College of Charleston Welcomes New Faculty

The new academic year brings with it new beginnings, new adventures and new aspirations – not to mention new faces! And many of those new faces belong to the College of Charleston faculty!

The College’s new faculty members have come from all over the world – with a diversity of expertise in a variety of disciplines – to teach, mentor and inspire students across campus. And the College couldn’t be more proud to welcome them to its community.

Over the fall 2024 semester, we will introduce these new faculty members to campus a few at a time – in no particular order – giving the CofC community the opportunity to get to know them all a little better.

Please welcome the College’s newest faculty members in the first of this introductory series!

Austin Floyd
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of English

Background: I am originally from here in South Carolina. I earned my B.A. in English at Coastal Carolina University and my M.F.A. in Writing at SCAD. This will be my third year at CofC (as adjunct) and 14th year teaching college composition courses.

Outside Interests: I enjoy spending time with my kids, playing music, building and modifying guitars and heading to the mountains to hike (when possible).

Looking Forward: I absolutely love learning with first-year students, as it’s such an exciting time at the start of their academic paths. I am also looking forward to continuing to work with the rest of the firs-year writing faculty and the English department as a whole, all of whom have been extremely inviting and supportive.

Ada Goldfeld
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Studio Art

Background: I graduated from the dual degree program between Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, receiving a B.A. in art history and religion and a B.F.A. in studio art. In 2018, I completed an M.F.A. in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Over the past six years, I have taught painting, drawing and design courses in and around New York City, including at the New York Academy of Art, Marymount Manhattan College and Wagner College.

Expertise: I think of my paintings as similar to vignettes, each capturing a quiet, everyday moment that holds deeper significance. Most recently, I have turned my attention to domestic spaces that teeter between very different emotional states. Using transparent layers of oil paint, I explore the tension between feeling comfortable, while also burdened, on edge, or trapped.

Outside Interests: When I’m not in my studio, I love reading, cooking projects, crossword puzzles and getting outside.

Looking Forward: I’m really looking forward to teaching both drawing and painting at CofC. Each class is an opportunity to introduce a new language – which is visual, rather than verbal – and to help students to see, interpret and appreciate the world around them through a new lens.

Christopher Howell ’11
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science

Background: Originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania, I attended CofC from 2007–11, where I started the Pulsera Project, a nonprofit that has grown to benefit hundreds of artisans in Central America and thousands of students in the U.S. I started my Ph.D. program at the University of South Carolina in 2019, and am excited to be joining the faculty ranks of my alma mater.

Expertise: My dissertation focused on the rise of the Religious Right through the Equal Rights Amendment debate, but I also have published papers on vaccine hesitancy, pedagogy, and political psychology.

Outside Interests: I garden, brew my own kombucha, have chickens, am an amateur pizza and bread baker, and have traveled to Central America over 40 times.

Looking Forward: I am excited to be teaching our diverse student body about the promises and pitfalls of our democracy in this exciting election year.

Allison Jevitt
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Biology

Background: Postdoctoral researcher, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Ph.D., Florida State University; B.S., Florida State University

Expertise: My research explores the mechanisms that regulate nuclear morphology and genome organization in actively cycling cells to ensure accurate spatial and temporal gene expression during development. To do this work, I use diverse model systems, including Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog), and human cell culture. The long-term goal is to pinpoint the key factors contributing to human diseases with morphological abnormalities, such as laminopathies, autoimmune disorders and certain cancers.

Outside Interests: I enjoy gardening, writing and playing music, drawing, bash scripting and experimenting with new recipes.

Looking Forward: The molecular biology and genetics labs at the College of Charleston provide a hands-on research experience that delves into the fundamental aspects of the molecular machines that make us who we are. Students will engage with cutting-edge technology, equipping them with the technical skills and practical knowledge essential for successful careers in science and medicine. I am most excited to guide students as they explore the fascinating subcellular world!

Katherine Johnson
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Background: Sociology Ph.D., NC State University (2024); M.A.I.S. Social Justice and Human Rights, George Mason University (2019); B.S. in Mass Communications, Virginia Commonwealth University (2014). Hometown: Virginia Beach

Expertise: Broadly, my area of expertise is race. My specific research interests include multiracial families and children, interracial relationships, racial socialization and qualitative methods.

Outside Interests: I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, spending time with my spouse and our pup Dexter. I’m looking forward to exploring Charleston and learning more about the area.

Looking Forward: I always learn a lot from my students and enjoy hearing their perspectives and experiences, so I look forward to having a new group of students here at College of Charleston. Sociology courses are critical in understanding our social world and communities, including our current sociopolitical climate. The topics are relevant and timely, so I’m excited for student engagement!

Parvez Rashid
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science

Background: I am a passionate researcher and educator committed to transforming learning into a more accessible, efficient and reliable experience. I started my teaching career at my alma mater, American International University-Bangladesh, following the completion of my BSc in Computer Science. To pursue higher education and gain research experience, I moved to the U.S.A. in 2017 and completed my M.S. in Computer Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2019, I began my Ph.D. in Computer Science at North Carolina State University. My Ph.D. research focuses on improving and analyzing the efficiency and accuracy of peer assessments in open-ended responses using AI and natural language processing (NLP), combined with qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Expertise: My research focuses on collecting, analyzing, measuring and reporting data about learners to facilitate enhanced learning and teaching environments. My research interests are broad and impactful, encompassing the use of AI and data science for advanced learning and addressing pressing social issues while maintaining a strong commitment to ethical considerations, including transparency, fairness and social responsibility.

Outside Interests: The outdoors is where I feel most alive and at peace. I love hiking, riding a bike and swimming. I also love to travel to new places and learn about people and cultures.

Looking Forward: I am excited to meet my students and am eager to provide them with an experience that will ignite their curiosity and inspire a deeper passion for learning.

Elizabeth Riggs
Assistant Professor, Department of Communication

Background: I am originally from South Bend, Indiana, but have spent the last 10 years in Columbus, Ohio, completing my education at Ohio State – my B.A. was in film studies and communication, my M.A. in communication and my Ph.D. in communication with a specialization in cognitive and brain sciences.

Expertise: My research is at the intersection of cognition and strategic message design. I take an information processing approach to communication by studying how people allocate attention to messages and their subsequent memory and persuasive outcomes across contexts, including health, politics and science.

Outside Interests: In my free time, I love to play tennis, do barre and dance classes, read (a lot) and travel. I am also very into my espresso setup. My husband and I love to host little cafés at our home for our friends.

Looking Forward: I’m really excited to engage with my CofC students, and learn from them as well! I also look forward to teaching research methods and sharing some of my methodological expertise, such as eye tracking.

Jerome Sanzo
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Finance/Carter Real Estate Center

Background: I have worked in banking and finance for 40 years for international financial organizations. I have worked in Australia, Asia, Europe and the U.S. I managed large investments and funds. I also have been an adjunct faculty member at Fordham University and New York University. I hold an MBA from the Thunderbird International School Division of Arizona State University.

Expertise: Real estate investments and finance, real estate capital markets, portfolio management

Outside Interests: I am a member of the board of directors of a 944-home community homeowners association. I enjoy swimming, pickleball and travel.

Looking Forward: I enjoy the interaction with students while discussing the principles of real estate investments and finance.