College of Charleston Welcomes New Faculty

The College of Charleston is proud to welcome its newest faculty members. With a diversity of expertise in a variety of disciplines, they come excited and ready to teach, mentor and inspire students across campus.

Over the fall 2026 semester, The College Today 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!

Paul Baker
Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Exercise Science

Background: I grew up in Ashland, Kentucky, a small town in the northeastern part of the state. I earned my B.S. in Exercise Science and M.S. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kentucky before completing my Ph.D. in Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences at Florida State University. Most recently, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Applied Physiology Laboratory.

Expertise: To generate actionable, evidence-based strategies that improve quality of life, reduce disease risk and create frameworks applicable for women around the menopause transition and beyond.

Outside Interests: Outside of work, I enjoy staying active and spending time outdoors through rock climbing, hiking, slacklining, paddleboarding and strength training. I also enjoy watching movies, playing board games and spending time with friends. More recently, I have developed an interest in videography and content creation, particularly sharing science and research in engaging ways.

Looking Forward: What excites me most is the opportunity to share my passion for exercise science with students and help them see how physiology, nutrition and human performance influence everyday life. I enjoy translating complex scientific concepts into practical applications and creating an environment where students feel challenged, supported and engaged. Beyond the classroom, I look forward to mentoring students, involving them in research opportunities and helping them develop the skills needed for successful careers in health, fitness, research and allied health professions.

Franklin Czwazka ’07 (M.P.A. ’17)
Instructor of Information Management, Department of Supply Chain and Information Management

Background: I am a Charleston transplant who is proud to now call Charleston home. I hold degrees in political science and psychology and a Master of Public Administration from the College of Charleston, along with a master’s in International Relations and Conflict Resolution, and various professional certifications in business analysis and IT service management.

Before joining the faculty full time, I served as an adjunct instructor in supply chain and information management, teaching Management Information Systems. As a staff member, I worked in both Information Technology and the Registrar’s Office, contributing to institutional initiatives and operations.

My career has focused on strategic work at the intersection of information systems, data and business operations, leading cross-functional initiatives in system implementation, process reengineering and organizational improvement. I have also served on several campus committees and presented at conferences on process transformation, system optimization and driving effective change in higher education.

Expertise: My professional expertise lies in leveraging business analysis and information systems to drive organizational effectiveness, governance and digital transformation in higher education, with strengths in enterprise systems, portfolio management and cross-functional alignment.

I’m particularly interested in how governance, enterprise systems and digital transformation work together to improve alignment and outcomes in complex organizations. I’m also drawn to process improvement and the role of information architecture and integrated systems in shaping organizational change. More broadly, I’m passionate about helping organizations use data and technology strategically to deliver value, strengthen transparency and support informed decision-making.

Outside Interests: I enjoy spending quality time with my family. I’m an avid reader – it’s my favorite way to unwind. Beyond that, I’m a black belt in Chito-Ryu karate and love supporting my kids in their own studies. I’m a devoted Star Wars fan, enjoy cooking and trying new recipes, and like playing video games in my downtime. When time permits, I try to stay active through working out.

Looking Forward: What excites me most is connecting with students and helping them see how classroom concepts translate into real-world impact. Drawing on over 18 years of professional experience in various roles, I look forward to sharing practical insights that bring theory to life. I am passionate about helping students build their analytical and problem-solving skills they need to grow into confident, capable professionals, ready to succeed in their careers.

Kirsten Dunlap
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Biology

Background: I am originally from New Mexico, but my studies have taken me all over the country. I graduated with a B.S. in Cellular & Molecular Biology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, in 2016. After a gap year spent in Colorado, I pursued my M.S. in Exercise Science at the University of Arkansas. After graduating in 2019, I moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where I pursued a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology. I graduated from FSU in 2023 and moved to Boston where I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School. Last year, I needed a break from Boston and the postdoc, so I moved back to New Mexico to teach science at Tucumcari Middle School. After recovering, I am excited to be back in higher education!

Expertise: I am a skeletal muscle physiologist interested in the role of skeletal muscle in disease and in survival in extreme environments. Specifically, I am interested in the ability of resistance exercise to regulate skeletal muscle mass and function and the ability of trained muscle to communicate with other body systems and modulate disease states, including Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, I am interested in the impact of long-duration space flight on major body systems, countermeasures to mitigate these effects and whether prioritizing the protection of skeletal muscle may improve overall health and function.

Outside Interests: Outside of the lab and lecture hall, I recharge by spending time with my partner and my black lab named Maggie. I enjoy rock climbing, hiking, paddleboarding, traveling, watching sports, playing board games, listening to podcasts, learning more about history and reading across genres.

Looking Forward: This fall, I am teaching Introduction to Biology (BIOL 101) and Exercise Physiology Lab (EXSC 340L). For BIOL 101, I think the most exciting topic we will cover is cell metabolism and energetics. Metabolism is more than just remembering that the mitochondria is the “powerhouse of the cell!” Metabolism is a key component to sports performance and in disease! In EXSC 340L, students will learn how to perform tests that will give insights into every aspect of fitness and performance – including the VO2 max test that has garnered recent attention as an important marker for longevity.

Kaitlin Ek
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Background: I am originally from Maryland, and completed my bachelor’s degree in mathematics education at the University of Maryland. I have since taught high school math in New York and New Jersey. After finishing my master’s degree through Emporia State University, I am excited to be teaching math at the college level here at the College of Charleston.

Expertise: My areas of interest are algebra and analysis. My area of expertise is working with students who generally struggle with math.

Outside Interests: I love spending time with my family, reading and playing/watching sports.

Looking Forward: The most exciting thing about my course is that everything learned in my class will be used and applied throughout my students’ math careers.

Stephanie Lopez
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Background: I attended the University of Georgia for my undergraduate education, where I received a B.S. in Psychology, a B.A. in Cognitive Science and a minor in Human Development and Family Science. While at UGA, I worked as a research assistant in the Applied Psychometrics and Primate Behavior and Cognition Laboratories, which sparked my love of cognitive research. After graduation, I moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and began my graduate training with Louisiana State University’s Cognitive and Brain Sciences Doctoral Program. There, I specialized in psycholinguistics under Janet McDonald and received my M.A. in Psychology in 2023, followed by my Ph.D. in 2025. Upon completing my Ph.D., I stayed in Baton Rouge to work as a research associate in Katie Cherry’s Adult Development and Aging Laboratory. I am very excited to join the College of Charleston Faculty and continue learning and growing with my students and colleagues.

Expertise: My research interests include topics in psycholinguistics – the interaction between language and the brain. I use behavioral and neuroimaging techniques to study linguistic relativity, specifically how native language influences motion event perception and encoding. I am also interested in language acquisition and examine how isolated acoustic and visual prosodic components of infant-directed speech influence segmentation and association of speech sounds during language learning.

Outside Interests: I am an avid reader and largely enjoy fantasy novels and psychological thrillers. I love being outdoors, especially in the summertime, and am fond of sunset yoga, walks in the park and riding my bike around town. I also enjoy watching movies and often wind down in the evenings by queueing up a horror movie while building Legos and cuddling up with my cat.

Looking Forward: I will be teaching Introduction to Psychological Science and am excited to educate my students on the benefits of understanding the human mind in both academic and real-world settings. Because students in introductory classes are often freshmen, I am also eager to greet them early in their college experience and get to witness their intellectual journey as they move through their coursework. I will also be teaching Psychological Statistics. I have found that statistics is typically an anxiety-inducing course, so I look forward to providing an encouraging environment that makes learning statistics an accessible and rewarding experience.

Michael Lyons ’25 (M.A.)
Adjunct Faculty, Department of History

Background: I am an attorney who retired after 40 years of practicing law in late 2022 after moving here from Connecticut with my wife Elizabeth. Keeping busy in retirement, I enrolled at CofC and in May 2026 received my master’s in history. My professors suggested that I try teaching with my new degree, and I signed up! My educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology from Fairfield University in Connecticut, an MBA/JD from Boston College and my CofC master’s. My last job was vice president at BD (a medical manufacturer).

Expertise: My thesis was on the Reconstruction-era city government of Charleston; the history of the city and of South Carolina is a chief focus of my research interests.

Outside Interests: I served for over 20 years in local and state government in Connecticut (including being president of a city council and chair for five years of a board of education), and have gotten involved in South Carolina politics. I have three grown children and two adorable grandchildren. I am a private pilot and certified scuba diver; love snow skiing, powerboating and travel; adore Charleston and look forward to teaching.

Looking Forward: This will be my first-ever teaching experience, which is both scary and exciting. I chose a topic that fascinates me (ancient engineering), and I hope I can make it equally interesting for my students.

Mackenzie Volk
Assistant Professor, Department of Management and Marketing

Background: I’m originally from Michigan, but I grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky (best known as the home of the Corvette). I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky (Go Cats!) before beginning my career in the Cincinnati area, where I worked in marketing and supply chain roles with Kroger, Amazon and Toyota.

After a rewarding time in industry, I decided to pursue my Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina, just a short drive up the road in Columbia. That blend of real-world experience and academic research gives me a broad perspective on the practical and theoretical sides of marketing, which I am excited to share in both my teaching and research.

Expertise: I conduct experimental research in consumer behavior. My research looks at how our perceptions of other people change our consumption habits.

Outside Interests: I enjoy long walks with my dogs, playing pickleball, a day at the beach, a good cocktail and spending time with family and friends.

Looking Forward: This fall I’m teaching MKTG 302 and 329, and I’m most excited to show students how marketing is everywhere. From the shoes you’re wearing and the coffee you grabbed this morning to the playlist you made for your commute. My favorite part of teaching is the moment when students realize that marketing is not just business jargon, but the story behind why we buy what we buy and how those choices shape our lives. That connection between everyday habits and big-picture thinking is what makes marketing genuinely fun to teach.