Published on October 21, 2015 by Philip Poole  
pendulum

Samford University’s trustee executive committee approved new academic programs and new faculty at their regular fall meeting Oct. 20.

Trustees approved a new Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre for youth degree. According to Samford Provost Michael Hardin, the new major provides a “comprehensive training experience” and allows students to be involved in productions, touring performances in local schools, and outreach and camp experiences.

Also approved was a new interdisciplinary minor in science and religion. The program, an extension of Samford’s Center for Science and Religion, “provides students with an educational foundation that helps to integrate intellect and faith,” Hardin explained.

New faculty include:

Rachel Casiday, associate professor of public health. Casiday earned her doctorate at Durham University in the United Kingdom. She has been a lecturer at Wales Trinity St. David’s since 2007.

Kathryn Coate, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics. She has been a National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas-Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. Coate received her doctorate from Vanderbilt University.

Christa Moore, instructor of nursing. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Samford, where she has been a clinical associate since 2004.

Tondra L. Moore, associate professor of health administration. A graduate of Samford’s Cumberland School of Law, Moore also has master’s and doctoral degrees in public health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is an assistant professor at Texas Southern University.

Rebecca Rogers, instructor of kinesiology and human performance lab coordinator. Rogers currently is a research assistant for the Lakeshore Foundation/UAB collaborative in Birmingham. She earned her master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University.

Cody Thompson, assistant professor of physical therapy. Thompson received his doctorate from Alabama State University and is the physical therapy assistant program director at Lanier Technical College.

Jonathan Waugh, professor and chair of respiratory therapy. Waugh previously was a professor and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at UAB. He earned his doctorate from Ohio State University.

Trustees heard several reports from university administrators. As of Aug. 31, the university’s endowment was valued at $262.8 million. Giving for the first three months of the fiscal year totaled $11.6 million.

The next board of trustees meeting is Dec. 1.
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.