JMU Welcomes New Faculty

Meet JMU's newest faculty

The College of Visual and Performing Arts is welcoming ten new faculty members for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Zachary A. Dorsey, Assistant Professor, Theatre Area Coordinator, School of Theatre and Dance

Dr. Dorsey is from Portland, Or.

• Education: Ph.D. and M.A., University of Texas at Austin; B.A., University of Washington
• Areas of Expertise: Theatre and Dance History, Dramatic Literature and Dramaturgy, GLBTQ Theatre and Queer Theory
• Courses teaching: Performance Theory, Theory and Performance Studies, Musical Theatre History and Analysis, Introduction to Theatre
• About his decision to join the JMU faculty: JMU provides an eager and engaged community of students and faculty colleagues; has amazing arts facilities; offers numerous opportunities for artistic, scholarly, and civic collaborations; and is located in a beautiful part of the world to call home for a bit.

Sarah P. Jacobsen, Adjunct Faculty: Instructor, School of Art, Design, and Art History; Graphic Design Department.

Ms. Jacobsen is from Dayton, Va.

• Education: B.F.A. in Graphic Design, James Madison University
• Areas of Expertise: Web Design, Graphic Design, and Illustration
• Courses teaching: Intro to Computer Graphics
• About her decision to join the JMU faculty: I wanted to take the opportunity to explore teaching and to share my passion and knowledge with new designers.

Ben Lambert, Associate Professor of Theatre

Mr. Lambert is from Boston.

• Education: M.F.A., California State University Fullerton; B.A., Emerson College
• Areas of expertise: acting, directing
• Classes you are teaching at JMU: Acting, Movement, Intro to Theatre
• About his decision to join the JMU faculty: I wanted to be on the East Coast and I was inspired by the students I met during my interview.

Robert John Mertens, Visiting Professor of Art

Mr. Mertens is from New Franken, Wi.

• Education: M.F.A. from the University of Oregon, B.F.A. from the School of the ArtInstitute of Chicago
• Areas of expertise: Fiber Art, Sound Art, Performance Art. Andean Textiles, Weaving, Audio Recording, Hardware Hacking
• Courses teaching: Introduction to Fiber Art 230, Art in General Culture GART 200
• About his decision to join the JMU faculty: I joined the JMU family for several reasons, I am very interested in the craft culture around the Appalachian Mountains. JMU is one of few public Institutions with access to highly sophisticated FiberTechnologies. And I knew that JMU would support and encourage a strong commitment toward independent research.

John Peterson, Instructor of Music

Mr. Peterson is from, Ontario, Canada.

• Education: Ph.D. in Music Theory (anticipated Fall 2014), Florida State University; M.M. in Music Theory, University of Colorado-Boulder, B.Mus. in Music Theory/Composition, University of Western Ontario
• Areas of expertise: Music Theory (Musical Agency, Musical Narrative, Schenkerian Analysis, Music and Meaning)
• Courses teaching:: Freshman Music Theory, Sophomore Music Theory, Analysis of Post 19^th-Century Music.
• About his decision to join the JMU faculty: When I interviewed, the committee and  various faculty members I met gave me the impression that JMU is a welcoming, friendly environment where people are committed to building a sense of educational community. I share the desire to build a strong sense of community, and I was impressed by the collegial nature with which the faculty related to one another.

Also joining the College of Visual and Performing Arts are:

Stephanie Williams, full-time teaching, Department of Art

Carissa Henriques, part-time teaching, Department of Art

Samantha Mitchell, part-time teaching, Department of Art

Sneha Patel, part-time teaching, Department of Art

Sara Teaster, part-time teaching, Department of Art

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September 3, 2014