Dutt, McGahan Join College of Fine Arts Faculty for 2019

September 5, 2019

OBU is pleased to welcome two new faculty members to the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts. Christi McGahan joins the faculty as an instructor of journalism and mass media. Dr. Hephzibah Dutt joins the faculty as assistant professor of theatre and director of theatre.

McGahan graduated magna cum laude from OBU with a B.A. in electronic media production where she was a Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts Outstanding Senior in the Communication Arts division. She has served as an adjunct professor at OBU since 2018. She has also been a producer and editor for many specials on OETA-PBS and created content for the Comanche National Museum in Lawton, Oklahoma. She was a videographer and editor for Lampstand Media from March 2012 to December 2016. She has been a real estate agent for Kevo Properties since November 2016.

She has won numerous awards for producing and editing including four Heartland Emmy Awards; 2011 Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalism first place in video editing; 2010 Oklahoma Associated Press first and second place for best video editing-broadcast; 2012 Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalism third place in video editing; and 2011 National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Program Production Award. McGahan is the vice president of the Oklahoma Broadcasters Education Association for 2019-20 and the 2010 NATAS Heartland’s Rookie of the Year: Behind-the-Scenes.

Dr. Chris Mathews, dean of the Angell College of Fine Arts, is looking forward to the expertise McGahan can bring to students.

“Professor McGahan has a long history with OBU and a successful, award-winning career in broadcast and digital storytelling,” Mathews said. “Not only will our students learn from her talent as a media specialist and pedagogue, but they will also be inspired by her kind, professional demeanor and her clear love for Christ.”

McGahan is excited to serve full-time on Bison Hill this fall.

“To teach the next generation of young media storytellers is an honor and privilege,” she said. “I pray that students are challenged and grow during their time at OBU. In journalism and mass communication, we get to tell stories through various mass media to reach our audience through creative storytelling. Just as Jesus Christ used storytelling, we in the media field get to do the same. It’s an awesome thing. It’s an exciting field to major in.”

Dutt earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre at Northwestern college, graduating magna cum laude from the honors program. She then earned a master’s degree in theatre from Bowling Green State University. She went on to earn both a graduate certificate in performance studies and Ph.D. in theatre, both from Bowling Green.

Dutt has taught theatre and communication for many years. She created courses and instructed in public speaking, writing and performance at the Upward Bound Summer Program and also taught theatre and performance at Bowling Green Christian School. She also taught script analysis, principles of acting and performance studies at Bowling Green State University. She was the team captain of the front of house at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri.

Dutt has also been involved in community engagement and management. She was the development manager of donor relations at the Westside Housing Organization in Kansas City, Missouri. She has been an independent communications consultant and coach since August 2018. Through this, she has provided consultations and coaching for organizations and individuals across a variety of communication areas.

As OBU prepares to Celebrate 100 Years of Bison Hill, Dr. Chris Mathews, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at OBU is excited for what Dutt will bring to the university.

“As OBU prepares to celebrate 100 years of theatre on Bison Hill, we are thrilled welcome Dr. Dutt as our newest faculty member in the College of Fine Arts,” Mathews said. “Dr. Dutt comes to us with a global perspective, formative undergraduate training at a sister institution, advanced studies at a major research university and significant experience with theatre and non-profit organizations. She is bright, articulate, passionate and committed to Christ. I look forward with great anticipation to seeing how our students and our college thrive under her leadership." 

Dutt has received many awards for her works including the F. Lee and Pat Miesle Award for Outstanding Thesis or Dissertation in the Department of Theatre and Film in 2015, The Charles E. Shanklin and Graduate Student Senate International Scholar Award in 2009, The 2008 Crystals: Merit Award of Achievement and The 2006 Northwestern College Faculty Honors Award.