Among course programs in many fields, Bainbridge College will expand its criminal justice-related courses during Spring Semester, according to Dr. Mariam Dittmann, vice president of academic affairs.

Bringing her criminal justice expertise to the Technical Studies Division Spring Semester 2009 will be Melissa Harrell of Bainbridge, who joined the Arts and Sciences Division in the fall to teach criminal justice.

Still teaching in Arts and Sciences, she will also expand her responsibilities to Tech Studies for which she will teach and oversee the Paralegal Program. In the spring, she will teach Introduction to Law and Ethics. Other courses in the paralegal program are to be offered in the summer and fall, Dr. Dittmann said.

Ms. Harrell is working on her doctorate at Florida State University (FSU). She holds master’s and bachelor’s of science in criminal justice from Albany State University.

Faculty of the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program at Bainbridge College (BC) welcomed Dianne Beauchamp as a nursing instructor, one of several new faces this year on Main Campus and the Early County Site.

The Tallahassee resident who joined the BC community during the fall, received a Master of Science in Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from Georgia State University in Atlanta in 2007. The magna cum laude graduate earned an ADN from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla.

Her extensive experience includes work as a psychiatric nurse and a nursing supervisor in private and state-run psychiatric facilities, as a director of nursing in a corrections facility, and as a registered nurse/director of nursing in long term care facilities.

Arts and Sciences Division

Among the new faculty the Arts and Sciences Division welcomed this year are the following:

Bainbridge College alumna Dr. Jenny Young Harper teaches biology. She holds a doctorate from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She has a Master’s of Science in Biology from Georgia Southern University and earned her bachelor’s of science in that field from the University of Georgia after completing her Associate of Arts in Biological Sciences at BC.

Roger Lunt of Tallahassee teaches business and economics and coordinates the cooperative program with Georgia Southwestern State University. He comes to BC after teaching at a university in Xi’an, China. He earned his master’s in business administration from Brigham Young University from which he earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry.

Dr. Dave Nelson of Quincy, Fla., teaches history. He received his doctorate in U.S history from FSU from which he earned his Master of Arts in History. He completed a bachelor of arts degree in that field from the University of North Florida after earning an associate of arts degree from Florida Community College of Jacksonville.

David Sarrette of Bainbridge began full-time teaching duties in health, physical education and wellness, having taught part-time since 2003. He has a master’s of education in his field from Georgia State University and has completed additional training and certification through Tallahassee Regional Medical Center. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and Wellness from the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. James (Jay) Snodgrass of Tallahassee joined the English faculty, having received his doctorate in English from Florida State. His specialty is poetry and medieval literature. He completed his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is at Florida International University and a Bachelor of Arts in English at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Michael Stewart of Havana, Fla., who teaches sociology, has three degrees. He received his doctorate and his master’s of science in his field from FSU and his bachelor of science from East Central University.

In addition to the new faculty welcomed by Arts and Sciences, the Technical Studies Division welcomed additional faculty members. Sherry Harrison of Cairo teaches medical assisting. She earned her associate degree in medical assisting from Southwest Georgia Technical College and has experience in a private medical practice.

Sheila McLendon of Iron City taught technical mathematics at BC on a part-time basis from 2004 until coming on board full time in 2008. She has a bachelor’s degree in secondary teacher education from Troy State University.

Ken Shephard of Bainbridge, who comes to BC with three years of full-time truck driving experience, is teaching commercial truck driving. He has a Class A Commercial Drivers License with tanker endorsement. The U.S. Navy veteran, who worked as an aviation structural mechanic, is a Bainbridge High School graduate. He comes to BC from a local company for which he was a route driver and handled equipment repairs as a maintenance technician.

The BC Early County Site in Blakely has welcomed four new full-time academic professionals.

Rachelle Andreu of Iron City teaches in the Licensed Practical Nursing program. She has a bachelor of science degree with a major in health care administration from National-Louis University and an associate of science degree in nursing from Manatee Community College.

Tiffany Torres of Colquitt teaches licensed practical nursing. A registered nurse, she earned her associate degree in nursing from Darton College.

Michelle Barsom of Colquitt came on board as librarian, after being assistant librarian on Main Campus. She earned her master of library science from the University of Alabama, having received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Athens State University. She joined the BC community in 2005 on Main Campus.

John McRae of Bainbridge teaches in the Early Childhood Education Program. Georgia’s Teacher of the Year in 1978, he taught sixth grade and was an elementary principal before coming to BC part-time in 2007. From Valdosta State University he earned his education specialist degree in education administration, his master of education in that field and a bachelor of science degree in communication. His associate of arts degree in education is from Middle Georgia College.