Feature Story
Mary Jolley, Jon Clawson, and Karliee Park Join Southern Virginia University as Instructors of Writing, Music, and Art
Southern Virginia University is pleased to welcome Mary Jolley (‘10) as instructor of writing, Jon Clawson (‘21) as visiting instructor of music, and Karilee Park as visiting instructor of art.
Mary Jolley, Instructor of Writing
A 2010 graduate of Southern Virginia University, Mary Jolley returns to the university faculty as an instructor of writing, where she will teach WRI 110: Introduction to Composition, WRI 120: College Composition, and a section of the university’s introductory course, SVU 101: Becoming a Knight.
“In the world of AI, it may seem like this particular expertise of writing is obsolete, but it’s far from it because writing is a way to think critically, organize your ideas, and be able to communicate effectively with other people,” said Jolley. “If you can’t communicate effectively with others, you can’t have any meaningful relationships. So it’s especially important to learn how to write and articulate your ideas well, because our ideas have value.”
Jolley previously taught writing courses at Southern Virginia University from 2019–22 before leaving to care for family. She has also taught writing and literacy courses at California State University Fresno, ITT Technical Institute, the State Center Community College District, and online classes at Brigham Young University–Idaho.
A published author of the series, “The Kenworthy Cure,” with the final installment of the trilogy to be released in 2025, Jolley has led workshops for children, teens, and adults on writing creatively and personal histories. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Virginia University and her master’s degree in creative writing from California State University Fresno, and is married to fellow Southern Virginia alumni, Blake.
Jon Clawson, Visiting Instructor of Music and Interim Director of Choral Activities
Jon Clawson joins Southern Virginia University as a visiting instructor of music, where he will teach conducting and diatonic harmony in addition to leading Men’s Chorus and Chamber Singers as the interim director of choral activities.
“We make such excellent music here, and I was so thrilled to come back and be a part of it,” said Clawson, a 2021 alum of Southern Virginia University. “I was in the first Chamber Singers group, and that group and the music program here are really special to me. The hearts of the students are really in it, and it influences their testimonies and their other academic courses. They’re able to take what they’ve learned in music and apply it to whatever else they’re a part of, and that is super gratifying to me.”
Clawson previously worked as a graduate assistant at East Carolina University from 2022–24, where he earned his master’s degree, leading or assisting with three of the university’s choirs in concerts and classes. While there, he served as the primary graduate coordinator for the ECU High School Choir Invitational Festival and the annual North Carolina Music Educators Association Honors Chorus preparation clinic.
From 2017–24, Clawson served in various musical capacities for local congregations, including as the director of music ministries for the First United Methodist Church in North Carolina, and the director of music for the Greenville United Methodist Church and organist and choirmaster for the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church in Virginia.
While a student at Southern Virginia University, Clawson served as a choral student intern for Men’s Chorus, Choral Union, Concert Chorale, and Chamber Singers, conducting numerous pieces over four years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music and history from Southern Virginia University and his master’s degree in choral conducting from East Carolina University.
Karilee Park, Visiting Instructor of Art
As a visiting instructor of art specializing in illustration, Karilee Park will be teaching art courses Viscom I, Design Principles, Digital Painting I, and Character and Creature Design, as well as helping launch the illustration emphasis within the design major.
“I love helping students realize that they can be artists and be as successful as they want to be,” said Park. “I’m excited to work alongside them, because learning, and art especially, doesn’t stop. Art just creates this wonderful community where we can grow and develop and share our disappointments and successes with each other, and I love that.”
With over 10 years of professional experience, Park has worked in several administrative and teaching positions with various schools and companies. At Brigham Young University, she served as an administrator for the university’s Jumpst(ART) Elementary Practicum Program and as research assistant for BYU’s art integration into STEM practicum research with Native American junior high students. At BYU–Idaho, Park worked as an academic counselor in the department of language and letters.
At the university level, Park has served as an elementary professional development instructor and instructional content designer for the BYU Arts partnership, designing lesson plans and instructing teachers in art certification. She also served as an adjunct faculty member for BYU’s art education and Spanish and Portuguese departments, BYU–Idaho’s art department, and as an art teacher for several public schools in Arizona ranging from K–12.
Park earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education from Brigham Young University–Idaho and Brigham Young University, respectively.