Converse University Announces Fall 2024 Faculty Promotions
Converse University faculty are well-known for their commitment to teaching, scholarly and creative achievements, and steadfast service to Converse students and the community. Converse University is dedicated to empowering and celebrating our people, and the University has promoted three instructors within the Department of Art, Design & Letters to tenure-track positions.
In recognition of their commitment to teaching, scholarship, and service, Converse University is pleased to announce Dr. Ross Brendle, Kris Burton, and Dr. Andrea Elliott have earned the rank of Assistant Professor, effective September 1, 2024.
“We are excited and proud to recognize these School of the Arts faculty members, who provide our students with authentic visual, written, and intellectual experiences.”
Dr. Christopher Vaneman
“We are excited and proud to recognize these School of the Arts faculty members, who provide our students with authentic visual, written, and intellectual experiences,” said Dr. Christopher Vaneman, Dean of the School of the Arts at Converse. “They are all passionate about our department’s mission to advance originality, cultivate scholarship, and establish professional skill development within a creative and collaborative community.”
Dr. Ross Brendle, Assistant Professor of Art History
Brendle specializes in the art of ancient Greece and Rome, especially Greek pottery of the Archaic and Classical periods. At Converse, he teaches foundational art history surveys as well as special topics courses. He holds a Ph.D. in Classical Art and Archaeology from Johns Hopkins University and an undergraduate degree in the History of Art from UC Berkeley. He spent 2015-2016 at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece, as a recipient of the Samuel H. Kress Pre-doctoral Fellowship in the Art and Architecture of Antiquity.
Kris Burton, Assistant Professor of Interior Design
Burton brings more than 19 years of interior design and project management experience in commercial and residential design. Throughout her 16 years of teaching, she has taught more than 20 different courses in interior design at five colleges and universities, including Baker College, the Art Institute of Indianapolis, Ball State University, Western Kentucky University, and Anderson University. Before joining Converse, Burton worked in the industry as a Field Operation Manager at Young Office and CBI. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art in Interior Design and a Masters in Art Education – Adult Training and has developed a strong passion for her work as an educator.
Dr. Andrea Elliott, Assistant Professor of Art Education
Dr. Andrea Elliott teaches art education and art appreciation courses, leads travel studies, and supervises student teachers in her role at Converse. She has 10 years of experience in the field as an art teacher in the South Carolina public school system and has been at Converse for more than a decade. An artist and researcher, Elliott’s chosen media are oils, acrylics, and watercolors; her subject matter ranges from pet portraits and landscapes to more abstract designs. She is an active member of the South Carolina Art Education Association and served as the chair of the Lifelong Learning Committee as part of her service to the National Art Education Association. Dr. Elliott’s research encompasses feminist new materialism, material culture, and speculative methodology. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education as well as a PhD in art education.
About the Department of Art, Design & Letters
The Department of Art, Design & Letters recognizes the dynamic relationship between the visual arts and the literary arts. Converse’s exemplary programs in Art Education, Art History, Art Therapy, Creative and Professional Writing, Interior Design, and Studio Art represent a unique range of opportunities for dedicated students in the professional and liberal arts fields.
Utilizing “Creativity that Works” as a model for our programs, the Department of Art, Design & Letters provides options for internships, research, and travel-study to ensure the highest quality experiential learning. Students learn from dedicated award-winning art, design, and creative writing educators who are skilled professionals in their fields.