Jeffrey S. Alexander
Assistant Professor of Art (1979); B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara; M.F.A., The Ohio State University

Kalomo Y. Bailey                                                                                                                             Assistant Professor of Music (2005); B.S., Florida A&M University; M.Ed., Florida A&M University

Kalomo Y. Bailey, Assistant Professor of Music, currently serves as the Director of the Kentucky State University Band Program. His duties include directing the KSU Symphonic Band, the Thorobred Spirit Pep Band, and the KSU Mighty Marching Thorobred Band. Mr. Bailey teaching duties include the Conducting I, Conducting II, and the Instrumental Methods classes. He is currently the faculty advisor for Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, and Collegiate Music Educators National Conference.

Previously, Mr. Bailey served as the Assistant Director of Bands for the Florida A&M University Marching Band in Tallahassee, Fl. He has also published an article for the Florida Music Director, the state of Florida’s journal for music educators. Mr. Bailey holds a bachelor (1997) and masters (1998) degree from Florida A&M University. Also, Mr. Bailey has completed coursework in the PhD Program from The Florida State University College of Music.

Mr. Bailey has held memberships in the following organizations, the Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, Kentucky Music Educators Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, Florida A&M University Marching 100 Alumni Association, Florida A&M University Marching 100 Drum Major Alumni Association, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the Free and Accepted Masons, PHA.

John S. Bator
Associate Professor of Art (1986); B.S., University of Missouri-Columbia; M.Ed., University of Missouri-Columbia; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia

Dr. Bator is an art educator and practicing studio artist. He taught middle school art in St. Louis, Missouri and as a graduate student at Mizzou, he instructed studio art courses and served as Co-Associate Director of the Student Teaching Program. In 1981 he was hired to instruct art as an Assistant Professor at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri where he remained for five years. Since 1986, Dr. Bator has instructed both art education and studio art courses at Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky. In 1989, he became Art Area Coordinator, and served as interim chairperson of the Division of Fine Arts from 2000-2001. Dr. Bator serves on many committees including the University’s Teacher Education Committee and the Faculty Senate.

Dr. Bator’s  areas of expertise are in Acrylic, oil, and watercolor painting and printmaking. During the past few years Dr. Bator created a series of watercolor paintings incorporating symbols and themes from the ancient Egyptian culture. He is currently working on creating digital images on G-4 MacIntosh computers.

Vernell Bennett
Assistant Professor of Music (1996); B.M., Fisk University; M.M., Eastern Michigan University

Ms. Bennett teaches Major and Minor Applied Voice, Vocal Pedagogy, Phonetics and Diction, Music Appreciation, and Vocal Methods and Literature.  In addition to her teaching duties, she is a recitalist, lecturer, adjudicator, and featured guest soloist.  Ms. Bennett has also performed with the Kentucky Opera Association.  Her Studio presents performances regularly.  She has directed productions of Hansel and Gretl, Suor Angelica, and The Emperor’s New Clothes since her appointment to the faculty in 1996.  Ms. Bennett has also served as the Music Director and featured performer for several Kentucky Theatre Guild productions.  Lead role performances include “Rodelinda”, “Suor Angelica”, “Lucia di Lammermoor”, and “Hansel and Gretl”.  Ms. Bennett is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the National Opera Association.

Ms. Bennett is the Founder and Director of Operation Half-Note, Incorporated, a music institute for primary children. Operation Half-Note, Incorporated has been listed amongst the Kentucky Arts Council’s Community Arts Grant roster recipients for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.  Under her tutelage, the program has been extended to include all of Franklin County and has experienced a 300% enrollment increase.  Ms. Bennett is also the vocal music director for C.A.F.E. (Creative Arts For Ethnicity) Georgetown, a music program for underprivileged minority youth. 

Louis G.Bourgois, III
Associate Professor of Music (1986); B.Mus.Ed., Murray State University; M.Mus., University of Louisville; D.M.A., Ohio State University

Dr. Louis G. Bourgois III teaches low brasses, music history and literature, technology in music education, and is the Coordinator of the Music Area.

Since his appointment to the KSU faculty in 1986, he has performed with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Kentuckiana Brass and Percussion Ensemble. Currently he is the bass trombonist of the DiMartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra, the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra, the Lexington Brass Band (founding member), and is the trombonist of the Asbury College Collegium Brass Quintet. He has performed on several commercially-issued compact disc recordings-including Ellington Celebration (Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra) and Off the Charts (DiMartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra) on the Seabreeze Jazz label; and Master Brass, vol. 11 with the Lexington Brass Band on the British Polyphonic label.

Barbara Buck
Associate Professor of Music/Chairperson Division of Fine  Arts (2001); B.A., Fisk University; M.M., Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Catholic University of America; D.M.A., Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Catholic University of America

Dr. Barbara Buck is a former District of Columbia Public Schools (Washington, D. C.) music educator, voice teacher, fine arts coordinator, and music education administrator.  Her professional experiences also include Assistant Professor of Music, Director of the Music Business degree program and Chairman, Department of Music and Fine Arts at Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.  While at Johnson C. Smith University Dr. Buck assisted with the re-establishment of the Department of Music and Fine Arts.  A native of Conway, South Carolina, she received her undergraduate degree in voice from Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee where she sang as soprano soloist with the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Fisk University Concert Choir.  Dr. Buck received the Master of Music degree in voice performance and the Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.  She has been acclaimed nationally and internationally for her operatic, recital and solo work. As Associate Professor of Music  Dr. Buck  teaches voice and music education in the Division of Fine Arts Area of Music at Kentucky State University.

Brett Hunt Butler
Assistant Professor of Music (1986-87; 1989); B.M., Indiana University; M.M., Indiana University

Hunt Butler has been a faculty member of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops for over twenty years and has published a number of jazz solo transcription books including The Stanley Turrentine Collection, Modern Jazz Tenor Solos, and 20 Cannonball Adderley Solos.  An accomplished performer on saxophone, flute and clarinet, Hunt has recorded with David Baker’s 21st Century Bebop Band, the Osland/DiMartino Jazz Orchestra and the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra and has performed with Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Liza Minelli, Linda Ronstadt, Barry Manilow, Joe Williams and many others

Tim Davis
Instructor, Division of Fine Arts (2001); B.S., Middle  Tennessee State University; M.F.A., University of Southern Mississippi

Tim is an instructor of Speech and Theatre and has been involved with the Theatre for over 20 years. He holds a Masters of fine arts in Performance form the University of Southern Mississippi, and a BS in theatre from Middle Tennessee State. Currently, Tim is a board member for the Kentucky Theatre Association and the state SETC/KTA auditions coordinator. He is also a member of the Southeastern Theatre Conference Leadership iniative and the state representitive for the American College Theatre Festival. Tim has worked recently for the Actor's Guild of Lexington and the Lexington Shakespeare Festival. He is also the director for the Ft. Harrod Drama Association's annual summer production of DANIEL BOONE: THE MAN AND THE LEGEND, a professional Outdoor theatre in Harrodsburg, KY. Tim has also performed at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in the original cast of Laddy Sartin's CATFISH MOON. An aspiring playwright, Tim's original plays have been performed in Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina and here in the great state of Kentucky.

Robert Griffin
Assistant Professor of Music (1981-84; 1988); B.Mus., Kentucky State University; M.Mus., University of Kentucky

Robert Griffin is a native of Frankfort. His hard work and diligence in his discipline earned him an appointment to the  faculty in 1981 as Director the University’s Jazz and Percussion Ensembles,. He served in this capacity until 1984. After a brief tenure in state government, Mr. Griffin returned to KSU in 1987. He currently teaches applied percussion, percussion pedagogy, music appreciation and is the Director of the University’s Percussion Ensemble.

Mr. Griffin has served in the capacities of Assistant Band Director for the University’s Marching Band and Director for the University’s Symphonic Band. He has also served as the Musical Director for the University’s Players Guild and is currently serving as the Percussion Coordinator for the area high schools.

Mr. Griffin often performs regionally and has performed with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Owensboro Symphony. He has shared the stage with such noted jazz musicians as  Jamey Aebersold, David Baker, Nathan Davis, Donald Byrd and Bobby Shew.

Mr. Griffin is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and The American Federation of Musicians Local 554-635