Donald J. Childs
Director, Department of Theatre
and Professor of Theatre

dchilds@okcu.edu • 208-5720

B.P.A., M.L.A., Oklahoma City University

Melanie Shelley is beginning her twenty-first year on the faculty of Oklahoma City University and her first year as associate dean. Her other professional experience includes working as a master teacher in Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska. She has choreographed for Seventeen Magazine Model Search and for Sooner State Games Opening Ceremonies. She has also worked with Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company and with the American Spirit Dance Company and has performed in concerts with Bob Hope, George Burns, Jack Jones, Marilyn McCoo, Dinah Shore, Marie Osmond, Vic Damone, and Jane Powell. She was the OCU Exemplary Teacher of the Year in 2000 and the University Faculty Fellow in 2006-07. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and, as an undergraduate at Oklahoma City University, was a Rhodes Scholar nominee, the silver Letzeiser medal winner, and graduated summa cum laude. Shelley is originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. She enjoys yoga, cycling, designing costumes for the American Spirit Dance Company, and interior design.

mshelley@okcu.edu • 208-5982

B.M., Illinois Wesleyan University
M.A., University of Iowa
Ph.D. in progress, Florida State University

Rob Bennett has spent the last nine years teaching music theory, aural skills, and music technology to undergraduate and graduate students, including an extended stint teaching music theory to students with majors other than music. He was appointed associate for the Program for Instructional Excellence at Florida State University, and while he is not currently pursuing composition, his work has been heard in the U.S. and Europe. He moved to Oklahoma City from Tallahassee, Florida, but is originally from "near" Champaign, Illinois. Bennett's professional interests include popular music, electronics, minimalism, and the avant-garde. In his spare time, he enjoys tinkering with computers, occasional home recording and composition, and riding and/or fixing up his motorcycle.

rbennett@okcu.edu . 208-5623

B.A., Luther College
M.Div., Wesley Theological Seminary
Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Graduate Theological Union

Sharon Betsworth will teach New Testament Biblical Studies in the Wimberley School of Religion. Prior to her arrival at Oklahoma City University, Betsworth held the Newhall Teaching Fellowship at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. She served for six years as associate pastor at First United Methodist Church of Mason City, located in her home state of Iowa. Her academic interests include women in the New Testament and Greco-Roman literature and history. Her favorite leisure activities include walking, hiking, cooking, and spending time with family.

sbetsworth@okcu.edu . 208-5515

B.F.A., California State University, Long Beach
M.F.A., Boston University

Elaine Bitting joined the full-time faculty this fall, but has served as an adjunct faculty member for more than eight years. She teaches studio art and art history and is a former director of Arts in Education, a program of the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She calls Oklahoma City home, and enjoys painting, drawing, and renovating her old house.

ebitting@okcu.edu • 208-5229

B.F.A., Niagara University
M.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth

University Tonia Campanella has taught acting, stage movement, stage combat, and intimacy and sexuality for the stage and has worked as an actor and stunt person for a variety of professional organizations around the country. She has also worked as a director, choreographer and movement coach.

tcampanella@okcu.edu . 208-5724

M.S., University of Oklahoma
B.S.N., Oklahoma Baptist University

Kathy Cook's career in nursing and education has included positions as chief nursing executive, legal nurse consultant, quality improvement specialist and facilitator, coronary care nurse and educator, and president of Education, Training, and Consultation. She is nationally certified with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and certified as a legal nurse consultant. Cook relocated to Oklahoma City from Burns, Oregon, but is a native of Norman, Oklahoma. Her favorite leisure activities include oil painting, fishing, gardening, travel, motorcycles, and "doing anything with my teenager."

kclark@okcu.edu . 208-5920

A.B. Princeton University
J.D. Yale University

Stephen Clowney teaches land use regulation and real estate development in the School of Law. This fall is his first year of teaching law. Prior to arriving in Oklahoma City, Clowney lived in Santa Barbara, California, but he's originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and remains a Steelers fan. When not teaching or watching football, Clowney spends his free time planning his upcoming wedding and reading bad science fiction novels.

sclowney@okcu.edu . 208-5280

Diploma in Nursing, St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing
B.S., M.S., University of Maryland
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Linda Cook comes to Oklahoma City University from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christ where she served as associate professor and undergraduate chair of the College of Nursing. She also has taught at the University of Maryland, Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Cook spent 13 years working at the world's first trauma center in Baltimore in the 1970s and 1980s and began her publishing career there as an undergraduate. Her interest in trauma care and emergency medicine evolved into research with chemically dependent populations. Cook has maintained a therapy practice as a psychiatric/adult mental health clinical nurse specialist since her certification in 1991 and plans to find a venue in Oklahoma City to continue this work. Her leisure activities include raising Maine coon cats, reading science fiction literature, and practicing martial arts.

lcook@okcu.edu . 208-5904

B.A., University of the Incarnate Word
B.M., M.M., Ph.D., University of North Texas

Hidetoshi Fukuchi relocated to Oklahoma City from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, to join the faculty of the Bass School of Music. He has also taught music theory in Texas, and he recently presented a paper on Japanese traditional music at the International Council for Traditional Music in Vienna, Austria. Fukuchi is originally from Saitama, Japan. He enjoys Arnold Schoenberg's aesthetic philosophy and its relationship to his twelve tone works, late nineteenth-century chromaticism, the history and pedagogy of music theory, and Japanese traditional and popular music.

hfukuchi@okcu.edu . 208-5141

B.A., Brigham Young University
M.A., Oregon State University
Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Within days of completing his Ph.D. in English at Texas A&M, Chris Garrett began work at Oklahoma City University as the Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). His previous experience includes teaching in Texas, Oregon, and Japan and directing the Graduate Teaching Academy at Texas A&M. He has also enjoyed a career as a tennis teaching pro and was the assistant tennis coach at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, which is not far from his hometown of Turner. Garrett received several teaching awards while at Texas A&M, but lists his nineteen-year marriage and his six children as his greatest accomplishments. When he's not teaching or directing CETL, Garrett enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, cycling, and training for a triathlon.

cgarrett@okcu.edu . 208-5581

B.A., University of Oklahoma

Andy Gibson has taught broadcast journalism, most recently at Norman High School, and has worked as a video journalist for several television stations. He is recipient of the Oklahoma Education Association Marshall Gregory Award for Excellence in Journalism Education. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gibson has called Norman home for a number of years. Among his favorite pastimes are playing and watching soccer, training for marathons-he'll run his fourth marathon this November-and traveling with his wife, Lindsay.

agibson@okcu.edu . 208-5714

B.A., Western Illinois University
M.F.A., Ohio State University

Jim Hutchison joins the OCU Theatre Department as an assistant professor in lighting design and technology. He has taught lighting design and technology at Ohio State University and at the University of Texas at Arlington. Hutchison has worked in lighting design for summer theatre in Michigan, has studied the Czech designer Jaroslav Malina, and is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 298. Hutchison is a newlywed who enjoys disc golf, network administration, building computers, technology, and playing music.

jhutchison@okcu.edu . 208-5723

Jeremy Kiesman is teaching improvisational bebop jazz tap dance in the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management this year. He moved to Oklahoma City from Atlanta, Georgia, but New York City is his hometown. Keisman was the first American in the hit show Tap Dogs, which toured North America and Europe. His television credits include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Regis and Kathie Lee, Vibe and MTV. Most recently he toured Germany with Magic of the Dance. Among his achievements, Keisman includes innovations in the field of tap dance as a musical form and pushing improvisation in tap to its next phase in history.

jkiesman@okcu.edu . 208-5606

B.A., B.S.N., University of California-Los Angeles
M.S.W., M.P.H., University of California-Berkeley
M.S.N., D.N.P. candidate, University of Tennessee-Memphis

David Lane is a nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist and will teach undergraduate and graduate nursing students in the Kramer School of Nursing. Although he has experience as an adjunct professor, this will be his first opportunity to be a full-time faculty member. Lane has received awards in gerontologic nursing and, this year won competive scholarship awards from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Originally from California, Lane has lived in Oklahoma since 1986. Two of his children are OCU alumni, one daughter is a first-year student at OCU, two are at the University of Tulsa, and Lane hopes that his other three children choose OCU. Lane says, "I work to afford my kids, but love serving my clients as well." He enjoys travel, movies, and "anything in the arts," including classical, opera, sacred choral, pipe organ, orchestra, or anything in which his kids are performing.

dlane@okcu.edu . 208-5908

B.S., M.S., University of Central Oklahoma
Ph.D., Capella University

Prior to joining the Oklahoma City University faculty, Stephani Latham taught high school physical education in Texas (Amarillo High) and in Oklahoma (Edmond North). During that time, she has also taught on an adjunct basis. She is the current vice president of the Oklahoma Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; a certified sport psychology consultant; and a former high school volleyball coach of the year. Latham is originally from Hereford, Texas, and enjoys research in gender differences in sport and exercise behavior. She also loves golf.

slatham@okcu.edu

B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara Dean
M.F.A., University of California at Riverside Ph.D., New York University

Robin Levenson comes to Oklahoma City University following nine years of teaching voice and speech at New York University. She has also taught at Ione College, LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts, and the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked as an actor and voice-over artist in New York and Los Angeles. Her film credits include The Fantasticks and Footloose, and her television credits include One Day at a Time and Days of Our Lives.

rlevenson@okcu.edu . 208-5721

A.A.S., Rose State College
B.S., J.D., Oklahoma City University

Jerry Magill is a licensed practicing attorney and has been admitted to practice in all Oklahoma State Courts, The United States Western District of Oklahoma, and the United States Supreme Court. He is also a licensed real estate broker and has taught pre-licensing real estate courses for 20 years. He has been teaching in the Oklahoma City University PLUS Program for eight years and is beginning his second year in the political science department. He is the 2001 recipient of the PLUS Program's Distinguished PLUS Alumni Award and is the benefactor of the Jerry and Susan Magill PLUS Scholarship at Oklahoma City University. In his leisure time, he enjoys being with his family, traveling, boating, fishing, and motorcycling.

jmagill@okcu.edu

B.A., Indiana University
J.D., Seattle University School of Law
LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center

Christina Misner Pollard is teaching immigration law through the Immigration Law Clinic. She has practiced law in the state of Washington since 1994, mainly in the areas of family law and immigration law. For the past decade, she has worked primarily for legal services agencies to provide legal representation to low-income individuals, most of whom were survivors of domestic violence. She also taught immigration law as an adjunct professor at Seattle University School of Law. An avid walker, she has completed three marathons and seven half marathons. She relocated to Oklahoma from Tacoma, Washington, but she is originally from Cincinnati.

cmisner@okcu.edu . 208-5189

B.S., M.Ed, University of Oklahoma

Sharon Pyeatt taught kindergarten for 22 years and has taught as an adjunct periodically for 20 years. She is an experienced mentor teacher and residency year teacher supervisor. She earned National Board Certification in 1999 and was the Norman Schools Teacher of the Year in 1994. She was born and raised in Shawnee, but has lived in Norman since 1978 and calls it home. Pyeatt is committed to arts integration. Pyeatt and her family enjoy their lake cabin, skiing, and travel. Pyeatt is involved with Norman's Sooner Theater, loves to cook, and always enjoys a good book.

Spyeatt@okcu.edu . 208-5367

B.S., East Central University

Don Risi began his professional theatrical career 42 years ago at the age of 15. While he has just joined the ranks of the full-time faculty, he has been teaching students at Oklahoma City University for 15 years as an adjunct. He recently designed a new set for the Oklahoma Heritage Association's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies to be videotaped in November and aired on OETA. Risi is originally from Shrub Oak, New York, and is a semi-professional photographer, specializing in fine art landscape and wildlife photography.

drisi@okcu.edu . 208-5828

B.A., Birmingham-Southern College
M.A., Ph.D., Duquesne University

Wade Roberts moved to Oklahoma City from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he defended his dissertation with honors. He has also taught philosophy at West Virginia University. Roberts is originally from Fort Payne, Alabama.

wroberts@okcu.edu . 208-5603

Melissa Turner
Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre

B.A., University of Northern Colorado
M.F.A., Yale School of Drama

Melissa Turner is teaching stage management and serving as the production stage manager for the theatre productions at Oklahoma City University. Turner has worked as a theater professional around the country, including Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut, Boston Lyric Opera, Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshires, and The Cleveland Playhouse. She is originally from Golden, Colorado. Turner enjoys knitting and crocheting and has done some quilting. Since moving to Oklahoma she has adopted a dog-a Westie named Flora.

mturner@okcu.edu . 208-5722

B.A., Trinity University
M.S.A., Oklahoma City University

Carolyn Weber has been a CPA since 1979 and has worked for local and national accounting firms. She's also worked for a private business involved in real estate and securities investments and, concurrently, worked for a software development company helping with design, testing, training, and support for the accounting systems for churches and not-for-profit organizations. She's been on the Boy Scouts of America training staff for many years, as well. She's a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Delta Mu Delta and received the Silver Beaver from the Boy Scouts of America. Her academic interests include accounting theory, not-for-profit accounting, and church/clergy taxation. When she has leisure time, she enjoys needlecrafts, puzzles, and walking.

cweber@okcu.edu . 208-5528

B.A., Rocky Mountain College Teacher Certification, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
M.S., Purdue University
Ed.D., Oklahoma State University

Liz Willner has eight years of teaching experience. She is currently working with two colleagues to author WILD about READING, a curriculum supplement to Project WILD. She has worked extensively with elementary students and is committed to improving literacy. She is vice president of the Oklahoma Reading Association and slated to be president in 2009-2010. She received the 2003 University of Oklahoma College of Education Junior Faculty Award, and among her numerous student awards is the Graduate Research Excellence Award from OSU Graduate College. Willner from Gillette, Wyoming, is married to OCU professor of economics, Dr. Jonathan Willner; and is mother to 13-year-old Corina.

lwillner@okcu.edu . 208-5935

B.A., University of Colorado at Boulder
M.Div., United Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Northwestern University

Lisa Wolfe was director of the Harriet L. Miller Women's Center and Academic Programming and a lecturer in Old Testament and Women's Studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, prior to joining the faculty in the Wimberly School of Religion. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has served several churches in Ohio. She recently launched a business, Biblenerd Productions, Inc., (www.biblenerdproductions.com). In August, Biblenerd Productions released the Bible Study DVD "Uppity Women of the Bible: Ruth." "Uppity Women of the Bible: Song of Songs" is currently in production. Wolfe married in April 2007. In her leisure time, She enjoys hiking, camping, rowing (sweep), gardening, and recently began soaring lessons (flying gliders).

lwolfe@okcu.edu . 208-5286