OBU College of Fine Arts Welcomes New Faculty

August 18, 2016

OBU’s Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts is pleased to welcome its new dean and seven new faculty members.

Dr. Chris Mathews assumed the role of dean of the College of Fine Arts effective June 1. Mathews earned a Bachelor of Music in sacred music with a major in piano and a minor in organ from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, graduating summa cum laude. He then earned a Master of Music in choral conducting from Southwest Missouri State University. He later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Kentucky, receiving a graduate certificate in music theory pedagogy. He most recently served at Union University as professor of music, chair for the department of music and director of choral activities. He previously taught at both Clemson University and at the University of Kentucky, and he has served in the music ministry in numerous churches in Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky.

The Division of Art and Design welcomes Joshua Brunet as assistant professor of art. He earned a Bachelor of Science in illustration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He then earned a Master of Fine Arts in illustration at the Hartford Art School in Connecticut. He most recently served as assistant professor of illustration and on ground head of illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Lakewood, Colorado. He previously taught as an adjunct professor at Union University and as an art instructor at Southfield Christian School in Michigan.

The Division of Communication Arts welcomes three new faculty members.

Benjamin Baxter joins the faculty as assistant professor of video/motion graphics and animation. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and information systems from Ouachita Baptist University. He then earned a Master of Fine Arts in animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Baxter works as a freelance artist and previously served for two years as a photographer with the International Mission Board. He has also served as a teaching assistant at the Savannah College of Art and Design. During his undergraduate years, he was the student photography editor at Ouachita Baptist.

Matthew Caron joins the faculty as assistant professor of theatre. He earned a Bachelor of Science in theatre from Minnesota State University. He then earned a Master of Arts in communication arts / theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts in theatre directing, also from Minnesota State University. He has served as an instructor, graduate assistant and adjunct faculty member at Minnesota State. He has also worked on the theatre faculty and adjunct faculty at Bethany Lutheran College and as an instructor at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Scott Loyd joins the faculty as assistant professor of communication studies and director of forensics and debate. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and theatre from Arkansas State University. He then earned a Master of Arts in communication studies, also from Arkansas State. He has completed two semesters of Ph.D. studies. He has taught at Arkansas State, Louisiana College and Arkansas Northeastern College, teaching courses such as oral communication, debate, public speaking, and interpersonal communication.

The Division of Music likewise welcomes three new faculty members.

Dr. Evan Chancellor joins the faculty as assistant professor of instrumental music and director of bands. He earned a Bachelor of Music in music education at the University of North Texas. He then earned a Master of Music in horn performance from Oklahoma City University. He later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in horn performance from the University of Oklahoma. Chancellor comes to OBU from East Central University, where he has served as adjunct lecturer of horn and music education and director of the ECU brass choir. He also serves as the teaching artist for horn with El Sistema in Oklahoma City, working to empower “at-risk” students through success in music. He previously served as an adjunct horn instructor at Oral Roberts University and served as an adjunct professor of horn at OBU from 2010-13.

Dr. Benjamin Shute joins the faculty as assistant professor of music and director of the Music Preparatory Department. He earned a Bachelor of Music at the New England Conservatory. He then earned a K.A. Diploma from the University of Music Freiburg in Europe. He later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts at the New England Conservatory. Shute has served as a visiting assistant professor of music at Dickinson College and has served as an adjunct professor of music at both Dickinson and Cairn University. He has also served as an instructor of music at Cecil College and a teaching assistant at the New England Conservatory.

Dr. Stephen Sims joins the faculty as assistant professor of music, worship leadership. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education with a vocal emphasis from OBU and a Master of Church Music from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance from Texas Tech University. He has served as an adjunct instructor of voice at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, and a voice and piano instructor at Joyful Noise Music Studio in Lubbock, Texas. He also served as a teaching assistant and graduate part-time instructor at Texas Tech. He also served as a Garrett Fellow in theory/aural skills at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a voice and piano instructor at the Louisville Academy of Music, and as assistant choral director of Elk City Junior High and High Schools in Elk City, Oklahoma.