DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman College recently welcomed the addition of four new faculty members.

Division of Business

Vivian T. Ray, Instructor of Hospitality Management (Food and Beverage).  Ms. Ray earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Restaurant and Institutional Management from Alcorn State University (Miss.), and the Master of Science degree in Food and Nutrition from North Carolina A&T State University. She has had additional training at the De Mas Pere Cooking School (Ill.), the Lavarenne Cooking School (Paris, France), and Purdue University. She has 20 years of experience in the food service industry in the capacity of teaching, food service management, catering sales, guest relations, and banquet management. Ray comes to B-CC from Dillard University.

Division of Humanities

Dr. Chris Newcomb, Assistant Professor of Religion & Philosophy.  Dr. Newcomb earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington, the Bachelor of Divinity from Baptist Theological Seminary (Switzerland), and the Ph.D. from Florida State University. His teaching experience includes adjunct faculty positions at Florida State University and Barry University. Dr. Newcomb comes to B-CC from FSU where he completed his doctorate in December 2003.

Dr. Paula T. McKenzie, Assistant Professor of Speech Communication & Theatre Arts.  Dr. McKenzie earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts, the Master of Science degree in Speech Communication from Murray State University, and the Ph.D. in Intercultural Communication and Rhetoric from Howard University.  Her teaching experience includes appointments at the University of Vermont, American University, George Washington University, George Mason University, and Howard University.  Her professional experience includes founder and president of Washington Women’s Television Network, congressional deputy press secretary, and president and CEO of Equality Productions. Dr. McKenzie comes to B-CC from Washington, D.C.

Division of Nursing

Dr. Maryann Thorhallsson, Assistant Professor of Nursing.  Dr. Thorhallsson earned the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Psychology from the City University of New York, the Associate degree in Nursing from Daytona Beach Community College, the Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida, and the Ph.D. in Wellness Psychology/Nutrition from Union Institute (Ohio).  She is a registered Nurse and certified as a Yoga instructor, nutritional specialist, and life coach, and she is a published author.  Her previous teaching experience includes a faculty position at Daytona Beach Community College and adjunct faculty here at Bethune-Cookman College.

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Bethune-Cookman is a comprehensive college, which offers degrees in liberal arts as well as professional fields, such as business, education and nursing. A United Methodist Church-affiliated school, the College has a diverse and international student population of more than 2,700 and a solid reputation for academic excellence and community service. As evidence of its outstanding program, the College has been listed in the Templeton Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges and Universities, and it was ranked by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “Top 50” schools in the nation for black students.  B-CC is one of 10 charter member colleges of Project Pericles, a program to create civic leadership and involvement on its member campuses.  The College will celebrate its 100^th year of founding on October 4, 2004.

For more information, contact our website www.bethune.cookman.edu. 

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