Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Faculty

Holly Adams ('25)

Assistant Professor of Education

B.S., University of Georgia

M.A., Ed.S., Piedmont University

 

Jeri-Mae Astolfi ('20)

Chair, Music Department

Director, Music Conservatory

Professor of Music

B.M., University of Alberta

M.M, McGill University

M.M.A, University of Minnesota

 

Elaine LeCreurer Bailey (’11)

Associate Dean, School of Humanities and Sciences

Chair, Natural Sciences Department
Professor of Chemistry

B.S., Armstrong Atlantic State University

Ph.D., Auburn University

 

Toni Bailey (’21)
Chair, Department of Advanced Graduate Studies Department
Director, Student Learning Outcomes
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., M.A.T., Xavier University of Louisiana
Ph.D., Mercer University


Haley Barnett (’23)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
A.S., Reinhardt College
B.S.N., M.S.N., Emory University

Mindie, Blackshear-Turner (’23)

Chair, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Department

Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

B.A., Piedmont College

MS, Ph.D., Mercer University

 

Kathy Blandin (’12)
Chair, Theatre & Drama Education Department
Director, Theatrical Productions
Associate Professor of Theatre
B.A., Case Western Reserve University
M.F.A., University of Texas
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
 

 

Megan Boyd (’25)
Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
B.A., Georgia State University
M.S., Ph.D., Mercer University

 

Jefferson B. Bowers (’18)

Chair, Interdisciplinary Studies Department
Associate Professor of Spanish

B.A., Presbyterian College
M.A., Appalachian State University

Rebecca Brantley (’16)

Director, Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art
Associate Professor of Art
B.A., B.F.A, M.A., University of Georgia

Katherine Breithaupt (’10)
Professor of Education
B.A., Berry College
M.Ed., Ph.D., Clemson University

Savannah Brookshire (’21)
Assistant Professor of Accounting
B.B.A, M.S., University of Georgia

Angela H. Brown (’97)
Professor of Education
B.S., M.Ed., EdS, EdD, University of Georgia

 

Chandler Brown ('25)

Assistant Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders

B.S.Ed., M.Ed., Valdosta State University

Jeff W. Bruns (’17)
Associate Dean, Walker College of Business
Professor of Business
M.S., Southeast Missouri State University

D.B.A., Wilmington University
B.S., M.S., M.B.A., Ph.D., Illinois State University

Douglas Butts ('23)

Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., Central Wesleyan College
M.Ed., Ph.D., University of Georgia

 

Jessica Callahan

Assistant Professor of Nursing

B.S.N., M.S.N., Brenau University

 

Carlos D. Camp (’83)
Professor of Biology
B.S., Georgia Southwestern College
M.S., Auburn University
Ph.D., University of Georgia

Chanda Carlan (’15)

Associate Professor of Nursing
A.S.N., North Georgia College and State University
M.S.N., Walden University

Stephen C. Carlson (’06)
Professor of Business
B.A., Jacksonville State University
M.S., Georgia State University
D.B.A., Nova Southeastern University

Sean W. Carrigan (’97)
Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Rhode Island College
Ph.D., University of Georgia


R. Windy Charles (’89)

Coordinator, Writing Center
Professor of English
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of Georgia

Jonathan Elias Clinton (’17)

Associate Dean, College of Education
Chair, Exceptional Child Education Department
Associate Professor of Education
M.A., Piedmont University
B.S., Ph.D., University of Georgia

 

Amy Cox ('24)

External Clinical Coordinator, Communication Sciences and Disorders Department

Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

B.S.Ed., University of Georgia

M.A., The University of Memphis

 

Megan Cuellar (’24) 

Associate Dean, Communications Sciences and Disorders

Director, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders 
B.A., Ph.D., University of Tennessee 
M.A., University of Memphis

Laura Pitts Darby (’20)

Coordinator, Athens Nursing Evening Program

Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., M.S.N., D.N.P, Georgia College and State University

Hugh Davis (’08)
Chair, Humanities Department
Professor of English
B.A., Belhaven College
M.A., University of Alabama
Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Joseph Dennis (’16)
Chair, Mass Communications Department

Advisor, Student Publication (radio)
Associate Professor of Mass Communications
B.A., North Central College
M.A., Ph.D., University of Georgia

Joshua DeVane ('24)

Assistant Professor of Music

B.S., B.M., Georgia Southern University

M.M., University of Colorado Boulder

A.B.D., McGill University

 

Jaydn Dewald (’19)
Director, Creative Writing
Associate Professor of English
A.A., Sacramento City College
B.A., San Francisco State University
M.F.A., Pacific University
Ph.D., University of Georgia

 

Lindsay Dilbeck ('24)

Coordinator, Clinical Education

Assistant Professor of Health Sciences 
B.S., Berry College 
M.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga


Debra F. Dooley (’96)
Coordinator, Science Education
Faculty Athletics Representative

Professor of Earth Science
B.S., Indiana University
Ph.D., University of Georgia

Joshua Duggan (’25)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
M.A.T., Piedmont University

 

Andrew Duitsman ('23)

Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S.,Piedmont University
Ph.D., University of Georgia

 

Tristan Dyer (’25)
Equipment Manager, Film Production
Assistant Professor of Mass Communications
B.A., Brooks Institute of Photography
M.F.A., University of Southern California

 

Jackie Ellett (’18)

Coordinator, Art Education
Professor of Art Education
B.S.Ed., M.A.Ed., EdS, Ph.D., University of Georgia

Mark Evans ('19)
Assistant Professor of Education
A.A., New Mexico Military Institute
B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County
M.Ed., University of North Georgia
EdS, University of Georgia

 

Kristin Ford (’23) 

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science 
B.S., James Madison University 
M.A., Argosy University 
Ph.D., Capella University 

Jennifer Fortunato ('23)
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., Florida State University
Ph.D., University of Alabama

 

Ryan Franklin (’14)
Chair, Social Sciences Department

Coordinator, History Education

Associate Professor of History
B.A. North Georgia College & State University
M.A. University of West Georgia
Ph.D., Georgia State University


Kevin Freeman (’24) 
Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling 
B.S., M.S., Mercer University 
Ph.D., Capella University 

 

John Michael Friedline ('18)
Associate Professor of Psychology
A.B., M.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., University of Georgia

 

Mary Leah Friedline (’24) 
Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion 
B.A., Furman University 
M.T.S., Emory University 
Ph.D., Southern Methodist University

Tony Frye (’08)

Associate Dean, School of Humanities and Sciences
Professor of Political Science
B.A., Ohio State
M.A., University of Akron
Ph.D., Miami University

William Gabelhausen (’06)
Director, Theatrical Production

Professor of Theatre
B.F.A., Illinois Wesleyan University
M.F.A., Pennsylvania State University
M.Ed., University of Georgia

Laurie Gallman ('24)

Chair, School Counseling Department

Assistant Professor of School Counseling

B.A., Union University

M.Ed., Clemson University

Ed.S., Valdosta State University

 

Ann Gazell (’18)
Chair/Program Coordinator, Tier I Leadership
Professor of Education
A.A., Georgia State University
B.S., Kennesaw State University
M.Ed., University of West Georgia
EdS, EdD, Piedmont University

David Gibbs (’11)
Associate Librarian for Collection Development
B.A., University of Georgia
M.L.I.S., University of Alabama

Jennifer Gilstrap (’18)
Associate Professor of English
B.F.A., Brenau University
M.A., Ph.D., Georgia State University

Bob Glass (’95)
Dean of Libraries & University Librarian
B.A., Delta State University
M.M., Louisiana State University
M.L.S., University of Southern Mississippi

Rebecca Godwin (’20)

Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., M.S., Auburn University
Ph.D., University of California Davis

Amanda Gomez (’23)

Director, Clinical Education
Assistant Professor ofCommunication Sciences and Disorders
B.A., Georgia State University
M.S., Western Kentucky University

 

Brittany Harmon (’24) 
Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders 
B.S.Ed., M.S.Ed., Valdosta State University 
EdD, Nova Southeastern University

 

Shahryar Heydari (’92, ’94)

Coordinator, Human Subjects Research

Professor of Mathematics
B.S., M.S., University of South Carolina
Ph.D., Florida State University

 

Landis Hicks (’24)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Berry College
M.Ed., University of Georgia
EdS, Brenau University

 

Laura Hudgens ('21)

Advisor, Yonahian Yearbook

Advisor, ROAR Newspaper

Assistant Professor of Mass Communications

A.A., Motlow State Community College
B.A., M.S., Middle Tennessee State University
A.B.D., University of Georgia

 

Robert Ivey (’20)
Associate Professor of Music
B.M.Ed., University of Montevallo
M.M.Ed., EdS, University of Georgia

 

Melissa Jackson (’18)
Advisor, ROAR Student Film Productions
Associate Professor of Mass Communications
B.A., University of South Alabama
M.F.A., University of Georgia

 

Steven Jacobs ('12)

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Professor of Sociology

B.A., Pennsylvania State University

M.A., Ph.D., University of Florida

 

Jaime Johnson-Huff (’07)
Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Medical College of Georgia
M.S.N., Georgia State University
D.N.P., Medical College of Georgia

 

Christine Kaiser (’17)
Associate Dean, R. H. Daniel School of Nursing, Athens Campus
Coordinator, AceMapp & Credentialing
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., South Dakota State University
M.S.N., University of West Georgia

D.N.P., Arkansas State University

 

Christopher M. Kelly (’08)
Associate Dean, School of Fine Arts and Communications
Professor of Art
B.F.A.,University of Montevallo
M.F.A.,Rochester Institute of Technology

 

Areatha Ketch (’18)

Director, The Center for Teaching and Learning
Associate Professor of Chemistry
B.S., North Georgia College and State University
Ph.D., University of Georgia

 

Garrett Kinsey (’25)
Assistant Professor of Health Sciences
B.S., Berry College
M.S., Piedmont University

 

Kelly Land (’15)

Associate Dean, College of Education
Coordinator, Field Placement
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., ECE, Mercer University
M.Ed., Troy University
EdS, EdD Piedmont University

 

John M. Lanneau ('23)

Chair, Forensic Science and Criminal Justice Department

Director, Georgia Forensics Academy

Assistant Professor of Forensic Science and Criminal Justice

A.S., Middle Georgia College 
B.B.A., M.S., Georgia College and State University

A.B.D., Walden University

Jay Long ('20)

Associate Professor of Accounting

B.B.A., University of North Georgia
M.Acc., University of Georgia

Kimberly Lovell (’92)
Associate Professor of Business
B.A., Piedmont University
M.B.A., Brenau College
EdS, Valdosta State University

Robert Lutz (‘23) 
Professor of Computer Science 
B.M.E., Villanova University 
M.B.A., Rutgers University 
Ph.D., New Jersey Institute of Technology 

 

Timothy F. Lytle (’95)
Butman Professor of Philosophy and Religion
B.A., Toccoa Falls College
M.A., Western Kentucky University
Ph.D., University of Georgia

Tad MacMillan (’19)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., M.Ed., University of Georgia

Santanu Majumdar (’22)

Chair, Art Department

Professor of Art

B.Des., National Institute of Design

M.F.A., Louisiana State University


Sandra Maughon (’15)

Director, Grants Research

Professor of Business
B.A., Georgia State University
M.S., George Washington University

 

Elgin Mayfield ('25)

Site Manager, Middle Georgia

Associate Instructor of Education

M.Ed., Columbus State University

B.M.E., Ed.D., Valdosta State University

Brian McDermott (‘23) 

Assistant Professor of Spanish 
B.A., Utah State University 
M.A., Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat 
Ph.D., University of Georgia


Kris McWhite (’20)
Associate Professor of Economics
B.S., Francis Marion University
M.A., Ph.D., Clemson University

 

Mark Merges (’23) 
Chair, Educational Specialist Department 
Coordinator, Off Campus Programs 
Assistant Professor of Education 
B.S., State University of New York at Brockport 
M.A., University of Alabama 
EdS, Lincoln Memorial University 
EdD, Samford University 

 

Drema Montgomery (’22)

Assistant Professor of Art

B.F.A., University of Montevallo

M.F.A., University of Georgia


Janice W. Moss (’94)
Advisor, Debate Team

Professor of Mass Communications
B.A., Shaw University
M.A., University of Louisiana-Monroe
D.A., Clark Atlanta University

Octavius Mulligan ('23)
Dean, College of Education 
Professor of Education  
B.A., M.A., EdS, EdD, Piedmont University 

Steven D. Nimmo (‘09) 
Professor of Mathematics  
B.A., Monmouth College 
M.S., Ph.D., Iowa State University 

 

Sherry Nourizadeh (’24) 
Assistant Professor of Spanish 
B.A., Kennesaw State University 
M.A., Georgia State University 
Ph.D., University of Georgia 

 

William Nye (’18)
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology
M.Ed., Georgia State University
Ph.D., University of Georgia

 

Taryn Ogle (‘23) 

Assistant Professor of Nursing 
B.S.N., Augusta University 
M.S.N., University of West Georgia 

Heejin Park (‘19) 
Associate Instructor of Music 
B.M., M.M., Georgia State University 
D.MA., University of Georgia 

 

Albert J. Pleysier (’82)
Professor of History
B.A., Calvin College
M.A., Western Michigan University
Ph.D., West Virginia University
 

 

Kristin Randolph (‘22) 

Assistant Professor of Nursing  
B.S.N., Piedmont University 
M.S.N., Columbus State University 


Theresa Reilly (’24) 

Assistant Professor of Psychology 
B.S., Armstrong State University 
M.S., A.B.D., University of Georgia 

 

Perry Rettig (‘13) 
Distinguished University Professor of Education 
B.S.Ed., University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 
Ph.D., Marquette University

 

James “Brandon” Reynolds (’21)

Assistant Professor of Health Sciences
B.S., Bridgewater College
M.Ed., Northwestern State University

 

Morgan Sales (’18)
Associate Professor of Business
B.S., M.B.A., Appalachian State University

Julia M. Schmitz (’11)

Coordinator, Symposium

Coordinator, Starfish
Professor of Biology
B.S., Sweet Briar College
Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham

 

Katrina Short (’12)

Chair, Middle Grades and Secondary Education Department

Professor of Education
B.A., M.Ed., University of North Florida
EdS, EdD, University of Florida

 

Tricia Shriver (’23)
Chair, Elementary Education Department

Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Mercer University
M.Ed., Ed.S., Central Michigan University

Karen Sigers (’17)

Associate Professor of Music
B.Mus., Brenau University
M.Mus., University of Georgia
D.M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

 

Natalie Simmons (’24) 
Lab Instructor of Biology 
B.S., University of North Georgia 
M.S., University of West Georgia 

Sarah Smith (’23) 
Assistant Professor of Health Sciences 
B.S., M.S., Piedmont University 

Tina Smith ('21)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N, Brenau University
M.S.N., Kennesaw State University
D.N.P., Wilkes University

John Spiegel (’09)
Associate Professor of Theatre
Director, Theatre Productions
B.A., Davidson College
M.F.A., University of North Carolina

 

Jeb Stacy (’22)

Assistant Professor of Physics

B.S., Arkansas Tech University

M.S., Ph.D., University of Arkansas

Nancy Sharpe Strawbridge (’18)
Professor of Education
M.Mus., Temple University
Ed.S, Georgia State University
B.M.E. Ed.D., Vanderbilt University

Gerald F. Sullivan (’13)
Professor of Business
B.B.A., University of Georgia
M.B.A., Georgia State University
D.B.A., Nova Southeastern University

Sarah Sumners (’21)
Associate Professor of Education

B.S., M.A.T., Mississippi University for Women
Ph.D., Mississippi State University

 

Matthew Teutsch ('19)
Associate Professor of English
B.S.Ed., M.A., University of Louisiana-Monroe
Ph.D., University of Louisiana Lafayette

 

Douglas Torrance (’15)

Chair, Mathematical Sciences Department
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.A., Northwestern University
M.S., Ph.D., University of Idaho

J. Kerry Waller (’11)
Dean, Walker College of Business
Professor of Business
B.A., Dickinson College
Ph.D., Clemson University

Susanna Warnock (’14)
Director, Travel Study

Associate Professor of Business

B.A., Berry College
Ph.D., University of Dublin

Stephen R. Whited (’93)
Professor of English
B.A., M.A., Georgia State University
Ph.D., University of Kentucky

 

Kristin Whitlock ('25)

Director, Athletic Training Program

Assistant Professor of Health Sciences

B.S., Piedmont University

M.S., University of Georgia

 

Jessica Wiant (’25)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Ed.S., University of Georgia
M. Ed., Liberty University

 

Shannon Williamson (’24) 

Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders 
B.A., Columbia College 
M.S., Ph.D., University of South Carolina

 

Brandi Wiltse (’24)
Coordinator, Criminal Justice
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science
A.S., B.S., The University of North Georgia
M.S., Saint Leo University

 

Naomi Woodbury (‘23)
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.S., B.M., Anderson University
M.S., College of Charleston

 

Yunxuan Yang (’24) 
Lab Instructor of Chemistry and Chemical Hygiene Officer 
B.S., University of Provence-Aix Marseille I 
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee