Middlebury Welcomes New Faculty for 2024-2025 Academic Year

Middlebury College welcomed a diverse cohort of new faculty for the 2024-25 academic year with expertise in a broad range of academic disciplines, including, mathematics, chemistry, astronomy, philosophy, languages, and gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. The College also welcomed nine new language teaching assistants.
“We have a lively, spirited group of new faculty who bring a wide array of backgrounds that will enhance the experience of our students and enrich our campus,” said Jim Ralph, dean of faculty, Rehnquist Professor of American History and Culture.
The following will join the Middlebury faculty in tenured or tenure-track positions:

Alexandria Bredar, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has a PhD in inorganic and materials chemistry from Auburn University and a BS in chemistry from Centre College. Her research focuses on chemistry related to the development of solar cells and batteries. She was awarded an Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship for her research endeavors as a postdoctoral researcher at The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Michael Dunham, assistant professor and David R. Mittelman ’76 Faculty Fellow in Astronomy and Astrophysics, has a PhD and MA in astronomy from the University of Texas-Austin and a BS in physics and astronomy from the University of Rochester. His research focuses on the earliest stages of star formation, and is aimed at answering the question “How do stars gain their mass?” Dunham uses a combination of observations from space and ground-based infrared, (sub)milimeter, and radio telescopes to build a more complete picture of the star formation process.

Emma Guiberson, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has a PhD in chemistry from Vanderbilt University and a BS in chemistry and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. Her research interests include studying the oral microbiome through metabolomics, which she pursued as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. She is passionate about teaching undergraduate chemistry education and educational pedagogy.

Tim Juvshik, assistant professor of philosophy, has a PhD in philosophy from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, MA degrees in philosophy from McGill University and Queen’s University, and a BA in philosophy from Lakehead University. His main areas of research are in metaphysics and philosophy of technology. His work focuses on the metaphysical nature of artifacts and the built world. He is also interested in normative and applied questions concerning technology, especially emerging technologies such as AI, geoengineering, and genetic engineering.

Rose Morris-Wright, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, has a PhD in mathematics from Brandeis University and a BA from Swarthmore College in mathematics and studio arts. Her research focuses on geometric group theory, which combines algebra, specifically group theory, and the study of symmetry with geometry, specifically non-euclidean and hyperbolic geometry.

Kira Rahn, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has a PhD in analytical chemistry from Iowa State University and a BA in chemistry and mathematics from Concordia College (MN). Her research interests focus on developing electrochemical sensors for disease diagnostics.

Christian Statton, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, has a PhD and MA in statistics from Montana State University and a BS in mathematics, also from MSU. His research interests include Bayesian computation, spatial statistics, species distribution, modeling, modeling of wildlife disease, data visualization, and teaching techniques for data science.

Andrew Swafford, assistant professor of biology, has a PhD and MA in molecular evolution, phylogenetics, and bioinformatics from the University of California-Santa Barbara and a BA in biology from Bowdoin College. His research focuses on how sensory systems originate, evolve, and integrate with other pathways to create emergent processes like behavior. His outreach projects aim to improve objectivity in data handling, technological literacy, as well as accessibility and diversity in STEM.

Cynthia Yuan Gao, assistant professor of gender, sexuality, and feminist studies, received her PhD in American studies and M.Phil in social and cultural analysis from New York University and a BA in comparative ethnic studies from Columbia University. Her research focuses on 20th century Asian American activism and its relationships to revolutionary movements in Asia, particularly Vietnam and China. This work draws upon archival research and original oral history interviews conducted with activists. Other areas of specialty include socialist China, second-wave feminism, and intersections between Asian Americans and other people of color.
Visiting Assistant Professors
Thomas Anderson, PhD, New York University, visiting professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
Jason Chavez, MFA, University of the Arts, visiting assistant professor of dance
Cameron De Wet, PhD, Vanderbilt University, visiting assistant professor of earth and climate sciences
James Lee, PhD, University of Notre Dame, visiting assistant professor of international and global studies
Evie Munier, PhD, Indiana University, visiting assistant professor of French and Francophone Studies
Fulya Pinar, PhD, Rutgers University, visiting assistant professor of anthropology
Erik Solhaug, PhD, University of Minnesota, visiting assistant professor of biology
Roger White, MFA, Columbia University, visiting assistant professor of studio art
Meaghan Winder, PhD, Montana State University, Visiting Assistant Professor of mathematics and statistics
Associate Professors
Kathleen Skubikowski, PhD, Indiana University, assistant dean and associate professor emeriti of English.
Instructors
Liana Battsaligova, PhD, Yale University, visiting instructor in Russian
Lecturers/Other
Ashley Baptiste, MFA, Rutgers University, artist in residence, theatre
Nadine Canter, MA, Annenberg, lecturer in environmental studies
Elizabeth Stivison, PhD, Columbia University, assistant laboratory professor of biology
Evan Camrud, PhD, Iowa State, lecturer in mathematics and statistics
Michael Germana, PhD, University of Iowa, lecturer, first-year seminar program
Samantha Langevin, BA, Yale University, lecturer, interdepartmental
Kristie Skor, BA, University of Missouri, lecturer, interdepartmental
Catherine Boyle, PhD, Harvard University, post-doctoral fellow, Axxin Center for the Humanities
Steven Carlisle, PhD, University of California, professor of practice
Churchill Franklin, BA, Middlebury College, professor of practice
Grove Nichols, MBA, Stanford University, professor of practice
Sarah Trouslard, PhD, CUNY Graduate Center, professor of the practice
Connor Williams, MA, Dartmouth College, lecturer, first-year seminar program
Teaching Assistants/Assistants in Instruction
Aisulu Beken, MA, University of Tartu, teaching assistant in Russian
Karima Bouchafra, MA, University of Mohammed, teaching assistant in Arabic
Naomi Clark, BA, Middlebury College, assistant in instruction, film and media culture
Alessia Di Pede, BA, Università Degli Studi di Firenze, teaching assistant in Italian
Myriam Ghorrafi, BA, Sorbonne University, teaching assistant in French and Francophone Studies
Edmar Lima, MA, Federal University, Sào Joà del-Rei, teaching assistant in Portuguese
Zhiting Liu, MA, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, teaching assistant in Chinese
Georg Manhart, BA, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, teaching assistant in German
Michael Nunziante, BA, Middlebury College, teaching assistant in Spanish
Noah Rizika, BA, Middlebury College, assistant in instruction, computer science
Shiori Sekine, BA, International Christian University, teaching assistant in Japanese Studies
Alexandria ‘Ola’ Zalecki, BA, Middlebury College, assistant in instruction, geography