This fall, Birmingham-Southern has welcomed seven new faculty members to campus. The new professors and instructors were announced at the Opening of School Assembly for faculty and staff, held on Aug. 19.

We are proud to welcome faculty from all over the world who will bring their expertise to departments and programs across campus.

Melissa Anderson
Visiting Assistant Professor of the Library

Anderson received a B.A. in English from North Carolina State University and an M.A. in American studies from California State University, Fullerton. She earned an M.A. in liberal arts from Emory University followed by an M.L.I.S. from the University of Alabama. She joined BSC last fall as a reference librarian.

Dr. Priscila Calatayud-Fernández
Assistant Professor of Spanish

Calatayud- Fernández received a B.A. in journalism from Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain as well as a B.A. in literary theory and comparative literature and an M.A. in teaching Spanish as a foreign language from Universidad de Salamanca, Spain. She also holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Spanish literature from the University of Michigan, where she worked as a postdoctoral lecturer. She also served as the cultural programs coordinator at Colorado College.

Dr. Lusie Cuskey
Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts

Cuskey earned a B.A. in psychology and a B.F.A. in performing arts from Western Kentucky University. She received an M.A. in theatre arts form the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. in theatre studies from the University of Kansas. She recently served as a visiting instructor of acting at Western Kentucky University. Read more about Cuskey in this welcome blog.

Dr. Rachel A. Gevlin
Assistant Professor of English

Gelvin graduated from Bennington College with a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies and received a Ph.D. in English from Duke University. She has taught literature and academic writing as a visiting assistant professor at Monmouth College while continuing to work on a book project. She spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso.

Dr. Umesh Ghimire
Assistant Professor of Economics

Ghimire received a B.B.A. in finance and an M.A. in economics from the University of Pune, India. He recently served as an instructor at the University of Connecticut, where he earned a Ph.D. in economics. His teaching interests include macroeconomics, inequality, health economics, and big data and machine learning for economists.

Dr. Sylvester Makoko
Assistant Professor of Accounting

Makoko earned a B.S. and an M.B.A. from Alabama A&M University. He received his D.B.A. from Creighton University and has taught courses as an instructor in accounting at Alabama A&M. As a licensed Certified Public Accountant, he has accounting industry experience in areas of audit and financial reporting.

Dr. Mark Meade
Assistant Lecturer of Urban Environmental Studies

Mark received a B.S., an M.S., and a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has been a faculty member at UAB, Gadsden State Community College, and Jacksonville State University and most recently served as the Chair of the Department of Biology at Miami Dade College North Campus.