Orientation Faculty Mentors (OFM) are some of Winthrop's best faculty members who volunteer their time to assist you with your transition to the university during Freshmen Orientation. OFMs pair up with Orientation Leaders and are available throughout the Orientation experience to both new students and their family members. We welcome you to get to know this wonderful group and ask any questions you may have.
If you are a current Winthrop faculty member and are interested in participating as an OFM, please email orientation@winthrop.edu for more information.
Dr. Philip GibsonAcademic College: College of Business Administration
What should students call you? Dr. Gibson
Hometown: Manchester, Jamaica
Favorite Class at WU to Teach: Financial Literacy
Advice for New Students to Succeed Academically: Do not procrastinate! Figure out a system that works for you, and stick to it.
Favorite Winthrop Tradition: I love being an Orientation Faculty Mentor! It gives me a chance to meet our incoming class of students.
Education: BS in Finance from Prairie View A&M University; PhD in Financial Planning from Texas Tech University
Fun Fact: I have done a Spartan race!
Conversation Starters: tennis, music, money
Dr. Adam GloverAcademic College: College of Arts & Sciences
What should students call you? Adam or Dr. Glover
Hometown: Glasgow, Kentucky
Favorite Class at WU to Teach: I enjoy teaching Latin American Poetry. It's fun to help students see that they do love poetry after all!
Favorite Thing about Winthrop: I love being in class with our students. It's exhilarating to see new perspectives and to learn interesting things from interesting people.
How I chose my major when I was in college: I loved Spanish, and I loved Philosophy. I knew that's what I wanted to study from the beginning, and I never really considered anything else.
Education: BA in Spanish and Philosophy from Georgetown College; PhD in Hispanic Studies from the University of Kentucky
Fun Fact: I teach Spanish, but I love dead languages (especially Latin and Greek)!
Conversation Starters: Anything from Bach to bacteria and back again - just name a topic! If I know something about it, I'll share. If I don't, I'll learn!
Dr. Joanna JacksonAcademic College: College of Business Administration
What should students call you? Dr. J
Hometown: I am from all over the Midwest (and Midwest-adjacent) - Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky
Favorite Class at WU to Teach: I love HCMT 200 (Introduction to Healthcare Management)! It counts as a social science so I get students from all across campus. Students also increase their health literacy which I know will help improve not only their health outcomes but those of their family and friends. It is fun and rewarding - who can ask for more?
Favorite Spot on Campus: I love Scholar's Walk! It is so nice to see students smiling, studying, and having fun! It gives me life!
How I chose my major when I was in college: I knew I wanted to be in healthcare but I wasn't sure what area. I got sick my sophomore year and was hospitalized for 2 weeks. I fell in love with my nurses. The nurses more than any other health profession helped me get better, and I wanted to do that for others. I changed my major as soon as I was discharged.
Education: BS in Nursing from Midway College; MS in Nursing Administration from Xavier University; PhD in Health Policy & Management from Indiana University School of Public Health
Fun Fact: I binge watch TV like it is my job! I am most productive when a show is on in the background!
Conversation Starters: Dr. Who, Real Housewives (of any city)
Dr. Stacy MartinAcademic College: College of Education
What should students call you? Dr. Martin
Hometown: Sumter, South Carolina
Favorite Class at WU to Teach: I love teaching ACAD 101 (Principles of the Learning Academy). This course allows me to teach and get to know students outside the College of Education. I also enjoy helping students navigate and adjust to the challenges of college life.
Favorite Spot on Campus: I love walking and sitting under the oak trees along the front of campus – so peaceful and relaxing. I encourage everyone to find their “happy place” on campus.
How I chose my major when I was in college: I originally thought I wanted to be an accountant. I loved math and thought it would be a good fit; however, a few life experiences helped me realize I did not want to be sitting at a desk all day and I needed a career that would have a positive impact on others. One of my high school teachers made such a difference in my life that I chose to be a teacher. I have a passion for working with students and I love what I am doing each day. In the courses I teach, I challenge my students to find their “why” in what they choose. Life is too short to not be happy with your career.
Education: BS in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina; MEd in Education Administration the University of South Carolina; PhD in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of South Carolina
Fun Fact: I climbed to the top of St. Peter's Basilica - literally the top of the dome! What an amazing view of Rome!
Conversation Starters: college sports, golf, track and field, I love to cook!
Dr. Nick MoellmanAcademic College: College of Business Administration
What should students call you? Dr. Moellman
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Favorite Class at WU to Teach: I enjoy teaching ECON 315 (Microeconomics Analysis) because I get to show students the actual methodology used to do economics, peeling back the curtain a bit and showing students the nuts and bolts of how economics really works.
Favorite Spot on Campus: I love the sidewalk lined by huge oak trees that runs along the front of campus and in front of Tillman Hall. Walking through those trees is incredibly peaceful and makes me feel like I've stepped 200 years back in time!
How I chose my major when I was in college: I started college as a Journalism major, with the goal of never taking another math class in my life. I decided that I really liked the framework of economics provided to analyze the world, so I declared that as a second major. I eventually graduated with dual degrees in Economics and Letters (humanities), which I kept because I loved writing and literature, as well as a math minor to prepare for graduate school.
Education: BA in Economics and a BA in Letters from the University of Oklahoma; MS in Economics from the University of Wisconsin (Madison); MS in Economics from the University of Kentucky; PhD in Economics from the University of Kentucky
Fun Fact: I used to give tours of the US Capitol Building as a Congressional Intern. I also collect currency from around the world.
Conversation Starters: economics, superheroes, guitars, bourbon, fantasy novels
Dr. Danko TarabarAcademic College: College of Business Administration
What should students call you? Danko
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
Favorite Class at WU to Teach: I enjoy teaching ECON 215 (Principles of Microeconomics) because it’s the first economics class most students take, and it's the gateway to
the wonderful world of economics. It’s exciting to be a part of this initial process
of discovery.
Advice for New Students to Succeed Academically: Don't miss class! Talk to your professors early and often! Have fun!
How I chose my major when I was in college: I considered two main factors: the subject and the professors. I knew economics was for me when I realized so much of our world could be understood through the economic way of thinking. My professors made the subject come to life and made it interesting. It was that very first semester of my freshman year that I knew economics was the right major for me.
Education: BA in Economics and Mathematics from Beloit College; PhD in Economics from West Virginia University
Fun Fact: I lived in 4 different countries without ever having moved.
Conversation Starters: Anything! college life, being a student at Winthrop, video games, why economics is the best
Name: David Vawter
Title: Teaching Fellows Programming Coordinator, Associate Professor - Middle Level, Social
Studies
Education: Ph.D., University of Virginia; M.Ed., University of North Carolina-Charlotte; B.S.,
Oregon State University
Office: 304-A Withers/W.T.S. Building
Phone: 803/323-4881
E-mail: vawterd@winthrop.edu
Name: Brandon Ranallo-Benavidez
Title: Assistant Professor of Political Science
Education: Ph.D., Public Administration & Policy, American University
MPA, Public Administration, American University
BA, Political Science, University of Oklahoma
Office: 334 Bancroft Hall
Phone: 803/323-4685
E-mail: benavidezb@winthrop.edu
Web: https://benavidezb.youcanbook.me/
Area(s): Public Administration; Public Policy; American Government; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Trans*, Queer (LGBTQ+) Studies; Social Marginalization & Community Empowerment 
Name: Kristen Wunderlich
Title: Associate Professor of Music
Education: D.M.A., Performance (Vocal Pedagogy), University of North Texas
M.M., Performance (Vocal Pedagogy), University of North Texas
B.A., Music and English, Luther College
Office: 311 Conservatory of Music
Phone: 803/323-4510
E-mail: wonderlichk@winthrop.edu
Area(s): Vocal Pedagogy, Art Song literature, HMXP 102, ACAD 101
Name: Larry Stevens
Title: Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Education:
Office: 125 Thurmond Building
Phone: 803/323-4835
E-mail: stevensl@winthrop.edu
Area(s): Teaching Areas: Management and Entrepreneurship Director of Winthrop University's
Small Business Development Center
Name: O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight
Title: Assistant Professor
Education: Ph.D., Women's and Gender History; U.S. History, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
M.A., African-American History and U.S. History, North Carolina Central University
B.A., History, North Carolina Central University
B.A., African and Afro-American Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Office: 370 Bancroft Hall
Phone: 803/323-3701
E-mail: dmcknightoj@winthrop.edu
Web:
Area(s): African American History, Women's and Gender History, United States History, Twentieth
Century, South, Social Movements, Labor, Oral History
