Centenary hires Princeton scholar and Virginia Tech biologist

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — Centenary College of Louisiana today announced the hiring of two new faculty members. Dr. Annie Blazer comes from Princeton University to become an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies. Dr. Cristina Caldari-Torres leaves Virginia Tech to become an Assistant Professor of Biology at the college. Both will join Centenary's 67 full-time faculty members educating nearly 900 students this fall.

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Dr. Annie Blazer

"We are excited to have Drs. Blazer and Caldari-Torres joining our faculty," said Dr. Michael Hemphill, Provost of the College. "We are transforming the way we engage students from the traditional classroom formats to academic experiences that help our students transfer their learning into meaningful action. These new faculty members bring enthusiasm, modern scholarship, and a love for teaching that will benefit Centenary students and maintain our historically high academic standards."

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Dr. Cristina Caldari-Torres

Dr. Blazer received her PhD in 2009 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently a visiting Fellow in Christian Thought and Practice at Princeton University's Center for the Study of Religion. Prior to her fellowship, Dr. Blazer taught as a Faculty Teaching Fellow at Millsaps College. Her research focuses on evangelical Christianity and popular culture in America using anthropological methods. She received her Master of Arts in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Michigan State University.

Filling a new position in the biology department, Dr. Caldari-Torres received her PhD in 2009 from the University of Florida and is currently a post-doctoral associate at Virginia Tech. She has worked alongside leading biologists conducting cutting-edge research in the area of lipid metabolism. She received her Master of Science degree also from the University of Florida, where she served as a graduate research assistant, and her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the Universidad de Puerto Rico.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.