Leadership

Rev. Hollis Dudgeon

Co-Director of Faithways Academy

Hollis is a graduate of Georgetown College and of Wake Forest School of Divinity. She loves to travel, meet new people, and experience new things!

Dr. April Hoelke Simpson

Co-Director of Faithways Academy

I am Assistant Professor of Religion at Georgetown College, where I teach New Testament and other topics such as women in Christianity, ancient religions, and Greek. After earning my bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina, I earned master’s degrees from Gardner-Webb and its School of Divinity, then received my doctorate from SMU in Dallas, TX. In addition to North Carolina and Texas, I have also lived in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and now Kentucky.

Dr. Michelle Johnson

Faithways Consultant and Summer Elective Instructor

Michelle Johnson is a philosophy professor at Georgetown College. She teaches and researches on ethics, philosophy of education, environmental ethics, and philosophy of play. She is the author the blog Love is Stronger and the books Argument Builder, Discovery of Deduction, (co-author) and Everyday Debate. Before returning to graduate school, she was a middle and high school humanities teacher for over a decade. She earned her PhD in philosophy at the University of Kentucky and wrote her dissertation on education and the good society. In her free time, she enjoys walking, hiking, writing, and gardening.

SPEAKERS, INSTRUCTORS, AND OTHER COLLABORATORS

Jessalyn Brown

Keynote Speaker – Spring Retreat

Jessalyn Brown is a preacher and poet from Lexington, Kentucky. She is a graduate of Georgetown College where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Studies and Theatre & Film Studies. Jessalyn is in her final year at Baylor University's Truett Seminary where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity. At Baylor, she also serves as a resident chaplain for the undergrad students in Heritage House, the fine arts community. 

Fun Fact about me: I am a Funko pop collector. The newest in my collection are President Barbie and Encanto's Antonio Madrigal. 

Paradise Stanford

Instructor – Summer Elective

I graduated Georgetown College in 2020 with a Dual BA in English Literature and Philosophy. I earned my MA in Philosophy from the University of Kentucky where I am currently a PhD Candidate and Instructor of Philosophy. Fun fact, while attending Georgetown College as an undergraduate student, I spent a semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy.

Dr. Bill Swinford

 Instructor – Summer Elective

 Bill Swinford is the Assistant Dean for Calling and Career and an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Georgetown College. Bill and his spouse have successfully raised five cats, four children, three gardens, two guinea pigs, and one crab.

Christy Messick

Instructor – Summer Core Course

Christy Messick is a certified Spiritual Director and an ordained minister within the Disciples of Christ. She has a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and currently serves as an Outreach Advocate for a domestic violence shelter in Lexington, KY. One fun fact is that she used to spend her college summers in Israel, China, and Tunisia training their Women's National Softball and Basketball teams.

Dr. Derek Hatch

 Instructor – Summer Core Course

 I am Professor of Religion at Georgetown College, primarily teaching Christian theology and Baptist studies. I studied at Truett Seminary and the University of Dayton. My wife and I have four children (ages 9-16). I love to travel and have had the opportunity   to visit and explore parts of ten different countries (so far).