s president. In January, 2007, Dr. Parker made a presentation at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and the Humanities. Dr. Parker is a speaker on the national lecture circuit and has been featured on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” for his work with medical hypnotherapy, with which he helps alleviate pain in incurable pain sufferers. He has taught in Governor’s School since 1991.
Mrs. Tomi Parrish -- Tomi M. Parrish is an instructor of communications at UT Martin. She holds two bachelor's degrees from UT Martin, in communications and geography, and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. She worked as a daily newspaper copy editor for more than 10 years, and she now teaches news writing, copy editing and reporting. As coordinator of the Office of Student Publications, Mrs. Parrish advises the student newspaper, The Pacer, and the student yearbook, The Spirit. She also coordinates the Department of Communications' internship program. A receipient of the 2004 UT National Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2005 Coffey Outstanding Teacher Award, she lives in Martin with her husband, Shane; two sons, Jesse and Will; and entirely too many pets.
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