COE welcomes new faculty and staff

September 16, 2020

Georgia Southern University’s College of Education (COE) is excited to welcome new members to the College team this semester including eight faculty and six staff members. New faculty members for Fall 2020 include:

Nihan Ağaçlı-Doğan, Ph.D., is a visiting professor in the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development. Agacli-Dogan recently completed her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with the specialization of Educational Technology from the University of Florida this May. She also earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry education from the Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. Agacli-Dogan focuses her research on instructional design, technology integration, online learning, teacher and student use of technology, and the effect of technology-enriched classrooms on student performance. She is not entirely new to the College, as Agacli-Dogan served as an adjunct instructor for instructional technology in 2019. Agacli-Dogan previously taught middle and high school science and technology in Turkey and served as a teaching assistant at the University of Florida.

Gregory Bailey, Ed.D., is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development. Bailey is currently serving as a middle school principal in Dalton, Georgia. He has worked in public schools in both Tennessee and Georgia where he has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and multiple curricular roles in the central office. Bailey earned a doctorate from the University of Alabama in educational leadership. He completed an Ed.S. in Leadership and Administration from Lincoln Memorial University. His master’s and bachelor’s degrees are from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in the areas of curriculum, instruction and the natural sciences. His research interests are in school policy, science education and preparation of new administrators in primary and secondary education.    

Ariel Cornett, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. Cornett joins the COE from the University of Virginia, where she earned all three of her degrees and served as a graduate teaching and research assistant for the Curry School of Education and Human Development. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in social studies education, a Master of Teaching in Elementary Education with an endorsement in gifted education, and a Bachelor of Arts in History. Before pursuing her doctorate, Cornett taught kindergarten, first and third grades in a Virginia public elementary school. Her research interests include elementary social studies teaching and learning, how context influences standards-based teacher instruction and student experience, and place-based education. 

Eric Hogan, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading. Previously, Hogan served as a visiting professor of educational psychology with the College, and has been hired on a tenure track position. Prior to joining Georgia Southern, Hogan was 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. 

Edward Muhammad, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading. Muhammad joins the College after serving 18 years as an intelligence specialist for AT&T. Muhammad has also taught as an instructor and adjunct professor of psychology at several higher education institutions. As a critical qualitative methodologist, his research combines qualitative methodologies and critical frameworks in an effort to educate, emancipate, and transform. His research interests include the phenomenology of the black lived experience, philosophical hermeneutics, and the intersection of racial and religious alterity. Muhammad earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Southern University, a master’s in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Baltimore, and a Ph.D. in Qualitative Research Methodologies from the University of Georgia (2019). 

Jennifer Perry, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development. A Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) and National Certified Counselor (NCC), Perry joins the College from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and served as a co-instructor and teacher assistant. Perry earned a master’s in counselor education and a master’s in sociology from East Carolina University. Perry’s research interests include ethics in school counseling including the use of interpreters within schools and school counseling supervision, as well as preparedness and self-efficacy of school counseling graduate students.  

Samuel Rhodes, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. A three-time graduate from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, Rhodes holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, master’s in secondary mathematics education and doctorate in educational policy, planning and leadership. Prior to joining the COE at Georgia Southern, Rhodes served as a visiting assistant professor at James Madison University and prior to that a math specialist at The College of William and Mary. He has also taught middle and high school mathematics in Virginia as well as internationally in Vietnam. Rhodes is currently serving as the co-principal investigator on a $1.35 million grant on scaffolding executive function via metacognition and problem solving. His research interests include mathematical problem solving, the development of students’ metacognition, problem-based learning and the interaction between executive function, metacognition and problem-solving.

Montana Smithey, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Elementary and Special Education. An elementary mathematics education professional, Smithey started her education career in  elementary school classrooms of North Carolina, where she taught for six years. She then served as a lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) for eight years. Smithey completed her Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Development and master’s in teacher education from UNC. She also holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Elon University. Smithey has multiple years of experience in leading professional development for various school districts in elementary mathematics and is a member of the Research Council on Mathematics Learning. Smithey’s research interests include responsive teaching and supporting preservice teachers both specifically in elementary mathematics education.

One faculty member took on a new role in the College.

Jackie Kim, Ed.D., is now an associate professor in the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development. Her previous assignment was to the Department of Elementary and Special Education. Kim holds an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and will be joining the instructional technology faculty. Her research interests and service are centered on the experience of online instructors in higher education. She also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in reading and language arts education.

The COE also has several new staff members that have joined this year including:

Shalonda Coleman-Orr is serving as the Coordinator of the Instructional Support and Resources Center (ISRC) on the Armstrong Campus. 

Located on the Statesboro Campus, Stacy Davis is a new academic advisor in the College’s Graduate Academic Services Center.

Melissa Deal is the senior administrative assistant for the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading. Her office is located on the Statesboro Campus.

Kelli Howard is serving as the administrative assistant for the College of Education’s Administration and Support on the Statesboro Campus.

P. Nicki Kent serves as the senior administrative assistant for the Department of Leadership, Technology and Human Development and is located on the Statesboro Campus.

Julie Pickens rejoins the College of Education as the Director of the EAGLE Academy.