CFJ and Performing Arts welcome new staff

The Center for Faith and Justice (CFJ) and the Department
of Performing Arts at Xavier both welcomed new staff members this summer among other changes. CFJ hired Rev. Abby King- Kaiser as the new Ecumenical and Multi-Faith Minister. King-Kaiser is relocating from the San Francisco Bay
Area where she worked as an ordained Presbyterian Minister. "[Abby's] responsibilities at the CFJ include developing new initiatives in the area of Protestant ministry and Ecumenism, including the development of retreats, worship services, Bible studies and other fellowship opportunities for Protestant and other non-Catholic Christian students." Deanna Martin, associate director at the CFJ, said,. In addition to these areas of focus, King-Kaiser will serve as a liaison to a variety
of religious organizations on campus, including the Muslim
Student Organization, Jewish Student Organization, Students Committed to Christ and Xavier Navigators. The theater resources at Xavier also saw a significant change this summer in the form of a realignment, which moved performing arts at Xavier permanently into the Music department. A part of this realignment also renamed the combined departments
the "Department of Music and Theater." They gave the department control of scheduling for the Gallagher Student Center
Theater, and named Dave Zlatic the new technical director of the Department. In addition, the new department hired Stephen Skiles into the role of assistant professor and director of theater studies. Skiles, who has previously taught at Xavier, is transitioning from a position as chair of the Theater Department at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.
A goal of these changes is to create two new degree programs within the Department of Music and Theater. These programs, a B.A. in theater performance and a B.S. in theater education, are tentatively set for implementation by the fall of 2015.