New Deans Appointed to Schools of Music, Education, and Business

As the 2014-15 school year approaches, new academic leadership takes the reins, continuing to build Cairn’s academic programs.
In the School of Music, Dr. Benjamin Harding has been appointed dean, following the retirement of Dr. Paul Isensee. Dr. Harding has been a faculty member since 2012, also serving as Music Outreach Director and Director of the Cairn Community Arts Academy.
His vision for the School of Music involves recruiting and investing in students who will energize the creative world. In addition to the Performance major and highly reputed Music Education program, Dr. Harding continues to develop the interdisciplinary B.A. in Music program begun in 2012. In addition, he introduces a new major in Worship and Music. This program which will be the first of its kind in the country in that it will teach from the tradition of jazz. The program includes courses such as Songwriting, Jazz Theory, and Worship Band Arranging.
“The School of Music is a place of creativity, diversity and inspiration,” Dr. Harding explains. “We have students here that are curious, engaging and ready to learn. It’s a privilege to serve here.”
Two additional Schools have also been appointed new leadership for the 2014-15 academic year: the School of Education (Dr. Paula Gossard, Acting Dean) and the School of Business (Mr. Yunn Kang, Interim Dean). As part of their new responsibilities, Dr. Harding, Dr. Gossard, and Mr. Kang also join the University’s Academic Leadership Team, seeking to guide the continued development of the University’s programs with innovative vision and biblical wisdom.