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COE welcomes new faculty and staff for 2019

Georgia Southern University’s College of Education (COE) is excited to welcome new members to the College team this semester including seven faculty and a staff member. New faculty members for fall 2019 include:
  Elise Cain, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of higher education in the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development. Cain earned a Ph.D. in Community and Public Affairs from Binghamton University as well as a master’s in adolescence education and bachelor’s in biology from St. Bonaventure University. Her research interests include college students from rural areas, rural education and leadership development. Prior to earning her doctorate, Cain was a student affairs professional for almost a decade working in areas such as leadership programs, campus activities, residence life and orientation  
  Selçuk Doğan, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. Doğan earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Florida with a minor in research and evaluation methodology where he also served as an instructional designer and researcher. His research interests focus on teachers’ professional development, online learning, instructional design, effective instruction, learning analytics, social network analysis and structural equation modeling. During his master’s research of curriculum and instruction at Yıldız Technical University, Doğan completed a thesis on teachers’ views on the effectiveness of curriculum mapping. Prior to joining higher education, Doğan taught science, technology and mathematics in private schools in Turkey. He completed a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Boğaziçi University.  
  Abraham Flanigan, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of educational psychology for the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading. Flanigan joins the College from Ohio University where he completed his postdoctoral work. Earning a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Flanigan specialized in developmental and learning sciences. His doctoral research focused on instructional design, academic motivation and self-regulated learning. During his master’s studies in educational psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Flanigan researched the relationship between technological alternatives and motivational interference.  
  Eric Hogan, Ph.D., is a visiting professor of educational psychology in the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading. Hogan served previously as an adjunct professor at Auburn University where he earned a doctorate in educational psychology as well as a program evaluation certificate. He also holds a bachelor’s in psychology from James Madison University. Hogan brings to the College over seven years of experience teaching in a variety of settings and subjects including PK-8 food systems teacher, a high school career perspectives teacher and an educational director for a nonprofit organization. Hogan’s research interests include social capital of students, social justice and employability.  
  Cynthia Massey, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of special education in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. Massey previously taught classroom diversity courses at Auburn University where she earned a Ph.D. in Special Education. Her research interests include excellence in instruction and research, specifically in reading and mathematics, and the impacts on students with special needs. Prior to entering higher education, Massey taught special education in both Alabama and Florida for 22 years. She also has experience as a case manager in mental health facilities. Massey earned an Ed.S. in Special Education from Jacksonville State University and a master’s in varying exceptionalities from the University of Central Florida. She also holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Auburn.  
  Nancy Remler, Ph.D., joined the College as an associate professor of English education in the Department of Middle Grades and Secondary Education. With 27 years of experience in higher education, 26 of which were at Armstrong State University, Remler held several administrative and faculty roles at Armstrong including director of Faculty Development and Online/Blended Learning, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, and associate professor of English. She earned a doctorate in English education from the University of Georgia, where she focused her dissertation work on the scholarship of teaching college English courses. Remler also holds a master’s in English from Georgia Southern and a B.S.Ed. in English Education from the University of Georgia. Current research interests for Remler include scaffolded writing approaches as well as Complete College Georgia and state education standards pertaining to literacy and English.  
Leslie Roberts, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of reading in the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading. Roberts is a new faculty member, having just received her doctorate in Literacy, Language, and Culture from Clemson University. Prior to her appointment at Georgia Southern University, Roberts served as director of the America Reads program at Clemson University, which provided tutoring assistance and equitable access to literacy for more than 150 K-5 elementary students in the upstate area of South Carolina. Her research interests include reading motivation with middle and elementary students, the motivation of male students through the use of literacy, and the integration of social justice education in the classroom. Roberts’ dissertation work focused on reading motivation in the middle grades through the use of face-to-face and virtual book clubs; for this, she was awarded the Graduate Student Award of Excellence in Research through the College of Education at Clemson University.  
  Two faculty members are returning to the COE in new positions including Kitty Crawford, Ed.D., and Tonya Cooper, M.Ed.
  A triple eagle alumna of Georgia Southern, Kitty Crawford previously served as a clinical instructor and has been with the College for over 14 years supervising teacher candidates in their year-long residencies and coordinating the implementation of edTPA in the elementary education program. She is now an assistant professor of elementary literacy education in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. Crawford’s research interests include preparing teachers for literacy instruction and assessment in elementary classrooms and supporting the social emotional learning of teacher candidates and beginning teachers. Prior to joining the faculty at Georgia Southern, Crawford served as a fourth and fifth grade teacher and literacy coach in Jacksonville, Fl., where she mentored beginning and veteran teachers.  
  Tonya Cooper, M.Ed., is now an instructor of special education in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. A double eagle alumna, Cooper has a master’s in early childhood education and bachelor’s in special education from Georgia Southern. Cooper previously worked as a special education teacher in Bulloch County Schools and has collaborated with the College of Education in supervising pre-service teacher candidates for over 19 years. .
  The COE also had a new staff member to join the team in July 2019.
Michelle Nurse is the College’s undergraduate recruiter and an academic advisor. Nurse earned a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in education, culture and society from Georgia Southern and is now pursuing a master’s in higher education administration. Nurse has experience working with students at Georgia Southern, as she served previously as a graduate assistant in the Office of Admissions, a SOAR (orientation) leader, and Peer Leader for the Office of First Year Experience.      
 
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