Dr. Jim Nutter
Honors Director & Quiz Bowl Coach
Associate Professor of English

As a member the Department of English and Modern Languages, Dr. Nutter currently teaches courses in American Literature as well as in the Modern Novel and American Novel. He received his doctorate in English from the University of Mississippi; he also earned an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia with a specialization in Gifted Education. A professor at Liberty since 1985 and Honors Director since 1995, he previously taught at Marshall University where he received his master's degree. He met his wife Laurie, also an LU professor, at Tennessee Temple University, where they both received their undergraduate degrees in English. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys serving in his church--Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church. 

Dr. Brenda Ayers 
Assistant Honors Director  
Professor of English

A full professor in the Department of English and Modern Languages, Dr. Ayres calls herself a Victorianist. She has published widely in 19th-century British scholarship, including seven books to date, and regularly presents papers at conferences. Each year she takes students abroad, usually to the British Isles. This summer's (2008) trip will be through Ireland. She also coordinates the Victorian Society and Lamplight (LU's literary and arts magazine) and helps put on the Civil War Seminar each spring. Besides her commitment to the Honors Program, she is active with graduate studies by serving as the Chair of the English Graduate Committee and as the Secretary to the Graduate Senate and to the Executive Committee; however, she's never too busy to have tea and cake with any student who wants to chat, and she is very fond of praying.

Dr. Marilyn Gadomski
Assistant Honors Director
Professor of Psychology

In her role as professor at LU since 1991, Dr. Marilyn Gadomski teaches Child Psychology and Foundations of Learning, along with advising psychology interns in residence and online programs. She works with Honors students in several capacities, including Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshman Honor Society), Psi Chi (Psychology Honor Society), and students conducting empirical research in the Honors program. She earned her PhD in Child Development from Virginia Tech and Masters degrees in Early Childhood Education and Educational Administration from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. Her priorities are established in the order of serving God, her family, and the students; this focus allows mental energy for each without sacrificing the others. Activities outside of LU center around TRBC and music, her husband Geary of 38 years, much time with the three children's families and the eight grandchildren, and mentoring with students and friends. Life is good when it can be shared.


Mrs. Maria Childress 
Secretary for the Honors Program

Maria began working for the Honors Program in July of 2006. She was born in Texas, raised on the Mission Field in Mexico, moved to Richmond, and then came to Lynchburg to go to school at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. She later came to Liberty University in 1999 and graduated from the Honors Program in January 2004 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in General Studies with Teacher Licensure. She is currently working on her MBA through Liberty.  In July 1998 she married Mike Childress. They are the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl, Kaileigh Amador. She is very active in the Community, Missions and Youth programs at her church.