Dr. Mary Brink joined the YHC faculty in 2014.  Dr. Brink teaches art history and art appreciation. In her classes, she focuses on active learning. In some classes, students design Gothic stained-glass windows with compasses to learn about connections between math, art, and history. In other courses they play board games where they act as ancient Roman art patrons, or they compete in architectural scavenger hunts across campus. These types of activities focus on experiential learning, where students can develop a deep understanding of the cultures, values, and objectives tied to the artworks they study. Dr. Brink especially enjoys teaching Women and Art, Twentieth Century Art, and Contemporary Art Issues. In her classes she strives to instill her love of art history in her students, helping bring the past to life for them and showing them how our study of history can reveal more about our own lives and society. Her research focuses on late nineteenth century French painting, especially Symbolism and the Salons of the Rose + Croix. In her research she uses statistical analysis to understand group dynamics and trends within the critical response to art exhibitions. 

Dr. Hayes Bunch joined the faculty of Young Harris College in the Fall of 2022. He conducts the Young Harris College Concert and Jazz Bands, teaches Percussion Class and Advanced Conducting for music education majors, and Applied Major Percussion lessons.

As a conductor, Dr. Bunch has led works and collaborated in rehearsal and performance with Oberlin Conservatory’s Stephen Hartke, Harvard Professor Emeritus and Pulitzer Prize winning composer Bernard Rands, University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory professor and Pulitzer Prize winning composer Zhou Long, and eighth blackbird. He has presented research on programming possibilities for electronics and ensemble at the Southwestern Division Conference of the College Band Director’s National Association, and has participated in conducting symposia with Richard Clary, Eugene Corporon, Michael Haithcock, Craig Kirchoff, Gary Lewis, H. Robert Reynolds, Kevin Sedatole and Mallory Thompson. Bunch has also served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for various concert, marching, chamber music, and solo events in Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas, Michigan, and Tennessee. Dr. Bunch has served on the faculty of the University of South Carolina Aiken, the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI), the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX), the Temple Independent School District (TX), the Interlochen Arts Academy (MI), and the Obion County Schools (TN).

Dr. Bunch performed as a percussionist under the baton of Leonard Slatkin on the Grammy Award Winning recording of William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and Experience (Naxos), internationally at the Beijing Modern Music Festival at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, with the Fountain City Brass Band (MO), Temple Symphony Orchestra and Temple Jazz Orchestra (TX), Plymouth Symphony (MI), and with artists Randy Brecker, Allen Vizzuti, Gordon Goodwin, Bill Watrous, among others. He currently enjoys playing with the Tri-State Community Band in Blue Ridge, GA.

Dr. Bunch’s professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, as well as honorary memberships with Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Dr. Bunch is student-centered and feels that YHC students are thoughtful, kind, driven, intellectually curious about art and music, and committed to making a difference in their communities and academic disciplines. When not teaching and researching, he enjoys watching sporting events, visual art, and reading.

Chris Crawford has been with Young Harris College since 2012, primarily designing lighting and scenery and teaching technical theatre and design classes.  Chris has served as a chair, dean, faculty senate president, and served on innumerable committees in his time at YHC.  Outside the school he is a freelance lighting designer, production manager, and event coordinator for theatrical, corporate, and concert production events along the East coast.   

Dr. Keith DeFoor joined the Young Harris College faculty in 1998 and is currently Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts, Professor of Music, and SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison.

Dr. DeFoor has studied with Elizabeth Buday (piano), Edward Kilenyi (piano), Peter Spencer (theory), Ralph Tilden (organ), and Robert Steinbauer (piano).  He has been a featured piano soloist with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (FL).  Dr. DeFoor has served as President of the Georgia Music Teachers Association, Piano Division Chair for the Georgia Music Educators Association, and a Presenter Consultant for the Georgia Council for the Arts.

Dr. DeFoor is an institutional evaluator for the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and has served on more than two dozen SACSCOC institutional reviews (including more than a dozen as Chair) and more than a dozen NASM institutional reviews. 

Dr. DeFoor has led five YHC European Study Tours and a YHC China Study Tour.

In addition, Dr. DeFoor is the Organist at the First United Methodist Church of Union County (Blairsville).  

Mr. Mike Lalone joined the YHC faculty in 2019.  Mr. Lalone is the resident clay expert at YHC and enjoys teaching introductory, intermediate, and advanced ceramics courses in the Department of Art. A life-long potter, Mr. Lalone is a masterful artist with wheel throwing, hand building, and glazing techniques. He enjoys working with YHC students from all backgrounds and majors, and his love of clay is contagious. Mr. Lalone regularly teaches popular ceramics workshops at clay centers throughout the Southeast and beyond. His beautifully crafted vessels, forms, and sculptures are featured in galleries and collections across the United States and around the world. 

Dr. Shelley M. Sanderson, a native of Warner Robins, GA, joined the Young Harris College Department of Music faculty in the fall of 2015. Before teaching on the collegiate level she was Director of Choirs for middle and high schools in the middle Georgia area.   While a K-12 teacher she musically directed and conducted multiple musicals and ran a private voice studio since 2006. Dr. Sanderson is an active researcher, clinician, and adjudicator. She has been published in the Florida Music Director and The 5th, 6th and 7th International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education, and presents regularly at NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education Conferences and GMEA In-Service Conferences. Her research interests include Assessment in Music Education, High School Musical Theater Instruction, and Music and the Exceptional Learner. Dr. Sanderson was awarded the David Wilmot Prize for Excellence in Music Education (2014), while at the University of Florida and was the vocal winner for Georgia College and State University Aria/Concerto Competition (2010). She loves staying connected to K-12 music programs by judging for GHSA Literary Competitions, Guest conducting Honor Choirs, and adjudicating LGPE.

Dr. Sanderson coordinates the Bachelor of Music Education program, teaches multiple Music Education courses, including, Introduction to Music Education, Voice Methods, Secondary Music Methods, and Elementary Music Methods. She also has an Applied Voice studio and teaches on the rotation of Performance for Musical Theatre. She is also the advisor for the Collegiate National Associate for Music Education (CNAfME) chapter at YHC. Dr. Sanderson loves seeing her students grow into confident and dynamic educators and performers during their time at YHC. When she is not teaching or researching, she loves spending her time with her husband James and daughter Sofia at the beach or at Walt Disney World. She also loves her time singing in the professional Georgia women’s choir, Lux.

Before coming to Young Harris College in 2011, Ms. Cheryl Star taught flute at Miami-Dade College and Florida International University. In addition to maintaining a large private studio, she performed with the Miami Philharmonic, Miami Beach Symphony, Ft. Lauderdale Symphony, Miami Opera and Ballet companies, and the Sarasota Community Band.   She is a past President of the Florida Flute Association, and has been an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association and conductor of the National Flute Association flute choir.  She currently enjoys performing in local churches,  in the Windsong Trio, the Misty Mountain Wind Quintet, and the Tri-State Community Band.  Favorite performances have included the Brasstown Concert Series, faculty recitals at YHC, and solos with the Mountain Community Choir, Ellijay Community Choir, and Young Harris College performing ensembles.

Prior to joining the faculty at YHC, Ms. Star taught high school mathematics in Gilmer County for 10 years, where she also coached their Academic Team.  In addition to teaching, Ms. Star enjoys art, sewing, and reading.  Combining those interests, she has worked as a costumer, scenic artist, and producer of  several musical theater shows (Camelot, Big River, and Music Man), a Madrigal dinner, and an Easter experience called ""The Tomb"".