Palm Beach Atlantic University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Gene C. Fant Jr. recently announced faculty promotions for residents of the western communities.
Allen McCoy of Wellington was promoted to associate professor of theater. He received his master’s degree from the University of Central Florida. McCoy has been acting, directing, producing and teaching for more than 30 years. As a member of Actors’ Equity Association, he has held acting contracts with the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Court Theatre, the Indiana Repertory, the Drury Lane Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, the Boarshead Theatre, the Orlando Repertory, Universal Studios and the Walt Disney World Resort. He has held the artistic director position for the Circle Theatre Company in Orlando and the Timestep Players in Chicago. He joined Palm Beach Atlantic in 2012.
Dr. Vanessa Rowan of Royal Palm Beach was promoted to associate professor of biology. She received her doctoral degree from Florida Atlantic University, studying the early events leading to Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects the lacrimal glands (tear-producing glands) of the eye. During her graduate studies, she was awarded a National Science Foundation fellowship in science education. Following the completion of her doctorate, Rowan was a postdoctoral fellow at Florida Atlantic University where she focused on the effects of TIMP-3 on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha by T cells. She joined Palm Beach Atlantic in 2010.
Dr. Krisy Thornby of Wellington was promoted to associate professor of pharmacy practice. Prior to joining the faculty in 2009, Thornby completed a drug information residency at Roche Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey. She teaches courses such as drug information, literature evaluation, case studies in pharmacotherapy and doctoral seminars, while overseeing the fourth-year rotation students. Thornby maintains her practice site at the Gregory School of Pharmacy’s Drug Information Center. She received her doctor of pharmacy degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Palm Beach Atlantic is a private, independent university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in West Palm Beach, Orlando, Wellington and online. The university is dedicated to the integration of Christian principles to prepare students for lifelong learning, leadership and service.
ABOVE: Allen McCoy, Dr. Vanessa Rowan and Dr. Krisy Thornby
