8 Lee Faculty Receive Tenure

Following its annual board meeting in January, the Lee University Board of Directors awarded tenure to eight faculty members effective August 2017. The new tenured faculty members are Richard Albright, Matthew Fisher, Andrew Harnsberger, Mary Mathias-Dickerson, Brian Peterson, Randy Sheeks, Arlie Tagayuna, and John Wykoff. 

Dr. Albright is an assistant professor of psychology in Lee’s Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences. He obtained his Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD), his Master of Education (MEd), and his Bachelor of Science (BS) from The Pennsylvania State University. 

At Lee, Dr. Albright is the director of the school counseling program and teaches many graduate classes, including School Counseling Internship, Group Counseling, and Counseling Children and Adolescents. He also teaches several undergraduate psychology classes, such as Writing for Psychology and Child Development. Dr. Albright has developed a particular interest in adventure-based counseling and bullying. He is a certified bullying prevention specialist and a nationally-certified counselor through the American School Counselor Association. 

Mr. Fisher joined the Lee Department of Communication Arts in 2011. An assistant professor of digital media studies, he teaches classes on screenwriting, directing, film theory, and film criticism. 

Mr. Fisher holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Savannah College of Art and Design in dramatic writing and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Lee University. Short films he has written and directed have screened at festivals internationally, such as the Nashville Film Festival, Cannes Court Métrage, and the Short Shorts Film Festival in Tokyo, along with winning several awards. His 2015 film, “Pilgrim,” was shot in Reykjavik, Iceland, and screened at the Cine Gear Expo and LA Shorts Fest.  

Dr. Harnsberger is an associate professor of music and percussion coordinator at Lee. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he also received the prestigious Performer's Certificate. He received his Master of Music (MM) and his Bachelor of Music (BM) from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Harnsberger is a performing artist and clinician for Malletech Instruments and Mallets, Remo Drum Heads, Sabian Cymbals, Ltd., and Grover Pro Percussion. 

Dr. Harnsberger is in demand as a recitalist and clinician across the country and internationally, presenting clinics and masterclasses at as many as 40 universities per year. He has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, among others. 

Ms. Mathias-Dickerson moved from northeastern Arizona to join the art faculty of Lee University in 2011 and help launch the new art major. She earned her MFA from Bradley University and her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from Bowling Green State University. 

She also studied color theory, art history, and Renaissance painting techniques at the Atelier Neo Medici in Monflaquin, France. Ms. Matthias-Dickerson’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums at local, national, and international levels. She has conducted painting and drawing workshops and demonstrations in the United States, Mexico, and France. As a believer in cross-cultural experiences, she created and coordinates the Atelier Neo Medici Semester Abroad program for Lee University art students interested in traditional drawing and painting techniques to study abroad with a master painter while working on their degrees. 

Dr. Peterson joined the Lee School of Religion faculty in 2011 as an assistant professor, where he presently teaches a variety of Old Testament classes and Hebrew at the undergrad and master's levels. He received his PhD from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto, his Master of Arts (MA) from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, his Master of Theological Studies (MTS) from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BB) from Zion Bible College. 

Dr. Peterson previously taught at Gambia Theological Institute in West Africa, as well as spending a year as an assistant professor of Old Testament at Prairie Bible College in Alberta, Canada. Peterson spends a portion of his summers involved with archaeology in Israel where Lee students often join him for several weeks. 

Dr .Sheeks, an assistant professor of music, joined the faculty of Lee University's School of Music in fall 2010. He currently coordinates the undergraduate studies in church music and worship at Lee. He received his DMA from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a MM from Samford University, and his BA from Lee College. 

Before coming to Lee, Dr. Sheeks spent 23 years in local church music ministry. He received the Distinguished Musicianship Award from the Church of God in 2004 recognizing his work at the Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham, Alabama, where he served for 16 years and built a large and effective music program. His passion for the local church continues as he instructs students at Lee in the church music curriculum. 

Dr. Tagayuna joined Lee’s Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences in 2011 as an assistant professor of sociology. He earned his PhD and MA from the University of Hawai‘i-Manoa and his BA from the University of the Philippines. His research and teaching stands at the intersection of inequalities, crime, delinquency and punishment, race and ethnic relations, culture, disability, social stratification, and community development. 

Prior to Lee, Dr. Tagayuna started and coordinated the criminal justice program at New Mexico Highlands University. He also taught at University of Wisconsin-Madison, California State University–Monterey Bay, and the University of Hawai‘i-Manoa. 

Dr. Wykoff, assistant professor of music theory & composition, received his PhD from the City University of New York, his MA from Queens College, and his BA from Covenant College. Before joining the Lee faculty, he taught music theory and musicianship at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College. 

Dr. Wykoff has composed works for the Presidential Inauguration, solo piano, small ensemble, voice, choir, orchestra, and more. His chamber music has been performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble, Cygnus, Second Instrumental Unit, and the MIVOS Quartet. His sacred music, including choral works and congregational song, is sung in churches across the U.S. and in Canada.