Two new Faculties-in-Residence, professor of history Andrew Graybill and professor of practice Jim Hart, were appointed yesterday and will begin their service on July 1.
“We are pleased to announce the appointment of two new Faculty-in-Residence,” Vice President for Student Affairs K.C. Mmeje said. “The selection process was very competitive and we were excited to have received so many applications for these positions from a very talented pool of faculty.”
Graybill co-directs the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies in Dedman College. He will replace music professor Tom Tunks as the Ware Commons Faculty-in-Residence.
“My wife, Jennifer Ebinger (director of Engaged Learning at SMU) and our two children are thrilled to succeed Tom and Jeanne Tunks and to build upon their legacy of warmth and inclusivity at Ware Commons,” Graybill said in the email announcement sent by Mmeje.
Hart, who is the Director of Arts Entrepreneurship at Meadows School of the Arts, will succeed Spanish professor Mira Detcheva as the Faculty-in-Residence at McElvaney Commons.
“We are very excited for the Hart family to move into the McMansion next year,” McElvaney student leader Amanda Duke said. “As McElvaney leadership we plan different events with our FiR throughout the year such as International Food Festival and weekly events. We can’t wait to create new events and new experiences with Professor Hart.”
Graybill and Hart were appointed with assistance from members of the FiR Search Committee, which is comprised of seven faculty members and three student leaders. The Faculty-in-Residence program was created to give students opportunities to get to know faculty members outside of the classroom and to help develop a community within each Residential Commons.
“Each faculty family will reside in one of our Residential Commons and will work with the respective Residential Community Directors and student leaders in their Residential Commons to enhance the educational experiences of their residents,” Mmeje wrote. “We look forward to their contributions to the residential and educational experiences of our students.”
