Ouachita Stories

With the fall semester under way at Ouachita Baptist University, several new faculty and staff members have joined the university community.

New faculty members include:

Kathy Collins, instructor of education. Collins, who served for the past year as a visiting instructor at Ouachita, previously was associate director for the Center of Learning and Development in Waco, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Baylor University and a Master of Education in administration from Tarleton State University.

Tiffany Eurich, instructor of communications. Eurich is a 2005 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications and political science.  She holds a master’s degree in communication studies from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has served since 2007 as a public relations specialist for a dental practice in the Dallas area.

Eric Goddard, assistant professor of history. Dr. Goddard has taught since 2005 at the University of Wisconsin as a teaching assistant and lecturer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Taylor University and Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Bethany Hicks, visiting assistant professor of history. Hicks holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and German studies from Western Michigan University and recently earned her Ph.D. in Modern European History from Michigan State University in East Lansing.  She has served as a teaching and research assistant since 2005 and also has studied as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany.

Elizabeth Kelly, assistant professor of sociology. Dr. Kelly has served as a research coordinator for the Talitha Koum Institute for at-risk children and families in Waco, Texas, as well as lecturer and adjunct instructor for Baylor University and McLennan Community College. She holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree in sociology, communication and natural sciences from the University of Texas and a Master of Arts in sociology and Ph.D. in applied sociology from Baylor University.

Eneida Larti, lecturer in music. Larti holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Oklahoma City University as well as a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Indiana University and a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in digital imaging from the University of North Texas.  She currently is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  She has served since 2007 as a teaching assistant, lecture and accompanist at UC-Boulder and also plays regularly both as a soloist and a chamber musician.

Carrie Sharp, instructor of education. Sharp is a 1985 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She also holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Henderson State University. She has taught for 25 years in public education in Sparkman and Arkadelphia.

Casey Thomas, visiting assistant professor of music. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from Jacksonville State University in Alabama as well as a master’s degree in trombone performance and pedagogy and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, both from the University of Iowa.  Thomas has served as an instructor of low brass at Cornell College since 2004 and as assistant director of bands since 2007.  He has performed extensively in band, orchestra, chamber and jazz ensembles.

Robin Richardson Williams, lecturer in music. Williams holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree in choral and instrumental music from Colorado State University and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Rhode Island.  She has served as an adjunct voice teacher for the past two years at Ouachita and has taught private voice and piano studio for the past 30 years.  She has performed with various opera and theatre companies in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Alabama.



New staff members approved this summer by the Ouachita Board of Trustees include:

Sarah Bean, Westside One hall director. Bean attended Ouachita before transferring to the University of Arkansas to pursue a degree in fashion merchandising. She assists her husband, Jason, with youth ministry at Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.

Clayton Chapuis, O.C. Bailey hall director and director of outdoor recreation. Chapuis is a 2010 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies. He worked this summer on staff with Pine Cove Camp near Tyler, Texas.

Jeff Green, Anthony hall director and director of recreational sports. Green is a 2010 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian studies. He has spent the past few summers working on staff at Pine Cove Camp.

Kevin Ward, head wrestling coach. Ward holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Oklahoma State University.  A four-year starter on OSU’s NCAA Championship wrestling teams, he also served as a graduate assistant wrestling coach at OSU.

René Zimny, assistant director of the Grant Center for International Education and coordinator of international recruiting. Zimny, a native of Namibia, is a 2008 Ouachita graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design and mass communications. He previously worked as a graphic designer for a medical center in Searcy, Ark.

Trustees also approved two endowed chair appointments:

Timothy Hayes, E.A. Provine Professor of Chemistry.  Dr. Hayes, who holds degrees from Southwest Texas State University and Purdue University, has taught at Ouachita since 2001.

Ouida Keck, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music. Dr. Keck, a 1971 graduate of Ouachita, also holds degrees from the University of Arkansas and the University of Iowa.  She has held a full-time faculty appointment at Ouachita since 1996.