Faculty and Staff

Combining research expertise with teaching experience at the middle and secondary levels, the faculty of the Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education pride ourselves on effective teaching, applied research, and undergraduate and graduate programs that are effective, relevant, and research-based.

Secondary & Middle Grades Education faculty members have taught at the middle or secondary levels in a number of U.S. states, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Several faculty members have taught internationally in middle or secondary schools, including in China, Germany, and Taiwan. We have served various roles in P-12 schools, including Title I coordinator, academic coach, graduation coach, district gifted facilitator, department chair, literacy coach, and assistant principal.

Our department includes faculty with academic expertise in curriculum and instruction, in the core areas of the school curriculum (English/language arts, mathematics, the sciences, and social studies), as well as foundational areas, including educational psychology, educational research, instructional technology, and inclusive education.

Our faculty are active in professional organizations at the international, national, regional, state, and local levels where we serve as officers, executive board members, editors of journals, and peer reviewers. We are involved in or regularly present at the conferences and annual meetings of these organizations.

Faculty

• Wendy Sanchez

  Wendy Sanchez Professor of Mathematics Education

  Position:
  Professor of Mathematics Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6458
  Email: wsanchez@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 360

  
  

  Dr. Sanchez joined the Kennesaw State University faculty in 2001 in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Science and Mathematics. She joined the Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education in the Bagwell College of Education in 2017.

  Dr. Sanchez's Faculty Website

• Megan Adams

  Megan Adams Interim Department Chair

  Position:
  Interim Department Chair

  Phone: (470) 578-4336
  Email: madam104@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 371

  
  

  Dr. Adams serves the Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education by coordinating the M.Ed. programs and by serving on doctoral committees across the Bagwell College of Education. Her research areas are marginalized children and schools, as well as literacy education.

  Dr. Adams' Faculty Website

• Augustine Amenyah

  Augustine Amenyah Limited Term Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

  Position:
  Limited Term Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

  Phone: (470) 578-2884
  Email: aamenya1@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 345

  
  

   

• Brendan Callahan

  Brendan Callahan Associate Professor of Biology Education; Program Coordinator of B.S.Ed. in Secondary Science; Program Coordinator of M.A.T. in Secondary Science

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Biology Education; Program Coordinator of B.S.Ed. in Secondary Science; Program Coordinator of M.A.T. in Secondary Science

  Phone: (470) 578-2394
  Email: bcallah7@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 355

  
  

  Dr. Callahan's research focuses on the use of socioscientific issues to facilitate scientific literacy.

  Dr. Callahan's Faculty Website

• MeiLin Chang

  MeiLin Chang Associate Professor of Applied Quantitative Research and Educational Analysis

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Applied Quantitative Research and Educational Analysis

  Phone: (470) 578-7795
  Email: mchang6@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 356

  
  

  Dr. Chang teaches applied quantitative research courses for the Ed.S. and Ed.D. programs in the the Bagwell College of Education. Her research focuses on the sociocultural and emotional factors in shaping teacher motivation and student engagement.

  Dr. Chang's Faculty Website

• Jamie Daniels

  Jamie Daniels Limited Term Clinical Assistant Professor of Science Education

  Position:
  Limited Term Clinical Assistant Professor of Science Education

  Phone: (470) 578-4494
  Email: jdanie67@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 345

  
  

   

• Michael Dias

  Michael Dias Professor of Science Education; Woodrow Wilson Scholarship Coordinator; Secondary Clinical Experience Coordinator

  Position:
  Professor of Science Education; Woodrow Wilson Scholarship Coordinator; Secondary Clinical Experience Coordinator

  Phone: (470) 578-2217
  Email: mdias@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 363

  
  

  At Kennesaw State University, Dr. Dias has been able to integrate his work in science teacher education, science teacher mentoring, and inquiry learning. Now, he is focused on language/literacy in science education and ecojustice/experiential learning.

  In school science and nature study contexts, he works with teachers to cultivate more caring, communal, and educative relationships for all learners.

  Dr. Dias' Faculty Website

• Belinda Edwards

  Belinda Edwards Professor of Mathematics Education

  Position:
  Professor of Mathematics Education

  Phone: (470) 578-4727
  Email: bedwards@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 361

  
  

  Dr. Edwards teaches mathematics and mathematics education courses at the graduate and undergraduate level.

  Dr. Edwards' Faculty Website

• Darolyn Flaggs

  Darolyn Flaggs Assistant Professor of Education

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of Education

  Phone: (470) 578-2474
  Email: dflaggs@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 342

  
  

   

• Jillian Ford

  Jillian Ford Associate Professor of Social Studies Education; Program Coordinator of B.S. in Middle Grades Education

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Social Studies Education; Program Coordinator of B.S. in Middle Grades Education

  Phone: (470) 578-3093
  Email: jford43@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 357

  
  

  Dr. Ford's teaching, research, and community involvement centers social justice education, Black feminist studies, and decolonial studies. Her out-of-work passions include reading, utilizing snail mail, laughing, and engaging in warm-weather outdoor activities.

  Dr. Ford's Faculty Website

• Rachel Gaines

  Rachel Gaines Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

  Phone: (470) 578-2505
  Email: rgaines7@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 371

  
  

  Dr. Gaines studies teacher stress, emotions, and perceptions of school climate. She is also interested in how pre-service teachers develop teacher identities in online learning environments.

  Dr. Gaines' Faculty Website

• Bryan Gillis

  Bryan Gillis Professor Emeritus of English Education & Literacy

  Position:
  Professor Emeritus of English Education & Literacy

  Phone: (470) 578-2125
  Email: bgillis@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 357

  
  

   

• David Glassmeyer

  David Glassmeyer Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

  Phone: (470) 578-7867
  Email: dglassme@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 341

  
  Dr. Glassmeyer's Faculty Website

• Nichole Guillory

  Nichole Guillory Professor of Curriculum & Instruction

  Position:
  Professor of Curriculum & Instruction

  Phone: (470) 578-2371
  Email: nguillo1@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 364

  
  Dr. Guillory's Faculty Website

• Johari Harris

  Johari Harris Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: jharr694@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 357

  
  

   

• Ivan Jorrin Abellan

  Ivan Jorrin Abellan Professor of Educational Research

  Position:
  Professor of Educational Research

  Phone: (470) 578-3389
  Email: ijorrina@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 307

  
  

  Dr. Jorrin-Abellan teaches graduate research courses on Qualitative Research Methods (i.e. EDRS 8000: Applied Quantitative & Qualitative Research, EDRS 9100: Advanced Qualitative Research Methods, & EDRS 9000: Research Seminar: Conceptual Frameworks & Research Design). He has expertise in qualitative research methods with extensive experience teaching and researching innovative uses of technology in Education.

  He has recently developed the Hopscotch Model, a theoretical model and a web-tool to help novice researchers generate solid and well-informed qualitative research designs.

  Dr. Jorrin-Abellan's Faculty Website

• Jihye Kim

  Jihye Kim Associate Professor of Educational Research; Program Coordinator of Ed.S. in Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Educational Research; Program Coordinator of Ed.S. in Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Phone: (470) 578-4904
  Email: jkim192@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 343

  
  

  Dr. Kim teaches quantitative educational research courses for Ed.S. and Ed.D. programs. Her research lies in quantitative approaches on teacher retention with school leadership, student motivation, student's performance with teacher effectiveness, and use of technologies in class.

  Dr. Kim's Faculty Website

• James Kirwan

  James Kirwan Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6348
  Email: jkirwan@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 354

  
  

  Dr. J. Vince Kirwan teaches mathematics content and methods courses for undergraduate and graduate pre-service mathematics teachers. His research focuses on how pre-service mathematics teachers integrate their knowledge of mathematics content, pedagogy, and student thinking during their preparation, and in what ways this integrated knowledge translates into practice during their early teaching career.

  Dr. Kirwan's Faculty Website

• Brian R. Lawler

  Brian R. Lawler Associate Professor of Mathematics Education; Program Coordinator of B.S.Ed. in Secondary Mathematics; Program Coordinator of M.A.T. in Secondary Mathematics

  Position:
  Associate Professor of Mathematics Education; Program Coordinator of B.S.Ed. in Secondary Mathematics; Program Coordinator of M.A.T. in Secondary Mathematics

  Phone: (470) 578-4235
  Email: blawler4@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 349

  
  

  Dr. Lawler's scholarship focuses on equity issues in mathematics education, in particular the ways in which power and knowledge intertwine to govern the learner's mathematical identity. More precisely, his research examines the personal epistemologies of adolescent mathematicians: Do high school math students see themselves as mathematical authors? He also taught high school for nine years.

  Dr. Lawler's Faculty Website

• Kimberly Loomis

  Kimberly Loomis Professor of Science Education

  Position:
  Professor of Science Education

  Phone: (470) 578-3388
  Email: kloomis@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 369

  
  

  Dr. Loomis teaches middle grades science methods, classroom management, and educational psychology courses. Her primary interests are inquiry teaching and learning, wolf education, and traveling to national parks (Yellowstone and Denali) with teachers.

  Dr. Loomis' Faculty Website

• Erik Malewski

  Erik Malewski Professor of Curriculum Studies; Program Coordinator of Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction

  Position:
  Professor of Curriculum Studies; Program Coordinator of Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction

  Phone: (470) 578-7575
  Email: emalewsk@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 366

  
  

  Dr. Malewski has studied the effects of international cross-cultural experiences on undergraduate students' cultural perceptions. He has also engaged in synoptic study of the direction of the curriculum field and examined the implications of conceptions of ignorance for teaching and learning. Along with a colleague, Dr. Malewski developed a study abroad program in Honduras for teacher education students and a hybrid place-based and virtual field experience program. Under his mentorship, Dr. Malewski's graduate students received national recognition for their research, including the prestigious American Educational Research Association's Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award. Dr. Malewski has published numerous books, articles, and chapters focused on domestic and international diversity issues.

• Beth Marks

  Beth Marks Senior Lecturer of Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Position:
  Senior Lecturer of Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Phone: (470) 578-3267
  Email: bmarks@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 340

  
  

  Mrs. Marks teaches Education Foundation courses and coordinates the EDUC 2110: Investigating Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education course.

  Mrs. Marks' Faculty Website

• Kristie Smith

  Kristie Smith Assistant Professor of English/Language Arts Education

  Position:
  Assistant Professor of English/Language Arts Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: ksmit871@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Anete Vasquez

  Anete Vasquez Assistant Department Chair; Program Coordinator of Ed.D. in Secondary & Middle Grades Education; Honor's Liaison

  Position:
  Assistant Department Chair; Program Coordinator of Ed.D. in Secondary & Middle Grades Education; Honor's Liaison

  Phone: (470) 578-3427
  Email: avasque8@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 362

  
  

  Dr. Vasquez teaches courses in English/language arts and general education in the Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education. Her research interests include all aspects of the clinical preparation of teachers, particularly in the area of preparing teacher candidates to work with diverse learners.

  Dr. Vasquez's Faculty Website

• Binyao Zheng

  Binyao Zheng Professor of Educational Psychology and Research

  Position:
  Professor of Educational Psychology and Research

  Phone: (470) 578-3495
  Email: bzheng@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 359

  
  

  Dr. Zheng's focuses are Learning Theories, Research, and Multicultural Education.

  Dr. Zheng's Faculty Website

• Guichun Zong

  Guichun Zong Professor of Curriculum & Instruction

  Position:
  Professor of Curriculum & Instruction

  Phone: (470) 578-6747
  Email: gzong@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 358

  
  

  Dr. Zong's main teaching and research areas of expertise are centered on issues related to curriculum and instruction at the secondary and middle school levels, as well as teacher education and higher education, in general.

  Dr. Zong's Faculty Website

Part-Time Faculty & Staff

• Nancy Gillis

  Nancy Gillis Part-Time Instructor of Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Instructor of Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6105
  Email: ngillis1@kennesaw.edu
  Location: KH 3003

  
  

  Ms. Gillis teaches EDUC 2110: Investigating Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education and advises undergraduate Middle Grades Education majors.

  Ms. Gillis' Faculty Website

• Leigh Graham

  Leigh Graham Part-Time Instructor of Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Instructor of Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: lgraham@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Crystal LaVoulle

  Crystal LaVoulle Part-Time Assistant Professor of Reading Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Assistant Professor of Reading Education

  Phone: (470) 578-2884
  Email: clavoull@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 361

  
  

   

• Jennifer McKinney

  Jennifer McKinney Part-Time Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: jmckin15@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Jamel Miller

  Jamel Miller Part-Time Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction

  Position:
  Part-Time Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: nmille67@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Juliann Noble-healy

  Juliann Noble-healy Part-Time Instructor of Social Studies

  Position:
  Part-Time Instructor of Social Studies

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: jnoblehe@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Luwanda Scott-Vaught

  Luwanda Scott-Vaught Part-Time Instructor of Adolescent Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Instructor of Adolescent Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: lscottva@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Pamela Spalla

  Pamela Spalla Part-Time Instructor of Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Instructor of Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: pspalla@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Vivian Stephens

  Vivian Stephens Part-Time Assistant Professor of Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Assistant Professor of Secondary & Middle Grades Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: vstephen@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

• Kristie Wright

  Kristie Wright Part-Time Instructor of Science Education

  Position:
  Part-Time Instructor of Science Education

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: kwrig162@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336

  
  

   

Staff

• Laquisha Malveaux

  Laquisha Malveaux Office Manager

  Position:
  Office Manager

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: lmalveau@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 372

  
  Alaine performs a wide range of clerical and secretarial tasks and provides administrative support to the Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education in the Bagwell College of Education.

• Christen Knight

  Christen Knight Admin Assistant

  Position:
  Admin Assistant

  Phone: (470) 578-6314
  Email: cknigh30@kennesaw.edu
  Location: BEB 336