Dr. Michael Mihaylo Returns to Bethany with New Position

BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College is thrilled to announce the return of Dr. Michael Mihaylo, but this time as the new chair of the department of visual and performing arts. Mihaylo held many positions at Bethany leading up to his appointment as provost and dean of faculty/vice president for academic affairs from 2004 to 2008. By establishing a music degree program with both major and minor sectors, as defined by the National Association of Schools and Music (NASM), he also serves as the co-founder of the Bethany College division of music.

Bethany President Jamie Caridi, along with many other administrators at Bethany, believe Mihaylo is already a great asset to the college.

“I am delighted to have Mike Mihaylo to lead our Visual and Performing Arts Department. His extensive experience, palpable passion, and acute knowledge of Bethany College makes him a natural choice for this appointment. Mike has been a staple of this department since 1995, so he is well positioned to preserve that which is best about the program, while identifying new opportunities for the future students,” Caridi says.

“In 1995, I was hired by President D. Duane Cummins as a faculty member to begin the restoration of a music program, a program that had been dormant since 1980. From that time, we were able to accomplish a great deal,” Mihaylo says.

Mihaylo completed his bachelor’s of music in piano performance at Duquesne University in 1991, while then heading back to school for his master’s of music at Duquesne in 1993 and doctorate of musical arts at West Virginia University in 2002 in piano performance.

He first began his academic career as a music director at St. Peter Parish in Pittsburgh, Pa. He worked there from 1987 to 1995 and managed many tasks, but conducting the St. Peter Festival Choir of Pittsburgh at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, tops the list. Mihaylo then became the professor of music at Brevard College in N.C., teaching courses in music history and piano. After years of teaching and upholding numerous academic positions at both Bethany and other institutions, he moved to Richmond, Ky. in 2015 to pursue the president’s seat at the Appalachian College Association—of which Bethany College is a member.

However, Mihaylo began to miss the place where he “accomplished a great deal,” and decided to return to Bethany once again.

“Now nearly fifteen years since my departure, I was delighted to accept the invitation from President Caridi and Provost Ramjee to return to Bethany and serve as chair of the department of visual and performing arts. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, and students to reinvigorate and reimagine our fine and performing arts programs here at Bethany,” Mihaylo says.

And of course, Provost and Dean of Faculty Dr. Anju Ramjee is just as excited.

“I am very excited with the opportunities arising from Dr. Mihaylo’s leadership, and I look forward to the positive changes he is making to revive and strengthen the programs in his department at Bethany,” Ramjee says.