There are new additions of full-time and part-time faculty members, who have all worked for Waynesburg University in some capacity in the past but have been given a different role this fall semester.

Pamela Cunningham joined the Department of Business Administration as a full-time instructor of marketing. She first joined Waynesburg University in 2007 working in the University Relations office, then later as a part-time instructor.

Cunningham is an alum, receiving her Master of Business Administration degree. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lynchburg College. 

Real and hands-on learning in preparation for the future is important to Cunningham, “I think for me I try to look at my students not just as individuals in seats it’s important for me to get to know my students and the things that they love and where they see themselves in the future so that I can adapt what I’m teaching or bring in those things to what I’m teaching so that they’re more likely to grab a hold of that content,” Cunningham said.

She stated she always knew she would come back, calling her journey back a, “God thing,” and now she also owns a small business in town with her husband in addition to her role at Waynesburg University.

When it comes to her favorite aspect of teaching, Cunningham said, “I think for me it is sharing knowledge related to things that I love, and then watching a student fall in love with that same content or have a moment of okay this is something that I can really see myself doing one day.”

According to a Waynesburg University press release, “She will teach Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Sales Management.” Cunningham mentioned her passion for teaching the things she loves, as well as her excitement for the students to share that love.

Another faculty member, Lisa Rasmussen, is working full-time with the Department of Fine Arts and Department of Communication as an assistant professor to both departments.

Rasmussen started at Waynesburg University in 2016 as an adjunct, while working at other colleges/universities.

Her time with Waynesburg University has had the second longest duration during her career, with the Art Institute being the first, “because it’s a community where people are very welcoming and they’re very caring and the students are really interested in learning, and you don’t get that everywhere.”

Rasmussen talked about her background, “I think one of the things that I bring here is a wide range of experiences. I have done a lot of different things. I have been an illustrator, a fine artist, a printmaker, a graphic designer, you know, I’ve worked in a lot of different capacities over the years…,” Rasmussen said.

According to a Waynesburg University press release, “Courses she will teach within the Fine Arts include Drawing and Special Topics: Color Theory. She will also teach Special Topics: Color Theory, Web Design and Design Seminar for the Department of Communication.”

Dr. Lauren Werner, who was first drawn to Waynesburg University by the service and faith aspects, is among the full-time faculty members. She is an assistant professor of education.

Werner has taught private and public education, in urban and rural areas and a wide range of ages and disability categories. Her favorite part of teaching is “being able to shape young educators and give them the knowledge that I have,” and “teaching them useful applications for their own teaching practice,” Werner said.

“She will teach courses within the special education, including teaching students with Developmental Disabilities and Assessment in the Inclusive Classroom,” as reported by the University website. In her role, she will also be working towards an education department study abroad experience.

Chayle Knight is another new full-time professor who is a Waynesburg University alum. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree, and she is currently working towards her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at Waynesburg University.

She has been at Waynesburg University in the counseling center as a licensed professional counselor since 2011, jumping from staff to faculty and from Stover to Buhl Hall.

“What drew me to Waynesburg is [that] I was a student at Waynesburg, then I was an RD [Resident Director] at Waynesburg. I worked in student activities and then I worked counseling center, so I’ve been in different departments across campus over the past like 20 years,” Knight said.

She has worked as a mental health therapist and an addictions counselor for the Waynesburg community and discussed what she loves about her new teaching role.

“I would say that it’s been challenging so far, but what I love is I have been working just emotionally with students for the past 11 years, so this new avenue of like bringing knowledge and gathering around a subject matter and asking questions and having them engage in a different way that I have been doing for the past 11 years has just been very energizing,” Knight said. 

She is still working in transitioning to her new instructor role at Waynesburg University.

“I think that I am still in the adaptation stage, so one thing that I believe I’m bringing from my counseling experience is recognizing that each person in the room has a story … and knowing, emotionally, that everyone is in a different place,” Knight said. “There’s been great things I think I’m bringing to the classroom, and then there’s parts of it that I need to probably leave at the door, so that’s hard.”

Knight stated she knew the transition would be difficult, but the faculty, “have shown such a level of respect,” she said.

“I think that coming into this position specifically as [an] instructor of psychology and working directly with Dr. Jellison and Dr. Mendoza has been a transition that hasn’t felt as difficult because they’re extremely supportive and very open to helping me kind of [with] the onboarding process, so that has really helpful too,” Knight said. “I’m just in awe of what faculty who are intentional are about bringing value to the classroom like what they’re doing behind the scenes, so I think part of me, over the last month, has just been in awe of education in general because I haven’t been in that role.”

Robert Wible, who joined the Department of Communication in person this year, is a part-time faculty member. He is also an alum.

Wible said, “As much as I learned from Professor [Richard] Krause you know I always still felt cared for by the others in the department… I know the mission, I believe in the mission of Waynesburg, and I think anytime an alum can come back and be part of the education at Waynesburg, I think that adds value.” 

One of Wible’s students, Rai Acor, shared her thoughts, saying, “He’s definitely a public speaker and knows how to talk to a crowd of people, so I think that he’s going to bring a lot to the table and benefit the school all around,” 

The teaching he does for law at Pittsburgh University is different from the teaching he does at Waynesburg University. “But in both cases, it’s conveying information in a way that makes sense for the student. Make the unfamiliar, familiar,” is his favorite part of teaching. 

Wible started teaching at Waynesburg University in the spring semester of 2005 until 2010, after being contacted by Richard Krause and asked if he was serious about teaching. Since then, he has fulfilled many roles in law, as well as other higher education roles. 

“He’s got a lot of good experience, he definitely seems like he knows what he is doing, and, you know, he’s working in the field, he’s in the industry, he’s got all the experience that he needs, I think he’s a really good communicator,” Acor said.For more information go to www.waynesburg.edu.