Archives: Staff Members
Trussell, Melissa
Dr. Melissa Trussell
Associate Professor of Economics
Education
Ph.D. in Economics, Georgia State University
Master of Public Administration, Georgia State University
B.S. in Discrete Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Master’s Certificate in Data Analytics, Georgia College and State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Trussell studies the economic impacts of childhood trauma and ways to mitigate those impacts. As an associate of the Reg Murphy Center for Economic and Policy Studies, she produces scholarly op-eds for The Brunswick News on an assortment of topics of interest to readers.
Most recent peer-reviewed publication:
Trussell, M.R. & Farley, H. (2003). Economic impact of CarePortal donations in Glynn County, Georgia. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 18(5), 1074-1083. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2023.2299490
Tangpisuthipongsa, Dr. Dantera
Dr. Dantera Tangpisuthipongsa
Associate Professor of Biology
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.
Takagi, Kimberly
Dr. Kimberly Takagi
Associate Professor of Environmental Science
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.
Umfress, Jason
Spivey, Andrea
Scarborough, Roscoe
Dr. Roscoe Scarborough
Chair, Department of Social Sciences
Associate Professor of Sociology
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.
Staab, Libby
Warner, Dr. Tyra
Dr. Tyra Warner
Chair, Department of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Education
Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration, Oklahoma State University
J.D. in Law, Georgia State University
M.A. in Tourism Administration, The George Washington University
B.S. in Business Administration, Georgetown University
Teaching and Research Interests/Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My research interests are in the areas of legal issues and safety and security as they relate to the hospitality and tourism industries, and in particular as they relate to conventions, meetings, and events.
Recent publications:
Book chapters:
Warner, T. (2024). Legal issues in meetings and events, In Fenich, G. & Malek, K. (Eds.) Meetings, expositions, events, and conventions: An introduction to the industry (6th ed.). [Revision] Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Hilliard, T.W. (2019). Contracts and risk management. In National Association of Catering Executives Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) reference guide, version 2. [Revision] Columbia, MD: National Association of Catering Executives.
Hilliard, T.W. (2019). Legal issues in meetings and events. In Fenich, G. (Ed.) Meetings, expositions, events, and conventions: An introduction to the industry (5th ed.). [Revision] Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Articles:
Hilliard, T. (2019, February 3). An essential contract checklist for meeting planners. MeetingsToday. bit.ly/3MoX1lx
Podcasts:
Warner, T. (2020, July 7). The pandemic legal environment for the events industry. The Business of Meetings.
Rozenberg, E., Walling, S., & Warner, T. (2020, April 7). Independent business owners: You are not alone. Event Business Formula.
Recent Invited Presentations:
Blood, J. & Warner, T. (2025, October). Did you see that coming? Legal issues for meetings. Presented at IMEX America, Las Vegas, NV.
Warner, T. (2025, July). Ask the association attorney: Everything you want to know about event contracts and more. Presented at Florida Society of Association Executives, West Palm Beach, FL.
Warner, T. (2025, June). The law, liability, and current issues. Presented at Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress, St. Louis, MO.
Warner, T. (2025, June). RFPs and contracts in the meetings industry. [Moderator]. Presented at Meeting Professionals International North Florida Chapter, Jacksonville, FL.
Warner, T. (2025, May). Addressing those uh-oh situations in your contracts. Presented at Society of Government Meeting Professionals National Education Conference, St. Louis, MO.
Warner, T. (2025, March). Contract negotiation strategies for 2025. Presented at SmartMeetings magazine Knowledge Exchange, webinar [online].
Blood, J. & Warner, T. (2024, October). Contracts: Seeing through the crystal ball. Presented at IMEX America, Las Vegas, NV.
Warner, T. (2024, June). All things force majeure—What you need to know. Presented at Society of Government Meeting Professionals, webinar [online].
Warner, T. (2024, March). Uh-oh scenarios. Presented at Meeting Professionals International Wisconsin Chapter, Madison, WI.
Warner, T. (2024, January). What goes up—Inflation, meetings, and contracts. Presented at Southwest Showcase, Austin, TX.
Warner, T. (2023, December). All things force majeure—What you need to know. Presented at International Association of Exhibitions and Events Expo! Expo! Dallas, TX.
Blood, J. & Warner, T. (2023, October). Contracts: Designing for shared success. Presented at IMEX America, Las Vegas, NV.
Warner, T. (2023, July). Contracts: New, novel, and nagging issues. Presented at Professional Convention Management Association Southeast Chapter, Orlando, FL.
Warner, T. (2023, June). What goes up—Contracts and inflation. Presented at Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress, Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Warner, T. (2023, May). Contracts: Retooling for today’s market. Presented at Meeting Professionals International Georgia Chapter, Atlanta, GA.
Warner, T. (2023, January). Understanding difficult contracts—Parts I & II. Presented at Religious Conference Managers Association Annual Conference, Chattanooga, TN.
Warner, T. (2022, October). Contract negotiations for these unruly times. Presented at IMEX America, Las Vegas, NV.
Bettlach, J., Johnson, A., Rowbotham, B., Warner, T. (2022, October). Contract experiences that make you go…hmmmm?! Presented at IMEX America, Las Vegas, NV.
Warner, T. (2022, June). What’s law got to do with it? Presented at Georgia Society of Association Executives, Jekyll Island, GA.
Warner, T. (2022, June). The care and feeding of introverts at your meeting. Presented at Georgia Society of Association Executives, Jekyll Island, GA.
Hardigree, C. & Warner, T. (2022, March). Contracts post-pandemic: Lessons learned. Presented at Meetings Industry Council of Colorado, Denver, CO.
Hardigree, C. & Warner, T. (2021, September). Something old, something new, something legal. Presented at Rocky Mountain Chapter Meeting Professionals International, Denver, CO.
Bagnall, K. & Warner, T. (2021, June). The future of meetings contracts & liability…and the future is now. Presented at Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress, Las Vegas, NV.
Pelletier, S. and Warner, T. (2021, June). Your inner phoenix: Reinventing yourself through adversity, acceptance, & adventure. Presented at Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress, Las Vegas, NV.
Allgauer, M., Murakami, G., & Warner, T. (2021, June). Contracts & negotiations in the new normal—a discussion from all perspectives. Presented at Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress, Las Vegas, NV.
