Community Bulletin
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BUCKHANNON – West Virginia Wesleyan College welcomed new faculty across academic programs for the 2026-2027 year, bringing varied experience in business, psychology, theatre, music and more, according to a press release from the college.
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Emily Grimany is teaching Intro to Theatre, Advanced Directing and Acting IV. Grimany earned her MFA in Directing from Illinois State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a minor in musical theatre from Western Kentucky University. Prior to coming to WVWC, Grimany taught Intro to Theatre and Directing 1 at Illinois State University. A professional director, choreographer and educator, Grimany has worked in musical theatre, Shakespeare, contemporary plays, new works and touring educational theatre. Her directing credits include “Into the Woods,” “Puffs,” “Stop Kiss,” “Borrowed Babies” and an abridged touring production of “Romeo and Juliet” for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Dr. Jeffrey W. Harvey, DEL, CEM, is the new director of the Thomas H. Albinson II School of Business and an assistant professor. He will be teaching BUSI-332: Leadership and BUSI-497: Strategy and Policy among others. Harvey holds a Doctor of Executive Leadership from the University of Charleston, a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University and a Bachelor of Arts in English (creative writing concentration) from West Virginia University. Prior to arriving at WVWC, Harvey served as program director for the Doctor of Executive Leadership in University of Charleston’s School of Leadership and also held various teaching positions within the school.
Since 2006, Harvey has owned and operated JH Consulting, LLC – a firm specializing in disaster preparedness, occupational safety and organizational leadership.
Dr. David Hong is a visiting assistant professor in the Thomas H. Albinson II School of Business. He is teaching Principles of Finance, Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics this semester. Hong earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Michigan State University and worked in Early Career Research at the University of Edinburgh from 2023-2026.
Assistant Professor of Music Lyndon Ji is teaching applied piano and advanced music theory this semester while also performing solo, with colleagues and with students. Ji is a DMA candidate at the Yale School of Music, completed an Artist Diploma at IU Jacobs School of Music and earned his Master of Music at University of Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at Yale University where he also worked as one of the inaugural Swensen Fellows in the Office of Strategic Analysis at Yale. Most recently, Ji served as staff pianist at Rutgers last year and has previously taught or served as a teaching assistant for music theory, music history and piano.
Assistant Professor of Physics Timothy Olszanski is teaching Physics 342 (quantum mechanics), Physics 103 (Discovering Physics as a Liberal Art) and Phys 151L (Gen Physics Labs) this semester. He is currently defending his Ph.D. this semester at West Virginia University and holds a Master of Science in Physics from the University of Vermont and Bachelor of Science in physics from New Mexico Tech.
“I am a plasma physicist who does both theory and observations,” he said. “In particular, I use radio telescopes to study neutron stars and better understand how they make radiation. I am thrilled and excited to be at our Home Among the Hills.”
Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Michael Richards is teaching Psychology 101, General Psychology; PSYC 220, Counseling Psychology; and PSYC 238, Developmental Psychology. A Ph.D. candidate at West Virginia University, Richards also holds a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; a Master of Social Work from WVU; a Master’s in Education from WVU and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fairmont State. Richards is an ordained United Methodist clergy member, a certified teacher in the State of West Virginia and a Licensed Graduate Social Worker. Prior to coming to WVWC, he has served as adjunct faculty at West Liberty State College (now University), Glenville State College, Bluefield State University, New River Community College, Fairmont State College and West Virginia University. He also served as a graduate teaching assistant at West Virginia University.
Hannah Wyatt ’26 is the Irene McKinney Postgraduate Teaching Fellow in the Department of English. As a WVWC MFA fiction graduate, Wyatt is teaching rhetorical analysis and personal inquiry courses this fall. Wyatt also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing from West Virginia University. She writes fiction and poetry with an emphasis in short story and the flash form. Wyatt is also interested in hybrid writing, fabulist prose and speculative texts. Prior to coming to WVWC, Wyatt worked as an undergraduate tutor at West Virginia University and taught a seminar on point of view and character tenderness during her time in the WVWC MFA program.
“I am excited to teach and learn together with my students,” she said.
