Instructors
Listed below are biographies for instructors of the Community Outreach and Professional Studies programs. For information on audit faculty, see individual department web pages at www.meredith.edu/academics.
SUZANNE BALLANTYNE is dedicated to her philosophy of “simple practice.” Through her own persistent practices she lives a life of joy, creative expression, financial integrity and peaceful fulfillment. Ballantyne has a B.A. in psychology and a M.A. (abt) in the history and philosophy of education. (www.simplepractice.net)
JENNA BOYD is the owner and consultant of Elements of Harmony Feng Shui. She has professionally practiced the art of Feng Shui since 2003 and is a graduate and certified practitioner of the Western School of Feng Shui in Solana Beach, CA. Along with consulting, she teaches classes, lectures and writes articles on Feng Shui. Boyd provides Feng Shui in an easy, understandable and applicable method for today’s lifestyle with her down-to-earth approach to the ancient study. (www.elementsofharmony.com)
MARISA S. CAMPBELL, Esq., is the director of the Paralegal Program at Meredith College. She has a J.D. from the University of Michigan, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a B.A. in political science and studies in religion from the University of Michigan.
DONNA RHODES DARNELL has a B.A. in art from Meredith College and a master’s in art history from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has taught both studio art and advanced placement art history at Ravenscroft School and art history at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA. Darnell has been a docent at NCMA for a total of twelve years and is a past president of the docent organization.
BEV DWANE is a certified image professional, who works with women to ensure what we see is who they are. She offers private consultations in color, style and makeup and is an energetic speaker and trainer in the field of image. (www.bevdwane.com)
PEG GIGNOUX, textile artist, is an accomplished facilitator of vibrant textile collaborations linking literacy with visual images. She has her B.A. in English from Kenyon College and a M.I.D. in fibers from NCSU. Gignoux’s outreach work includes creating large textiles with at-risk youth, hospitalized children, adults, K–12 schools and university students. Many of these community collaborations have been created for distinguished NC institutions such as Greensboro Hospice, Greensboro Libraries, Duke Medical Center, UNC Hospitals, Elon University and Hickory Art Museum. An instructor at Penland School of Craft and Arrowmont School, Gignoux has also established a book arts workshop in Anjou, France. In 2001, she and Susie Wilde joined forces to form Textile Partners. (www.ingignouxity.com)
SUSAN GILBERT, B.A. Duke Univ., M.A. Univ. of Virginia, Ph.D. Univ. of NC, has taught in the Department of English at Meredith for thirty-three years. She regularly teaches American literature, American women writers and courses in 20th century literature.
JOHN KINCHELOE, B.A., University of Richmond, M.A., University of Virginia, is on the faculty at Meredith College, where he has taught American Indian history and cultures since 1991. He has played the Native American flute for fifteen years and is a founding member of the Neuse River Flute Circle. He is also a member of the International Native American Flute Association. (www.neuseriverflutecircle.com)
DONNA KING has a B.S. and M.A.T. She has been an art teacher in public schools for over 35 years and has taught on the college level as well as K–8.
BOB KLATT has been ballroom dancing for most of his life and has enjoyed teaching with Liz Sorrell for many years.
AMY BLAIR LAWSON earned her M.B.A. from East Carolina University and is the president of Lawson Financial Group, Inc. in Raleigh.
JANICE MRKONJIC has an undergraduate degree in early childhood education and a master of education (adult education) from Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada. She has professional experiences spanning from social work, education and e-learning to sales and business development.
JON T. NORRIS, B.A., Mississippi College, is a founding member of the Neuse River Flute Circle. He has played the Native American flute for 14 years and is an accomplished flute maker. He is the owner of Village Flutes in Holly Springs and is a member of the International Native American Flute Association.
(www.neuseriverflutecircle.com and www.villageflutes.com)
JOHN ORR, a professor at Duke, has led meditation retreats globally and workshops in stress management in the Research Triangle Park. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk while living in Thailand and India for eight years. (www.newhopesangha.org)
JEAN M. PORTER has a B.S. in education and M.S. in library science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is librarian emeritus from NC State where she was a government documents and patent and trademark librarian. She was a fellowship librarian in the Patent and Trademark Depository Library Programs Office, USPTO and is now a reference librarian at Meredith College.
JANICE RUSSELL, North Carolina’s first certified professional organizer in chronic disorganization, and her firm Minding Your Matters® Organizing, have built a reputation for helping business and residential clients organize their space, items, documents and time using the flexible structure principle™. Minding Your Matters® is dedicated to helping people achieve organization with lasting results™ in their personal and professional lives. Russell is past education chair for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and past president of the North Carolina Chapter of NAPO. She is the author of Get Organized This Year!
JANET SHIGEHARA is a private math tutor. She has a B.S. in mathematics from Northeast Missouri University and a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Cincinnati.
KIMBERLEE D. SIPE is a financial advisor with Wachovia Securities in Raleigh. She is the founder of a professional women’s accountability group and a monthly contributor for Women’s Edge Magazine. Sipe is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and ECU.
CHIP SLADE is an AWSDA certified rape prevention instructor and the regional representative for the American Women’s Self Defense Association. He is also certified as a confined area safety tactics instructor through the Modern Warrior Defensive Tactics Institute. Chip has a background in a variety of martial arts, though his rape prevention classes are not martial arts based. (www.bushidojudo.com)
BRYAN SMITH is a graduate of the UNC-Wilmington Cameron School of Business and an attorney. He is a certified financial planner, chartered financial consultant, chartered life underwriter and certified in long term care. Smith specializes in the specific concerns of seniors including financial retirement and estate planning.
LIZ SORRELL has a B.S. in computer science from NCSU and is retired from NCSU. She has taught ballroom dancing for more than 20 years at facilities including Sertoma Arts Center and Apex and Cary community centers.
SUSIE WILDE has an M.Ed. from Tulane University and has reviewed children’s books for Learning Magazine and currently writes a monthly column for the News and Observer. She has taught writing and reading in classrooms for 13 years. She is a reading-writing advocate. (www.wildewritingworks.com)
SCOTT WRAY has been teaching swimming and water safety for over 20 years. He is currently aquatic director and assistant professor in the Health, Exercise and Sports Science Department at Meredith College, with previous teaching experience at Rice University and Ball State University. He has an M.S. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his certifications include instructor and instructor trainer in lifeguarding, water safety, first aid and CPR.
STEFANIE ZIZZO is a career and life coach who helps people take their lives in a new direction. With 14 years combined experience in career counseling and life coaching, she has helped hundreds of people focus on what they want in life, think and grow beyond their comfort zone and take purposeful action. She is a certified life coach and has a master’s degree in counseling and B.A. in psychology.
