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Three professors granted tenure

Three professors at West Virginia Wesleyan College recently were granted tenure and promoted to associate professor status at the college. Dr. Mu Hu, Dr. James Moore and Thomas Schoffler were chosen to receive this promotion, which will take effect in the fall.

Hu is currently an assistant professor of communication and the director of the School of Social and Behavioral Science. Originally from Hefei, Anhui Province, China, Hu has been at Wesleyan since 2007, serving in many capacities. His research interests include media technology and psychological well-being, media psychology and intercultural communication. Hu presented at numerous conferences and is a published researcher.

Hu received his bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Anhui University in China, his master of art in communication from The Ohio State University and his Ph.D. in communication from The Ohio State University.

“I feel honored to receive tenure and promotion at the college,” Hu said. “This is a big step in my professional development, and I would attribute this step to my colleagues and friends in the Wesleyan community. No matter what is going to be written in the rest of my book of life, time will prove that Wesleyan is one of the most important chapters.”

Moore is currently an assistant professor of music and the chair of the Department of Music, as well as the director of jazz ensembles and instructor of trumpet at the college. Originally from Morgantown, he is an active member of the Pittsburgh jazz community, where he is a member of RH Factor-the Roger Humphries Quintet, the 21st Century Swing Band, and he leads his own quartet. Moore performs regularly with the Norman David Eleventet in Philadelphia, as well as many other collaborative ventures in that city.

Moore has performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Bob Mintzer Big Band, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ahmad Jamal, Sheryl Bailey, Tim Warfield and the Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra. He also appeared on Bob Mintzer’s Grammy-nominated album, For the Moment, released on the MCG Jazz label in 2012.

Moore completed his master of music in jazz studies at the University of the Arts and his Ph.D. in jazz studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

“I am very excited about my successful tenure and promotion review,” Moore said. “I am lucky enough to have the best students and colleagues on the planet here at Wesleyan. Knowing that the institution trusts me to be a part of its long-term growth is a very validating feeling.”

Schoffler, from Bridgeport, currently serves as the assistant professor of theatre arts and director of the musical theatre program and coordinator of the Department of Theatre & Dance. A true performer at heart, he has performed on stages from Maine to South Carolina, and everywhere in between. He has directed in New York for both the Connelly Theatre’s Dark Nights Series and the SoHo Think Tank Series, and regionally for The Theatre at Monmouth, the Depot Theatre, Perseverance Theatre, Sycamore Rouge and North Carolina Stage Company.

Schoffler has been nominated for both Austin Critics’ Table and B. Iden Payne Awards for creating the title role in “Love Jerry.” He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and is currently studying toward teacher certification in the Alexander Technique.

Schoffler holds his master of fine arts in acting from The University of Texas at Austin.

“As a student, and now a tenured member of the faculty, I have been given wonderful opportunities at Wesleyan to grow as a teacher and artist,” Schoffler said. “I hope to continue to encourage younger theater artists and dancers to connect with the various communities they serve.”

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