The College of Arts & Letters is thrilled to welcome 28 new faculty and staff members whose diverse expertise will enrich our community, strengthen collaboration, and expand opportunities for students.
“Our newest colleagues represent the creativity, scholarship, and commitment to community that define the College of Arts & Letters,” said Thomas Stubblefield, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. “As they join our faculty and staff, they bring fresh perspectives that will expand opportunities for our students and strengthen our shared culture of care. Together, we continue to demonstrate the essential role of the arts and humanities in shaping lives and addressing the challenges of our time.”
New colleagues will be recognized during the 2025 Faculty and Staff Welcome Reception on Sept. 29 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The college also hosted its New Faculty and Staff Luncheon on Aug. 19.
Please join us in welcoming the following faculty and staff to the College of Arts & Letters:
American Indian and Indigenous Studies
- Matthew Biel, Fellow
Deans Office
- Melissa French, Academic Program Coordinator
- Thomas Stubblefield, Dean
Department of African American and African Studies
- M. Billye Sankofa Waters, Associate Professor
- Mia Shaw, Assistant Professor
- Alexis Young, Assistant Professor
Department of Art, Art History, and Design
- Ryan Cady, Instructor of Graphic Design
- Mark Epstein, Assistant Professor, who also is a returning faculty member
- Kevin Hong, Instructor of Art History
- Corinne MacInnes, Assistant Professor of Ceramics
- Hannah Mackey, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
Department of English
- Esther Belin, Assistant Professor and the Audrey and John Leslie Endowed Chair in North American Indian Literary Studies
- Danielle Filipiak, Associate Professor of English and English Education Coordinator
- Lisa Fink, Assistant Professor in Lyman Briggs College and Department of English in the College of Arts & Letters
- Kristian Stewart, Assistant Professor of English Education
Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures
- Rose Fisher, Assistant Professor of German
- Keiko Hata, Assistant Professor of Japanese
- Ellie Mitchell, Instructor of Anishinaabemowin
Department of Philosophy
- Rosa O’Connor Acevedo, Assistant Professor
Department of Romance and Classical Studies
- Jeremy Swist, Assistant Professor
Department of Theatre
- Larry Campbell, Assistant Professor
- Chloe Seare, Academic Specialist
Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures
- Carly Braxton, Assistant Professor and 1855 Professor of Technical Writing and Healthcare Communication
- John Lauckner, Academic Specialist for Undergraduate Curriculum in Professional and Public Writing (P2W) and in Experience Architecture (XA)
- Sunni (Sunny) Rosen, Assistant Professor of First Year Writing
- Christy Stehouwer, Academic Specialist – Advisor
Digital Humanities
- Tianyi Kou-Herrema, Digital Humanities Research Coordinator
Undergraduate Studies
- Marissa King, Director of Advising
