School of Arts and Sciences
Mission
The School of Arts and Sciences is a student-centered, socially-engaged school with an outstanding faculty focused on student success. We seek to educate students through innovative teaching and student engagement, emphasizing interdisciplinary education, global awareness, and service-learning. Our goal is to graduate students who are highly-trained, engaged, and socially-responsible citizens empowered to build their futures in the state of Georgia, the United States, and the world.
Arts and Sciences Majors and Degrees
It is the mission of the Department of Arts and Humanities, comprised of philosophy, english, communications, art, music, theater, and foreign languages, to promote excellence in teaching and learning. Offering a practical and innovative curriculum that helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, the department empowers students to recognize the increasingly porous boundaries among disciplines, investigate artistic, cultural, and social contexts that inform contemporary global society and apply analytical and problem-solving skills in real-world settings.
Bachelor’s Degrees and Concentrations
AMERICAN STUDIES (BA)
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COMMUNICATION, LITERATURE, AND MEDIA STUDIES
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HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (BS)
Through a clinical model of practice, Education and Teacher Preparation faculty engage in teacher preparation with a focus on content knowledge expertise, effective teaching strategies, and classroom management. Our faculty are confident that, upon graduation, candidates are poised to meet the challenges of contemporary classrooms. All teacher candidates complete professional education coursework and content-specific coursework alongside structured, supervised field experience in the schools.
Bachelor’s Degrees and Concentrations
ELEMENTARY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION (BS)
MIDDLE GRADES EDUCATION (BS)
SECONDARY TEACHER – BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, CERTIFICATION
SECONDARY TEACHER – MATHEMATICS, CERTIFICATION
Coastal grad talks about what it’s like to study Math at Coastal Georgia
BACHELOR’S DEGREES AND CONCENTRATIONS
MATHEMATICS (BS)
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ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING
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GENERAL MATHEMATICS
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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TEACHING BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, PLEASE SEE THE MATHEMATICS CONCENTRATION OF THE SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAM.
DATA SCIENCE (BS)
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COMPUTATIONAL DATA ANALYTICS
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CYBER DEFENSE
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EARTH ANALYTICS
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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FINANCIAL ANALYTICS
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HEALTHCARE ANALYTICS
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MARKETING ANALYTICS
The mission of the Department of Natural Sciences at the College of Coastal Georgia is to foster the knowledge and ability to explore the complex and diverse natural world at all levels of organization and to promote the intellectual growth of the liberal arts student within the framework of the scientific perspective.
- Encouraging active learning through laboratory experiments and outdoor field experiences that utilize and instill an appreciation for the unique coastal environmental resources
- Providing opportunities to participate in scientific research, internships, and service within the local community
- Developing critical thinking skills that facilitate independent thought and creative expression
- Preparing students for careers in the natural sciences and for admission to graduate programs and professional schools.
Bachelor’s Degrees and Concentrations
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE (BS)
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BIOCHEMISTRY
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BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
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COASTAL ECOLOGY
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INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (BS)
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CHEMISTRY
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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
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GEOLOGY
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MARINE SCIENCE
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NATURAL SCIENCE
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SUSTAINABILITY POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
It is the mission of the Department of Social Sciences to promote academic excellence and encourage active learning through rigorous and comprehensive instruction, discipline-specific research, and community engagement. The department emphasizes flexibility of scheduling through the use on on-site, online, distance, and hybrid course delivery while developing skills necessary for meaningful careers and admission to graduate programs.
Bachelor’s Degrees and Concentrations
PSYCHOLOGY (BS)
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PYSCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
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COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
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HUMAN SERVICES
The College of Coastal Georgia offers bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as minors and certificates.
Contact Information:
Partial Solar Eclipse: April 8, 2024
Coastal Science Symposium
The Coastal Science Symposium brings students, faculty, and community partners together to explore coastal and marine science research applications to society.
Meet Our Faculty/Staff
Tyler Bagwell
Education
M.F.A. in Film and Television Production, Savannah College of Art and Design
M.A. in Communication, University of South Florida
B.A. in Communication Arts, Georgia Southern University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Bagwell is an award winning nonfiction filmmaker and author, and teaches courses in communication and filmmaking. He is currently producing and directing a public television special about the Jekyll Island Club.
Emily Boyle
Director of Honors Program
Camden Faculty/Staff
Education
M.A.T. in Secondary English Education, University of South Carolina
B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication with Honors, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
I am a senior lecturer of english and director of the Honors Program. I teach English 1101: Language and Composition; English 1102: Literature and Composition/ENGL 1102H: Honors Literature and Composition; English 2130: American Literature/English 2130H: Honors American Literature; English 3301: Environmental Writing; and AMST 1102: American Identities. I have taught all of these courses both in person and online.
In 2025, I published an e-textbook for ENGL 2130, America in Context: The Stories of the Stories that Shape U.S. I regularly present at the Pop Culture Association of America national conferences.
Dr. Robert Clark
Education
Ph.D. in English, University of Georgia
M.A. in English, University of Georgia
M.A. in Secondary English Education, Furman University
B.A. in English, Wheaton College (IL)
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Clark’s research interests include American literature, science fiction, the short story, anime and animation, memetics, and interactive media.
Selected Publications:
Book:
American Literary Minimalism. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 2014.
Articles and Book Chapter:
“Silence, Implication, and Style in Octavia E. Butler’s ‘Bloodchild’.” Science Fiction Studies 52, no. 2 (2025). 211-229.
“Raymond Carver: ‘A Small, Good Thing’ and ‘Cathedral’.” In The Handbook of the American Short Story. Ed. Erik Redling and Oliver Scheiding. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022. 493-511.
“Lydia Davis’s Psychological Minimalism.” Studies in the American Short Story 1, no. 1 (2020): 38-52.
“A Reverence for Untrendy Human Troubles: David Foster Wallace’s ‘Good People,’ Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants,’ and American Minimalist Narration.” Amerikastudien/American Studies 62, no. 3 (2017).
“Keeping the Reader in the House: American Minimalism, Literary Impressionism, and Raymond Carver’s ‘Cathedral’.” Journal of Modern Literature 36, no. 1 (2012): 104-118.
“Toreo, Ritual, and Nationalism: The Cultural Context of María Cristina Mena’s ‘The Emotions of María Concepción’.” South Atlantic Review 75, no. 4 (2010): 73-90.
“At the Corner of Bourbon and Toulouse Street: The Historical Context of Alice Dunbar-Nelson’s ‘M’sieu Fortier’s Violin’.” American Literary Realism 41, no. 2 (2009): 163-79.
“Papa y El Tirador: Biographical Parallels in Hemingway’s ‘I Guess Everything Reminds You of Something’.” The Hemingway Review 27, no. 1 (2007): 89-106.
Dr. Stephanie Conner
Education
Ed.D. in Leadership, Valdosta State University
M.A. in English, Valdosta State University
B.A. in English, Valdosta State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Stephanie B. Conner is a tenured associate professor of English with a focus on composition and Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Coastal Georgia with over 25 years of experience. She has presented at nearly 40 conferences including the Conference on College Composition and Communication and published her work in journals such as Response to Writing. Her research is grounded in pedagogical best practices in college writing instruction as well as professional development in teaching and learning. Her most recent work includes a collaborative, dual-institution IRB-approved study with three other composition professors exploring faculty emotional responses to plagiarism and AI in writing courses and is due for publication at Composition Forum in spring 2026. Other research areas include incorporating Writing Center coaches into peer review activities and using weak examples as instructional material to bolster students’ critical thinking about citation and AI use. Dr. Conner has also worked collaboratively to develop a discipline-specific first-year writing course for students interested in the nursing program and has presented on this work at conferences such as Arizona State’s Writing in the Health Professions. She has served as a faculty senator and as chair of the Advising, Faculty Development, and Active Learning committees.
Savannah Downing
Education
Ph.D., Communication Studies (Rhetorical Studies), University of Georgia
M.A., Communication Studies (Rhetoric and Civic Engagement), Colorado State University
B.A., English and Women’s Studies, University of Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Rhetorical theory and criticism, memory studies, new materialist thought
Dr. Kyle Fox
Assistant Professor of Communication
Education
Ph.D. in Humanities/African American Studies, Clark Atlanta University
M.A. in Communication Studies, The University of Alabama
B.A. in Political Science/African American Studies, The University of Alabama
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
A true interdisciplinarian, I teach several humanistic disciplines – Communication, English, American Studies, and Interdisciplinary Studies. My research interests focus on the construction and performance of gendered and raced identities, specifically, Black masculine identities.
Recent Publications:
“Here They Come, Y’all:” Black Studies, Dr. Daniel Black, and Reflections from The Black School of Thought,” Research Issues in Contemporary Education, Special Issue 2025. Vol. 10, Issue 1
Lift Your Voice: Public Speaking in the HBCU Classroom, Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, Spring 2023
“A Time to Weep: Employing Space and Place to Teach African American Literature,” Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Praxis, Winter 2023
Dr. Jennifer Gray
Writing Center Coordinator
Education
Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with Composition and Rhetoric Specialization, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
M.A. in English, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
B.A. in English, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Jennifer P. Gray is a professor of English and the creator and director of the Writing Center at the College of Coastal Georgia. She has taught writing courses for more than 20 years. Jennifer has authored or co-authored over 30 articles focused on either composition pedagogy or writing center practices, and she has presented at over 75 conferences. Her most advanced active research project is a collaboration between four compositionists across two institutions and focuses on college faculty experiences with plagiarism and AI within writing-intensive courses. Her other active research projects focus on procrastination in writing classes and the use and revision of weak mentor texts to help students effectively learn about citation and AI use. Jennifer is the Vice-Chair of the College’s Institutional Review Board, and she was a former Executive Committee member for the respected Conference on College Composition and Communication. She is also a Teacher Consultant (TC) for the National Writing Project.
Dr. Rachel Hartnett
Education
Ph.D. in English, University of Florida
M.A. in English, Florida Atlantic University
B.A. in English, Florida Atlantic University
A.A. Palm Beach State College
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Hartnett’s teaching and research interests include American literature, World literature, postcolonialism, U.S. empire, popular culture, and adaptation studies. She has been published in the Journal of Popular Culture, Tropical Imaginaries and Climate Crisis (a special issue of eTropic), and South Atlantic Review – in the “Whose Adaptation is It Anyway?” essay cluster, which she co-edited. She has a forthcoming chapter in The Palgrave Handbook of Monsters and Monstrous Bodies and is currently working on an edited collection, under advanced contract with SUNY Press, on multiethnic adaptations of 21st century American literature.
Andrea Kwasny
Education
Ph.D. in English, Stony Brook University
M.A. in English, University of Michigan
B.A. in English/Anthropology, Queens College, City University of New York
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching interests include First-Year Composition and American Literature. As an instructor in the American Studies program, I teach courses in Principles and Methods in American Studies and Studies in Popular Culture. I have benn the primary mentor for students completing their capstone projects in American Studies since fall 2023.
Dr. Mary McGinnis
Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning
Education
Ph.D. Rhetoric & Composition, Ball State University
M.A. Training & Development, Roosevelt University
M.A. Women’s & Gender Studies, Roosevelt University
M.A. English & American Literature, Indiana State University
B.A. English, Indiana State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Connect Glynn Educator Externship Academy Graduate. Glynn County School System. Brunswick, GA. 2025-2026.
Governor’s Teaching Fellow. University System of Georgia. 2023-2024.
Scholar of the Year. College of Coastal Georgia. 2022.
COMPASS Fellow. College of Coastal Georgia. 2022.
Summer Research Fellowship. Developed article for The Routledge Handbook of Descriptive Rhetorical Studies and World Languages. College of Coastal Georgia. 2021.
Summer Research Fellowship. Developed article with Dr. J. Gray for The Peer Review Journal. College of Coastal Georgia. 2020.
Hanson Rhetoric & Composition Award. Ball State University. 2016.
Dr. Lainie Pomerleau
Education
Ph.D. English, University of Georgia
M.A. English, University of Tennessee
B.A. English, University of Southern Maine
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My research explores how speculative narratives and digital writing environments produce new models of authorship, embodiment, and collaboration at the intersection of literature, rhetoric, and technology. Grounded in posthumanism and new materialism, my work investigates how multimodal composition, adaptation, and machine intelligence foreground hybrid forms of agency that reshape how authorship, responsibility, and mediation are understood in speculative and digital contexts By placing speculative fiction in conversation with digital rhetorics, I argue that these texts and platforms function as sites where cultural understandings of creativity, responsibility, and mediation are actively renegotiated.
SCHOLARLY OUTPUT
PUBLICATIONS
Co-editor with Dr. Richard Utz, special issue of Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching, Introduction, “Teaching the Middle Ages and Renaissance to STEM Students,” Expected Spring 2026.
Co-author with Dr. Franziska Tsufim, “More is Less?: Using Generative AI for Idea Generation and Diversification in Early Writing Processes,” Teaching and Generative AI: Pedagogical Possibilities and Productive Tensions, Utah State University Press, 2024.
“Beaufort, Lady Margaret,” Palgrave Encyclopedia of Women’s Writing in the Global Middle Ages, expected 2023-2024 (digital), 2025 (print).
“Part I: The Middle Ages,” Editor and Author, British Literature: Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century and Neoclassicism, University of North Georgia Press (delayed due to Covid).
“A Necessary Evil: The Inverted Hagiography of William Shakespeare’s Richard III,” Renaissance Papers, 2015.
Book Reviews & Public Facing Articles:
Review of Women and Magic in Medieval Romance, Jane Bonsall, 2025. Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching (forthcoming 2026).
Review of Popular Memory and Gender in Medieval England, Bronach C. Kane, 2021. Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching (2025).
Review of International Medievalisms, ed. Mary Boyle, 2023. Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching (2025).
Review of Ethics in the Arthurian Legend, Melissa Ridley Elmes and Evelyn Meyer, Boydell and Brewer, 2023. Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Teaching (2024).
Founding faculty member and content creator, “The Role of Inclusivity in Digital Storytelling,” in conjunction with Richard Utz (Georgia Institute of Technology), John Lyon (Georgia Institute of Technology), and Julie Ann Crommett (CEO and Founder, Collective Moxie. Fall 2023.
“Integrating AI into College Writing and Communication Classes,” published in TechStyle, Georgia institute of Technology’s public form for multimodal and digital pedagogy, May 2023.
CONFERENCE & PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
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“‘The Monster Stands at the Threshold … of Becoming’: Death, Beginning-Ends, and Hybrid Entanglements in Terry Pratchett’s Reaper Man” in Monsters, Monstrosities, & the Monstrous, 2026 Pop Culture Association National Conference. April 8-11, 2026.
Invited panel speaker and co-chair, “Cyborg Pedagogy: How AI LLMs Re-Define Our Relationship with Information and Digital Literacies,” in “New Ways of Creating Knowledge in the Technologically Integrated Classroom” panel. 2026 Intersectional Studies Remote Conference at South Carolina State, March 27, 2026.
“Outside-and-inbetween: Interrogating Early Career Professional Development and Success,” in “Career Counterstories: Pivots, Fallbacks, and Early Academic Identities (and Why CCCC Needs an Early-Career Special Interest Group)” panel. Conference on College Composition and Communication, Cleveland, OH, March 4-7, Cleveland, OH.
Panel Organizer, “Career Counterstories: Pivots, Fallbacks, and Early Academic Identities (and Why CCCC Needs an Early-Career Special Interest Group).” Conference on College Composition and Communication, Cleveland, OH, March 4-7, Cleveland, OH.
“Cyborg Pedagogy: How AI LLMs Re-Define Our Relationship with Information and Digital Literacies,” in “New Ways of Creating Knowledge in the Technologically Integrated Classroom” panel. South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Atlanta, GA, Nov. 6-8, 2025.
Panel Co-Chair, “New Ways of Creating Knowledge in the Technologically Integrated Classroom.” South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Atlanta, GA, Nov. 6-8, 2025.
Chair, “Medieval Literature and Knowledge.” South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Atlanta, GA, Nov. 6-8, 2025.
Chair, “Epic Continuities: From Homeric Voyage to Middle-Earth.” South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Atlanta, GA, Nov. 6-8, 2025.
“Memorial Horror and Haunted Texts: Rhetorical Ghosts and the (Re)creation of Harley Quinn’s Poison Ivy and The Bride from Creature Commandos” in the “ Ghost in the Machine: Naming, Rhetoric, and Storytelling Across Media Afterlives.” Literature/Film Association, Savannah, GA, Sept. 25-27, 2025.
“Immersive Fantasy Game Narrative and the Collaborative Construction of Ethos in College Composition,” in the “Coarticulating Pedagogies: Multiauthorship and Multimodality in the STEM Composition Classroom” Roundtable. Conference on College Composition and Communication Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD, April 9-12, 2025.
“Student ‘Belonging’ Across Disciplines: First Year Writing and STEM Students,” in the “Interrogating a “Sense of Belonging” in the First-Year Writing Classroom” Roundtable. South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Jacksonville, FL, Nov. 15-17, 2024.
“Academic Integrity and the Ethics of Communal Play: Research Perspectives on Tackling Administrative Dilemmas in AI Use Policies,” Co-Presented with Dr. Franziska Tsufim, Machine Writing and the Work of Rhetoric and Composition, Conference on College Composition and Communication, Oct. 23, 2024.
“Ignored Pasts and Neglected Futures: Memory, Time, and Environmental Change in The Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Wathelyn.” Southeastern Medieval Association, Augusta, GA, Oct. 10-12, 2024 (accepted, conference canceled due to Hurricane Helene).
“The Lone Medievalist and Popular Medievalism in the College Writing Classroom.” Georgia Medieval Group, Augusta, GA, Oct. 12, 2024 (accepted, conference canceled due to Hurricane Helene).
Invited Speaker, “Tolkien and Asia,” part of the “Tolkien in Asia” symposium hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Modern Languages, November 3, 2023.
“A New Era for Peer Review?: Using Chat GPT as Drafting Support in University Writing Classes.” Co-presented with Dr. Franziska Tsufim. Teach With AI Conference, University of Central Florida, Sept. 24-25, 2023.
“Old, Old School Revival: Teaching Multimodal College Composition With High Fantasy, Neomedieval Role Playing Games.” Comics and Popular Arts Conference at DragonCon, Atlanta, GA. Aug. 31-Sept. 4, 2023 (accepted, panel canceled).
“Communicating Interdisciplinary Research to Diverse Audiences.” Invited talk for UGA’s Center for Integrative Conservation Research and its Integrative Conservation PhD program, Sep. 30, 2021.
“Anglo-Saxons and other Medieval Misuses: Revising Medieval Introductory Material in an Open Access Anthology.” Open Education Conference, Virtual Event, Nov. 9 – 12, 2020.
“Graphic Romance: Teaching Medieval Romance Through Graphic Novels and Comics.” Southeastern Medieval Association, Greensboro, NC. Nov. 14 – 16, 2019.
“Common Places for the Uncommonly Placed: Medieval English Queens and their Books of Hours.” New Chaucer Society 2018 Congress, Toronto, Ont. July 10 – 15, 2018.
“This Life, The Afterlife, and the Lake in Between: The Awntyrs off Arthure at Terne Wathlyne.” Southeastern Medieval Association, Charleston, SC. Nov. 16 – 28, 2017.
“Generative Violence, Violently Unregenerative: Captive Spaces as Inverted Bedchambers in Henry VI, Part Three.” Bedchamber Scenes/Scènes de lit, University of Georgia/ Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier III, Athens, GA. Apr. 12 -13, 2017.
“ ‘A Great Voice out of Heaven’: Christina Rossetti’s The Face of the Deep as Public Sermon.” British Women Writers Conference, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. June 2 – 5, 2016.
Panel Co-Chair, “Women’s Words: Female Instruction in the Medieval British Isles.” International Congress on Medieval Studies Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. May 16 – 20, 2016.
“Dynastic Translation and Communion: Lady Margaret Beaufort, The Imitation of Christ, and the Establishment of the Tudor Dynasty.” International Congress on Medieval Studies Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. May 16 – 20, 2016.
“Beyond (and Behind) Invasions: The Nostalgic Apocalypse of the Sermo Lupi ad Anglos and Beowulf.” Southeastern Medieval Association, Little Rock, AR. Oct. 22 – 24, 2015.
“A Parody of the Sacred: The Inverted Hagiography of William Shakespeare’s Richard III.” Southeastern Renaissance Association. Chapel Hill, NC. Oct. 2 – 3, 2015.
“From Angel to Anchorite in the House: The Religious Mystery of Ada Clare’s Ascetic Domestic Piety in Bleak House.” Victorian Institute. Charlotte, NC. Oct. 24 – 25, 2014.
“The (Weak) Ties That Bind: Female Agency in Malory’s ‘Deth of Arthur.’” Southeast Medieval Association. Boone, NC. October 3 – 5, 2013.
PUBLIC HUMANITIES, DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT & PEDAGOGY
President and Founder, Media Res: Research & Narrative Strategies for Fantastical & Speculative Film, Television & Video Games – Integrating academic expertise into popular fantasy and speculative entertainment. Founded September 2025.
Invited participant, University System of Georgia Teaching and Learning Conference, Athens, GA. April 16-17, 2026.
Invited Speaker, ““The Once and Future ‘Once and Future’: Death, Beginning-Ends, and Adaptation in Lev Grossman’s The Bright Sword.” Coastal Scholars, College of Coastal Georgia (open to the public). Feb 5, 2026.
Invited Speaker, “Cyborg Pedagogy: How AI LLMs Re-Define Our Relationship with Information and Digital Literacies,” 2026 Intersectional Studies Remote Conference at South Carolina State, March 27, 2026.
Invited Speaker, “Disciplinary Integration and the New Humanities.” Open to
public. College of Coastal Georgia, spring 2026 (dated TBD).
Invited Participant, State of the Entertainment Industry in Georgia, Trilith Studios, Oct. 23, 2025.
Invited Speaker, “The Monster Stands at the Threshold: Mutation, Hybridity, and Posthuman Fear.” Open
to Public, College of Coastal Georgia, Oct. 27, 2025.
Invited Speaker, “Cyborg Ethics: AI and the Human-Machine Relationship.” Open to the public. Gould
Memorial Library, College of Coastal Georgia, Oct. 17, 2025.
Invited Speaker, “In memoriam: Memory and Murder in Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club.” Public lecture, past of Coastal Georgia Reads, Glynn County Libraries, March 2025. (canceled).
Invited Speaker, “Rhetorical Ghosts and the Changeless Future in the Arthurian Legend’s Awntyrs off
Arthure at the Terne Wathelyn.” Open to the public. College of Coastal Georgia, Feb, 6, 2025.
Invited Speaker and Co-presenter, “AI and Faculty Workload: Using AI for Faculty Evaluations.” Open to
the public. College of Coastal Georgia, Feb, 6, 2025.
Invited Participant, State of the Entertainment Industry in Georgia, Trilith Studios, Oct. 17, 2024
Co-chair and Organizer, “Science Fiction and the Future of Space: National Astronomy Day 2024.”
Tellus Science Museum, Cartersville, GA, May 15, 2024.
Co-organizer, Georgia Medieval Group Spring Meeting. Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, Georgia Institute of Technology, April 20, 2024.
Co-Chair and Co-organizer, “The Challenges and Ethics of Space Exploration Symposium. Georgia Institute of Technology, in conjunction with the School of Literature, Media, and Communications and the School of Modern Languages, April 4, 2024.
Co-Chair and Co-organizer, “Postcolonialism and Media: An Interdisciplinary Symposium.” Georgia Institute of Technology, in conjunction with the School of Literature, Media, and Communications and the School of Modern Languages, March 8, 2024.
Co-organizer, “Integrating Art, Literature, Science, and Public Policy.” Invited speaker Dr. Jay Clayton, hosted by Georgia Institute of Technology’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, in conjunction with the School of Literature, Media, and Communications, School of Modern Languages, and School of Public Policy, February 5, 2024.
Co-Chair and Co-Organizer, “Teaching the Middle Ages and Renaissance to STEM Students,” hosted by Georgia Institute of Technology and Studies for Medieval and Renaissance Teaching, Digital Symposium, December 4, 2023.
Co-Chair and Co-Organizer, “Multilingual Composition Pedagogy Symposium,” hosted by Georgia Institute of Technology and its Writing and Communications Program, September 15.
Co-organizer, JA Crommett faculty, staff, and student seminar, “Inclusivity and Digital Storytelling,” hosted by Georgia Institute of Technology, Fall 2023
Co-Organizer, “Out and About,” an event featuring conversations about the experience of LGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, and alumni/ae in Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at the Georgia Institute of Technology. April 19, 2023.
Co-Organizer, “Inclusive Storytelling and Technology,” an all-day event with sessions for students and faculty featuring guest speaker Julie Ann Crommett, who has worked in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) space for over thirteen years across media and tech, including at Google, NBCUniversal, and Disney. April 3, 2023.
Co-Organizer, “Humanizing STEMM for the 21st Century,” an event exploring how Georgia Institute of Technology might develop future integrations with HASS (humanities, arts, and social science) similar to those suggested by the National Academies featuring guest speaker, Dr. Lisa Margonelli.
GRANT AWARDS
In Process: Open AI Researcher Access Program
Author and $5,000 grant recipient, “Seeing Ourselves: The Role of Inclusivity in Storytelling and Story Creation at Georgia Tech.” Awarded by the Digital Integrative Liberal Arts Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, Summer 2024.
Co-author and $3,000 grant recipient, “The Challenges and Ethics of Space Exploration Symposium,” hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Literature, Media, and Communications, Spring 2023.
Co-author and $5,000 grant recipient, “Life Beyond Earth: Bridging Science Fiction and the Ethics of Astrobiology with Interdisciplinary Digital Resources.” Awarded by Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Institute of Technology, May 2023.
Aurora Pope
Education
M.F.A. Studio Art, East Tennessee State University
A.B. Anthropology, University of Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Aurora Pope teaches both studio and lecture classes. The studio classes are 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Drawing 1 & 2, and Advanced Drawing. She also teaches Art Appreciation, Art History Surveys 1 & 2, and Topics in American Art. In the studio, Aurora often incorporates elements from her natural surroundings into her work, either as materials or representations. In the last few years, she has been reacting to prints left on paper from mushroom spores, building upon them with graphite, charcoal, and soft pastel. These have been recently included in juried competitions with Upstream Gallery and Ten Moir Gallery. Aurora also makes artist’s books that include ecoprinted and handmade paper and other organic materials. In 2023, she installed a solo exhibition of these drawings and books at Glynn Visual Arts. The show was entitled _Elementals_.
Raziye Shadmehry
Education
M.F.A. in Creative Writing, Northern Arizona University
B.A. in English, Georgia College and State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching interests include creative writing, literature, and writing composition. I write primarily fiction and nonfiction exploring relationships, connection, and the human condition. Most recently, an essay has been accepted for spring 2026 publication in Foglifter Press, and a story I published in Glassworks Magazine was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in December 2025. I remain involved in the literary community by participating in writing workshops, attending conferences, and reading on the flash fiction team for Split Lip Magazine.
Dr. Carla Bluhm
Education
Ph.D. Developmental Psychology, Columbia University
Ph.M. Developmental Psychology, Columbia University
ED.M. Developmental, Educational, and Cognitive Psychology, Columbia University
M.A. Developmental Psychology, Columbia University
B.S. Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Bluhm aims to help students complete each course successfully with rigor and support to do their best work. Overall, she embraces both traditional and emergent technology along with other high-impact practices, such as writing and service learning, to engage students in their learning of course material. She developed the country of Portugal for the University System of Georgia Goes Global program that supports the high-impact practice of study abroad for USG students. Her program puts her in Porto for two weeks in the summers to live amongst and help integrate USG student learners in other cultures’ language, music, environment, and people, as they engage in taking 6 academic credits. Dr. Bluhm’s scholarship is usually something she shares with students, and she has presented with students at both the American Psychological Association and Southeastern Psychological Association. As the founder of the College of Coastal Georgia Psychology Club (in 2010) and Ukulele Club (2024), she has worked to support student activities and gotten to know students more informally.
Dr. John Brown
Education
Ph.D. in Psychology, City University of New York
M.A. in Psychology, Queens College
B.A. in Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My research interests are focused on the application of behavior analytic principles in a variety of areas related to the improvement of the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A major area of interest is the development of procedures that can be used to teach socially-relevant skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
Dr. Drew Cagle
Education
Ph.D. Political Science, University of Alabama (Summer 2023)
Major Field: American Politics; Minor Field: Public Policy, International Relations
Dissertation: “Democratic Expectations: Norm-Breaking, Democratic Hypocrisy, and Accountability in an Age of Identity Politics”
Committee: Nicholas Davis (chair), Joseph Smith, Richard Fording, Cynthia Peacock, Regina Wagner
M.A., University of Alabama (with distinction) (Spring 2021)
B.S., Political Science, University of Tennessee at Martin (December 2017), Magna Cum Laude
Minor in Legal Studies
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science whose teaching and research focus on American politics, democratic norms, public opinion, and the role of media in shaping political behavior. My teaching emphasizes critical thinking, research design, and the practical application of political science to contemporary democratic challenges, with courses including American Government, Media and Politics, and political methodology. My research examines how citizens respond to norm-breaking, elite misinformation, and accountability in polarized political environments, often using experimental and quantitative methods.
Recent works include:
Cagle, D., and N. T. Davis. 2024. “ Civility norm violations and political accountability.” Social Science Quarterly 105: 832–842. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.13383
Cagle, D. (2025). conflicting norms the case of gerrymandering. Questions in Politics, 11.
Dr. Marci Culley
Education
Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Master of Community Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg
B.S. in Psychology, Michigan State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Culley teaches a number of courses in psychology, including Introduction to General Psychology, Psychology of Adjustment, Community Psychology, Environmental Psychology, Psychology of Women, Ethics & Professional Issues in Psychology, and Program Development & Grant-Writing. Dr. Culley’s program of research is focused on individual, community, organizational, and institutional responses to environmental hazards. She specializes in citizen participation in environmental decision-making and the links between individual transformation and larger community and social change processes. In particular, she investigates psychosocial responses to environmental disputes, how citizen participation processes are shaped by power dynamics, and how community psychologists can inform change efforts aimed at the human-caused environmental crises related to global climate change. She has also written about the history and content of the scholarly literature of community psychology. Dr. Culley has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, regularly presents her work in scholarly venues, and has supervised numerous students’ undergraduate research and service learning projects in partnership with community partners. She has also mentored several students in the honors program.
Dr. Kimberly Mannahan
Dr. Mannahan earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from University of Georgia, her master of science in applied psychology from Augusta University, and her Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Arkansas. Her area of expertise is social psychology and her research primarily focuses on retribution and revenge. Dr. Mannahan especially enjoys mentoring students in the research process. Her students present their collaborative research projects at a regional professional conference each year. They also present their work at the Endeavor Conference, the undergraduate research conference held on our campus each spring.
Courses regularly taught:
Introduction to Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Social Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Psychology and the Law
Dr. Hector Montford
Education
Ph.D. in History (2016), Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
Major Field, U.S. History Since 1865
Minor Fields in Latin American History and U.S. War and Society
Dissertation: “The Best of Friends and Neighbors: U.S. Public Diplomacy in Cuba, 1953-1961”
Certificate in Archival Studies (2011), Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
M.A. in History (2006), University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida
Emphasis in Public History
B.S. in History and Political Science (1998), Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Areas of academic interest include U.S. History Since 1865, U.S. Cold War History, U.S. Diplomatic History, Latin American History, and Public History.
Recent Scholarly Projects and Exhibits:
Coastal African American Historic Preservation Commission Exhibit, 2024
•“More than a Classroom: Segregated Education in Brunswick”
Newcastle Street Revitalization Project, 2023
•Through a fellowship awarded by the College of Coastal Georgia, conducted a series of oral history interviews of local government officials and business owners important to the revitalization of Newcastle Street in Downtown Brunswick. Using these oral histories, along with archival research, developed a digital story map of the history of the topic, highlighting significant projects and initiatives associated with the history of the downtown revitalization.
Coastal Georgia Funeral Programs Digitization Project, 2022
•Working with students, digitized almost two dozen funeral programs of local African Americans and placed their programs online for public viewing. The funeral programs project will be useful for future genealogical research.
Marshes of Glynn Libraries Oral History Project, 2022
•With assistance from students, conducted an oral history project with former staff of the Marshes of Glynn Library to document the organization’s history.
Forward Brunswick “Liberty Brunswick” Project, 2021
•Served as a member of the organization’s “Story Team” to develop historical narratives related to the Brunswick Shipyard in operation during WWII for Forward Brunswick’s effort to plant 99 trees in honor of the ships constructed in the yard during the war. Narratives will be featured with newly planted trees on selected sites around the city.
Gullah – Geechee Archives (Working Title), 2021
•Serve as Co-Chair of a nascent committee tasked with developing a strategy to establish a repository for African American historical materials related to the Brunswick, Georgia, region.
Glynn Environmental Coalition Oral History, 2021
•Conducted oral history interviews of member of the Glynn Environmental Coalition to document organizational history of the group.
Risley High School Digitization Project, 2021
•With the aid of students, digitized photographic collection and historical materials related to the segregated Risley High School in Brunswick, Georgia, to help preserve the history of the school.
•Uploaded digital scans of photographs and materials to an online database to allow public access to the collection.
College of Coastal Georgia Student Veterans Oral History Project, 2020
•Served as the coordinator for a series of interviews between students and College of Coastal Georgia student-veterans, monitoring the interviews and assisting students as they conducted their oral histories.
Brunswick African American Cultural Center Oral History Project, 2020
•With assistance from students, conducted oral history project on the Brunswick, Georgia, African American Community, focusing on events and experiences from the 1950s to the 1970s. Topics include the local Civil Rights Movement, segregation and desegregation of local educational and recreational facilities, and documenting the historically Black neighborhoods of the city.
RECENT PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Society of Georgia Archivists:, 2024
•Virtual Video Presentation: “The Benefits and Challenges of Using Undergraduate Interns in Local Archives”
Georgia Association of Historians, 2024
•Paper Presentation: “The Newcastle Street Revitalization Oral History Project”
Digital Library of Georgia Workshop, 2023:
•Virtual Presentation: “The Value of Preserving the Past for Students and the Community”
Conference on the Americas Council Annual Conference, 2023
•Paper Presentation: “Stressing Progress: The US Information Agency’s Effort to Explain Segregation and the Civil Rights Movement in the US to the Cuban Public in the 1950s”
Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Conference, 2022
•Paper Presentation: Preserving Local History with the Help of Undergraduate Research
Coastal Scholars Showcase, 2022
•Paper Presentation: “The Value of Local History to Students and the Community”
Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations Annual Conference, 2020 (Meeting canceled due to COVID-19)
•Paper Presentation: “The Meat in the Political Sandwich: Promoting Science, Technology, and Culture in the USIA’s Public Diplomacy Message in Cuba, 1953-1960.”
Recent Community Presentations:
Coastal Georgia Historical Society Brunswick Lecture Series, 2025
•Paper Presentation “Brunswick’s New Deal”
Friends of Jekyll Island Presentation, 2025
•Paper Presentation: “Jekyll Island’s Entertainment Venues in the Early State Period”
Marshes Edge Presentation Community Presentation, 2024
•Paper Presentation: “Prelude to Crisis: US Aerial Reconnaissance Over Cuba Prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis”
Coastal Georgia Historical Society Brunswick Lecture Series, 2024
•Paper Presentation: “By God I’m Going to Brazil: The 1927 Paul Redfern Flight”
Jekyll Island MOSAIC Museum Guest Lecture, 2024
•Paper Presentation: “Jekyll Island’s Entertainment Venues in the Early State Period”
Coastal Georgia Historical Society Brunswick Lecture Series, 2023
•Multimedia Presentation: “The Risley School: Creating Community in a Segregated City”
Dr. Nicole Pankiewicz
Education
Ph.D. in Government, University of Virginia
M.A. in Government, University of Virginia
M.A. in Mass Communications, University of Minnesota
M.L.I.S., St. Catherine University
B.A. in Comparative Literature, University of Minnesota
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Pankiewicz’s interests include American politics and government; U.S. space program and private space programs; citizenship and rights; political psychology; public opinion and political behavior; political communication; media and politics; media literacy; information literacy; and civic engagement.
“Politics and Science Fiction: How Fantasy Becomes Reality.” Virtual course for the Osher Lifetime Learning Institute at the University of California – Irvine. December 11, 2024.
“Grading for Equity: Implementing Better Grading Practices.” Panel presentation with Dr. Aurora Ramos Nunez and Dr. Ernest Pascoe at the annual meeting of the Georgia Organization for Student Success, St. Simons Island, Georgia, February 9, 2024.
“This Course Uses Science Fiction to Understand Politics.” Published as part of the “Uncommon Courses” series in The Conversation, March 2023.
https://theconversation.com/this-course-uses-science-fiction-to-understand-politics-201074
Dr. Brian Pope
Education
Ph.D. (Biopsychology), University of Georgia
M.A. (General-Experimental Psychology), College of William and Mary
B.A. (Psychology), DePauw University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My scholarship is primarily focused on teaching students to do psychological research by having them develop measures of psychological attitudes and/or present visual or audio-visual stimuli and recording participant responses. Research projects are developed in the Research Methods course in the spring semester and further refined in a Supervised Research course the following fall. Students learn to develop measurement scales, perform statistical analyses, and prepare a summary of the research for presentation at a professional meeting (typically the Southeastern Psychological Association).
The following research collaborations with students were presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association meeting in Atlanta in 2025 –
Pope, J.B., & Cordell, E. (2025, April). Musical correlates of ASMR response. Poster presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association
Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Pope, J.B., Fromhagen, C., DeJesus, P., Bray, I., & Royal, G. (2025, April). Attitude toward generative AI use in higher education settings. Poster presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Pope, J.B., & Wegman, B. (2025, April). Measurement of giving and receiving phone snubs. Poster presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Pope, J.B., & Stoerrle, A. (2025, April). Measurement of work-home attentional shifting. Poster presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Aurora Ramos Nunez
Education
Ph.D. in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Houston
M.A. in Developmental Psychology, University of Houston
B.A. in Psychology, San Diego State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Ramos Nunez is an associate professor of psychology at the College of Coastal Georgia. She advises psychology major students and teaches Introduction to General Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Foundations of Brain and Behavior, Research Methods in Psychology, Brain Health in Psychology, and Learning and Behavior. Her research background includes the use of neuroimaging techniques to examine cognitive processes related to language such as speech perception, production, bilingualism, and cognitive control.
Currently, Dr. Ramos Nunez conducts survey research to examine factors related to second language acquisition and collaborates with undergraduate students in their various projects examining behavioral outcomes associated with academic performance, physical activity, and social media use, among others. She is also the Student Success Coordinator, working towards designing and executing initiatives to help with student retention.
Dr. Roscoe Scarborough
Associate Professor of Sociology
Education
Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Virginia
M.A. in Sociology, University of Virginia
B.S. in Criminal Justice and Sociology, Old Dominion University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Scarborough’s teaching and research interests include culture, social stratification, the self, media, deviance, theory, and public sociology. He has published in both peer-reviewed journals and popular press publications. As part of Coastal’s Reg Murphy Center for Economic and Policy Studies, he often prepares columns that appear in The Brunswick News.
Gregory Taylor
Education
Ph.D. in Modern American History, University of Mississippi
M.A. in Modern European History, University of Alabama
B.A. in History, Clemson University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Teaching Interests: American History, World History
Publications:
Central Prison: North Carolina’s State Penitentiary. Baton Rouge: LSU Press, 2021. (Winner of the 2021 Ragan Old North State Award for Nonfiction, awarded by the North Carolina Literary and Historical Society.)
The North Carolina State Prison (with William G. Hinkle). Columbia, South Carolina: Arcadia Books, 2016.
James Larkin Pearson: A Biography of North Carolina’s Longest-Serving Poet Laureate. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books, 2015.
The Life and Lies of Paul Crouch: Communist, Opportunist, Cold War Snitch. Gainesville: The University Press of Florida, 2014. (Finalist for the 2014 Ragan Old North State Award for Nonfiction.)
The History of the North Carolina Communist Party. Columbia: The University of South Carolina Press, 2009.
J. Paul Vasquez
Education
Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Notre Dame (May 2009)
M.A. in Political Science, Ohio State University (December 1997)
B.A. in Political Science and History, Cum Laude, Mercer University (June 1991)
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Vasquez’s teaching interests within the social sciences are focused largely on political science, especially regarding international relations as well as American politics and government. His research interests revolve primarily around national and international security policy, military manpower policy, the politics of military veterans, and the intersection of sports and politics.
Dr. Caroline Geiken
Education
Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (2004), Argosy University, Sarasota, FL (May 2004)
Masters of Early Childhood (1997), Armstrong Atlantic University, Savannah, GA (May 1997)
Bachelors of Arts Elementary Education and Special Education (1979), Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI (May 1979)
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Geiken is a highly motivated academic instructor with decades of background experience in Special Education. She clearly articulates and implements her knowledge and expertise in the field of Education. Dr. Geiken continually strives to provide opportunities for teacher candidates to be engaged in their learning and to have real-life experiences based on the content being taught in the classroom. Dr. Geiken is a respectful and professional educator who collaborates with colleagues and supports the College’s mission, strategic goals and policies.
Dr. Karen Lucas
Education
Ph.D. in Teacher Education, Mathematics Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.A.T. Master of Arts in Teaching, Mathematics Education, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
B.S. in Food Science, Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Teaching strategies for developing conceptual understanding of foundational mathematics. Pedagogically appropriate uses of educational technologies. Presentation of “Video discussions: Supporting community, learning, and teacher voice” at the Georgia Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (GACTE) in November 2025.
Alison Nicholson
School of Education and Teacher Preparation
Dr. Amy Sneed
Dr. Sneed earned her Doctor of Philosophy, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Virginia. She earned her Master of Science, Science Curriculum and Instruction & Space Science from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. She obtained her Bachelor of Science, Physical Sciences (Minor in Mathematics), Secondary Teaching Certification from Colorado State University. Dr. Sneed is a member of the Golden Key International Honors Society and is a National Science Foundation Teaching Scholar. Her professional affiliations include the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the Association for Middle Level Educators (AMLE). Prior to joining the Coastal Georgia faculty, Dr. Sneed served as the Academic Coordinator of the University of Virginia Curry School of Education’s K-12 Gifted Enrichment Programs. She has and continues to partner with school systems and organizations nationally and internationally around initiatives related to curriculum design, classroom assessment, and differentiated instruction in STEM fields. Prior to her experience in teacher education and professional development, Dr. Sneed taught middle and high school science and math in Colorado. Currently, she teaches courses in middle/secondary instructional design, assessment, and differentiated instruction, and mentors teacher candidates in field experiences.
Dr. Syvillia Averett
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Education
Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of Iowa
M.S. in Mathematics, University of Iowa
B.S. in Mathematics, Ohio State University
Teaching and Research Interests/Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching and research interests include abstract algebra, representation theory, and STEM education.
Jamie Berrie
Senior Lecturer of Mathematics
Education
E.d.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (Concentration in Higher Education Administration), Columbus State University (expected 2027)
M.S. in Applied Mathematics, Western Carolina University
B.S. in Mathematical Sciences, Armstrong Atlantic State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My research interests include mathematics education and applied statistics, with a focus on using data-driven tools to improve student outcomes. I am particularly interested in how artificial intelligence can increase access to learning and reduce cost barriers in higher education. My applied work also spans agricultural statistics, exercise science, and fermentation science, where I use statistical modeling to study complex real-world systems.
Cailin Noble
Education
M.A. in Mathematics, University of Central Arkansas
B.S. in Mathematics, University of Central Arkansas
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
I am a Senior Lecturer passionate about mathematics education, with a particular focus on algebra and its effective teaching strategies. My research examines how learning mindsets and metacognitive approaches influence student engagement and achievement in learning. I enjoy exploring innovative teaching tools and digital platforms to create interactive and engaging learning experiences. Accessibility is central to my work. I strive to design inclusive learning environments that support diverse learners, including those with disabilities. My recent scholarly activities include studies on growth mindset interventions in mathematics, the impact of adaptive technologies on student performance, and strategies for fostering equity in STEM education.
Dr. Thomas Schnibben
Dr. German Vargas
Education
Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Wichita State University
M.S. in Mathematics, Wichita State University
B.S. in Physics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Computational fluid dynamics, mathematical modeling, partial differential equations, numerical analysis, and scientific computing. Notable project: Neural Bypass through a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) that integrated an Electroencephalograph (EEG) with a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) unit. In this project the user was able to move their arms without engaging the motor cortex and bypassing brain-spine communications.
Dr. Aaron Yeager
Education
Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
M.S. in Applied Mathematics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
M.A. in Pure Mathematics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
B.S. in Mathematics, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
A.S. in Mathematics, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Yeager’s teaching philosophy centers on building strong relationships with students, fostering confidence with course material, thoughtfully integrating technology, and creating an active, supportive learning environment. Through mentoring from experienced colleagues and participation in teaching conferences and seminars, Dr. Yeager believes that every course – and every group of students – requires a tailored approach. He prioritizes getting to know students early through office-hour visits and by sharing personal and mathematical stories that promote resilience and a growth mindset. He also integrates technology through tools such as Smart Boards, computer algebra systems, and visualization software to deepen conceptual understanding. Dr. Yeager continues to explore new ways to enhance learning through emerging technologies. Beyond the classroom, his commitment to outreach and mentoring – particularly for underserved students – has shaped his approach to teaching, reinforcing his belief that meaningful support, inclusive practices, and intentional engagement are essential to student success.
Dr. Yeager’s research interests are Random Polynomials,
Orthogonal Polynomials, Asymptotic Analysis, Analytic and Algebraic Number Theory, Probability Theory, Potential Theory, Graph Theory, Harmonic Analysis, Complex Analysis, and Mathematics Education.
Publications:
1. with C. Corely and A. Ledoan, “The complex level crossings of random orthogonal polynomials.” accepted and to appear in Functiones et Approximatio Commentarii Mathematici.
2. with M. Landi, K. Johnson, G. Moseley, “Zeros of complex random polynomials spanned by Bergman polynomials,” Involve: A Journal of Mathematics (2021), Vol. 14, no. 2, 271–281.
3. “The variance of the number of zeros for complex random orthogonal polynomials spanned by OPUC,” Computational Methods and Function Theory (2020), Volume 20, no.~2, 255–277.
4. “Real zeros of random sums with i.i.d.~coefficients,” Colloquium Mathematicum (2020), Volume 161, 173–188.
5. with M.~Yattselev, “Zeros of real random polynomials spanned by OPUC,” Indiana University Mathematics Journal (2019), Volume 68, no.~3, 835–856.
6. “Zeros of random orthogonal polynomials with complex Gaussian coefficients,” Rocky Mountain Journal of Mathematics (2018) 48 no~.7, 2385–2403.
7. with I.~Pritsker, “Zeros of polynomials with random coefficients,” Journal of Approximation Theory (2015), Volume 189, 88–100.
8. with M. Rivera, M. Tomova, and C.Wyels,“The radio number of $C_n\square C_n$,” Ars Combinatorics (2015), Volume CXX, 7–21.
9. with R. Baker, W. Banks, and Z. Guo, “Piatetski-Shapiro primes from almost primes,” Monatshefte f\”{u}r Mathematik (2014), Volume 174, no.~3, 357–370.
10. with A. G\”ulo\u glu and W. Banks,“Carmichael meets Chebotarev,” Canadian Mathematical Bulletin (2013), Volume 56, no.~4, 695–708.
11. with W. Banks, “Carmichael numbers composed of primes from a Beatty sequence,” Colloquium Mathematicum (2011), Volume 125, no.~1, 129–137.
12. with T. Gassert, “Characterization of the vertex-reinforced random walk and trapping subgraphs,” The Pentagon (2008), Volume 68, no.~1, 21–28.
Dr. Renren Zhao
Education
Ph.D. in Mathematics with Statistics emphasis, University of Missouri Rolla
M.A. in Applied Mathematics, University of Missouri Rolla
B.A. in Economics, Chongqing University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching centers on statistics, probability, and computing/data science, with an emphasis on using computation and simulation to connect theory to real applications. My research interests include saddlepoint approximation and statistical inference, particularly equivalence testing in exponential families, with related interests in actuarial science, machine learning, and mathematics education.
Recent scholarly output: Renren Zhao and Paige Robert, “Optimal Equivalence Testing in Exponential Families,” Statistical Papers.
James Carpenter
Education
M.S. Zoology, University of Maryland
B.S. Biology, Oberlin College
M.L.T., College of Coastal Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Neurocytoarchitectonics, neuronal morphology and developmental neuroanatomy across metamorphic transition, using the dragonfly optic lobe visual system as an ontogenetic-phylogenetic model.
Joshua Clark
Education
M.S. in Biology, Georgia College and State University
B.S. in Biology with Minor in Geology, Georgia College and State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
As a biology professor, Clark’s main experience is in the education of students in areas of science concentration, though he has also developed and taught courses for students in areas of non-science concentration. He is familiar with teaching in a traditional classroom, in the field, and in a laboratory setting. Clark has served his institution by sitting on several college and departmental committees, and also by developing curriculum for new biology courses. While teaching, he has also been engaged in advising undergraduate research, primarily related to that of a paleontological nature.
Angalet, Benjamin, and Josh Clark. 2022. “Analyzing the Shark Paleoecology of Coastal Georgia From the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs.” Georgia Journal of Science 81 (2): 1-11.
Beck, Lucy A., A.J. Mead, and Clark, J. “Late Pleistocene Turtles from Coastal Georgia.” Georgia Journal of Science 81 (1): 79.
Parmley, D., Clark, J., and A. J. Mead. 2020. “Amphibians and Squamates from the Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) Clark Quarry, Coastal Georgia.” Eastern Paleontologist 7:1-23.
Wall, W. P., A. J. Mead, V. L. Santucci, J. P. Kenworthy, K. A. Clark, and J. L. Clark. 2008. “Paleontological Resource Inventory and Monitoring-Northern Great Plains Network.” Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NRPC/NRTR. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Parmley, D., Clark, J., and A. J. Mead. 2007. “Amphiuma (Caudata: Amphiumidae) from Pleistocene Clark Quarry Local Fauna of Coastal Georgia.” Georgia Journal of Science 65 (2): 76-81.
Agisotelis, Cierra, J. Clark, K. Clark, and R. McLachlan. 2025 “Microfossil Analysis of Clark Quarry, GA: Drum Fish Teeth and Vascular Plants as Indicators of a Late Pleistocene Environment.” Endeavor Conference. College of Coastal Georgia. Poster.
Fambrough, Olivia, J. Clark, K. Clark, and R. McLachlan. 2025 “Fossilized Gar Scales of Clark Quarry.” Endeavor Conference. College of Coastal Georgia. Poster.
Ostertag, Cal, J. Clark, K. Clark, and R. McLachlan. 2025 “Ancient Amphibians of Clark Quarry: Fossils and Determining Paleoclimate.” Endeavor Conference. College of Coastal Georgia. Poster.
Robison, Emma, R. McLachlan, J. Clark, and K. Clark. 2025 “Fossilized Micro-Vertebrae Specimens and Considerations for the Reconstruction of Clark Quarry in the Pleistocene Epoch.” Endeavor Conference. College of Coastal Georgia. Poster.
Starbuck, Paige, J. Clark, R. McLachlan, and K. Clark. 2025 “Small Mammals Fossils of the Clark Quarry.” Endeavor Conference. College of Coastal Georgia. Poster.
Kelly Clark
Education
M.S. in Biology, Georgia College and State University
B.S. in Biology with Minor in Geology, Georgia College and State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Clark teaches introductory biology and geology laboratories, both in in-person and online formats. He co-advises research in the College of Coastal Georgia Fossil Research Lab. His primary area of research is Ice Age microfossils from a site here in Glynn County.
2024. Coastal Science Symposium. “Fossilized jaws of Clark Quarry, Georgia” by Emma Robinson, Robin McLachlan, Joshua Clark, & Kelly Clark. College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick, GA.
2024. Coastal Science Symposium. “Reconstructing past environments with fossilized teeth at Clark Quarry, GA” by Guy Haller, Robin McLachlan, Kelly Clark, and Joshua Clark. College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick, GA.
2024. Coastal Science Symposium. “Clark Quarry microfossil bio-illustrations” by Paige Starbuck, Joshua Clark, Robin McLachlan, and Kelly Clark. College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick, GA.
2024. Endeavor Conference. “Clark Quarry microfossil bio-illustrations” by Paige Starbuck, Joshua Clark, Robin McLachlan, and Kelly Clark. College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick, GA.
Dr. James Deemy
Education
Ph.D. in Forest Resources (Hydrology, Water Resources), Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia (2017)
M.S. in Environmental Studies (Wetland Restoration), Center for Environmental Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University (2012)
B.S. Environmental Studies, Center for Environmental Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University (2010)
B.S. Biology, College of Humanities and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University (2010)
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Deemy, JB, Besterman, A., Tyler, KN, Hall, BM, Takagi, KT, 2022. Nutrient cycling and trophic dynamics in tropical and subtropical freshwater wetlands. In: eds. Dalu, T, and Wasserman, RJ. Fundamentals of Tropical Freshwater Wetlands: From Ecology to Conservation Management. Elsevier.
Deemy, JB, Hall, BM, Takagi, KT, Tyler, KN, Ramussen, TC. 2022. Physicochemical environment of Tropical and Subtropical freshwater wetlands. In: eds. Dalu, T, and Wasserman, RJ. Fundamentals of Tropical Freshwater Wetlands: From Ecology to Conservation Management. Elsevier.
Deemy, JB, Takagi, KT, McLachlan, RL, Ramussen, TC, Wright, SG, Tyler, KN, Garner, MG. 2022. Wetlands Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Soils: An Overview. In: eds. Dalu, T, and Wasserman, RJ. Fundamentals of Tropical Freshwater Wetlands: From Ecology to Conservation Management. Elsevier.
Deemy, J.B., T.C. Rasmussen, K.K. Takagi. 2020 Hydrologic Connectivity of Isolated Wetlands: Episodic Flows. In Encyclopedia of Water: Science, Technology, and Society. Eds. P. A. Maurice and C. Strickland. John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Dr. Patrice Edwards
Dr. Patrice Edwards earned her Ph.D. and her B.S. from Florida A&M University.
Dr. Leon Gardner
Dr. Gardner grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. He has a Bachelor’s degree and a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State University, and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Kent State University. He enjoys reading science fiction and urban fantasy books, going to the movies, and solving diagramless and crostic puzzles. Gardner teaches mostly principles of chemistry for science majors, as well as physical chemistry. His research interests in science focus on applying computational chemistry to topics in climate science. He is currently developing two specific projects. The first one is how ions in the seawater affect the hydration of carbon dioxide. This is connected to the large issue of ocean acidification. The second project is how carbon dioxide in the atmosphere might affect the hydrogen-bonding in complexes of atmospherically-important acids. This is connected to the larger issue of acid rain. The College has a program called “Gaussian 16,” which is research-level software that is capable of carrying out ab initio and semi-empirical calculations on a wide variety of systems.
Dr. Jennifer Hatchel
Education
Ph.D. in Microbiology, Miami University
M.S. in Biological Sciences, Austin Peay State University
B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee at Martin
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching interests include general biology, foundations of microbiology, advanced microbiology, microbial diversity, infectious diseases, and environmental microbiology. My research interests are in the areas of antimicrobial susceptibility and environmental bacteriology. My most recent publication is a lab manual titled Techniques and Applications for the Microbiology Lab published by Kendall Hunt (2024).
Deanna Helphrey
Education
M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science with emphasis in Biochemistry, University of Florida
B.S. in Pre-Professional Biology, College of Coastal Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Principles of Biology, Foundations of Microbiology, the Human Microbiome, Biochemistry, and Application of Biochemical Principles in relation to the human microbiome.
Dr. C. Tate Holbrook
Professor of Biology
Education
Ph.D. in Biology, Arizona State University
B.S. in Biology, University of North Carolina at Asheville
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Holbrook leads the Department of Natural Sciences, teaches courses in biology (e.g., Principles of Biology, Conservation Biology, Animal Behavior, Invertebrate Natural History), and conducts research in ecology, evolution, and conservation with students and collaborators.
Selected Publications:
Forrest, T.G., J.A. Hamel, and C.T. Holbrook. 2025. Calling songs and duets of two new species in the Amblycorypha rotundifolia complex (Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae). Journal of Orthoptera Research 34(2):233-248. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.34.145640
Holbrook, C.T., C. Atkinson, J. Fountain, S. Knox, and J. Mackinnon. 2024. Ecological and educational impacts of a living shoreline on St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA. Georgia Journal of Science 82(2). https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol82/iss2/3/
Holbrook, C.T., P.M. Barden, and J.H. Fewell. 2011. Division of labor increases with colony size in the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex californicus. Behavioral Ecology 22(5):90-96. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arr075
Petranka, J.W., E.M. Harp, C.T. Holbrook, and J.A. Hamel. 2007. Long-term persistence of amphibian populations in a restored wetland complex. Biological Conservation 138:271-380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2007.05.002
Dr. Colleen Knight
Education
Ph.D. in Biomolecular Chemistry, Emory University
B.S. in Chemistry/Biochemistry, University of West Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests/Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Knight’s academic background bridges chemistry and biology, with graduate research focused on RNA biochemistry and riboswitches. During graduate school, she discovered a passion for education and innovative, interactive approaches to teaching. A lifelong Georgian, she grew up in a rural community and has spent her entire academic and professional career in the state’s education system. Her interdisciplinary training helps students see how different branches of science connect to shape the world around (and within) us. As Assistant Vice President for Academic Student Engagement, Dr. Knight works to promote student success and engagement across all disciplines, supporting faculty, staff, and students in creating meaningful learning experiences.
Dr. Robin McLachlan
Education
Ph.D. in Oceanography, Concentration in Marine Geology and Geophysics, University of Washington
M.S. in Oceanography, Concentration in Marine Geology and Geophysics, University of Washington
B.S. in Geology, College of Charleston
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Robin McLachlan is a broadly-trained geologist interested in how the shapes of coastal environments are intimately linked to human development, and vice versa. Specifically, she studies sediment transport from source to sink, mountains to deep sea, focusing on the interaction between sediment and hydrodynamics in the fluvial-marine transition zone. She applies the same scientific rigor and inquiry to her role as an educator and communicator. Her teaching strategies constructively align scientific content with high-impact practices – notably undergraduate research and service-learning – to best achieve student learning goals and career success.
Recent fellowships include the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (2023) and Governor’s Teaching Fellows (2025).
Recent publications include “Actionable Science for Small Island Communities: Wind Velocity and Sea‐Level Rise Enhance Tidal Flooding on Little Cumberland Island, Georgia”, published in AGU Community Science (Bertram et al., 2025).
Dr. Holly Nance
Education
Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Clemson University
M.S. in Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
B.S. in Biology, University of Texas at Austin
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Nance is interested in genetics and genomics, and engaging students in course-based undergraduate research experiences.
Dr. Ernest Pascoe
Education
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Clark Atlanta University (CAU)
Bachelor of Science, Double Major, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the West Indies (UWI)
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Teaching Interests: Organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, general chemistry, and organic laboratory skills (analytic techniques in chemistry, separation techniques in chemistry, and chemical syntheses).
Research Interests: Studying the usefulness of High-Impact Educational practices (HIPs) in education, examining some of the fundamental concepts that are important in learning organic chemistry, and mentoring student undergraduate research.
Dr. Traesha Robertson
Education
Ph.D. in Biology (Plant Physiology), Texas Tech University
M.S. in Biology (Plant Ecology), Sul Ross State University
B.S. in Biology, Angelo State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Robertson is a botanist who conducts research in plant ecology, with primary interests in plant phenology, ecology, and physiology and their responses to climate change. She teaches both lower- and upper-division courses in biology with a focus on the botanical courses. She also mentors Coastal Ecology students, serves as the curator of the College of Coastal Georgia’s herbarium and greenhouse, and is an advising scientist for TIDES (Texas Integrated Diving & Ecological Studies) Laboratory, which is a multi-institutional undergraduate research program that focuses on student-driven marine research projects on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System in the Caribbean.
Dr. David Stasek
Education
Ph.D. in Zoology (2009), Miami University (Oxford, OH)
M.S. in Zoology (2006), Miami University (Oxford, OH)
B.S. in Biology (2002), Baldwin-Wallace College (Berea, OH)
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Natural History of Vertebrate and Invertebrate Animals, Predator-prey interactions, and Biodiversity
Kennedy, T.*, Outhwaite, A., Rigdon, J.*, and Stasek, D. The biodiversity of the invertebrate community within an intertidal pond on Jekyll Island. Poster presentation at the Coastal Science Symposium at the College of Coastal Georgia, December 5, 2025. This research will be submitted for publication Spring 2026. *denotes undergraduate coauthor
Dr. Kimberly Takagi
Education
Ph.D. Marine and Environmental Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
M.Sc. Chemistry, Biology, and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
M.A. Teaching, University of Piedmont, Demorest, GA
B.Sc. Integrative Biology, Chapman University, Orange, CA
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching is focused on High Impact Practices that allow students to become the drivers of their own learning. I use experiential learning, service-learning, and writing intensive approaches to allow my students to not just learn, but “do” science and think scientifically. My research interests are centered around marine ecology, marine coastal biogeochemistry, and aquatic ecology. I have recently presented work on the use of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) in the instruction and training of Scientific Divers.
Dr. Dantera Tangpisuthipongsa
Education
M.D. in Medicine, Augusta University-Medical College of Georgia
B.S. in Neuroscience, Emory University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Teaching Interests: Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Pathophysiology, and Immunology; mentoring students pursuing careers in healthcare: medicine, veterinary, pharmacy, dental, PA, optometry, etc.
Research Interests: Developing and evaluating innovative instructional approaches to improve student success in A&P courses.
Lori Tigani
Education
Master of Arts in Teaching, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD
Master of Science in Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Committed to fostering scientific literacy and critical thinking through structured, engaging, and inquiry-based instruction. Skilled in curriculum development, laboratory management, and student-centered learning.
Dr. Min-Cheng Tu
Education
Ph.D. in Water Management and Hydrological Science, Texas A&M University
M.S.L. in Studies Law, University of Pittsburgh
M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Tu’s early research focused on stormwater management and computer simulations of surface water processes on the landscape. In recent years, his research and teaching interests switched to spatial science, including GIS (Geographic Information System), satellite remote sensing, and drone remote sensing. He loves science education and is a big fan of Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Publications between 2021-2026:
Ssewanyana, A.*, Tu, M.-c. (2026). Performance of Spectral Indices and Machine Learning Algorithms in Seasonal Classification of Urban Impervious Surfaces from Sentinel-2 Imagery: A Case Study of Taipei. Remote Sensing in Earth Systems Sciences. 9(1): 16. doi: 10.1007/s41976-025-00266-9
Chen, W.-j.*, Tu, M.-c. (2025). Automated Process for Analyzing 2D CAD Floor Plan Drawings and Generating FloorspaceJS-Compatible Space Objects for Building Energy Simulations. Building and Environment. 26: 105575. doi: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.105575
He, L., Geng, X.-w., Huo, H.-y.*, Lian, Y., Xi, Q., Feng, W., Tu, M.-c., Leng, P. (2025). Simulation of Urban Thermal Environment Based on Urban Weather Generator: Narrative Review. Urban Science. 9: 275. doi: doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9070275
Liu, C.-c., Tu, M.-c.*, Lin, J.-y., Huo, H., Chen, W.-j. (2025). Environmental Influence on NbS (Nature-Based Solution) Mitigation of Diurnal Surface Urban Heat Islands (SUHI). Remote Sensing. 17: 1802. doi: 10.3390/rs17101802
Huo, H.*, Wang, Z., Zhou, L., Liu, Z., Tu, M.-c. (2025). Wind Field Simulation and Its Impacts on Athletes’ Performance, Based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics Method: A Case Study of the National Sliding Centre of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Applied Sciences. 15: 3685. doi: 10.3390/app15073685
Tu, M.-c.*, Chen, W.-j. (2023). “Field Measurement of Dynamic Interaction Between Urban Surface and Microclimate in Humid Subtropical Climate with Multiple Sensors.” Sensors. 23(24): 9835. doi: 10.3390/s23249835
Tu, M.-c.*, Huang, Y.-c. (2023). “Impacts of Land Reclamation on Coastal Water in a Semi-Enclosed Bay.” Remote Sensing. 15(2): 510. doi: 10.3390/rs15020510
Wang, C.-p.*, Shih, B.-j., Tu, M.-c. (2021). Study on the improvement of disaster resistance against tsunamis at Taiwan’s Keelung Port. Natural Hazards. 110: 1507-1526. doi: 10.1007/s11069-021-05000-4
Nichols, W.*, Welker, A., Traver, R., Tu, M.-c. (2021). Modeling seasonal performance of operational urban rain garden using HYDRUS-1D. J. Sustainable Water Built Environ. 7(3): 04021005. doi: 10.1061/JSWBAY.0000941