INED Faculty & Staff

Faculty in the Inclusive Education Department represent a wide range of teaching, research interests, and professional experiences. The department houses both Special Education and TESOL. Using an asset-based perspective, faculty in each area are committed to preparing educators to be able to meet the needs of diverse learners and ensure student success.

Faculty

• Holly Arnold

  Holly Arnold Lecturer of TESOL

  Position:
  Lecturer of TESOL

  Phone: (470) 578-2287
  Email: hweber1@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 429

  
  Dr. Arnold is an international speaker and teacher-trainer, having previously worked with the United States Department of State. Her research interests include English learners in online learning environments, culturally responsive pedagogical training for pre-service teachers, and culturally sustaining practices in teacher education programs. 

• Katie Bennett

  Katie Bennett Assistant Professor of Special Education

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of Special Education

  Phone: (470) 578-2255
  Email: kbenne72@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 431

  
  My teaching, research, and community engagement efforts focus on teacher preparation, literacy, and high incidence disabilities. I teach at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

• Harriet Bessette

  Harriet Bessette Professor of Inclusive Education & Educational Leadership

  Position:
  Professor of Inclusive Education & Educational Leadership

  Phone: (470) 578-6893
  Email: hbessett@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 434

  
  I am a professor of special education and teach masters, specialist and doctoral courses in the Inclusive Education Department. I have over 25 years of teaching and administrative experience in public schools and higher education. My research interests include the use of drawings as research tools in qualitative research, Vygotskian theory, intersubjectivity, and interpersonal/intrapersonal planes of cognition.

• David Buckman

  David Buckman Interim Department Chair of Inclusive Education & Associate Professor of Educational Leadership

  Position:
  Interim Department Chair of Inclusive Education & Associate Professor of Educational Leadership

  Phone: (470) 578-7853
  Email: dbuckman@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 443

  
  Interim Department Chair of Inclusive Education & Associate Professor of Educational Leadership

• Jayoung Choi

  Jayoung Choi Associate Professor of TESOL

  Position:
  Associate Professor of TESOL

  Phone: (470) 578-2231
  Email: jchoi44@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 437

  
  Associate Professor of TESOL in the Inclusive Education Department

• Melissa Driver

  Melissa Driver Associate Professor of Special Education

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Special Education

  Phone: (470) 578-2512
  Email: mdriver6@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 428

  
   

• Chandra Floyd

  Chandra Floyd Assistant Professor of Gifted Education

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of Gifted Education

  Phone: (470) 578-4255
  Email: cfloyd35@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 421

  
  I am a professor in the Inclusive Education Department teaching courses leading to a gifted education endorsement. I have over 20 years of K12 experience serving as a teacher, teacher professional developer, and administrator. My research interests include equity in gifted education, gifted education policy, and the preparation and development of gifted educational leaders.
   

• James Gambrell

  James Gambrell Associate Professor of TESOL

  Position:
  Associate Professor of TESOL

  Phone: (470) 578-2658
  Email: jgambre2@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 435

  
  Dr. Gambrell's research focuses on bilingual education including language policy and planning, bilingual teacher preparation pathways, and classroom practices that engage language minoritized students, families, and communities.

• Tristan Glenn

  Tristan Glenn Director of Call Me Mister Program and Associate Professor of Special Education

  Position:
  Director of Call Me Mister Program and Associate Professor of Special Education

  Phone: (470) 578-2657
  Email: tglenn20@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 440

  
   

• Joya Hicks

  Joya Hicks Associate Professor of Special Education

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Special Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6146
  Email: jcarterh@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 432

  
  I have extensive experience in preparing pre-service and in-service teachers and leaders in providing fully-inclusive evidenced-based practices for working with children and their families.

• Nihal Khote

  Nihal Khote Assistant Professor of TESOL

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of TESOL

  Phone: (470) 578-2121
  Email: nvk4987@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 438

  
   

• Maria Montalvo

  Maria Montalvo Clinical Assistant Professor of TESOL

  Position:
  Clinical Assistant Professor of TESOL

  Phone: (470) 578-7854
  Email: mmontal1@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 439

  
  I teach in the TESOL department and supervise the TESOL Clinical Candidates.

• Vidya Munandar

  Vidya Munandar Assistant Professor of Special Education

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of Special Education

  Phone: (470) 578-2765
  Email: vmunanda@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 424

  
  I teach undergraduate and graduate courses on curriculum and instruction for students with diverse learning abilities in inclusive settings. My research interests include career development process of youth and young adults with disabilities, transition practices to support jobseekers and employees with disabilities in integrated employment settings, and the role of stakeholders in improving transition outcomes.

• Amanda Richey

  Amanda Richey Associate Professor of TESOL

  Position:
  Associate Professor of TESOL

  Phone: (470) 578-2769
  Email: arichey1@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 436

  
  My research interests are focused on issues of culture and representation in curriculum, family and community engagement, and literacy practices.

• Kate Zimmer

  Kate Zimmer Director of the Avatar Lab and Associate Professor of Special Education

  Position:
  Director of the Avatar Lab and Associate Professor of Special Education

  Phone: (470) 578-3297
  Email: kzimme10@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 430

  
   

Staff

• Chris Hastings

  Chris Hastings Program Assistant (Avatar Lab and UDLab)

  Position:
  Program Assistant (Avatar Lab and UDLab)

  Phone: (470) 578-7587
  Email: chastin3@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 433

  
   

• Theresa Meyer

  Theresa Meyer Office Manager

  Position:
  Office Manager

  Phone: (470) 578-6577
  Email: tmeyer11@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 442