Pikeville College - Faculty & Staff - Division of Humanities

Division of Humanities Faculty

Brigitte L. LaPresto

Chair, Division of Humanities
Professor of English

Office: Wickham Hall 129
Telephone: 606.218.5021
E-mail: lapresto@pc.edu

Classes taught

Advanced Concepts
American Literature I and II
Composition I and II
Honors Composition
Introduction to Literature
Linguistics
Literary Criticism
Special Topics in Genres, American Authors
World Literature

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in English
    Bowling Green State University
Master of Arts in German
    Bowling Green State University
Master of Arts in English
    Bowling Green State University
Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education
    Universität Duisburg-Essen, Germany

Awards

Mellon Foundation Fellowship, Higher Education Resource Service Institute Bryn Mawr, 2008
Appalachian College Association Faculty-Student Travel Award, London and Paris, 2007
William Wade and Helen Record Walker Teaching Excellence Award, Pikeville College, 1992, 2005
Mellon Foundation Fellowship, Salzburg Seminar, 2003
Appalachian College Association Faculty-Student Travel Award, England and Scotland, 2002

Personal

Dr. LaPresto is a native of Wesel, Germany, who graduated from high schools both in Germany and California. She completed her undergraduate studies in Germany before moving to Ohio to earn two master's degrees as well as her Ph.D. She has taught at Pikeville College since 1987, serving as Humanities Division chair since 1996. Her hobbies include traveling, hiking, the theater and winter evenings with a good book and her dogs at her feet.

Carol S. Browning

Professor of Religion

Office: Wickham Hall 130
Telephone: 606.218.5022
E-mail: grizzard@pc.edu

Classes taught

Abrahamic Religions in Spain
Apocalyptic Literature
Christian Ethics
Culture and Customs of the Biblical World
Greco-Roman Mythology
Introduction to the Old Testament
Introduction to the New Testament
Judges-Samuel
Life and Teachings of Jesus
Religion Senior Seminar
The Torah
World’s Great Living Religions
World Mythology

Education

Master of Divinity and Ph.D in Old Testament
    Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
B.A in Religion and English
    University of Richmond

Awards

Teacher of the Year 1993 and 2005

Recent publications

Contributinging editor, The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha). Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003

Personal

Dr. Browning was born in Norfolk, Va., and raised in Washington, D.C. As an educator, she has traveled extensively, including to Spain and Greece, as part of the Appalachian College Association’s international study program in conjunction with the Berger Foundation.

James C. Browning

Associate Professor of Religion

Office: Wickham Hall 109
Telephone: 606.218.5026
E-mail: jbrownin@pc.edu

Classes taught

Comparative Ethics
History of the Christian Church
Introduction to Philosophy
Islam
New Testament Introduction
Old Testament Introduction
Paul’s Life and Letters
Philosophy of Religion
Religion in America
Religions of Asia
Spirituality in the World’s Religions
World’s Great Living Religions

Education

Ph.D. in Religion
    Baylor University
Masters in Religious Education
    Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Religion
    Ouachita Baptist University

Personal

Dr. Browning is a native of Hope, Ark. He has been an interfaith consultant, a pastor and an adjunct seminary professor before coming to Pikeville College in 2004. His research interests include the classical world religions and religion in America, along with the philosophies and spiritualities of the world’s religions. He reads for fun both fiction (science fiction, fantasy and novels) and non-fiction (history, science). He enjoys both nature photography and hiking.

Tamara A. Bustamante

Assistant Professor of Music
Concert Choir Director

Office: Record 405
Telephone: 606.218.5786
E-mail: tbustama@pc.edu

Classes taught

Appreciation of Music (Classical)
Appreciation of Music (Rock and Roll)
Fundamentals of Music
Music Theory I & II
Class Piano
Collaborative Piano
Concert Choir
Private Piano

Education

Doctor of Musical Arts: Piano Performance (ABD)
    University of Kentucky
Master of Music: Piano Performance 
    University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Music: Piano Performance
    Radford University
    University of Alaska Anchorage
    Alaska Pacific University

Personal

A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Tamara Bustamante is a prize winner in several piano competitions, including the Alaska Yamaha State Piano Competition and the Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Piano Competition. Tamara has also won several prizes for composition, including first prize in the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra Composition Competition for her Intermezzo for Piano and Orchestra which she later performed with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. Prior to her appointment as choir conductor at Pikeville College, Tamara was the conductor of St. Elizabeth-Anne Seaton Catholic Church in Anchorage, Alaska., and First United Methodist Church in Pulaski, Va. Tamara taught for three years at the University of Kentucky while acting as head of faculty at the Music Institute of Lexington. She has studied and performed internationally in Magadan, Russia, Prague and the Czech Republic. Tamara taught and performed as a master teacher in the 2009 International Piano Masterclasses in Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Basil B. Clark

Associate Professor of Speech & Theater

Office: Wickham Hall 107
Telephone: 606.218.5000
E-mail: bclark@pc.edu

Classes taught

Interpersonal Communication
Oral Interpretation
Public Speaking
Theatre

Education

Master’s in Theatre
    University of Kentucky
Master’s in Communication
    Morehead State University

Personal

My interests lie in writing, gardening, hiking, art and enjoying activities with my grandchildren. I helped develop the Pikeville College communication major and also coached the speech team. In 1983, I won grand prize in the performing Arts Repertory Theatre (Now TheatreWorks, USA (NY)) for my play Change of Exchanges. In 2001, my story “The Town Drunk,” was included in The World’s Best Shortest Stories published by Quality Paperback Book Club (NY), and in 2005 I co-authored Poetic Healing; A Communication Journey From a Vietnam Veteran’s Perspective, published by Parlor Press (West Lafayette, Ind.).

In 2007-2008 I wrote a DVD script for use by fourth grade teachers, Mars Invasion; Coal Camp to Space Camp. The curriculum is approved by the Kentucky Department of Education and coordinates with the Mars Invasion program at the Challenger Learning Center of Hazard, Ky.

Also, I have developed and performed several character monologues ranging from 20 to 40 minutes in length. They are as follows: Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, James A. Garfield; biblical: Adam, Moses, Jepthah, Naaman, Micah, King Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, Barabbas; and historical: Dr. Thomas Walker (Explorer).

Sydney C. England

Assistant Professor of Developmental English

Office: Allara 016
Telephone: 606.218.5602
E-mail: sengland@pc.edu

Classes taught

Composition I and II
Developmental Studies: Reading and Writing
Introduction to Literature

Education

Master of Arts in English
    Morehead State University
Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education
    Pikeville College

Personal

Ms. England has spent the last 10 years teaching Developmental Studies and English at Pikeville College where she has also coordinated the Tutoring Lab, edited the school's literary review, The Pikeville Review, and in the fall of 2009, will begin the duties of Writing Lab Coordinator and sponsor for the Pikeville College chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. She enjoys writing, reading, day-trips and beating the grandkids at computer games.

Hannah C. Freeman

Assistant Professor of English

Office: Wickham Hall 120
Telephone: 606.218.5014
E-mail: hfreeman@pc.edu

Classes taught

British Survey I
British Survey II
British Women Writers
Composition
Introduction to Women’s Literature
Literature and Place
The Pastoral Novel

Education

Ph.D. in English
    University of Kentucky
Certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies
    University of Kentucky
M.A. in English
    Western Carolina University
B.A.
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Publications and Professional Development

“Dissolution and Landscape in Olive Schreiner’s The Story of An African Farm.” English Studies in Africa 52.2 (2009).
Dr. Freeman has presented at numerous conferences on British literature in the nineteenth century including Interdisciplinary Nineteenth-Century Studies Conference, British Women Writers Conference and College of English Association Conference.

Awards

Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, University of Kentucky, 2008
College of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Teaching, University of Kentucky, 2008
Bonnie Jean Cox Graduate Research Endowment in Gender and Women’s Studies, University of Kentucky, 2008

Personal

Dr. Freeman studies 19th and 20th century British literature. She is interested in women writers such as George Eliot, Emily Bronte, Olive Schreiner and Jean Rhys, and how these authors explore their relationship to place. Through reading and discussion, Dr. Freeman hopes to encourage curiosity, inquiry and reflection and to promote sympathy and understanding in her students. Dr. Freeman advocates social and environmental awareness and hopes to empower her students to better their own communities. In her spare time, she enjoys being outside with her dog, riding her horse, watching movies and traveling when she can.

Janean Freeman

Instructor of Music

Office: Record 405
Telephone: 606.218.5770
E-mail: jfreeman@pc.edu

Classes taught

Appreciation of Music (Classical)
Appreciation of Music (Rock and Roll)
Fundamentals of Music
Music Literature
Musical Skills I & II
Private Voice

Education

Master of Music in Vocal Performance
    Morehead State University
Bachelor of Science in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis
    Indiana State University

Awards

First place, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Indiana Chapter Auditions, 1989
Kentucky Associated Press Broadcast Award for Radio News Feature “Music and Education Reform,” 1999
Professors in the Schools Fellowship, Morehead State University, 2002-2003
District 9 College/University Teacher of the Year, Kentucky Music Educators Association, 2007

Personal

Professor Freeman is a native of Spencer, Ind. Prior to pursuing a career in higher education, she spent 15 years working in public radio serving as a music host, assistant music director, program director and station manager. Prof. Freeman comes to Pikeville College after teaching for five years at Morehead State University where she was director of the Black Gospel Ensemble and taught voice, music theory, class piano and the history of rock and roll.

Freeman has sung with the New York Philharmonic, performed in a variety of operas and musicals and has been lead by renowned conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Thomas Binkley, Paul Salamunovich and Robert Porco. She continues to perform professionally as a vocalist, pianist, and director specializing in opera, jazz and pop. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi collegiate honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society and the National Association of Teachers of Singing where she currently serves on the state executive board. Students from her college and private studios have succeeded in auditions and won competitions at local, regional, state and national levels. They’ve also gained entry into prestigious programs, including the Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts and Belmont University.

Merry E. George

Associate Professor of Communication
Coordinator of Communication Program

Office: Wickham Hall 121
Telephone: 606.218.5008
E-mail: mgeorge@pc.edu

Classes taught

Business Communication
Communication of Power
Communication Theory
Freedom of Speech
Fundamentals of Acting
Internship in Communication
Interpersonal Communication
Introduction to Communication
Persuasion and Influence
Public Speaking
Voice and Diction

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
    University of Southern Mississippi
Master of Education in Adult Education
    University of Southern Mississippi
Bachelor of Arts in English
    University of Southern Mississippi

Professional activities

Dr. George continues to take courses in her primary areas of interest each summer by attending the National Communication Association’s Institute for Faculty Development. In addition, she is a regular participant in the annual advocacy day event on Capitol Hill, lobbying on behalf of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her primary research interest is in the area of cultic rhetoric.

Personal

Dr. George grew up in Louisiana and Mississippi. After completing her undergraduate degree, she moved to New Orleans where she worked in the public relations department of Exxon, then at WYES educational television as an assistant producer, and also played lead roles in musical comedies at the Gallery Circle theatre in the French Quarter. When she departed from New Orleans, it was to join the Inner Peace Movement, where she traveled throughout the United States and Canada delivering lectures and workshops on the subject. As some point, she landed in Washington, D.C., where she lived for 13 years until deciding to return to her home in Hattiesburg, Miss., with her son, Mathew. Here, she was employed by the dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she developed a successful program of fundraising and alumni relations. At night, she completed a master’s degree in Adult Education, and soon after left her position to pursue a doctorate in communication full-time. She began teaching at the college level as a graduate teaching assistant, and then taught as an adjunct for both Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University while completing her dissertation. Shortly after receiving her doctorate, she came to Pikeville College.

Patricia A. Kowalok

Professor of Art

Office: Record 404
Telephone: 606.218.5758
E-mail: pkowalok@pc.edu

Classes taught

Advanced Drawing
Art History - Ancient to Medieval
Art History - Renaissance to 1850
Art History - 1850 to Modern
Art History - Non-Western
Basic Drawing
Intermediate Drawing
Painting 1 and 2
Senior Seminar
Special Topics: Making Artist Books

Education

Master of Fine Arts
    University of Iowa
Master of Arts
    University of Iowa
Bachelor of Art
    Universiy of Iowa

Awards

Residencies
    The MacDowell Colony
    The Millay Colony
Collections
    The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, Pennsylvania
    Mr. Phil Desind of Baltimore, Maryland

Personal

Ms. Kowalok is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. Prior to teaching in Pikeville, she taught at branch campuses of both Penn State and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Kowalok resides in Pikeville with her daughter, Anna, and their dog, Buddy. She enjoys reading, gardening and in general - making things.

Chandra K. Massner

Associate Professor of Communication

Office: Allara Library 030
Telephone: 606.218.5004
E-mail: cmassner@pc.edu

Classes taught

Advanced Journalism
Desktop Publishing
Gender & Communication
Introduction to Communication
Introduction to Journalism
Mass Media in Society
Principles of Editing & Design
Public Speaking
Public Relations
Senior Seminar in Communication
Yearbook Production

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (ABD), Communication
    University of Kentucky
Master of Arts, Communication
    University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Science, Journalism
    Ohio University

Personal

Chandra K. Massner grew up traveling around the country. She was born in an Army hospital in Texas but considers Cincinnati, Ohio, to be her home. In addition to Kentucky and Ohio, she has lived in Canada, Georgia, Louisiana and California, where she graduated from high school. She was a resident assistant during her undergraduate career at Ohio University and was a hall director at the University of Kentucky. She also taught journalism courses and assisted with the Ad Club at UK. After graduate work, she began working at Pikeville College. Before teaching, she served as the college grant writer. In addition to her teaching duties, she advises the college newsletter, The Bear Facts and the college yearbook as well as Lambda Pi Eta, the communication honor society.

She is a Girl Scout leader and program coordinator for the county. When she’s not at a Pikeville College or Girl Scout event, she is usually with her daughter, Amanda Mae, as she stays busy with the Pikeville College Dance Studio, Pike County 4-H, Christ Central Academic Team and Pikeville Aquatic Club. The two are also members at Vogel Day United Methodist Church.

Chandra loves to travel. When she is not in classes, she is often traveling to see her parents who retired out West. She is also a board member for the Kentucky Institute for International Studies where she taught in the Costa Rica program in the summer of 2009. Chandra and Amanda like to rest at home with their cats while they play board games with friends.

James A. Riley

Professor of English

Office: Wickham Hall 116
Telephone: 606.218.5010
E-mail: jriley@pc.edu

Classes taught

Advanced Composition
Advanced Journalism
American Literature Survey I & II
British Literature Survey II
Contemporary Short Story
Creative Writing
Freshman Composition I & II
Introduction to Literature
Introduction to Journalism
James Joyce Seminar
Modern American Short Story
Modern Novel
Modernism
William Faulkner Seminar

Education

Ph.D. Modern British and American Literature
    Ohio University
M.A. English Literature
    University of Arkansas
B.A. Major: History; Minor: Journalism
    University of Central Arkansas

Awards

Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council 1988, 1999
Individual Artists Fellowship from the Ohio Arts Council 1987
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship 1991
Now and Then Fiction Contest Achievement Award 1995, 1999
Now and Then Poetry Contest Achievement Award 1998
Who's Who Among America's Teachers 1999, 2007
Who's Who in the South and Southwest 1998

Publications

Appalachian Heritage.
Crazy River.
The Connecticut Review.
The Greensboro Review.
Journal of Kentucky Studies.
Kentucky Monthly.
The Kentucky Review.
Kentucky Voices: A Collection of Contemporary Kentucky Short Stories.
The Louisville Review.
Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine.
The Pikeville Review.
Riverwind.
West Branch.
Wind.

Pamela S. Scott

Associate Professor of Developmental Reading & English

Office: Allara 010
Telephone: 606.218.5601
E-mail: pscott@pc.edu

Classes taught

Composition I and II
English Senior Seminar
English Special Topics
Foundations of Writing I and II
Honors Composition I and II
Reading and Study Skills I and II
Women Authors

Education

Master of Arts in English
    University of Arkansas
Bachelor of Arts in English, with Honors
    University of Arkansas

Awards

Recognized three times as the Lambda Sigma Professor of the Month.

Memberships

AAUP
NADE
Phi Beta Kappa

Personal

Pam Scott was born and raised in Richmond, Va. After her college work, she spent eight years in Texas during which time she taught at Austin Community College and Southwest Texas State University and, for four years, was a student development specialist in the office of the dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. For two years, she was an assistant professor of English at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan. She currently is in her 21st year of teaching at Pikeville College. Pam is the proud parent of Leah and John Isaac, and she has two amazing grandchildren. Her hobbies include genealogy research and travelling with her husband, John.

Ella Smith

Assistant Professor of Spanish

Office: Wickham 105
Telephone: 606.218.5012
E-mail: smithe@pc.edu

Classes taught

Culture of Mexico
Culture of Spain Elementary Spanish I & II
First-Year Studies
Intermediate Spanish I & II
Intensive Spanish Review Courses
Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
Spanish Phonetics
Survey of Latin American Literature
Survey of Spanish Peninsular Literature

Education

Master of Arts in Hispanic Linguistics
    Ohio State University
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & History
    University of Virginia’s College at Wise

Awards

William Wade and Helen Record Walker Award for Teaching Excellence, runner-up, Pikeville College, 2009

On-campus activities

Faculty advisor of Nu Chi Chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma
Member, Pikeville College Concert Choir

Academic and professional memberships

Alpha Mu Gamma, Nu Chi Chapter, faculty membership
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Darden Society
Phi Alpha Theta
Sigma Delta Pi

Personal

Ella Smith grew up in Appalachia. She hails from Clintwood, Va., – a tiny town in southwestern Virginia near the Virginia-Kentucky border. She spent her college days at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and received a master’s degree from Ohio State University. She is a proud Highland Cavalier, Buckeye (OH – IO!) and Bear. She taught beginning and intermediate Spanish for two years as a teaching assistant at OSU and has been a faculty member at Pikeville since the fall of 2006. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, walking, listening to music (especially Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks and Heart), cooking, reading, watching TV and movies, playing video games and attempting to sing and play piano.

Elgin M. Ward

Associate Professor of English

Office: Wickham Hall 103
Telephone: 606.218.5002
E-mail: eward@pc.edu

Classes taught

Advanced Composition
Appalachian Literature
English Composition I
English Composition II
English Honors Composition I
English Honors Composition II
Film as Art
Introduction to Literature
Linguistics
Literature and Film
Survey of Literary Criticism

Education

Ph.D. Candidacy in Literature and Criticism 
    Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Master of Arts in English
    Marshall University
Bachelor of Arts in Education: Physical Science & Mathematics
    Marshall University

Awards

The Maier Writing Award for Fiction, Marshall University, 1988
First Place Award for Fiction, West Virginia Writers Association, 1989
Maier Graduate Writing Award for Poetry, Marshall University, 2002
William Wade and Helen Record Walker Teaching Excellence Award, Pikeville College, 2008

Personal

Elgin Ward is a native of Huntington, W.Va., but has lived parts of his life in Michigan and Kentucky. He came to Pikeville College in the fall of 1992, and has served the institution as instructor of Developmental English, coordinator of the Tutoring Center, grant writer, assistant coordinator of Development, assistant professor of English and associate professor of English. He is a life-long student of the literature and culture of central Appalachia and is a member of the Appalachian Studies Association. He enjoys reading; writing; Celtic, alternative and traditional Appalachian music; and the artistic aspects of filmmaking.