Bethany College Welcomes Two New Art Faculty Members

April 29, 2026

Accomplished multidisciplinary artists bring national recognition, interdisciplinary expertise, and a 

shared commitment to student mentorship to Bethany College’s growing arts program

LINDSBORG, Kan. April 29, 2026 - Bethany College is pleased to announce the appointment of two accomplished artists and educators, Jordan Ramsey Ismaiel and Johannah Cairns, to its art faculty. These dynamic additions reflect the College’s continued commitment to excellence in the visual arts and interdisciplinary learning.


Jordan Ramsey Ismaiel (they/them) is a painter and drawer whose work explores themes of desire, longing, and emotional safety through self-portraiture and composite imagery. Living and working between Hastings and Omaha, Nebraska, Ismaiel draws deeply from their experience growing up in the rural Midwest after moving from Washington, D.C. at age 15. Their artistic practice stages moments of intimacy and self-reflection, contextualized by life in the Great Plains.


Ismaiel’s work has been featured in GAYLETTER Magazine and exhibited in “Meet Me in the Middle of Nowhere” at the Hessel Museum of Art in New York, curated by Kyle Herrington in collaboration with the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College. A 2025 artist-in-residence at the Elizabeth Murray Artist Residency with Collar Works, Ismaiel has also been awarded a 2025 Nebraska Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship and will present a solo exhibition at the council’s Fred Simon Gallery in Omaha.


They hold a BA in Studio Art and Philosophy & Religion from Hastings College and earned both an MA and MFA in Painting & Drawing from the University of Iowa, where they were a recipient of the prestigious Iowa Arts Fellowship.


“As a student of the liberal arts educational model and alum of institutions situated within the American Midwestern region, I consider my appointment with Bethany College to be an opportunity that not only allows me to continue cultivating the values of interdisciplinary teaching but also the ability to contribute further to arts education within the state of Kansas and broader community of the Great Plains,” said Ismaiel.


Also joining the faculty is Johannah Cairns, a multidisciplinary artist currently based in Athens, Ohio. Cairns holds a BA in Visual Art from the University of Kansas and a Post-Baccalaureate Artisanry Ceramics Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She is expected to complete her MFA in Ceramics from Ohio University in Spring 2026.


Cairns has received numerous honors, including a nomination for the 2026 Dedalus Foundation MFA Fellowship, the Anonymous Studio Artist Fellowship at the Northern Clay Center, and the Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award from the International Sculpture Center in 2022. In 2019, she was named a Windgate University Fellow through the University of Kansas and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.


Her work investigates the fallibility of memory, particularly in relation to relocation and the lack of documentation of personal history, offering deeply reflective and conceptual explorations through multiple media.


“Becoming a Bethany College faculty member will allow me to join a community distinguished by its commitment to mutual support and a profound respect for the arts,” Cairns said. “As a multi-media artist, I am particularly enthusiastic about the program’s interdisciplinary approach and the opportunity to collaborate with my new colleagues across disciplines. I look forward to mentoring students as they cultivate their artistic voices and to supporting their development toward meaningful and successful careers in the arts.”


“These talented artists bring exceptional creative practice, scholarly achievement, and a passion for teaching that will enrich our campus community,” said Dr. Tash Smith, Bethany College Academic Dean. “We are excited to welcome them to Bethany College and look forward to the impact they will have on our students and programs.”


For more information about Bethany College’s art program, visit www.bethanylb.edu.


About Bethany College

Bethany College (bethanylb.edu) is a higher educational institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas. Bethany College was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For more than 140 years, Bethany College has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany College, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.



CONTACT: 

Christie Denniston, APR

Vice President of Strategic Engagement

303-827-5164 

Bethany College

335 East Swensson Street

Lindsborg, KS 6745

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Lindsborg, Kan. – Bethany College is proud to announce the 2026 Hall of Honor award recipients, recognizing eight individuals whose achievements and service have made a lasting impact on Swede Athletics. "The Athletics Hall of Honor celebrates those who exemplify excellence, leadership, and commitment in sport,” shared Laura Moreno, Dean of Athletics. The 2026 class embodies those attributes and much more. From memorable performances in five different sports, to remarkable coaching careers in nearby communities, to local business owners who support our current Swedes students and staff, this entire group has elevated our programs and department and embodied the very best of our institution. We look forward to honoring and celebrating their extraordinary achievements this October.” The annual Bethany College Hall of Honor Award Ceremony celebrates former student-athletes, coaches, and supporters whose excellence, leadership, and dedication have shaped Bethany College athletics. This year's honorees include four Hall of Honor inductees, two Coach of the Year recipients, and two Bethany Athletic Association (BAA) Award of Merit recipients. Bethany College Hall of Honor award winners include: • Sven Delin, a 2001 graduate, was a captain of the golf team that won four consecutive conference championships, leading to four national championship appearances. He won the conference tournament individually...twice! Delin was also a four-year all-conference academic athlete. • Vinny Butka, a 1982 graduate, was a three-time KCAC shot put champion, District 10 indoor shot put champion in 1981, ACCK champion in 1980 and 1982, three-time outdoor national qualifier, and ranks second in Bethany College history for shot put distance. • Tim Leaf, awarded posthumously, a 1981 graduate, was the KCAC Individual Champion in cross country in 1979 and 1980. In 1979, Leaf was the lead runner on Bethany College’s only KCAC championship team. He placed 33rd in the national cross country meet and remains the highest finishing individual in Bethany College history. In track, Leaf won the 1980 5,000-meter race and set the current school record with a time of 15:18.64. • Amy (Yonally) Wilson, a 1999 graduate, was a dual-sport athlete playing softball and volleyball. In volleyball, she was named to an all-conference volleyball team. In softball, Wilson was a four-time all-conference softball player, all-region softball award winner, and made the All-American Farm Team. Bethany College Coach of the Year award winners include: • Kent Teeter, a 1987 graduate, has had many successes over the last 39 years from his time at Hays High School and his current position at Holcomb High School. While coaching football, Teeter has won two state championships and four league titles. He has also been named the Sports in Kansas Coach of the Year twice, KFBCA Coach of the Year in 2015, and KFBCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024. Along with coaching football, Teeter has also been successful in coaching track and field as he led his Holcomb boys' teams to three consecutive state titles (looking to make it four next year), seven league titles (currently on a four-year streak), and six top three finishes in the state track meet. He has coached over 25 different individual state titles in track and field as well. • Greg Maxwell, a 1997 graduate, coaches both volleyball and girls' basketball at Ellinwood High School. In volleyball, he has over 230 career wins and won the 2025 2A State Championship with a perfect 47-0 record. In girls' basketball, Maxwell led his team to the 2026 2A State Championship, finishing as the runner-up. These were the first ever state tournament wins for Ellinwood who were also the Central Prairie League champions. Maxwell holds a 2A state runner up finish in girls' golf as well. Bethany Athletic Association Award of Merit award winners include: • Danielle (DuMars) Greene and Spencer Greene. Danielle, a 2013 graduate, and her husband have made an immediate impact on Bethany College Athletics. They are a host family for Women’s Basketball, providing numerous meals for the team as well. The Greenes are also the owners of the Ol’ Stuga which hosts the Coaches Radio Show and is a valued partner for both Athletics and Bethany College as a whole. • Brandi Swenson, owner of the Crown & Rye, has also hosted the Coaches Radio Show while also hosting many Swedes Athletics celebrations and playoff sendoff events. In addition, Crown and Rye provided food for the 2026 All Swede Awards, the annual Athletic Department celebration for all teams and student-athletes. The Crown & Rye is a valued partner of Bethany College Athletics. All recipients will be honored during a special ceremony during Homecoming/Inauguration Weekend on Sunday, October 25. About Bethany College Bethany College (bethanylb.edu) is a higher educational institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas. Bethany College was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For more than 140 years, Bethany College has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany College, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. CONTACT: Christie Denniston, APR Vice President of Strategic Engagement 303-827-5164 Bethany College 335 East Swensson Street Lindsborg, KS 67456
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