College of the Arts welcomes 7 new faculty

August 17, 2023

Each of the four academic units in Columbus State University’s College of the Arts welcomes new faculty to its teaching ranks for the 2023-24 academic year. They are among the 17 new faculty joining the university faculty.

“While I'm always happy to welcome new faculty to the College of the Arts, I am particularly enthusiastic about those joining us this fall,” said Dr. Wanda Ebright, the college’s dean. “To have so many highly qualified new faculty join us as we strategically deepen our expertise in key academic areas is inspiring and invigorating. Our students will see this expertise unfold in our classrooms and studios. The community will see it through our many outreach programs, performances and partnerships.”

Department of Art

Travis Dodd, MFA began his tenure as a lecturer in the Department of Art during the 2022-23 academic year. He holds a bachelor of fine art in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), a master of arts in sculpture from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta, and a master of fine arts from Georgia State University. He has held teaching, artistic and operational roles at Georgia State and SCAD-Atlanta. At Columbus State, his teaching centers on sculpture, expanded media, contemporary art theory and foundations.

Department of Communication

Tiffany McBride, Ph.D. ’08 begins her tenure as a full-time assistant professor in the Department of Communication — a role she has filled on a part-time basis since 2015. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Columbus State, she holds a master of business administration from the University of Phoenix, master of science in strategic communication and public relations from Troy University, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from Mercer University. She has taught previously at Columbus Technical College, Chattahoochee Valley Community College, and Auburn University — in addition to full-time work leading student career development programs at Virginia College’s Columbus campus. Her teaching will center on strategic and crisis communication, and public relations management, as well as advising for the department’s various student organizations.

Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music

Sara Fruehe, DM begins her tenure this fall as an assistant professor of bassoon in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music. She holds a bachelor of music from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a master of music from the DePaul University School of Music, and a doctor of music degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music — all specializing in bassoon performance. She has taught previously as a visiting or adjunct faculty member at Indiana University and James Madison University. Her teaching will focus on bassoon performance and pedagogy, reed making and comparative arts.

 

Aaron Jensen, DM begins his tenure this fall as an assistant professor of trumpet in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music. He holds a bachelor of music from Oklahoma State University, a master of music from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of North Texas — all specializing in trumpet performance. He has taught previously at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Tarleton State University, the University of North Texas and the University of Colorado at Boulder. His teaching will focus on trumpet performance and pedagogy, with an emphasis on developing musicianship through chamber music.

 

Luca Lombardi, DMA begins his tenure this fall as a lecturer of music in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music. He holds bachelor of music and master of music degrees from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan, and a doctor of musical arts from the University of Georgia — all specializing in double bass performance. He has taught previously at the University of North Georgia, the University of Georgia, the Giuseppe Verdi School of Music and Consorzio Concorde School of Music. His teaching will focus on both classical and jazz idioms and include the classical and contemporary double bass repertoire, as well as some jazz courses.

 

Department of Theatre & Dance

Christopher Dills, MFA ’08 joins the faculty on a full-time basis as a lecturer in the Department of Theatre & Dance — having previously served in the department as a limited-term lecturer and part-time adjunct instructor. He holds a bachelor of fine arts in theatre design and technology from Columbus State, and a master of fine arts in scenic design from Boston University. In addition to his past teaching roles at Columbus State, Dills has taught, worked, managed and designed at the Atlanta Opera, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Boston Lyric Opera, Parallel 45 Theater Company, Dominion Entertainment, and Cornerstone Theater Company — just to name a few. Outside his teaching duties, he continues professional work as a scenic and properties designer. His teaching focus will center on theatre practice, stagecraft, drafting and drawing for the theatre, scene painting and stage properties.

Matthew Jarvis, Ph.D. begins his tenure this fall as a lecturer in the Department of Theatre & Dance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and theatre from The College of William & Mary, a master’s in art history and exhibition design from California State University, and a doctorate in art history, theory and criticism from the University of California, San Diego. He taught previously at Nebraska Wesleyan University; Georgia State University; Georgia College; the University of Florida; Jacksonville State University; California State University, Fullerton; and the University of California, San Diego. His teaching will focus on global modern and contemporary art, popular culture, and general art history.

For a directory of and information about Columbus State University’s faculty and staff, visit columbusstate.edu/profiles.

Media contact:
Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu