New Faculty Join UNCA

Several new faculty have joined UNCA this fall.

-- Joseph Brownsmith, who holds a Ph.D. in computer and information science from Ohio State University, has joined UNCA as an assistant professor of computer science. Previously he was a senior technical instructor and courseware developer for a technology company in California, where he was responsible for developing and teaching educational courses. Brownsmith was also a senior instructor at IBM and taught at the University of Florida.

-- Lei Han has joined UNCA as an assistant professor of multimedia arts and sciences. She holds a master of the fine arts degree in computer arts from Memphis College of Art. Han's previous teaching experience includes two and three-dimensional computer animation and digital darkroom instruction.

-- Jonathan Horton, who holds a Ph.D. in forest science from Northern Arizona University, has joined UNCA as an assistant professor of biology. Previously, he taught at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Appalachian State University. Horton's major research focus is in the field of plant physiological ecology.

-- Thomas Meigs has joined UNCA as an assistant professor of biology. He holds a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Stanford University. Previously, Meigs was a research scientist at the Center of Chemical Biology at Duke University Medical Center. He is the recipient of numerous fellowships, honors and awards including a grant from the National Cancer Institute for molecular target drug discovery for cancer.

-- Ellen Holmes Pearson, who holds a Ph.D. in history from Johns Hopkin University, has joined UNCA as an assistant professor of history. She has previously taught at Western Connecticut State University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Pearson's major field of concentration is Colonial British America and Revolutionary America.

-- Bryan Schaffer has joined UNCA as an assistant professor of management. He is a Ph.D candidate in organizational behavior and human resource management at the University of Georgia. Schaffer also taught at the University of Georgia.

-- David Wilken, who holds a doctorate in trombone performance from Ball State University and a master's degree in Jazz Studies from DePaul University, has joined UNCA as an assistant professor of music. He has taught a variety of music programs at Adams State College, Ball State University, Indiana Wesleyan University and the Academy of Movement and Music.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Mark Padilla, UNCA Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, 828/251-6470
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526