Chris Alford, Thesis Style Reader

Chris Alford completed undergraduate studies in music history/music literature at both the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the Victoria University of Manchester, England. He later earned a Master's Degree in Musicology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Chris completed the Doctor of Worship Studies program at the Institute for Worship Studies and graduated with the Institute's inaugural "Alpha" class in the spring of 2002, with a thesis focus area on the church, worship, and contemporary culture. He is currently the Music Pastor at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in Fair Oaks, CA.

Sydney Ashmead, Administrative Assistant to the President

Sydney Ashmead, born and raised in Centerville, Iowa, received her B.S.E. from Northeast Missouri State University and was an elementary teacher for 15 years. Along with working at IWS, Sydney is a pianist for her local church, teaches piano at the Evangel Temple Assembly of God School of Music, and helps lead worship weekly at Clay County Community Bible Study. A previous member of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus, she also sings and plays Bluegrass and is a member of the N.E. Florida Bluegrass Association.

Eric Bolger, Academic Dean

Eric Bolger has taught as Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion for the past 15 years at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, where he also serves as the Chair of the Humanities Division. Dr. Bolger is staff elder of Harvest Evangelical Free Church in Branson, Missouri.  He holds an M.Div. and a Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He graduated from IWS with the Doctor of Worship Studies degree as a member of the first or "Alpha" graduating class.

Christopher Brewer, Director of Distance Learning Technology/Webmaster

Chris Brewer also serves as the Vice President of Brewer Christian College, an online college dedicated to providing quality, Biblically based academic programs and one on one mentoring to prepare and equip Christian ministers, professionals, and laypersons for their religious and professional lives. He is an accomplished musician, song writer and engineer. Chris graduated from IWS with the Doctor of Worship Studies degree in 2008.

Dana Brodsky, Comptroller

Dana Brodsky graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Accounting. Before resigning from full-time employment in 1993 to start a family, she was a senior financial/risk manager and budget analyst at BancBoston Mortgage Corporation in Jacksonville, Florida, achieving the position of Assistant Vice President. She continues to do accounting part time for IWS as well as the Grace Episcopal Day School.

Darrell Harris, Dean of the Chapel

Darrell A. Harris is the founder of Star Song, a contemporary Christian recording company. He developed and marketed the music of Twila Paris, Newsboys, Bill Gaither Trio and Vocal Band, and was the original publisher of The Complete Library of Christian Worship. He has served as the IWS Chaplain since its inception in 1999. Darrell is the recipient of the D.W.S. Honoraria from the Institute for Worship Studies.

Karen Lewis, Food Service Director

Karen Lewis has been involved with various aspects of catering and restaurant management/ownership most of her life. She attended Florida Community College at Jacksonville and has been a member of Grace Church since 1991. Karen and her family have provided food service for IWS since its start in 1999 and have been essential to the success and community orientation of our mealtimes.

James R. Hart, President

Jim Hart holds an M.M. from the University of Tulsa, and a D.W.S. from the Institute for Worship Studies where he graduated with the Alphas--the first graduating class in 2002. He was critical to the formation of IWS in Florida and has held administrative responsibilities since its inception in 1999. He is a published composer/arranger, songwriter and author. He served as Director of Music and Arts ministries at Grace Episcopal Church and New Grace Church in Orange Park, Florida, from 1993 to 2008.

Monica Lopez, Librarian

Monica comes to the Institute for Worship Studies from North Carolina State University Libraries in Raleigh, NC, where she most recently served as Librarian for Professional Development.  There, she was responsible for reference services, collection development, and library instruction to the Textiles and Engineering colleges.  Monica’s undergraduate and graduate degrees both come from Florida institutions.  She holds a B.A. in Spanish education from Florida State University and an M.A.L.I.S. from the University of South Florida.

Laura Ritter, Registrar

Laura Ritter has been secretary both for IWS and for the Grace Church Music and Arts Ministries. She has worked with IWS since its beginning in 1999. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in English. For eighteen years she worked at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville as a customer computer technician, a financial assistant and a purchasing agent.

Ken Rushing, Director of Information Technology

Ken Rushing, as an ordained minister, has served churches in the Southeastern region of the United States since 1978. He has also been involved with computer technology since the early 1980s and owns his own computer business: Rushing to Serve. He earned an M.M. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.W.S. from the Institute for Worship Studies, graduating as an Alpha in 2002.

Mark Torgerson, Bibliographer

Mark Torgerson is Assistant Professor of Worship and Communication Arts at Judson College in Elgin, Illinois.  He received an M.Div. from North Park Theological Seminary and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame.  He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church and an artist.  He has written various articles and book reviews in Worship, Reformed Liturgy and Music, Christianity and the Arts, and The Covenant Quarterly.  His recently published book is An Architecture of Immanence: Architecture for Worship and Ministry Today.

Kent Walters, Director of Alumni Activities

Kent Walters served as Worship Pastor at Grace Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan for 31 years.  He received an M.M. from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies graduating as a member of the first or "Alpha" class.  He has served as the school's Director of Alumni Activities and Editor of the IWS newsletter, Anamnesis, since 2004, and was appointed faculty member for the Practicum Courses in June 2007.