Faculty
Marguerite Armistead
Communication Arts Instructor
Divinity North 206
205-726-4034, marmiste@samford.edu
M.A., Auburn University, English
B.A., Auburn University, English, with double minor in Environmental Science
Academic Interests: Oral and written communication (especially Composition), English as a Second Language (ESL), Creative Writing, English Literature and Literary Criticism
Outside Interests: Reid (husband) and Eleanor, Jack Riley, and Amanda Claire (children); member of Trinity UMC; activist with Protecting Our Guardians (POG); writing, singing, and drawing
Dana Basinger
Director of Freshman Life
DBH 103
205-726-2216, dkbasing@samford.edu
M.A., B.A., University of Alabama in Birmingham, English
Academic Interests: Nonfiction writing; 19th-century British literature; active learning pedagogies; communication technology
Outside Interests: Husband Jim, daughters Amy and Erin, students at Samford, and Abby; Senior high youth team at Shades Mountain Bible Church in Hoover; politics; reading; writing; theatre; dance
Dr. Jonathan Bass
Associate Professor, History
DBH 322
205-726-4133, sjbass@samford.edu
Kelsey Bates
Communication Arts Instructor
Brooks 102
Dr. Amanda Borden
Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Brooks 224
205-726-2511, awborden@samford.edu
Ph.D., University of Illinois
A.B., M.A., University of Alabama
Academic Interests: Problem-Based Learning and service learning in communication instruction; the rhetoric of Winston Churchill; student retention and orientation
Outside Interests: Husband Lee and children Adrian and Joe (both college students); hiking, reading, snow skiing, theatre, travel; active in Bible study, Sunday school, Women's Chorus, and Church Council at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church; All America City Award Committee for Vestavia Hills
Dr. Charlotte Brammer
Academic Interests: Writing pedagogy, technical and professional communication, sociolinguisticsAssistant Professor, Communication Studies
Brooks 216
205-726-2014, cdbramme@samford.edu
Ph.D., University of Alabama, English/Applied Linguistics
M.A., University of Alabama in Birmingham, English/Composition and Rhetoric
B.A., Hollins College, Political Science
Outside Interests: Husband Clayton and teenage children, Andrew and Sarah; Career Transition Ministry with Asbury United Methodist Church; writing; gardening
Peggy Carlisle
Communication Arts Instructor
Divinity North 311
205-726-2970, mlcarlis@samford.edu
M.F.A., Queens University (Charlotte, N.C.), Creative Writing
M. A., University of Montevallo, Communication Arts
B.A., Birmingham-Southern College, Theatre Arts and Art History
Academic Interests: Writing, Narrative and Persuasive; Theatre Education; Art History
Outside Interests: Husband Michael and son Christopher (an actor); bass guitar; lighting design; voice-overs
Tony L. Crunk
Communication Arts Instructor
Brooks 102
Billye Currie
Academic Interests: Writing; tutoring composition and grammar; symbolism and irony in life and literature: the obvious correlation between the two, and the extensive experience and knowledge that can be gained by studying fiction and poetryCommunication Arts Instructor
Senior Lecturer and Core Office Manager
Divinity North 320
205-726-2071, bbcurrie@samford.edu
M.A., University of Louisville, Modern American Literature
B.A., Brenau College, English
Outside Interests: Grandchildren Catie and Alex; painting, calligraphy, embroidery, and illustration; service at homeless shelters for women (Jessie's Place, First Light, Pathways); traveling especially to Greece & Italy; making jewelry; most importantly, friends and relationships
Sonya B. Davis
Communication Arts Instructor
Brooks Hall 118
205-726-4531, sbdavis@samford.edu
M.A., UAB, English Literature
B.A., University of Alabama, Journalism
Dr. David Dedo
Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Director, Communication Resource Center
Brooks 214
205-726-2310, drdedo@samford.edu
Ph.D., Purdue University
M.A, B.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Academic Interests: Rhetoric and composition; electronic rhetoric; professional communication
Betsy Emmons
Communication Arts Instructor
Divinity North 311
205-726-4241, ememmons@samford.edu
M.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Communication Studies
B.A., James Madison University, English
Sonya B. DavisCommunication Arts Instructor
Brooks Hall 118
205-726-4531, sbdavis@samford.edu
M.A., UAB, English Literature
B.A., University of Alabama, Journalism
Dr. David DedoAssociate Professor, Communication Studies
Director, Communication Resource Center
Brooks 214
205-726-2310, drdedo@samford.edu
Ph.D., Purdue University
M.A, B.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Betsy Emmons
Communication Arts Instructor
Divinity North 311
205-726-4241, ememmons@samford.edu
M.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Communication Studies
B.A., James Madison University, English
Betsy EmmonsCommunication Arts Instructor
Divinity North 311
205-726-4241, ememmons@samford.edu
M.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Communication Studies
B.A., James Madison University, English
Academic Interests: Mass communication, particularly in sports; technology in communication; rhetoric; modern American lit
Outside Interests: Being a mother and wife; cooking; keeping up with college football and NASCAR; reading the occasional novel; Bible study
Kwoya Fagin
Communication Arts Instructor
Brooks 102
Dr. Jane Hiles
Associate Professor, English
Divinity North 316
205-726-2039, njhiles@samford.edu
Dr. Jane HilesAssociate Professor, English
Divinity North 316
205-726-2039, njhiles@samford.edu
Dr. Michael Janas
Michael Janas teaches classes in rhetorical criticism, argumentation and public address. His research interests involve the interplay of rhetoric and history. He is the chair of the Southern Forensics Association and the Howard College Arts and Sciences Assembly. He is also the Director of the Samford Summer Forensics Institute for high school students and co-director and founder of the Birmingham Area Debate League.Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Brooks 218
205-726-2509, mjjanas@samford.edu
Ph.D., University of Iowa
M.A., University of Georgia
B.A., Boston College
Vickie Knierim
Communication Arts Instructor
Divinity North 311
205-726-2970, vsknieri@samford.edu
Dr. Ken Kirby
Communication Arts Course Coordinator
Divinity North 307
205-726-4033, rkkirby@samford.edu
Ph.D. Indiana University, 19th-century American literature, minor in rhetoric and composition
M.A., University of Alabama in Birmingham, English
B.A., Auburn University, English
Academic Interests: 19th-century American literature; Christian environmentalism; adult education; phenomenology as methodology for literary criticism and teaching communication.
Outside Interests: cycling; travel, camping, and bird watching with friends and family; church music director, 1993-2001.
Cathlena Martin
Communication Arts Instructor
Divinity North 206
205-726-4034, camartin@samford.edu
Professor Martin's faculty Web page
M.A., University of Florida, English
B.A., Samford University, English and Education
Academic Interests: children's literature and culture; adolescent literature and culture; digital media; adaptations
Dr. P. Andrew Montgomery
Assistant Professor, Classics
Brooks 214
205-726-4319, pamontgo@samford.edu
Ph.D., University of Iowa, Classics
M.A., University of Washington, Classics
B.A., Georgia State University, Classics
Academic Interests: Greek and Latin historiography; Sallust; literary representations of geography and spatial relationships; rhetoric
Kathy Parnell
Communication Arts Course Coordinator
Divinity North 309
205-726-4035, kcparnel@samford.edu
M. A., Auburn University
Academic Interests: 19th-century British novel; student learning communities; and faculty development
Outside Interests: All things British; New York City; college football; the American Revolutionary War; and, most importantly, my children and my crazy yellow lab.
Lynette Sandley
Assistant Professor, Core Curriculum
Communication Arts Course Coordinator
Cultural Perspectives Instructor
Divinity North 318
205-726-4046, lmsandle@samford.edu
M. A., University of Central Oklahoma, English (Creative Writing emphasis)
B.S., University of Texas at Tyler, Speech Communication and English
Academic Interests: Service-learning, oral and written communication, persuasion, literary and dramatic criticism, and creative writing; additional graduate work in composition, speech communication, informational studies, and literary analysis at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas at Tyler.
Outside Interests: Husband Don, daughter Caitlin, and pets, Izzie and Kitty Bartholomew; an active member at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church; creative writing, gardening, and travel.
Brooke Wadsworth
Communication Arts Instructor
Brooks 102
Dr. Nancy Whitt
Professor of English
Chair of English Department
Divinity North 329l
205-726-2458, nmwhitt@samford.edu
Abi Williams
Communication Arts Instructor and Debate Coach
Brooks 107
205-726-2049, awilliam@samford.edu
M.A., Georgia State University, Human Communication and Social Influence
B.A., University of Alabama, Speech Communication
Academic Interests: Rhetorical criticism, specifically white supremacist and racist rhetoric
Outside Interests: Husband Anthony, daughter Mariah Elyse, cats Mikey and Mia, collegiate debate, good restaurants, cooking with Anthony, politics, webcam chats with my family in California, libraries, board games, and road trips.
