RELEASED: Oct. 14, 2004

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College hired nine new faculty members for the 2004-05 academic year.

Dean John C. Ward says the new class of professors is a strong one.

"Centre College is pleased once more to welcome to the College a group of talented new teachers, with degrees earned from the best universities in the country," he says. "They've quickly adjusted to the rigors and pleasures of teaching here and bring us fresh perspectives on the liberal arts and sciences. We're fortunate to add them to the faculty of Centre College."

Genny Ballard is an assistant professor of Spanish. Ballard received her B.A. in government from Centre in 1991. She received her M.A.T. from the University of Louisville, and she is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Spanish Literature at the University of Kentucky, where she taught 1995-2004. Ballard was a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica from 1992 to 1994.

Anne Collins is an assistant professor of mathematics. She was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University and has also taught at Duke University. She earned her B.S. in mathematics at Bowling Green State University, where she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She earned an M.S. in physics and astronomy from Northwestern University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in mathematics from Duke. Her research interests include computational geometry, computational topology, and robotic manipulation and motion planning.

Mary Gulley is an assistant professor of psychology and assistant dean for advising. She received her B.A. in psychology and biological sciences from Transylvania University. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Louisville. She comes to Centre from Midway College, where she was the director of academic services and a faculty member. Gulley will coordinate academic advising, Americans with Disabilities Act services and convocations at Centre. She will also follow students' academic progress, assist the international students on campus and teach courses in the psychology program.

Heather Hindman is a visiting professor of anthropology. She earned her B.A. at Reed College and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Her research interests include globalization, elite culture, science and technology studies, the history of anthropology, military culture and conceptualization. Much of her research is based in her fieldwork in Kathmandu over the past two decades. Hindman's essays have been published in The South Asia Newsletter, The Himalayan Studies Bulletin, Chicago Anthropology Exchange, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, and Studies in Nepali Society and History. Previously, she was visiting assistant professor of anthropology/sociology and international studies at Denison University.

Julie James is a visiting instructor of Spanish. She holds an M.A. from George Mason University in foreign languages. She teaches all levels of Spanish and also beginning French. She has nine years of experience teaching Spanish and French at various universities in Virginia and Kentucky. James is currently working to bring a summer immersion academy in French to Centre for a select group of the nation's best high school students in French. Her interests are 20th century Latin American and Caribbean literature, immigration and identity issues.

Hank Lewis is a visiting assistant professor of English. He earned his B.A. in literature and literary writing from Trinity College (Conn.) and his M.F.A. in fiction from the University of Virginia, where he twice won the Balch Prize for best short story by a graduate student. His first book, In the Arms of Our Elders, was published by Carolina Wren Press in 1995, and his second collection of stories I Got Somebody in Staunton will be published by Amistad/HarperCollins in the spring of 2005. He has also published poetry in Beyond the Frontier: An Anthology of New African-American Poetry. He has taught writing, American ethnic literature, and literature with a focus in American Studies at the University of Virginia, Denison University, Mary Washington College and Trinity College. Lewis comes to Centre from the College of the Bahamas, where he taught creative writing.

Janet Link is a visiting assistant professor of art. She holds a B.A. in studio art from Meredith College, and she received her M.F.A. at Louisiana State University. She has studied medieval manuscript illumination and worked on frescoes, murals and altarpieces. She was previously a teaching assistant for art courses at Louisiana State University. Link is a still life painter using traditional oil painting methods.

Michael Rizzo is assistant professor of economics. He has a B.A. in economics from Amherst College, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1996. Rizzo subsequently worked as an investment banker for Putnam, Lovell & Thornton Inc. in New York City for two years, specializing in structured finance and mergers and acquisitions for firms in the asset management industry. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University in 2004. Rizzo's current research specializes in the economics of higher education—in particular the role of public funding and understanding how various incentive structures affect university and college behavior. His research also covers labor economics, public economics and strategies to improve economic education.

Vessela Warner is visiting assistant professor of dramatic arts. She received her B.F.A. in directing for theater from the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts in Bulgaria. Warner holds an M.A. in literature and linguistics from Sofia University St. Kilment Ohridski in Bulgaria and a Ph.D. in drama from the University of Washington. She recently directed a TV series called Journey as well as 'night Mother, a play by Marsha Norman, which showed at the Pazardjik Repertory Theater in Bulgaria.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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