Learn from the best

James Barfield.  Macon native, career educator, and published author, Mr. Barfield is an exhaustive and enthusiastic expert on the history of Macon, Georgia. He has been active in historic preservation for more than 30 years and is a leading advocate for Macon's historic and architectural heritage. He is committed to educating and inspiring appreciation for our unique city.

Brooke Bennett-Day, Ph.D.  Dr. Bennett-Day is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Program Director, Human Services, at Wesleyan College. She earned her B.S. (Psychology) at Valdosta State University, M.S. (Social Psychology) at Florida State University, and Ph.D. (Social Psychology) at Florida State University. Her primary interests involve the effect that race may have on an individual's face recognition ability, as well as the developmental differences in child and adult memory for faces. Additional interests include interracial attitudes and stereotype formation, juror interpretations of legal proceedings, and best teaching practices.

Christopher Blake, Ph.D.  Dr. Blake, born, raised, and educated in England, is President of Middle Georgia State University. He assumed his post on January 1, 2014. Dr. Blake holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theology from the Keble College of Oxford University, a postgraduate certificate in education from Westminster College (Oxford), and a Ph.D. in education from King’s College of the University of London. He currently serves on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges’ Board of Trustees, on the Board of Directors of the American Association of University Administrators, and as a member of the executive committee of the Southern States Athletic Conference.

Holly L. Boettger-Tong, Ph.D.   Dr. Boettger-Tong is an Associate Professor of Biology and Director, Center for Women in Science and Technology, at Wesleyan College.  She earned her B.S. (Biology) at St. Louis University, M.S. (Biology) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Ph.D. (Biology) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Her lab uses both in vitro and in vivo model systems to analyze the molecular mechanisms which control female reproductive tract cellular proliferation. In addition, she is interested in the role of the retinoic acid signaling pathway as it influences early vertebrate embryo development.

Judy Carrigan.   Ms. Carrigan can back up her love of and knack for home gardening with her master’s degree in biology.  Her WALL classes have included how to prune shrubs and trees.

Nadine Cheek, M.M.   Ms. Cheek is the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor of Music and Program Director, Music, at Wesleyan College.   She earned her B.M. (Voice) at Wesleyan College, her M.M. (Vocal Performance) at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and her M.M. (Choral Conducting) at Yale School of Music.  She is interested in teaching the young singer how to use her voice well in the performance of a variety of repertoire, including classical art-song, opera, sacred music, and Broadway. Ms. Cheek has a particular interest in 20th-century and contemporary American song and choral literature.

Tanner Coleman.  Mr. Coleman is a resident artist at Cherokee Brick Company and has created public architectural ceramic artworks for six years. He has a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Georgia.

Confucius Institute of Wesleyan College (CIWC).  The mission of the CIWC is to promote Chinese language and culture; foster intercultural exchange with China among students, educators, and the community; serve as a resource for Chinese studies through its China Museum; and celebrate the historic connection between Wesleyan College and China in changing the lives of women through higher education and social action. CIWC classes for WALL have included Chinese religions, calligraphy, crafts, foods, the Soong Sisters, and silk production.

Vince Coughlin, J.D. LL.M.  Mr. Coughlin, founder of the WALL program, received a B.S. (Physics) from Bucknell University, an M.S. (Physics) from Franklin & Marshall College, a J.D. from the University of Toledo, and an LL.M. from Pennsylvania State University's Dickinson School of Law. He retired from General Electric as a Senior Patent Counsel to GE and RCA Licensing Operation. He has taught law-related courses at Harrisburg (PA) Area Community College, the University of South Carolina Aiken's Academy for Lifelong Learning, and WALL where he has served as the facilitator for Great Decisions since 2012.  His interests include Constitutional Law and Lifelong Learning.

Delmas Crisp, Ph.D.  Dr. Crisp holds a Ph.D. in British Literature and has taught this literature to students at three universities, including Wesleyan College.  He has 55 years of experience in higher education.

Jim Crisp.  Mr. Crisp is the founding Artistic Director of Theatre Macon where he served as Artistic Director until his retirement in 2018. Highly respected, he received the 2018 Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities.

Richard Davies, Ph.D.  Dr. Davies is a retired United Methodist minister who holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. He has traveled extensively in Greece and Italy and has an interest in classic mythology.

Deidra Donmoyer, Ph.D.  Dr. Donmoyer is a Professor of Communication at Wesleyan College.  She earned her B.A. (Communication) from Kutztown University, her M.A. (Communication) from Auburn University, Graduate Certificate (Women's Studies) from Bowling Green State University, and her Ph.D. (Rhetorical Theory and Criticism) from Bowling Green State University.  Her research is centered on rhetorical, film, women's, cultural, and pedagogical studies; these interests converge through critical awareness and ideological positionality. Using film as a primary basis of rhetorical analysis, she is able to come to understandings of how women are represented and who they are thought to be, thereby exploring how society may expect women to behave and interact in everyday life.

Barbara Donovan, Ph.D.  Dr. Donovan is a Professor of Political Science and Dupont Guerry Chair of History and Economics; and Program Director of International Relations at Wesleyan College. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Georgetown University. She teaches courses in comparative and international politics. Her areas of specialization are German and European politics, democratization, regional integration, and immigration.

Rabbi Damien Eisner.  Rabbi Eisner is a Messianic Jewish Rabbi currently pursuing a Masters of Judaic Studies. He has led a Messianic congregation for the last 5 years and has been actively involved in the Messianic community for the last 10 years. Having been raised in a traditional Jewish home, then spending 10 years attending churches before returning to the Messianic synagogue, he is able to offer WALL members the unique perspective of both sides of the Judeo-Christian "equation."

Jim Ferrari, Ph.D.  Dr. Ferrari is a Professor of Biology and Program Director, Environmental Studies, at Wesleyan College.  He also is Wesleyan College Arboretum Director. He earned his B.A. (Biology and Northern Studies) from Middlebury College and Ph.D. (Ecology) from the University of Minnesota.  His research interests include bird-plant interactions, seasonal patterns of bird diversity, leaf litter dispersal and effects of leaf decomposition on soil nitrogen cycling rates, and forest ecology.

Robert Fieldsteel.  Mr. Fieldsteel worked in Los Angeles for 28 years as an actor, writer, producer, and teacher in film, theatre, and television.  He was honored with Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards as both a playwright and an actor.  Mr. Field steel is currently President if the Macon Film Guild.

Vivia Fowler, Ph.D.  Dr. Fowler served as president of Wesleyan College from 2017-2022 and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wesleyan from 2007-2017. Prior to that she served on the religion faculty of Columbia College (SC) from 1986-2007. Her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees are from Columbia College, The Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary, and the University of South Carolina. She is a clergy member of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. Since the early days of WALL, Dr. Fowler has regularly presented a course titled “Women of the Bible.” Participants have come to know characters of the Bible more intimately than the text allows through the Chautauqua style of character presentation.

Chenny Gan, D.M.A.  Dr. Gan is an Assistant Professor of Music at Wesleyan College.  She earned her B.A. (Music and Studio Art) at Wesleyan College, M.M. (Music) at UNC-Greensboro, and Doctorate of Musical Arts (Piano Performance) at University of Southern California. Dr. Gan actively performs and teaches on three continents, with assignments that have taken her to settings as diverse as the inner city neighborhoods of Los Angeles to Carnegie Hall and the Mozarteum to guest lecturer positions at three universities in South China. As a scholar, she has presented and published research for the College Music Society, Society for Ethnomusicology, the Harvard East Asian Studies Conference, and others. She often performs with orchestras and renowned jazz musicians and has recorded four CDs.

Ethiel Garlington.  Mr. Garlington has served as the Executive Director of Historic Macon Foundation since March 2014. He has a Master’s of Historic Preservation degree from the University of Georgia and has worked in the preservation field for over 20 years.

Steve Haberlin, Ph.D.   Dr. Haberlin is an Assistant Professor of Education at Wesleyan College.  He earned his Ph.D. and M.Ed. from University of South Florida and his B.A. from Rhode Island College.  Dr. Haberlin’s research focuses on contemplative pedagogy, including the intersection between contemplative practices such as meditation and mindfulness within teacher preparation.

Jim Halloran.  In addition to being a lifelong baseball fan, Mr. Halloran is an educator who has authored four professional and four college and high school textbooks. Now that he has retired he is combining his education and writing background to include his favorite subject, baseball. 

Ken Heller.  Mr. Heller retired to Macon after a 40+ year career in banking in the Atlanta area.  He has taught several WALL classes based on extensive research and his love of history.

Terry-Anne Homan.  Ms. Homan has been a WALL member since 2016  and is a retired educator from the NYC school system. She taught bookmaking and paper crafts to 7th and 8th graders as an enrichment subject/ along with Reading, English, Choral Music, Computer Art (Photoshop). Paper Craft is a recent passion of hers since 2019.

Derek Jackson.  Mr. Jackson is an Interpretive Ranger at the Jarrell Plantation Historic Site in Juliette, GA.  In 2022 Jarrell Plantation won the Most Innovative Program on a Historic Site from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Parrish Jenkins.  Ms. Parrish Jenkins is a licensed financial planner with Edward Jones. She is a graduate of Wesleyan College and also holds Georgia Insurance licenses for Life and Variable Products.

Mary Keating, Ed.L.D.  Dr. Keating is a former professional singer who has appeared with the Boston Symphony, the Handel & Hayden Society, New York Pro Musica and many other organizations. She was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera auditions and spent three seasons singing with the Stadtiche Bunin in Frankfurt, Germany. She holds degrees in music from Indiana University and the University of Florida, as well as a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida. After teaching music for many years, Dr. Keating enjoyed a second career in fund raising as executive director of several college foundations. She is now retired and living in Dublin, where she teaches Music Appreciation at Georgia Military College and gives occasional lectures on opera at the Douglass Theatre prior to the Metropolitan Opera in Live in HD broadcasts.

Ed Lau. Mr. Lau is a paranormal investigator. He is dedicated to helping people ease their fears by investigating what caused the events people report and whether they may be caused by natural or paranormal activity.

Jan Lewis, Ph.D.  Dr. Lewis, now retired, was the Chair of Theatre at Wesleyan College and has taught Shakespeare for many years. Dr. Lewis joined the Wesleyan Theatre program in the fall of 2006 as a scholar, teacher, author, and director. Prior to coming to Wesleyan she was a professional director, producer, playwright, and actor for 20 years in theaters in and around Los Angeles.

Megan McNaught.  Ms. McNaught earned her BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and her MFA from The University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has been a college professor and educator for over 20 years at numerous institutions including Suffolk University, Chester College of New England, The Community Colleges of Rhode Island Providence, Anna Maria College, Wesleyan College, Mercer University, and Middle Georgia State University. She was the former curator at Macon Arts Alliance and is now the Curator of Art at The Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon Georgia. Ms. McNaught Is a painter with a studio practice at Black Cat Studios in Macon...

Bob Moon, D.Min.  Dr. Moon was born in India and spent the first 18 years of his life there. Among the things he owns is the dining room table on which he was born at home in India. The Indian people have been a lifelong treasure for Bob. He has recently retired after serving as a pastor in South Georgia for 43 years. He has an M.Div. and a D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary

Regina Oost, Ph.D.  Dr. Oost earned her Ph.D. in 18th & 19th century British Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Utah. She has taught English at Wesleyan College since 1991, including classes on Austen, women's writing, and 19th century British Literature and Culture.

Kristina Peavy.  As Director of the Wesleyan Library, Ms. Peavy oversees Special Collections and Rare Books.  She has an MLIS from Valdosta State University and has ,been with Wesleyan College since 2008.

William Rawlings, M.D.  Dr. Rawlings is a graduate of the Tulane University school of Medicine.  He served as Chair of the Board of Governors of Mercer University School of Medicine from 1991 – 2010.  He is the author of numerous scientific papers and books and was Recipient/Finalist in 2014 for Georgia author of the year in History.

Chuck Rawls.  Mr. Rawls is a retired Air Force officer who served for 24 years with assignments throughout the U.S. and Europe. He is a retired public school teacher who taught Georgia History for 15 years in Bibb and Houston County public school systems.

Rabbi Aaron Rubenstein.  Rabbi Rubinstein was ordained as a Rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary in NYC.  He is also a musician, an avid listener, and a collector of music, as well as a dedicated reader of literature.

Carole Seegert, Ph.D.  Dr. Seegert is a psychologist who has practiced in a variety of clinical and forensic settings with diverse populations, to include working with individual patients, couples, families, active-duty military, inmates, and sexual offenders.  She most recently worked (and retired) as Sr. Clinical Director for the Georgia Department of Corrections where she helped implement standards for managing/treating incarcerated transgender individuals.  She has experience teaching college level courses, training mental health professionals, and presenting at national conferences.

Jeffrey Seeley, D.Min. Dr. Seeley recently retired as the Associate Professor of Church Music at the Mercer University Townsend School of Music and as the Director of Music at Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon. He holds a D.Min. degree in Church Music from Emory University, an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Mansfield University, an M.Div. from Drew University, and a B.A. in Music from Lycoming College. Prior to his appointment at Mercer, he was the Director of Choral Activities and Instruction of Music at Elmira College. Dr. Seeley, an ordained minister, has held music ministry positions in churches, often accompanied by pastoral and worship development responsibilities, for over 40 years.

James N. Smith, DBS, MBA and CISSP.  Dr. Smith is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing and Cyber Sciences at Augusta University. Prior to transitioning to academia, Dr. Smith spent his career bridging the corporate and academic worlds. For almost 20 years, he served in a variety of positions, both in private industry and as a civilian contractor for the U.S. Army, culminating as corporate Director of Information Technology. In addition to his industry experience, he taught various security and networking courses, first at Georgia Southern University and later at Mercer University prior to completing his doctorate at Kennesaw State University. His research interests focus, at the macro level, on how organizational and public policy affect change in the cybersecurity environment and, on the individual level, on how emerging neuro information systems methods can be applied to the security field.

Kari Waltz.  Ms. Waltz is a versatile artist who works in oils, acrylics, watercolor, graphite, pastels, charcoal, and pyrography (wood burning). Most of her work is focused on realism where she explores the play of light on a subject or captures a special moment in time.   Ms. Waltz grew up in Texas and New Mexico and taught in the Texas and Georgia public school systems for 30 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Lubbock Christian University and completed a Masters in Educational Leadership from Georgia College and State University.

Joanna Watson, Ph.D.  Dr. Watson is a Professor Emerita at Mercer University. She has degrees in Archeology and extensive field work, including in England and Malta.