We are proud to welcome several new full-time faculty members and staff for the 2023-24 academic year.
Department of Graphic Design
Jennifer Cadieux Kimbrel
Assistant Professor of Design
Kimbrel has joined TCU in a new role after serving in an adjunct capacity since fall 2021. She has worked as an in-house and freelance designer for over 10 years, with expertise in graphic design, temporary architecture, cartography, experiential design and public arts. Kimbrel previously taught at the University of California, Davis, offering graphic design and typography courses. She received a Master of Fine Arts in exhibition design from the University of California, Davis.
Rhonda Wolverton
Assistant Professor of Design
Wolverton’s teaching career spans over 20 years at institutions including the University of Houston, Northern Kentucky University and the University of Indianapolis, where she received tenure. She has served as a graphic designer and art director for a variety of companies with expertise in branding, cause-based design, design thinking and human-centered design. As an educator, Wolverton engages in socially-driven design research to empower individuals, connect people and engage communities.
School for Classical & Contemporary Dance
Chad Jung
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Dance Lighting Design and Production
A Fort Worth native, Jung began his career on tour with Bruce Wood and recreated lighting for his mentor Tony Tucci in collaboration with notable companies, including Ballet Austin and Washington Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He is the resident designer for Fort Worth Opera and has designed numerous operas over the last 20 years. Jung is a founding member of Amphibian Stage. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre with a lighting design emphasis from TCU.
William Labossiere
Instructional Staff Musician
A student of improvisation, Labossiere has performed with groups such as the Greensboro Symphony and shared the stage with artists like Kenny G and Ben Folds. He was a featured performer at the Zeltsman Marimba Festival, Orford Musique Festival in Quebec and Adirondack Performing Fellowship in New York. Labossiere holds degrees from Messiah University and the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
Heather McCreless
Costume Shop Supervisor
A native Texan, McCreless graduated from TCU with a Bachelor of Art in Theatre / Radio, TV, Film with a minor in Fashion Merchandising. She began her costuming career at Texas Ballet Theatre, where she created special pieces for the company throughout the years. McCreless was a draper/cutter, stitcher and designer for numerous theatre companies, including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Denver Theatre Center, FW Opera and Theatre TCU. As a Local 803 Wardrobe Union member, she has stitched and dressed national broadway tours.
Gabe Speiller
Visiting Lecturer
Speiller has toured internationally with renowned companies, including Bruce Wood Dance Company, Ad Deum Dance Company and Zion Dance Project, among others. As a choreographer and educator, he is passionate about guiding dances to become technically proficient and have the tools to navigate a career in the fine arts. Speiller holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Belhaven University and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Arizona.
School of Music
Gwendolyn Alfred
Assistant Professor of Voice
Alfred previously served as an associate professor, coordinator of voice and the director of the opera workshop at Texas Southern University. She is an active scholar, with her research featured in numerous publications, including The International Florence Price Festival and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Alfred made her Houston Grand Opera debut in a newly-commissioned work that landed her in the prestigious Texas Monthly magazine. Her mission is to influence and build well-rounded musicians from her love and extensive experience with various musical styles.
Allen Cordingley
Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies
Before coming to TCU, Cordingley served as the jazz orchestra director and a distinguished lecturer in saxophone at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He has enjoyed an eclectic career as a musician performing in a variety of styles. Cordingley has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. He currently performs with the Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble, The Big Payback and is the principal saxophonist in the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Cordingley holds degrees from Lawrence University and Youngstown State University.
Enrico Elisi
Associate Professor of Piano and the Harold D. and Imogene Herndon Professorship in Music
Elisi comes to TCU from the University of Toronto, where he served as an associate professor of piano and received the Faculty of Music Teaching Award for his excellence, commitment and innovation. His teaching career spans almost 20 years at institutions including the University of Rochester, Penn State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and serving as a visiting professor at Hanyang University and Ewha Womans University in South Korea. Elisi has earned international recognition for his solo performances with the Florence Symphony in Italy, the Orchestra Classica de Porto in Portugal and the Jakarta Sinfonietta in Indonesia, among others.
Clay Garrett
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Tuba and Euphonium
Garrett has joined TCU in a new role after serving in an adjunct capacity since fall 2021. He is the principal tubist of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. Garrett has performed internationally and has been a prizewinner of the International Markneukirchen competition in Germany, the Lieksa Brass Week competition in Finland, as well as the Leonard Falcone Competition and the Concert Artist’s Guild Competition in the United States. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Music from Baylor University.
Marla Ringel
Assistant Professor of Music Education and Assistant Director of Choral Activities
Ringel has joined TCU in a new role after serving as a visiting lecturer since fall 2022. She has been involved with the vocal arts at TCU for almost 20 years, including earning her degrees and serving as the associate conductor of the TCU Concert Chorale and FrogCorps. Before her collegiate teaching career, Ringel taught at the high school and middle school levels and was named a “Top Teacher” by Fort Worth Magazine for her work in the classroom.
Amanda Goodwin
Technical Director of the TCU Music Center
Department of Theatre
Aimee Hurst Bozarth
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice
Bozarth, a pianist and musical director, has worked with renowned theatre and opera companies. Her local music direction credits include Casa Mañana, Circle Theatre, Stage West Theatre, Jubilee Theatre and TCU. Bozarth previously served as a faculty member at Texas Wesleyan University, where she music directed and conducted “Company,” “Evita,” “Hair,” “Little Me” and “Sweeney Todd.” She received her Master of Music in piano performance from The University of Texas at Austin.
College of Fine Arts Academic Resource Center
De’Evin Johnson
Academic Advisor
Johnson is a motivated educator and professional with a passion for helping students reach their academic and professional goals. He has not only served as a high school choral director at both Duncanville and Ridge Point High School, but also brings advising, mentoring and housing experience from his time at Texas State University. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music in music education from Texas State University and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from TCU.