August 31, 2023
Get to Know the Newest Members of the W&L Community – 8/31/23
Get to Know the Newest Members of the W&L Community – 8/23/23 The following individuals recently joined the Washington and Lee employee workforce.
Sima Ahsani, Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics – The College
Sima Ahsani, visiting assistant professor of mathematicsQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from Auburn University in 2018. I had previously served as a visiting assistant professor at Auburn from 2018-21 and at Emory University from 2021-23.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I enjoy spending time with family, as well as biking and walking trails.
Wanda Childers, Administrative Assistant II – The College
Wanda Childers, administrative assistantQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in elementary education and taught school in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. My husband Steve and I fell in love with this area while visiting our son and his girlfriend (now wife) when they were students at W&L. Steve and I missed coming to Lexington, so we moved here in 2015. We just celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
Steve and I love to camp. Sitting around a campfire is the surest way to melt life’s worries away. We have taken our camper many places throughout the United States and we are planning a trip to Alaska when we both retire. We also love to visit our kids and grandkids in Michigan and Florida. There is nothing better than one of the grandkids grabbing my hand and asking me to do anything. I do not care what it is. The answer is always, “Sure!”
Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I love to sit on our back porch overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and watch the clouds roll by or a rainstorm approach. A trip to Virginia Safari Park is always the top request from our grandkids when they visit. Our oldest daughter got engaged during the Festival of Lights at Natural Bridge State Park, and our youngest daughter just got married in Vesuvius with the Blue Ridge as the backdrop. I am thankful every day to live in such a gorgeous area.
Brandon Conley, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy – The College
Brandon Conley, visiting assistant professor of philosophyQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m originally from Wilkes County, North Carolina. I attended Appalachian State University where I studied philosophy and mathematics. I got my Ph.D. in philosophy at Cornell University in 2018. During my last year of graduate school, I taught part-time at both The College of New Jersey and Lehman College. After grad school, I spent a year as a visiting professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, then three years as a visiting professor at Colgate University. Finally, I spent a year as a full-time lecturer at Clemson University before coming to Washington and Lee. In October 2023, I’ll be married to Nikki Lee who will be starting as an assistant professor in cognitive and behavioral science in Spring 2024.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I enjoy music (listening and playing), nature (both in person and in documentaries), learning languages (though I’m only really fluent in English), video games and most stereotypically “nerdy things.”
Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I’m from the Appalachian Mountains and I’m super excited to be close to them again!
Leila Lawlor, Professor of Practice and Director of Academic Excellence – The Law School
Leila Lawlor, professor of practice and director of academic excellenceQ. Tell us a little about yourself.
I hold a J.D., an MBA and a M.S. in criminal justice, as well as a M.A. in applied linguistics. I am married with two sons in their 20’s and I also have a cream-colored retriever. I have never lived in a small town and I am delighted to begin this new adventure!
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I very much enjoy walking my dog.
Q. Anything in particular you are looking forward to at W&L?
I cannot wait to get to know my new colleagues and the W&L law students!
Kael Steinert, Technology Integration Specialist – ITS
Kael Steinert, technology integration specialistQ. Tell us a little about you and your background.
I just moved here from Canada with my wife, son, and two bengal cats. My name is pronounced just like the vegetable kale, and I come from a web developer and entrepreneur background.
Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I just moved here, but so far I’m a fan of Don Tequila and Macado’s for a decent meal. I’m excited to explore Lexington in more detail.
Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I love a good video game session in my off time. I play a wide variety of games and am always down to try something new. I also just started learning guitar and am getting back on a motorcycle after many years.
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