Belhaven University Adds New Faculty to Enhance Academic Excellence

August 21, 2023 (Jackson, Miss.) - Belhaven University welcomed six new professors to its academic community. These distinguished educators come from diverse backgrounds, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with students.

Dr. Emily Blalock, Belhaven’s Associate Professor of Business Administration and Program Director of Fashion Merchandising, previously served as a lecturer and internship coordinator in the University of Georgia’s Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors for a decade. Her most recent years were spent living and working in Shanghai, China, for seven years. Blalock earned a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi, M.S. in International Merchandising from the University of Georgia, and Ph.D. in Public Administration from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China.

Braden Graves, Belhaven’s Assistant Professor of Theatre, is a seasoned theatrical designer and educator with expertise in design and fabrication, directing, lighting, and carpentry. Graves has earned multiple design awards, including the People’s Choice Award at The Ohio State University in 2022. Alongside his design achievements, Graves was granted the William Case Kramer Fellowship, enabling him to conduct research on contemporary Czech scenography in Prague, Czech Republic. He holds a B.F.A. in Theatre from George Fox University and an M.F.A. from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Philip Kains, Belhaven’s Assistant Professor of Mathematics, is a dedicated math instructor and researcher, focusing on areas such as graph theory, particularly the interaction of long cycles and paths, connectivity, and challenges in extremal graph theory. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Kains actively serves his community and church in roles such as children’s sunday school teacher and youth baseball coach. He holds a B.S. from Southern Illinois University and both an M.S. and a Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi.

Dr. Mark Shannon, Belhaven’s Associate Professor of Business and Chair of Sports Management, boasts 13 years of experience in higher education. Shannon has been honored with student and faculty recognition for his teaching contributions, securing awards such as the Adult Graduate Studies Excellence Award in 2020, the Faculty Member of the Year Award in 2018 and 2019, and the Promising Teacher Award in 2018. He obtained a B.A. from Covenant College, M.B.A. from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and Ph.D. from Regent University.

Jeff Young, Belhaven’s Assistant Professor of Theatre, holds an impressive background with performances on Broadway and at the Kennedy Center. Young was selected for an acting fellowship with the Shakespeare Theatre Company, gracing the stages of productions like “Twelfth Night” and “Hamlet,” which received the esteemed Helen Hayes Award. Young has also taken on professional roles as a standardized patient for Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He earned a B.A. from Southwest Baptist University and M.F.A. from Western Illinois University.

Amanda Moore, Belhaven’s Assistant Professor of Nursing, is a results-driven nursing professional who has demonstrated leadership as a nurse manager at U.M.M.C.’s Batson Kids Clinic and as head nurse at the Clinic. Moore also dedicated her services as a U.M.M.C.’s UNACARE field nurse and staff resident nurse. She obtained a B.S.N. and M.S.N. from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Beyond her academic and professional accomplishments, Moore is an active member of her church’s Christian education ministry, particularly focusing on the children’s ministry.