Furman University

Engaged Living Program Faculty

The Engaged Living program has many dedicated faculty and staff who work hard to make the program a success. They devote countless hours to preparing classes, planning extracurricular programs, and making the Engaged Living experience beneficial to their students. Most of all, they truly care about their students and work very hard to ensure that all of the first-year students in the program are successful at Furman and beyond.

	Dr. Brad Harmon Associate Director of Residence Life & Director of the Engaged Living Program Ph.D., Counseling & Student Affairs, University of Georgia Office: Housing & Residence Life Phone: (864) 294-3036 Email: brad.harmon@furman.edu Dr. Harmon serves as the administrative director for the Engaged Living Program. A 1997 alumnus of Furman, he serves as Co-Chair of the University's First-Year Experience Strategic Planning Committee as well as an academic advisor to undeclared students. His research focuses on the peer mentoring of first-year undergraduate students.
	Dr. Brannon Andersen Professor and Chair, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences Ph.D., Geology, Syracuse University Office: Plyler Hall 119D Phone: 864-294-3366 Email: brannon.andersen@furman.edu Dr. Andersen serves as faculty for Environmental Community of Students (ECOS) and teaches the Earth and Environmental Science 112 class. His research focuses on the biogeochemical processes that control the chemical composition of rivers; biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and silicon; sediment transport and trace metal geochemistry.
	Dr. Erik Ching Professor of History Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara Office: Furman Hall 200I Phone: (864) 294-2119 Email: erik.ching@furman.edu Dr. Ching serves as faculty for Poverty and Work: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives and teaches the FYS 1150 class on global poverty. His research interests include modern Latin America and Africa.
	Mr. Eric Cain Program Director, Center for Vocational Reflection M.A., Education, Wake Forest University M.Div., Mercer University Office: Furman Hall 138 Phone: (864) 294-2511 Email: eric.cain@furman.edu A 2004 alumnus of Furman, Mr. Cain assists Dr. D'Amato with Finding Your life Purpose. As program director of the Center for Vocational Reflection, he supports students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the larger community in vocational discernment and reflection. He develops and implements programs and activities that encourage social action informed by faith and ethics.
	Dr. Susan D'Amato Professor, Physics Faculty Associate, Center for Vocational Reflection Ph.D., Physics, University of South Carolina Office: Plyler Hall 218 Phone: (864) 294-3604 Email: susan.d'amato@furman.edu Dr. D'Amato serves as faculty for Finding Your Life Purpose and teaches the FYS 1103 first-year seminar. As faculty associate of the Center for Vocational Reflection, her current area of interest is dialogue between physics and the humanities, especially the dialogue between science and religion.
	Dr. Weston Dripps Associate Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences Ph.D., Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin Madison Office: Plyler Hall 119E Phone: (864) 294-3392 Email: weston.dripps@furman.edu Dr. Dripps serves as faculty for Environmental Community of Students (ECOS) and teaches the FYS 1126 first-year seminar. His research focuses on studying the variety of local hydrologic issues pertaining to urbanization, global water issues and ground water modeling.
	Dr. David Gandolfo Associate Professor, Philosophy Chair, Poverty Studies Concentation Ph.D., Philosophy, Loyola University of Chicago M.A., International Affairs, Columbia University Office: Furman Hall 125E Phone: (864) 294-3238 Email: david.gandolfo@furman.edu Dr. Gandolfo serves as faculty for Poverty and Work: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives. He teaches both the Philosophy 101 and Poverty Studies 101 classes. His research interests include globalization, international justice, poverty, and Latin American philosophy.
	Dr. Kristy Maher Professor, Sociology Ph.D., Sociology, Yale University Office: Johns Hall 106J Phone: (864) 294-3302 Email: kristy.maher@furman.edu Dr. Maher serves as faculty for Curses, Cures, and Clinics: Global Health Perspectives and teaches the FYS 1135 first-year seminar. Her research interests include medical sociology, global health inequities, sociology of gender and community based evaluation.
	Dr. Bill Ranson Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences Ph.D., Geology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst Office: Plyler Hall - 119B Phone: (864) 294-3364 Email: bill.ranson@furman.edu Dr. Ranson serves as faculty for the Environmental Community of Students (ECOS) and teaches the FYS 1126 first-year seminar. His research interests include petrology, bedrock mapping, and geologic history of the southern Appalachian Mountains; sustainability in curriculum and administration.
	Dr. Elizabeth Smith Professor, Political Science Ph.D., Political Science, University of Minnesota Office: Johns Hall 111L Phone: (864) 294-3674 Email: liz.smith@furman.edu Dr. Smith serves as faculty for The Politics of Good and Evil and teaches the FYS 1131 first-year seminar. Her interests include American politics (public opinion and political socialization).
	Dr. David Spear William E. Leverette, Jr. Professor of History, History Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara Office: Furman Hall 200M Phone: (864) 294-3143 Email: david.spear@furman.edu Dr. Spear serves as faculty for Historical Interpretations and teaches the FYS 1106 first-year seminar. His research interests include medieval Europe and ancient history. Dr. Spear will be taking a leave from Engaged Living for the fall 2013 semester to lead Furman students on a study away trip to Europe.