Archives: Staff Members

McLachlan, Robin

Dr. Robin McLachlan

McLachlan, Robin

Assistant Professor of Geology

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).

Masano, Nicole

Dr. Nicole Masano

Nicole Masano

BSN Program Coordinator
Professor of Nursing

Education
DNP in Nursing, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University
Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Informatics, University of Illinois at Chicago
MSN in Maternal-Newborn Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago
BSN in Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago

Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My academic and professional focus centers on advancing community-based healthcare and maternal-newborn nursing through innovative, evidence-based practices. I am dedicated to improving health outcomes for mothers and infants by bridging the gap between clinical settings and community resources, ensuring equitable access to quality care. Furthermore, I am deeply committed to active engagement in teaching, employing student-centered pedagogical strategies that foster critical thinking and practical skill acquisition. By integrating my research into the classroom, I aim to inspire the next generation of nurses to become compassionate, skilled practitioners and advocates for public health.

Mathews, Don

Dr. Don Mathews

Don Mathews

Professor of Economics

Education
Ph.D. in Economics, Georgia State University
M.A. in Economics, DePaul University
B.A. in Economics, University of Illinois

Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My primary teaching and research interests are the history of the capitalism vs. socialism debate, American business history and U.S. macroeconomic history. Most of my published research, however, are reports I’ve written as Director of the Reg Murphy Center at the College of Coastal Georgia, as well as “From the Murphy Center” newspaper columns in The Brunswick News.

Lucas, Karen

Dr. Karen Lucas

Karen Lucas

Associate Professor of Mathematics Education

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.