New Faculty Explore Community and Connectedness at WWC
Solie Lawson | Sept. 15, 2026
The Warren Wilson College (WWC) faculty has increased significantly since last semester, and students are curious about what they bring to campus. A new semester brings new classes, and this year it brings new teachers with varying educations, interests and impacts on the WWC community.
Bailey Pittenger, visiting professor of creative writing, poses for a photo outside of Jensen Hall at Warren Wilson College on Sep. 10, 2026 in Swannanoa N.C. (Vivian Bryan/Echo)
Bailey Pittenger is a visiting professor of creative nonfiction this semester. She heard of WWC because of her family's proximity in Black Mountain.
“I saw the job call while I was visiting in the spring and I was just like ‘Wait, this is too perfect,’” Pittenger said. “I was about to graduate from [Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity] graduate program and immediately applied.”
She plans for her teaching to focus on students’ awareness of their voice in class, and how they can reflect on their ideas in a creative manner. Pittenger has enjoyed seeing students’ motivation to learn and cannot wait to see more from them as the semester progresses.
“The students I've had have surprised me in eagerness and readiness to dive into things,” Pittenger said. “From the Peal magazines to the [literary magazine] class, and overall teamwork.”
She is excited for her Queer Ecologies and Ecojustice class next semester and to continue her teaching experience at WWC.
Lameace Hussain is also excited for their class next semester focusing on herpetology, which is the study of amphibians and reptiles. As the assistant professor in conservation biology, they have enjoyed the student engagement in learning new things and noticed the willingness of students to get their hands dirty.
Assistant professor Lameace Hussain poses with her pet frog, Deborah, in her office at Warren Wilson College on Sept. 10, 2026 in Swannanoa, N.C. (Finn McKenny/Echo)
“[One of my favorite aspects of my job has been] seeing students get so excited about things,” Hussain said. “When you first get into a classroom, you're so nervous because you're like, ‘Oh my god, what if they don't like me? What if whatever I'm doing isn't working?’
Both of my classes have just been so engaged in the material, and seeing students asking questions about things and getting excited about going outside and doing the labs and stuff has just been really really exciting.”
Hussain was drawn to WWC not just because of the hands-on experience, but also because of the closeness within the staff, and the lack of separation within departments.
“At a lot of other universities, there's not a lot of overlap in departments,” Hussain said. “I would never chat with somebody who was in the art department or anything like that, and so to be so meshed here, with having students that are art, science, or music majors and super into birds [or etc.], is really cool.”
She has loved seeing students come to her office either to chat, or to play with her two frogs, Deborah and Veronica, whom she acquired just before the hiring process. She finds hands-on experience to be vital in understanding and building relationships with reptiles, amongst other things students wish to understand.
“I’m really looking forward to students getting the experience of holding a snake for the first time, or holding a salamander, or marking a turtle for long-term study,” Hussain said.
Megan Merrick is a visiting professor of psychology and, similar to Hussain, has enjoyed the faculty’s community and overall kindness.
Megan Merrick, visiting professor of psychology, sits in office for interview in Myron Boon Hall at Warren Wilson College on Sep. 9, 2026 in Swannanoa, N.C. (Vivian Bryan/Echo)
“Soaking up the environment and having intentional relationships with [other faculty] has been really cool,” Merrick said. “I don't feel nervous to ask questions about anything or be vulnerable. I am new and I don't always know what I'm doing and that's okay. That's what I've been really enjoying, and to fully be myself.”
Merrick is excited to teach students through active work rather than lectures, and continue to work with Community Engagement so that students can have experience in their chosen field of work. She is looking forward to getting to know students and continuing to discover what WWC has to offer.
Pittenger, Hussain and Merrick have all enjoyed their time so far at WWC, and have felt welcomed by the other faculty as well as the students. They are all excited to continue to grow and learn more about how they can be a part of the community on campus and strive for success.