Staff Profiles

Dr. 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.

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.

Dr. Eric Bolger

Academic Dean. Eric Bolger has taught as an undergraduate Professor of Philosophy and Religion for the past 17 years. 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.

Sandy Dinkins

Assistant to Dean of Chapel for Student Services. Sandy Dinkins holds a B.S. in Travel and Tourism Management from Clemson University. Prior to joining IWS, she worked in the hotel and healthcare industries. She has worked in various capacities at IWS since 2005. She currently provides oversight support for student services and campus hospitality. Sandy is a lifelong resident of Orange Park and has two wonderful daughters with her husband Matt.

Sally Finn

Administrative Assistant for Advancement.Sally graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Merchandising Management. She has managed her own business for the past 12 years. Additionally, Sally has seven years of experience in local church administration.

Dr. 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.

Dr. 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.

Carol Hart

Housing Coordinator.

Sam Horowitz

Director of Distance Learning Technology/Webmaster. Sam Horowitz graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth and Community Science in 2005 and is now working on his Master of Divinity at the Jacksonville Extension of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Sam has been programming since 1996 and worked as a professional web programmer in Gainesville from 2001-2005. He also served in youth ministry from 2002-2006, before moving with his wife back to the Jacksonville area.

Karen Lewis

Food Services 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.

Monica Lopez, M.A.L.I.S.

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.

Lea Montgomery, C.P.A.

Controller. Lea Montgomery earned her MBA at Eastern Michigan Unversity and her B.S. in Finance from the University of Connecticut. Lea has over twelve years of experience in finance and accounting operations at manufacturing, publishing, and investment companies. Lea is actively involved in her daughter’s school as president of the Parent Teacher League, volunteers at her church, and is treasurer of the local Community Bible Study.

Mark Murray

Director of Admissions. Mark Murray graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and is currently working towards a Master of Arts in Theology through Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.

Dr. Eric H. Ohlmann

Director of Strategic Planning and Accreditation. Eric Ohlmann has invested all of his adult life in theological education. After earning a Th.M. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Th.D. from the Graduate Theological Union, he served for twenty years as Professor of Christian Heritage, Associate Dean (and a number of times as Interim Dean) at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and thirteen years as Vice President/Academic Dean at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since 2004 he has served as part-time Director of Strategic Planning and Accreditation at the Institute for Worship Studies.

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.

Dr. 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.

Dr. 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.

Dr. 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.