2022-2023 Graduate Catalogue 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Graduate Faculty | 7



Graduate Faculty

UCHENNA AKPOM (2013), Ph.D., Professor of Finance and Economics; M.B.A. (1983) Morehead State University; M.A. (1987), Ph.D. (1989) University of Kentucky.

HEATHER BIRKELAND (2021), M.F.A., Online Instructor of Digital Communications; B.Soc.Sc. (2018) The University of Macau; M.F.A. (2021) Liberty University.

ELEANOR BOUDREAU (2022). Ph.D. Assistant Professor of English; B.A. (2007) Harvard University; M.S. (2009) Columbia University; M.F.A. (2016) University of Houston; Ph.D. (2021) Florida State University.

AREN BRAXTON (2016), D.B.A. Assistant Professor of Management; B.A. (1981), M.B.A. (2014) University of Alabama; D.B.A. (2021) Walden University.

ALAN BROWN (1986), D.A., Assistant Professor of English and Folklore; B.A. (1972) Millikin University; M.A. (1974) Southern Illinois University; M.A. (1978) Sangamon State University; D.A. (1984) Illinois State University.

VALERIE POPE BURNES (2008), Ph.D., Associate Professor of History; B.A. (1999) Judson College; Ph.D. (2012) Auburn University.

ROGER CAMPBELL (2007), Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department of Physical Sciences and Assistant Professor of Chemistry; B.S. (2001) University of West Alabama; Ph.D. (2008), University of Alabama.

CATALINA CASARU (2021) Ph.D., Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Director of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory; B.S. (2004) University of Alabama; M.A. (2009) University of Alabama, Ph.D. (2014) University of Alabama.

JOY CAUTHRON (2000), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology; B. A. (1994), M. A. (1997), Ph.D. (2000) University of Arkansas.

GUNARS CAZERS (2013), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physical Education; B.S. (1984) University of Minnesota; M.S. (1998) Baylor University; Ph.D. (2009) University of Alabama.

JING CHEN (2012), Ph.D., Associate Professor Mathematics; B.M. (2004) Hunan University; M.M. (2006) Hunan University; M.A. (2009) University of Alabama; Ph.D. (2012) University of Alabama.

TAMMY R. CROUSE (2017), Ed.D., Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of the Department of Instructional Leadership and Teacher Leader Program; B.S. (1987) Southeast Missouri State University; M.Ed. (1993) Southeast Missouri State University; Ed.S. (1999) University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Ed.D. (2006) University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

NARENDRA CHAGANTI S. DATTA (2021), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology; B.S. (2007) Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University; M.S. (2013) University of Alabama, Ph.D. (2017) University of Alabama.

DEBBIE DAVIS (2000), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English; B.A. (1977) Auburn University; M. A. (1986) Southeastern Louisiana University; Ph.D. (1996) University of Alabama.

DERRICK DAVIS (2021) Ph.D., Professor in Instructional Leadership and Director of Assessment; B.S (1995) Alabama A&M University, M.Ed. (1998) Cambridge College, J.D. Law. (2009) Birmingham School of Law, Ph.D. (2000) University of Southern Mississippi.

MARK DAVIS (2005), Ph.D., Dean of International Programs and Professor of Psychology; B.A. (1998) Western Washington University; M.A. (2002), Ph.D. (2005) New Mexico State University.

RUSSELL DAVIS (2009), Ph. D., Assistant Professor of Sociology; B.S. (1995), M.S. (1998) The Ohio State University; Ph.D. (2007) Louisiana State University.

ASHLEY DUMAS (2008), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anthropology; B.A. (1996) University of South Alabama; M.A. (2001), Ph.D. (2007) University of Alabama.

RACHEL B. DUNBAR (2019), Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Special Education, A.A. (1997) Oxford College of Emory University; B.S. (1999) Georgia Southern University; M.A. (2001) Teachers College Columbia University; Ph.D. (2008) Georgia State University; MBA (2019) University of West Alabama.

TIM EDWARDS (2006), Ph.D., Professor of English; B.A. (1986), M.A. (1992) University of Alabama at Birmingham; Ph.D. (1999) University of Tennessee.

ROBERT T. FLOYD (1980), Ed.D., ATC, Assistant Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chairperson of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, Distinguished Professor of Physical Education and Athletic Training, and Director of Athletic Training and Sports Medicine; B.S. (1980), M.A.T. (1982) Livingston University; Ed.D. (1995) University of Alabama.

BRENDA FORTSON (2021) Ph.D., Assistant Professor/Reading Specialist; A.A (2001) Meridian Community College, B.S (2003) Mississippi State University, M.S (2005) Mississippi State University, Ed.S. (2009) Mississippi State University, TESOL Certification (2012) Mississippi State University, Ph.D. (2018) University of Southern Mississippi.

JAMES F. GENTSCH (2000), PhD., Professor of History; B.A. (1992), M.S. (1994) Memphis State University; PhD. (1999) King's College, University of London.

JAMES GILBERT (2009), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Counseling/Psychology; B.S. (1995), M.S.C.E. (1997) University of West Alabama; Ph.D. (2003) Capella University.

RODNEY GRANEC (2016), M.Ed., Director of Sponsored Programs & Research.  M.Ed. (2017) University of West Alabama. 

DEBORAH GRANT (2021) Ph.D., Professor of Practice in the Counseling Program; B.A (1984) West Virginia University, M.S (1986) West Virginia University, Ph.D. (1997) Syracuse University.

MITZI C. GREEN (2005), D.B.A., Director of Assessment of the College of Business and Professor of Accounting (part-time); B.S. (1977), M.S. (1979) Mississippi University for Women; D.B.A. (1983) Mississippi State University.

JANIE GREGG (2007), Ph.D., Professor of Management and MBA Director; A.A. (1986) East Mississippi Community College; B.S. (1988) Mississippi University for Women; Ph.D. (2001) Mississippi State University.

KIMBERLY GRIFFITH (2016), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education; B.S. (1978), M.Ed. (1987), Ph.D. (1997) University of Southern Mississippi.

MARY HANKS (2011), Ed.D., Chairperson of the Division of Nursing and Associate Professor of Nursing; B.S.N. (1993), M.S.N. (2010), Ed.D. (2017) University of Alabama.

SALLIE HARPER (2015), Ph.D., Professor of Elementary Education; B.S.E (1983) The University of Central Arkansas; M.S.E (1989) The University of Central Arkansas; Ed.S. (1995) The University of Southern Mississippi; Ph.D. (2001) The University of Alabama.

CHRISTOPHER D. HAVEMAN (2009), Ph.D., Associate Professor of History; B.A. (1998) Western Washington University; M.A. (2001) Marquette University; Ph.D. (2009) Auburn University.

JOHN HENLEY (2010), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing; B.S. (1985) Auburn University; M.A. (1990), Ph.D. (2004) University of Alabama.

WILLIAM W. HILL, II (2021), Ph.D., Professor of Marketing; B.S. (1987) University of Alabama; M.B.A. (1994) Mississippi State University; Ph.D. (2006) University of Alabama.

LA JUAN A. HUTCHINSON (2011), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physical Education; B.S. (1990) Morehouse College; M.S. (1994) Florida State University; Ph.D. (2003) University of Alabama.

JERRI L. JACKSON (2018), Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology/Department Chair of Instructional Leadership and Support; B.S. (2006) Mississippi State University; M.S. (2009) Mississippi State University; Ph.D. (2019) Mississippi State University.

MATT JOHNSON (2018), Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Education and Curriculum Director; B.S. (2009) University of Georgia; M.S. (2012) Walden University; Ed.S. (2015) Kennesaw State University; Ed.D. (2020) American College of Education.

AMY JONES (2006), Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department of Communications and Professor of Communications; B.A. (2004) University of New Orleans; M.S. (2006) University of Louisville; Ph.D. (2011) University of Alabama.

J. GREG JONES (2006), M.F.A., Associate Professor of Communications; B.A. (2004) University of West Alabama; M.A.T. (2006) Mississippi State University; M.F.A. (2016) Full Sail University.

KEVIN JONES (2016), Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Instructional Leadership; A.A. (1976) East Mississippi Community College; B.S. (1978), M.Ed. (1983), Ph.D. (1990) Mississippi State University.

TINA N. JONES (1993), Ph.D., Professor of English and Speech; B.A. (1991), M.A.T. (1993) Livingston University; Ph.D. (2002) University of Southern Mississippi.

BRIAN R. KEENER (2003), Ph.D., Professor of Biology; B.S. (1996) Auburn University; M.S. (1999), Ph.D. (2005) University of Alabama.

YUN-HO KIM (2006), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry; B.S. (1987) Yonsei University; M.S. (1992) Indiana University of Pennsylvania; M.S. (1995) University of Connecticut; Ph.D. (2003) University of Arkansas.

B. J. KIMBROUGH (2006), Ed.D., Professor of Elementary Education; B.S. (1999) Stillman College; M.Ed. (2002) University of West Alabama; Ed.D. (2005) Nova Southeastern University.

JOO YOUNG LEE (2002), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance; B.A. (1989), M.A. (1991) Yonsei University; Ph.D. (2002) University of Georgia-Athens.

SHEILA BLACKMON LIMERICK (2006), M.L.I.S., Assistant Professor and Archivist and Special Collections Librarian; B.A. (1993) University of West Alabama; M.A. (1998) University of Alabama at Birmingham; M.L.I.S. (2005) University of Southern Mississippi.

JONI DAVENPORT MADDOX (2014), D.A.T., ATC, Athletic Trainer and Assistant Professor of Athletic Training; B.S. (2007) University of West Alabama; M.S. (2010) Alabama A & M University; D.A.T. (2018) A.T. Still University.

HEATHER MCDONALD (2009), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physical Science; B.S. (1993) Mississippi College; Ph.D. (2002) Mississippi State University.

JEFFERY MERIDA (2007), Ph.D., Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Assistant Professor of Biology; B.A. (1989) Talladega College; Ph.D. (1998) Purdue University.

JAN G. MILLER (2008), Ed.D., Professor of Instructional Leadership; B.S. (1988), M.Ed. (1990) Livingston University; Ed.S. (1992) Mississippi State University; Ed.D. (2007) Nova Southeastern University.

POPPY MOON (2015), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of School Counseling; B.S. (1996) Centenary College of Louisiana; M.S. (2001) Texas A & M University; Ph.D. (2006) University of Alabama   

KEVIN MORSE (2012), Ph.D.,  Interim Chairperson of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences andAssociate Professor of Biology; B.S. (1997) University of Montevallo; M.S. (2000) Samford University; Ph.D. (2005) University of Alabama at Birmingham.

MUSTAFA R. MORSY (2011), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology; B.Sc. (1992), M.Sc. (1995) Alexandria University; Ph.D. (2005) University of Arkansas.

DARA MURRAY (2016), Ph.D., R.N., Assistant Professor of Nursing; A.S.N. (2003) University of West Alabama; B.S.N. (2015), M.S.N. (2016) University of Alabama; Ph.D. (2021) William Carey University.

KELLY OWENBY (2019) Ph.D., Senior Lecturer-Counseling Programs-Online; B.S. (1997) Troy State University; M.A. (2001) University of Sarasota; Ph.D. (2018) Capella University.

AMANDA PENDERGRASS (2013), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education; B.S. (2003) Birmingham-South College; M.A. (2004), Ph.D. (2013) University of Alabama at Birmingham.

KELLY PIVIK (2010), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology; B.S. (2001), M.S. (2004) Idaho State University; Ph.D. (2010) University of Alabama.

KENDRICK PREWITT (2010), Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department of Languages and Literature and Professor of English; B.A. (1986) Vanderbilt University; M.A. (1989), Ph.D. (1998) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

THOMAS J. RATKOVICH (2001), Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department of Mathematics and Associate Professor of Mathematics; B.S. (1991) Mississippi Valley State University; M.S. (1993) University of Southern Mississippi; Ph.D. (2000) University of Alabama.

ANDREW K. RINDSBERG (2006), Ph.D., Professor of Geology and Environmental Science; B.S. (1975) Stanford University; M.S. (1983) University of Georgia; Ph.D. (1986) Colorado School of Mines.

R. VOLNEY RISER (2005), Ph.D., Professor of History; B.A. (1995), B.A. (1998) Florida State University; M.A. (2000), Ph.D. (2005) University of Alabama.

PAMELA ROCHESTER (2009), Ph.D., Associate Professor of School Counseling; B.S. (1969), M.Ed. (1974), Ph.D. (2000) Mississippi State University.

FRANK D. ROGERS (2004), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics; B.S. (1999) University of West Alabama, Ph.D. (2005) University of Alabama.

REENAY ROGERS (2009), Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College of Education, Director of Assessment and Evaluation and Associate Professor of Education; B.S. (1988), M.A. (1996), Ph.D. University of Alabama.

MICHAEL SANDEL (2015), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology; A.A.Sc. (2003)  Community College of the Air Force; B.S. (2004) Ohio State University; Ph.D. (2012) University of Alabama.

NATASHA SATCHER (2006), Ph.D., Professor of Physical Education and Athletic Training; B.A. (1998) Dillard University; M.S. (2000), Ph.D. (2006) University of Southern Mississippi.

RICHARD C. SCHELLHAMMER (1994), Ph.D., Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Chairperson of the Department of History and Social Sciences and Professor of History; B.A. (1984) Pennsylvania State University; M.A. (1986) University of Chicago; Ph.D. (1993) University of South Carolina.

LESA C. SHAUL (2008), Ph.D., Professor of English; B.S. (1990) University of Alabama; Ph.D. (1996) University of Georgia.

STEPHEN SLIMP (1995), Ph.D., Professor of English; B.A. (1985) University of South Carolina; M.A. (1987) Baylor University; Ph.D. (1995) University of North Carolina.

KATIE M. SMITH (2017), Ph.D., R.N., Assistant Professor of Nursing; A.S.N. (2011) University of West Alabama; B.S.N. (2016), M.S.N. (2018) University of Alabama; Ph.D. (2021) William Carey University.

MONROE C. SNIDER (1971), Ed.D., Director of the Library and Professor of Library Media; B.S. (1961), M.A. (1963), M.L.S. (1985), Ed.D. (1973) University of Alabama.

EDWARD SNODGRASS (2014), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology; B.A. (1992) Mississippi State University; M.A. (1996), Ph.D. (1999) University of Southern Mississippi.

LEE STANTON (2007), Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science and Director of the Black Belt Conservation Research Institute; B.S. (1993) University of West Alabama; M.S. (1998) University of South Alabama; Ph.D. (2005) Louisiana State University.

SHARON STIPE (2001), J.D., Chairperson of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics and Professor of Business Administration; B.S. (1982) Samford University; M. Tax Acc. (1983) University of Alabama; J.D. (1988) University of Alabama; L.L.M. (1989) New York University School of Law.

CHRISTOPHER THOMASON (2016), Ed.D., Vice-President of Institutional Advancement. MPA (2014) University of Alabama at Birmingham; Ed.D. (2021) University of West Alabama.

VERONICA TRIPLETT (2007), D.B.A., Chairperson of the Department of Business Administration, Management, and Marketing, Assistant Professor of Management and Marketing, and DBA Program Director; B.B.S. (2007), M.S.C.E. (2009), M.B.A. (2016) University of West Alabama; D.B.A. (2020) Liberty University.

KEN TUCKER (2007), Ph.D., Professor of Business; B.A. (1976) University of Alabama; M.B.A. (1985) University of Alabama at Birmingham; Ph.D. (1991) University of Alabama.

COURTNEY VICK (2021) Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Elementary Education; B.S (2010) University of West Alabama, M.Ed. (2011) University of West Alabama, Ed.D. (2021) University of West Alabama.

BRANDON WALKER (2018), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Digital Communications; B.A. (2007) University of Alabama; M.S. (2017) University of Alabama; Ph.D. (2022) University of Alabama.

NISHA WARBINGTON (2009), Ph.D., Associate Professor of School Counseling; B.S. (1994) Auburn University; M.A. (1997), Ed.S. (2000), Ph.D. (2005) University of Alabama.

JERRI L. WARD-JACKSON (2018), Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department of Instructional Leadership and Support and Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology; B.S. (2006) Mississippi State University; M.S. (2009) Mississippi State University; Ph.D. (2019) Mississippi State University.

MARTI WATERS (2017), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology; B.S. (2002) Louisiana State University; M.S. (2005) Southeastern Louisiana University; Ph.D. (2010) University of Alabama at Birmingham.

CELESTE A. WHEAT (2013), Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Student Affairs in Higher Education; B.A. (2004) The University of Southern Mississippi; M.A. (2008) Georgia Southern University; Ph.D. (2012) The University of Southern Mississippi.

BRAD WILLIS (2021) Ph.D., Professor of Practice in the Counseling Program; B.S (1995) Southeastern Bible College, M.Ed. Montevallo University, Ph.D. The University of Alabama.

JODIE WINSHIP (2008), Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department of Teaching and Learning and Associate Professor of Special Education; B.S. (1989), M.S. (1991) Mississippi State University; Ph.D. (2008) Capella University.