Faculty Directory

Rachel Willoughby is a native of Augusta, Georgia and a devoted daughter of the Catholic Church, deeply committed to seeking Christ through the pursuit of truth. Raised in the Melkite Greek Catholic tradition, she treasures the rich universality of the Catholic faith, particularly as it is expressed through the diverse traditions of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

Ms. Willoughby earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Ave Maria University in 2007. She later pursued advanced theological studies at the International Theological Institute in Trumau, Austria, where she received a Master’s degree in Sacred Theology in 2011, followed by a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 2013.

Her passion for truth led her to the classroom, where she spent five years teaching Geometry, Latin, and Sacred Scripture at Aquinas High School in Augusta. During her time there, she especially cherished her students' eagerness to discover objective truth in Geometry and moral truth through Sacred Scripture.

Following her tenure at Aquinas, Ms. Willoughby served as Director of Adult Faith Formation at a large parish in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, she led sacramental preparation efforts and facilitated ongoing faith formation programs for adult parishioners.

Most recently, she has been teaching theology to freshmen and sophomores at Charlotte Catholic High School. Ms. Willoughby is excited to begin a new chapter in Charleston as a member of the faculty at Chesterton Academy of Saint Finbar.

Tony Licari is a devoted Catholic husband and father of seven children. His expertise and teaching experience includes a variety of disciplines. He holds a BA and MA in English Literature from the Citadel and is a published F. Scott Fitzgerald scholar. 

Mr. Licari previously taught Literature and Composition as an adjunct professor at the Citadel and frequently returns as a guest lecturer. During his twelve-year career in the US Navy, he served as an instructor in the US Navy nuclear power training pipeline where he taught reactor theory and operation. 

As the current lay Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at the Citadel, he organizes weekly bible studies, theological lectures for Catholic students and faculty, and works with young adults entering the church through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.

Mr. Licari is also a black belt instructor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with nearly twenty years of teaching and competition experience. In addition to his teaching experience, Mr. Licari has written professionally as a technical writer and editor for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In his free time, Mr. Licari enjoys spending time with his growing family, reading, and writing religious icons.

Valentino Piran grew up in Vicenza, Italy, the city of Palladio, between Padua, Verona and Venice in a devout Roman Catholic family. Before moving to the United States in 2006, he completed his studies, with a degree in Building Surveyor and a Master in Piano performance at the “A.Pedrollo” Conservatory of Music. He also worked as a teacher, professional musician, conductor of the “Palladio Orchestra”, and as a music director for an Army Chapel, Theater and High School. Between 2007-2009 Valentino attended North Carolina School of the Arts completing his Master of Music in Orchestra Conducting, while working as performing artist for the school of ballet and as music director for the ASOP opera program. His studies allowed him to visit and participate in a Master Class at the Metropolitan Opera. 

After the completion of his Masters Degree and following the call to ministry, he furthered his education by receiving his Doctorate in Sacred Music. 

His experience includes over thirty-two years as a choral and orchestra conductor, director of liturgical music, music teacher, pianist and organist. Valentino finds teaching to be a natural vocation. It is an honor, and a great responsibility to accompany young minds and souls during their course of study. Music is a complete discipline. It is very rewarding to witness how through dedication and positivity his students discover the beauty of a composition and are able to perform challenging music from different eras. 

Valentino, his wife Nancy and their three children (in the home) live in Goose Creek. Presently, he is the Director of Sacred Music at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the director of the Choral Program at The Citadel College. 

Emily French Kenny is an illustrator, designer, homeschooler, and an active parishioner at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, along with her husband, Sean, and their two children. Emily has homeschooled her 11-year-old and 9-year-old for five years and, as a recent convert, is committed to a Catholic Classical education. Having attended the Cathedral since 2021, she was confirmed on Easter 2024 and is deeply grateful to her husband for leading her to the faith.

In addition to teaching, Emily is a working artist who occasionally shows in local spaces and sells work from her online shop. Her deepening faith is a catalyst for the creation of new work, with the ever-growing intent of honoring God, and encouraging others to do the same with their unique gifts. She feels privileged to help students become “divine instruments of the eternal” and to teach them how to reflect the beauty of God’s creativity and divine order through their own study of the arts.

For over a decade prior to homeschooling, Emily owned and operated a branding and web design studio, collaborating with diverse clientele across a variety of industries including publishing, fashion, wellness, food, real estate, travel, and law. After working out of New York, Scotland, and D.C., she and Sean landed in Charleston, where they have raised their children for the past ten years.

Emily received her undergraduate degree in Fine Art from the University of Virginia in 2005, while also serving as apprentice to a traditional Japanese master potter in 2004-05. She acquired her real-world design education while working within the industry in New York from 2005-2009.

Laura Mixon Camacho, PhD, is a renowned executive communication strategist specializing in Executive Presence. Drawing from extensive research into luxury brand messaging, political persuasion, and neuroscience, she crafts personalized strategies that help high-performing professionals connect, engage, and inspire to drive business success and foster a positive workplace culture.

Before opening her firm in 2009, Laura spent 9 years teaching communication courses at East Carolina University and College of Charleston. She has a BA degree in Economics and Spanish from Sweet Briar College, an international MBA from University of Dallas and a PhD in Communication Studies from Regent University. Her research covered the political rhetoric of former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez.

Her thought leadership has been featured in prominent publications such as Forbes.com, The Southern C, Lionesses of Africa, and Training Industry. As an author, Laura has written the Cultured Communication Workbook and The Practical Guide to Effective Communication, both lauded for their practical insights into mastering communication. Additionally, her podcast, Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence, is recognized as the #2 communication skills podcast globally and ranks in the top 2.5% of all podcasts worldwide.

Laura’s impressive client list includes top-tier companies such as ABI, Bosch, Comcast, Google, Nestlé, Medtronic, and the Society of Women Engineers, among many others.