Howard Payne University welcomed five faculty members for the 2024-2025 academic year. New to HPU are Dr. Wade Ashby, associate professor of computer information systems and dean of online education; Lajeana Hayes-Long, assistant professor of nursing; Cody Hutcheson, instructor of music; Lisa Medlin, J.D., assistant professor of criminal justice; and Ciera Ray, assistant professor of social work and director of field education in social work. 

“This is a talented group of faculty members who have joined our university and will provide rich expertise in their respective areas,” said Dr. Donnie Auvenshine, vice president for academic affairs. “Our students and university will greatly benefit from each one of them.”

Dr. Ashby is from Abilene and holds a Bachelor of Science from Angelo State University, a Master of Divinity from Hardin-Simmons University, a Master of Science from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Northcentral University. His doctoral research was in data science and applying machine learning in higher education. He previously served as assistant professor of computer information systems at Hardin-Simmons University, where he directed the online undergraduate degrees in business.

Hayes-Long is from Rising Star and holds an Associate in Applied Science from Tarrant County Community College in Fort Worth, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology from Texas Lutheran University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has more than 20 years of nursing experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the Cross Plains and Brownwood areas. Hayes-Long is licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and also holds an American Nurses Credentialing Center certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hutcheson is from Eastland and holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music from Hardin-Simmons University. In his new role at HPU, he will concentrate on piano and theory, as he is an accomplished pianist, composer, music theorist and French horn player. He has more than 10 years of experience as a private horn instructor in Abilene and Eastland. Hutcheson is also the former assistant band director and director of jazz studies at Cisco College in Cisco. His original compositions have recently been performed by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra in Sofia, Bulgaria and the Brazilian National Orchestra in Brasilia, Brazil.

Medlin is from Buda and holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University, and a Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law. She is the co-founder and leader of Vertical Chapel’s Embrace Ministry, a foster and adoption support ministry. Medlin has previously worked as a child advocacy specialist for CASA of Travis County, as a digital advocate with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and is a certified foster/adopt parent.

Ray is from Brownwood and earned her Bachelor of Arts in family studies from HPU and went on to earn a Master of Science from The University of Texas at Austin. She is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 10 years of social work experience in the Coleman and Brownwood areas, including her most recent work at Fresenius Kidney Care in Brownwood. Her social work experience includes case management, bereavement and volunteer coordination, and individual, group, and family counseling.

The first day of class for the 2024-2025 academic year at HPU was Monday, August 19.