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Arts & Humanities

The Arts and Humanities Department offers intellectually rigorous programs designed to foster your creativity and promote your aesthetic literacy. Our faculty are strong pedagogues with stellar educational backgrounds, committed to bringing out the best in you.

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DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & HUMANITIES

Bell Cultural Events Center
2030 E. College Way
Olathe, KS 66062-1899
913-971-3441
finearts@mnu.edu

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Department Faculty

Our Arts and Humanities faculty members are strong pedagogues with stellar educational backgrounds from a variety of public and private institutions. This means they’re extremely talented—and you’ll have a front-row seat in which to learn from each of them!

Luke Johnson

LUKE D. JOHNSON

Department Chair, Director of Bands and Music Education, Tenured Professor of Music

  • D.M.A.; Wind Conducting, University of Kansas, 2015
  • M.M.; Band Conducting/Music Education, Kansas State University, 2008
  • B.A.; Music Education, MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2003
Addison Lucchi

Addison Lucchi

Instructional & Research Librarian, Associate Professor of English

  • Ph.D.; Educational Leadership & English, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2023
  • M.B.A.; Business Administration, MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2019
  • M.L.I.S.; Library & Information Science, Simmons College, 2017
  • B.G.S.; English & Psychology, Ball State University, 2015
Daniel Schwabauer, Assistant Professor of English

Daniel Schwabauer

Assistant Professor of English

  • Th.D.; Theology, Kairos University, 2023
  • B.G.S.; English, University of Kansas, 1991
  • M.A.; English, University of Kansas, 1995
Christopher Smith

CHRISTOPHER M. SMITH

Director of Choral Activities, Associate Professor of Music

  • D.M.A.; Choral Conducting, University of Kansas, 2016
  • M.M.; Choral Conducting, East Carolina University, 2013
Heather Tinker

Heather Tinker

Director of Theatre, Assistant Professor of Theatre

  • M.A.; Theatre, University of Kansas, 2012
  • B.A.; Communication and Public Relations, MidAmerica Nazarene University, 1998
Darin Tuck

Darin Tuck

Associate Professor of History
  • Ph.D.; University of Missouri, 2018
  • M.A.; Kansas State University. 2010
  • B.A.; Washburn University, 2007

Music Adjunct Faculty

Mark Adair

Mark Adair

Applied Bassoon

  • M.M.; Master of Music Performance, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2021
  • B.M.; Music Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2019
  • B.M.E.; Music Education, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2019
Katina Bilberry

Katina Bilberry

Director of Orchestra

  • M.M.; Music Performance, University of Kansas, 2018
  • B.A.; Music Performance, William Jewell College, 2001
199x199xElaine_Fox

Elaine Fox

Applied Voice

  • M.M.; Voice Performance University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, 2001
  • B.A.; Voice Performance University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, 1995
Emily Foltz

Emily Foltz

Applied Oboe

  • D.M.A.; Musical Arts, University of Kansas, 2020
  • M.M.; Oboe Performance, University of Oregon, 2017
  • B.M.; Oboe Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, 2015
Richard Galbreath

Richard Galbreath

Applied Clarinet

  • M.M.; Master of Music in Clarinet Performance,  Colorado State University, 2022
  • B.A.; Music Education, Nicholls State University, 2020
Joel Gordon

Joel Gordon

Applied Saxophone
  • M.A.; Music Education, Truman State University, 2016
  • B.A.; Music, Truman State University, 2015
Brandon Graves

BRANDON GRAVES

Drum Line Instructor and Applied Percussion

199x199xHart_Kemper_2

GINA HART-KEMPER

Applied Flute

  • DMA; The University of Michigan
  • M.M.; The University of Michigan
  • B.M.; Wichita State University
Audrey Herren

Audrey Herren

Applied Cello

  • M.M.; Violoncello Performance, University of Kansas, 2016
Krista Kopper

Krista Kopper

Applied Bass

  • M.M.; Double Bass Performance, University of Hartford, 2016
Brent Mead

Brent Mead

Applied Low Brass

  • M.M.; Trombone Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2019
  • B.M.E.; Instrumental Music Education, University of Northern Iowa, 2017
Nathan Nall

NATE Nall

Applied Trumpet and Improvisation, Co-Director MNU Jazz Ensemble

  • B.M.; Jazz Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2020
David Smart

David Smart

Applied Guitar

  • M.A.; Music, Middle Tennessee State University, 1992
AndreaStanton

ANDREA STANTON

Applied Horn

  • A.C.; University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, 2012
  • M.M.; Horn Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, 2010
Regina Tanujaya

Regina Tanujaya

Applied Piano, Keyboard Skills

  • D.M.A.; Piano Performance, University of Missouri – Kansas City, 2021
  • M.M.; Chamber Music, University of Michigan, 2017
  • M.M.; Piano Performance, University of Michigan, 2017
  • B.M.; Piano Performance, University of Kansas, 2015
Geoff Wilcken

Geoffrey A. Wilcken

Composition and Theory

  • D.M.A.; Composition, University of Kansas, 2018
  • M.M.; Choral Conducting, University of Kansas, 1998

Art

Brian Merriman, M.A. – Drawing/Color/Screen Printing

Carrol Schwabauer, B.A. – Exploring Art

Lori Triplett, J.D. – Tie-Dye, Batik, and Shibori

Audio/Visual Media

Justin Pedigo, M.S. – Audio/Visual Media

English

Matthew Lee, M.Ed.

Kaitlin Vincent, M.A.

Theatre

Josiah Crandall, B.A. – Theatre Workshop/Technical Director

April Okken, B.A. – Dance Theatre