College of Arts & Sciences

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Raymond Banister returns to Jacksonville University as Assistant Professor of Biology and Marine Sciences, joining the faculty at the university that first shaped his career. A 2016 JU alumnus (B.S. Marine Science) and former lacrosse team captain, he earned his Ph.D. at Florida Institute of Technology's Institute for Global Ecology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama's Dauphin Island Sea Lab. His research focuses on optimizing coral restoration, from nursery to outplant site, studying physiological variation in corals and their algal symbionts, genotypic variation in coral host stress responses, and habitat suitability for outplanting, combining field experiments, optical phenotyping, and quantitative modeling to inform restoration decision-making. He has published in PLoS One, Frontiers in Marine Science, and Scientific Reports, and received a Florida Protect Our Reefs grant to study coral outplant survival in the Lower Florida Keys. "My academic development was shaped by JU's emphasis on first-hand, student-centered marine science education," Banister says, "and I'm excited to continue that tradition as a faculty member."

Faculty Spotlight

Millicent Johnnie is an award-winning choreographer-director, filmmaker, executive producer, writer, and interdisciplinary artist with a 27-year career spanning theatre, dance, film, higher education, and international cultural work.

Her work has been presented by organizations including Goodman Theatre, The Public Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, Jacob’s Pillow, and Urban Bush Women. Selected credits include Party People, Thoughts of a Colored Man, Parable of the Sower Opera, Disney’s Frozen: Live at the Hyperion, Scary Movie 5, and the Rio 2016 Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

Johnnie is a Creative Capital Awardee, two-time United States Artists nominee, and Theatre Bay Area Award recipient for Best Choreography. She is also the founder and Chief Visionary Producer of Millicent Johnnie Films and 319productions, where her work explores performance, film, technology, cultural memory, and social impact.

Johnnie joins Jacksonville University as a Visiting Associate Professor of Dance. She previously taught at the University of Florida and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She holds two MFA degrees in Motion Picture Arts and Dance, as well as a BFA in Dance from Florida State University.

Student Spotlight

Issac Hunter is a junior at Jacksonville University majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology, with minors in Exercise Science and Psychology. He conducts undergraduate microbiology research focused on drug synergism and has presented his research at a regional scientific conference. Issac also serves as Vice President of the JU Medical Professionals Society and works as an EMT, where he gains hands-on clinical experience and develops his patient care skills. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in surgery.

Alumni Spotlight

Tyler Kopf, emerged from his academic journey as a senior with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Physics. Having served six years in the United States Air Force prior to joining JU, Tyler discovered a renewed sense of purpose during his time at the College of Arts and Sciences. The exceptional education, training, and support he received at JU enabled him to engage in biomedical research at Notre Dame University and Mayo Clinic’s College of Medicine. Inspired by these experiences, Tyler’s aspirations shifted towards earning a Ph.D in Biochemistry. He successfully applied and was accepted into graduate programs at the University of Florida, Notre Dame, and Brown University. The professors at Jacksonville University played an instrumental role in fostering Tyler’s growth as a scholar. With the skills, knowledge, and independence instilled in him by JU, Tyler is now prepared to make a significant impact on the world.