Columbus State University News

27 Columbus State faculty receive promotion, tenure

April 21, 2026

A grid of 24 headshots of diverse faculty members on a navy blue background. The bottom right corner features the Columbus State University logo above the text "2026-27 Promotion & Tenure." The faculty are arranged in four rows, showcasing a variety of ethnic backgrounds and gender identities.

President Stuart Rayfield has approved the promotion and/or tenure of 27 members of the Columbus State University faculty—granted in recognition of their commitment to teaching, scholarship and service. Their new appointments will begin in August to coincide with the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

Granted tenure

Mohammad Jafari, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Earth & Space Sciences, College of Letters & Sciences

Promoted to Senior Lecturer

Elke Brumbaugh, M.S., TSYS Center for Cybersecurity, Department of Computer Science, D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology

Promoted to Associate Professor

Joelle Bonamy, Ph.D., Department of Society, Culture & Languages, College of Letters & Sciences

Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure

Adam Bova, MFA, Department of Communication, College of the Arts

Brittany Grissette, Ph.D., School of Nursing, College of Education & Health Professions

Stephen Jessup, Ph.D., Department of Earth & Space Sciences, College of Letters & Sciences

Jennifer Lovelace, Ph.D., Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling, College of Education & Health Professions

Lauren Neal, Ph.D., Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling, College of Education & Health Professions

Victoria Warnet Richter, Ph.D., Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music, College of the Arts

Sarah Sharpe, Ph.D., Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling, College of Education & Health Professions

Jennifer Vanslander, Ph.D., Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling, College of Education & Health Professions

Promoted to Full Professor 

Nicholas Bolden, Ph.D., School of Policy, Justice, & Public Safety, College of Letters & Sciences

Molly Claassen, MFA, Department of Theatre & Dance, College of the Arts

Ben Kamau, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics, College of Letters & Sciences

Mark James, Ph.D., Department of Management & Marketing, D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology

Robert Lefler, Ph.D., Department of Art, College of the Arts

Judith Livingston, Ph.D., Department of English, College of Letters & Sciences

David Kieran, Ph.D., Department of History, Geography & Philosophy, College of Letters & Sciences

Saoussan Maarouf, Ph.D., Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling, College of Education & Health Professions

Matthew McCabe, Ph.D., Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music, College of the Arts

Katrin Meidell, DMA, Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music, College of the Arts

Bobby Nixon, Ph.D., Department of Society, Culture & Languages, College of Letters & Sciences

Brandt Smith, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, College of Letters & Sciences

Kerri Taylor, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry, College of Letters & Sciences

Florence Wakoko, Ph.D., Department of Society, Culture & Languages, College of Letters & Sciences

Markus Weidler, Ph.D., Department of History, Geography & Philosophy, College of Letters & Sciences

Promoted to Full Professor with Tenure

Esther Park, DMA, Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music, College of the Arts

Main image: The Columbus State faculty who recently received promotion and/or tenure, ordered left to right as they appear in the article (with the exception of Drs. Mark James, Matthew McCabe and Markus Weidler).

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR