News

Lee University welcomed 14 new faculty members this fall, including eight from among the Schools of Music, Nursing, and Religion, along with the Helen DeVos College of Education (HDCOE) and the Squires Library.

Lenena Brezna joins the Lee faculty as a lecturer in voice. Prior to Lee, Brezna taught music appreciation and was a voice instructor at the University of Memphis. She has been an adjunct voice instructor at Northeast Mississippi Community College, as well as teaching voice and piano privately to students of all ages. Her performance history includes operatic roles, solo and concert presentations, and choral experience.

Brezna earned her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Louisiana State University and is a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) candidate at the University of Memphis. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Mississippi.

Dr. Cahill Smith, assistant professor of music, holds the DMA in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music, where he also served as a teaching assistant. He was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda honor society for his academic achievements and contributions to the musical community at Eastman. Smith held three graduate teaching assistantships at Eastman, and was awarded the 2011-2012 Prize for Excellence in Teaching. He was awarded the Eastman Lowry Award, has performed with the Ukranian National Symphony Orchestra and the Johannes Philharmonic Orchestra, in addition to presenting solo and lecture performances at Yale University and Carnegie Hall.

Smith earned his Master of Music (MM) from the University of Michigan, his BA from the University of Alabama, and his Bachelor of Music (BM) from Samford University.

Dr. Nathan Warner joins the School of Music as an assistant professor of music. Prior to Lee, he was an instructor of trumpet at the Manhattan School of Music, in addition to having a studio at the City College of New York. Warner has been constructor of classical trumpet and jazz studies at the New York Summer Music Festival for eight years and a masterclass artist at the University of Notre Dame for nine years.

 
Warner earned his DMA from Stony Brook University, his MM from Manhattan School of Music, and his BM from Indiana University.

Lee’s School of Nursing welcomes Dr. Beth Ann Gist and Vanessa Phipps as assistant professors of nursing.

Prior to her arrival at Lee, Gist was a staff nurse, instructor and certified mid-wife at Community Hospital in Anderson, Ind. Most recently, she worked for the Erlanger Health System in several capacities including obstetrical triage director, perinatal outreach coordinator and women and infant services clinical resource specialist.

Gist holds the Registered Nurse (RN) and Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) licensure in Tennessee and is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Vanderbilt University, her Master of Science (MS) from Case Western Reserve University, and her Bachelor of Science (BS) from Anderson University.

Phipps’ practical experience includes pediatric nurse practitioner (certified), school nurse, and staff nurse in intensive care, in cardiothoracic step-down and in hematology/oncology. She was a teaching assistant and patient simulator specialist at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as serving as an assistant Clinical Education Resource Center director and faculty of Barton College School of Nursing.

Phipps is an RN, a certified APN in the state of Tennessee, and a Certified Nurse Educator. She earned her MS and BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and expects to complete her DNP this year.

Lee also welcomed one faculty member each to the School or Religion, HDCOE, and the Squires Library.

Dr. Wayne Solomon, assistant professor of sociology and religion, has served as Administrative Bishop for the Church of God in Florida and Great Lakes. His ministry has included the role of pastor, church planter, teacher and ministerial development director. Solomon has been an adjunct professor at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and Rhode Island College, an assistant professor at Community College of Rhode Island, and a special lecturer at Providence College.

Solomon’s areas of expertise are African American Studies, African Studies, The Black Diaspora and African Descended Religions. He earned his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, his Master of Arts (MA) from Brown University, and a BA from Rhode Island College.

Dr. Pam Womack, senior lecturer in physical education, has been a part time teacher in the HDCOE for the past four years and has also taught part time at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She has been a classroom teacher, coach and administrator in the Hamilton County School System for more than 30 years.

Womack earned her Master of Education (MEd) and BS from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Julie Burchfield, lecturer and library coordinator for distance learning, has worked as a library assistant in Squires Library since 2007. She was responsible for directing a complete inventory of the library’s collection. Burchfield also produced several promotional videos to advance awareness of library services and instructional videos for student and staff training.

Burchfield earned her MA from Regent University and her BS from Lee University.