With classes set to begin Wednesday, Aug. 27, four new members have joined the full-time Southwestern College faculty.

• Alice Bendinelli, assistant professor of literature, received her Ph.D. in literatures and the sciences of literatures from the University of Verona, Italy.  She has published a number of articles and engaged in several conference presentations.  In addition to her expertise in British fiction, Bendinelli is a qualified language instructor and has experience teaching both Spanish and Italian.
• Mike Jones, assistant professor of jazz music, will be at Southwestern for two years while music professor Christopher Schmitz completes a graduate degree.  Jones is completing his DMA degree in jazz studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.  He has experience working in public schools and teaching at the university level as a graduate assistant.  Jones also has a wide range of professional performance experience and has won awards both for teaching and performance.
• Matt Thompson, assistant professor of religious studies, holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.  He has written a number of book reviews and has engaged a number of scholarly presentations.  Thompson served as a visiting professor at SC and has taught at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minn.  He has also served in a variety of church settings.
• Jason Speegle will serve in a mostly administrative capacity but will lead the new Green Team, a student service learning project focused on environmental issues.  Speegle has worked as a National Ministry Developer for Crown Financial Ministries in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  He has also served as a high school math and physics teacher in Santo Domingo.

“We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to the college.  They each bring a unique combination of talent and expertise that will help to make SC an exciting place,” says Southwestern academic vice president Andy Sheppard.

Southwestern College is a private institution granting undergraduate and graduate degrees and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.  More than 2,000 students attend classes at the main Winfield campus; at seven professional studies sites in three states; or online at www.sckans.edu.