Meet our Personnel

Charles W. Elliott (Chair)

Dr. Elliott is a Professor of Communication Arts and the Chair of the department. Chuck comes to Cedarville University from Hong Kong where he served as Chair of the Department of Communication Studies for the past 4 years. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Social Science from Cedarville College, and his Masters and Ph.D. in Communications from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. He is a Professional Member of the Asian Mass Communication Research & Information Centre, Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, and the Chinese Communication Association. Dr. Elliott has been teaching at Cedarville University since Fall 2003. Chuck, his wife, Becky, and their three children reside in Cedarville.

J. Wesley Baker

Dr. Baker serves as Professor of Communication Arts and is the Director of Electronic Media as well as the Faculty Liaison for CedarNet, the University's award-winning network. After earning his B.A. in Radio-Television Production from Bob Jones University (1972), Dr. Baker received his M.A. in Journalism from the University of South Carolina (1980) and his Ph.D. in Communication from The Ohio State University (1991). With his appointment as the SBC/Ameritech Senior Fellow to the Faculty Development Technology Program, Dr. Baker studies how to effectively use information technology for teaching and learning. He has presented a number of workshops and faculty in-services for the Council of Independent Colleges, the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, and several other colleges and universities across the country. Working in the broadcasting industry for almost 30 years, Dr. Baker has appeared in several Christian films. He and his wife have four children.

Rebecca M. Baker

Mrs. Baker serves as Assistant Professor of Communication Arts. Rebecca consults at a local hospital in speech and voice therapy, yet still finds time to speak at retreats and conferences, work in community theatre, and participate in church choir and drama ministries. Rebecca and her husband, Wes, are the proud parents of Vanessa, Nathan, Katie, and Elizabeth.

David G. Bastress

Mr. Bastress has joined the Communication Arts staff in the Fall of 2002 as Electronic Media Technician. Dave & Joy have three married sons.

Deborah Bissett

Robert L. Clements

Robert L. Clements Mr. Clements serves as Assistant Professor of Communication Arts. He has a B.A. from Bob Jones University (1970), an M.Ed. from Wright State University (1983) and continued graduate work at The Ohio State University. He is a member of the United Institute of Theatre Technology and CITA (Christians in the Arts). He has over thirty years of experience in theatrical design. His scenic, lighting, and costume designs have been used on the church, high school, and university stage. He enjoys working on old houses, drawing, traveling, and study of Russian history. He collects ocean liner memorabilia. Robert and his wife, Ruth, are proud parents of Cameron and Alexandra. He has been at Cedarville University since Fall 2003.

Derrick L. Green

Mr. Green graduated from Cedarville College in 1997. While attending CU, he competed for Cedarville Individual Events forensic team. From 1997-1999, Derrick attended Miami University as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in speech communication and assisted in coaching Miami's individual events forensic team. While teaching at Kansas State Univerisity from 1999-2002, he worked as assistant Individual Events coach. He has worked extensively with Individual Events Forensics teams at all three schools. Joining the faculty of Cedarville University in the Fall of 2002, he teaches Fundamentals of Speech and also functions as assistant coach for the Individual Events Team. Derrick is single and living in Cedarville.

Deborah B. Haffey

Dr. Haffey serves as Professor of Communication Arts. She earned her B.A. from Cedarville college in 1968, her M.A. from Ohio State University in 1969, and her Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 2002. She has been on faculty at Cedarville University since 1986. Classes which she teaches are primarily public speaking classes and political communication classes. Deborah was named Faculty of the Year in 1998. In addition to her teaching, she served as the debate coach from 1987 - 2001, and received recognition for her coaching accomplishments from the National Educational Debate Association on three separate occasions. She is co-founder and director of The Miriam Maddox Forum, an honor society of communication arts alumni who share an interest in public speaking and performance. The Forum sponsors guest lecturers of interest to communicators, supports the Cedarville Debate Team, and hosts a summer debate institute for high school students. Deborah is co-director of Women of Vision, a campus organization that is associated with World Vision International, and seeks to serve the poor in the name of Christ. Dr. Haffey and her husband, David, have three grown children. She is a conference speaker to women's groups throughout the Midwest as well as participates in adult teaching at their home church.

Donald N. C. Jones

Mr. Jones is a member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. He has a B.A. and serves as artistic director, designer, and technical director for more than 30 years in educational and professional theatre.

James L. Kragel

Mr. Kragel serves as Associate Professor of Communication Arts. He earned his M.A. in Communications from Wheaton College and has been at Cedarville since 1994. In addition to teaching Communication Arts classes, Mr. Kragel coaches the high school's boys' varsity basketball team at Cedarville. He has helped to produce numerous professional videos for a variety of Christian ministries, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Evangelical Baptist Ministries, and Answers in Genesis. He directs the college Sunday School class at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, Ohio. Mr. Kragel and his wife Julie have two sons: David and Jonathan. His interests outside of communications are sports, especially golf.

James O. Leightenheimer

Mr. Leightenheimer serves as Associate Professor of Communication Arts. He earned his B.A. in Communication Arts and Broadcasting from Cedarville College (1980) his M.A. in Telecommunications Management from Ohio University (1989), and also graduated from the New Technology program at the Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio. Mr. "L", as the students call him, teaches classes in the audio production, management, and sales emphases of the electronic media major. In addition to teaching, Jim is the advisor for Cedarville University’s student radio station, serves as the afternoon host for the CDR Radio Network, and is a member of the Educational Resource Assistance Program Committee at the University, which facilitates Cedarville graduates as teachers in China. Jim and his wife, Beth, have five children, ranging in age from 12 to 26. When he is not working, Mr. Leightenheimer spends time with his family, reading, working on stained glass art, hunting, or canoeing.

J. Michael López

Dr. López serves as Professor of Communication Arts. He earned his Ph.D. in Communication from The Ohio State University (1985). A member of several communication associations and has a broad range of research interests that he explores cooperatively with undergraduate students. Michael and his wife, Shelley, have two children. He is interested in restoring historic structures and is a board member of the Neighborhood Housing Partnership, which works to renovate old structures and build new homes for first-time buyers.

Mischelle M. McIntosh

Mrs. McIntosh serves as Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Media Research, focusing on Documentary Films. She graduated from Cedarville College in 1977 with her B.A. in Speech Education. She received two M.A.s, one from Pensacola Christian College in 1981 in Dramatic Productions, and the other from the University of West Florida in 1992 in Communications. Mischelle serves on the Theatre Arts Committee and directs University Play Productions. She began teaching at Cedarville as an adjunct instructor in 1993 and has been full-time at the University since 1999. Mischelle and her husband, John, have two children, Whitney and Jason. Mischelle directs local community theatre productions and is also involved in church drama.

Diane Conrad - Merchant

Dr. Merchant serves as Associate Professor of Communication Arts. She earned her B.A. in Speech from Cedarville College (1978), her M.A. from Kent State University (1990), and her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University (1996). Dr. Merchant taught in Elyria, Ohio, for eight years before coming to Cedarville. An adjunct professor when she came in 1986, Dr. Merchant assumed a full-time position at the College in 1989 and received tenure in 1996. She is a free-lance dramaturg and a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, the Ohio Theatre Alliance, and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education where she has been an active panelist and presenter for national conferences since 1993. She and her husband Mahlon have one son.

Matthew M. Moore

Mr. Moore is the Director of Forensics and an Instructor for Communication Arts. He received his B.A. from Cedarville College in 1992 and M.A. from Miami University in 1997. Matt has served at Cedarville since 1998.

Kurt D. Moreland

Mr. Moreland serves as Associate Professor of Communication Arts. He received his B.A. from Cedarville College in 1976 and his M.A. from West Virginia University in 1978. He has completed all of his work for his Ph.D. except his dissertation from Purdue University. In addition to his teaching, Mr. Moreland serves as the Advisor for the student chapter of the Society for Human resource Management. He has been at Cedarville since 1981.

James R. Phipps

Dr. Phipps is a Professor of Communication Arts. He has served as Chair of the Department of Communication Arts for the past 32 years and now serves the department in other capacities along with teaching. He received his Ph.D. in Communication from Ohio State University in 1975. He earned his M.A. in Broadcasting from Ohio State University in 1970, and his B.A. in Speech and English from Cedarville College in 1968. Since 1996, Jim has been the Mayor for the Village of Cedarville. He is also known as the Radio Voice of the Yellow Jackets for the past 32 years. He has taught at Cedarville College/University since September 1968. Jim & Patricia make their home in Cedarville.

Timothy Phipps

Mr. Phipps is not only the youngest but the newest staff member in the Theatre department and holds the position of Assistant Technical Director. Tim graduated from Cedarville University in 2003 in the field of Communication Arts with a B.A. majoring in Multimedia Tech and Broadcasting with a minor in Bible. He has been on staff at Cedarville University since the Fall of 2004.

Margaret Stowell Wheeler

Mrs. Wheeler serves as Assistant Professor of Communication Arts. She received her B.A. from Cedarville College in 1964 and her M.Ed. from Central State University in 1998. In addition to her teaching, Mrs. Wheeler serves as the Coordinator of the Fundamentals Program. She has been at Cedarville since 1995.