From left, Dr. Andrew Zhou, Mr. Aaron Winey, Dr. Mark Bowald, Dr. Martha-Elena Granados.

WINONA LAKE – Grace College has welcomed four new faculty members to campus.

They include: Dr. Martha-Elena Granados, assistant professor of languages (Spanish); Aaron Winey, media arts program director and instructor for visual communication design; Dr. Andrew Zhou, assistant professor of chemistry; and Dr. Mark Bowald, professor of theology.

Martha-Elena Granados holds a Ph.D. in Spanish literature from the University of Kentucky. She earned her M.A. in Hispanic studies and literatures from Auburn University, and her B.A. from Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Administración in Juárez, Chihuahua México. Over the past 18 years, she has taught a wide variety of Spanish courses at every level from beginning to advanced.

“Martha-Elena is an invaluable asset to our languages program. With her expertise, we’re able to offer new upper-level Spanish courses. Grace students are now able to complete a Spanish minor without leaving campus, and we’ve reduced the study abroad requirement for Spanish majors from two semesters to one,” said Dr. Lauren Rich, chair of the Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication at Grace College.  As a result, the language programs are more accessible and affordable for students and allow students to more easily combine a Spanish minor with other intensive fields of study.

“I look forward to sharing my Hispanic roots and culture with my students. I feel extremely excited and privileged every day to be at Grace College,” said Granados.

Aaron Winey obtained his B.S. from Grace College and is currently completing his M.F.A. at Savannah College of Art & Design. Winey has 15 years of experience as a professional designer, working in both agency and in-house environments including time at DePuy and Da-Lite. Now, he owns and operates Blue Note Design, a communication design agency which he will continue to oversee.

Kim Reiff, assistant dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, commented on Winey’s competencies: “Aaron has a critical understanding of the future opportunities in visual design and knows the responsibilities that a designer has within a variety of social constructs. His insight, character, and skills position him to serve as a mentor to students in the understanding of design through a biblical perspective,” she said.

Winey is excited to return to his alma mater. “The opportunity to come back to Grace and teach visual communication design students is exciting. I believe that designers have the power to shape our culture, and I look forward to guiding students as they learn aesthetic principles as well as their responsibility to use visual communication to create a better world,” said Winey.

Winey’s scholarship focus includes aesthetic experimentation, design as best practices, human-centered design, and the application of technology within the undergraduate curriculum.

Dr. Andrew Zhou completed his Ph.D. in chemistry from Wake Forest University, was a research scientist at the University of Arkansas and an adjunct faculty in chemistry at Northeastern State University. Zhou also has more than 25 publications, including two featured on the cover of journals in the chemistry field. His experience brings a unique perspective to Grace.

“I very much look forward to contributing to the Grace community in different aspects including domestic and international student ministries within and outside of the community. But Grace’s commitment to the integration of faith, science, and reason excites me the most,” said Zhou.

Zhou’s primary research works to develop more efficient batteries through nanochemistry to address the greenhouse gas emission problem facing the planet. Through his research, Zhou has identified copper as a substitute for cobalt in lithium battery materials which offers a much less expensive means for producing rechargeable batteries.

Grace College Department of Science and Mathematics Chair Dr. Joe Frentzel commented on Zhou’s research: “We are eager to jump-start Zhou’s research at Grace through the purchase of an electrochemical workstation, which helps facilitate his nanochemistry research and further supports undergraduate research initiatives. We anticipate Zhou’s environmentally sensitive research complementing the existing eco-science emphasis here at Grace College.”

Grace Theological Seminary also welcomes a new faculty member this fall. Dr. Mark Bowald, a 1990 Grace College graduate, returns to Winona Lake as a professor of theology. After he graduated from Grace, Bowald went on to obtain his M.Div. from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, then his Th.M. and Ph.D. from Wycliffe College.

Bowald comes to Grace with a wealth of experience. He has 20 years of experience in teaching, and more than two decades in ministry. Bowald also served in editorial leadership of the internationally recognized Christian Scholars Review journal. Bowald will teach in areas of doctrine, hermeneutics, systematic theology, doctrinal themes, and historical theology.

“His long tenure of academic teaching and administration, as well as his ministry background, will shape Bowald’s work and our students’ academic experience,” said Dr. Freddy Cardoza, dean of Grace Theological Seminary. Cardoza went on to say, “Bowald’s role is foundational to the school’s purpose. He is a theologian with a powerful mind, expansive theological perspective, deep piety, and love for the church, whose presence at Grace will resound in places near and far.”