By Michael Worrell
Staff Writer
Bryan College hired two new biology professors over the summer to replace the ones lost during the statement of belief clarification last semester.
Bryan’s statement of faith, which all faculty must sign to have their contracts renewed, was clarified last spring semester. Several faculty members disagreed with the clarification and ended their employment, opening new positions to be filled.
Dr. Alice Lawrence, assistant professor of biology, only found out about Bryan recently, when her son Brandon Lawrence, now a sophomore, was looking at colleges. A friend of hers, Janine McCurdy, now director of dual enrollment, told them about the school and gave them a tour.
Lawrence said she was impressed with the environment and how it affected Brandon, “his spiritual journey really began to take off,” she said.
Since then, she has wanted to be a part of what Bryan is doing in the lives of its students. She considered it an answer to prayer, although a sad one because of the clarification of faith, when positions opened up in the Biology department last year.
Lawrence is no stranger to teaching. She has taught high school biology, a dual enrollment course with Bryan and as an adjunct for Chattanooga State University. Despite this, preparing and teaching new courses has made her appreciate the support system within the department.
Her coworkers’ willingness to help has been instrumental in smoothing the transition to a new environment, she said.
Preparing lessons, tests, and rubrics for new classes, a process known as new prep, has made this semester more stressful than others.
Matthew Dunlap, a junior Biology major in one of Lawrence’s classes, said that getting to know how new professors work is always difficult, but he is “excited to see what she has to offer.”
Lawrence also shines outside the classroom, according to Dunlap. The way she attempts to get to know her students shows that she is “a good fit for Bryan College.”
Dr. Neal Doran, professor of biology, has also had a hard transition to Bryan. He had been looking to move on from his teaching post at Patrick Henry College, Purcellville, Virginia, when a colleague suggested Bryan College.
He made his decision to join the faculty suddenly, he said. So his shift has been very rushed and stressful. Even so, the Bryan environment has helped. He said his coworkers were a pleasure despite the stress.
