KSU--University Studies Learning Communities Faculty

Lynn Boettler (Back to top)
Ms. Boettler, or as students like to call her “Ms. Lynn,” obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Truman State University and has completed extensive doctoral work in education from the University of Tennessee. Her background in higher education is varied and includes experience in curriculum and program development, counseling, teaching, staff and faculty development, and student academic success. Passionate about student learning, one Ms. Lynn’s main goals is to create an inviting and stimulating classroom environment that inspires learning. Activities and discussions are designed to help students foster relationships with each other through collaborative learning, to encourage self-discovery through reflection, and to build mastery through application. She says, “I hope students who leave my classes will not only gain skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in college and in life, but will also learn about themselves and make connections with other students while doing so. P.S. Let’s have a little fun along the way!”

Steven Braden (Back to top)
Steven Braden received his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Southwest Missouri State University and his Ph.D. from LSU in the discipline of Speech Communication with an emphasis in rhetoric and public address. He also has a minor field of study in political science. He loves teaching and enjoys interacting with students. Feel free to stop by and see him at any time; he has an open door policy. He is a former political consultant and enjoys watching political commentary and reads several newspapers. His hobbies are reading, playing chess, gardening and landscaping, camping and hiking, and watching all the major sports. He is an LSU football junkie (GEAUX TIGERS).

Amy M. Buddie (Back to top)
Dr. Buddie received her M.A. in 1998 and her Ph.D. in 2001 in social psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She then completed two years of postdoctoral training at the Research Institute on Addictions at the University of Buffalo before joining the faculty at Kennesaw in 2003. Her research interests include the role of alcohol in sexual aggression/risky sexual behavior and college students’ attitudes about rape. She teaches a variety of courses here at Kennesaw, including Social Issues, Social Psychology, Research Methods, Experimental Psychology, and the Psychology of Gender. But General Psychology is her favorite! She looks forward to meeting all of you in the fall.

Meghan Burke (Back to top)
Dr. Meghan Burke has taught mathematics at Kennesaw State University for over 10 years. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Applied Math—Biology from Brown University, and her Doctorate in Mathematics from the Centre for Mathematical Biology at Oxford University, England. Her interests include mathematical modeling of biology and medicine, particularly epidemiology. She is currently evaluating strategies in case of a bioterrorist attack. Her personal life also keeps her very busy, with a family that includes two young sons with autism.

Rebecca Casey (Back to top)
Rebecca Casey (Chair, Department of University Studies) holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education, specializing in Composition and Rhetoric, from Georgia State University, with research interests in adult learning theory, computers and composition, on-line writing instruction, and history of Scottish rhetoric. Dr. Casey has been at KSU for eleven years and has a particular interest and expertise in teaching freshman, serving as an academic mentor to beginning college students.

Ed Chan (Back to top)
Ed Chan holds a Ph.D. in twentieth-century American literature from the University of Rochester (New York), an M.A. in English from California State University at Fullerton, and a B.A. in English from the University of California, Riverside. His research and teaching interests include twentieth-century American literature and culture, science and utopian fiction, film studies, and popular music. He currently teaches KSU 1101 and English classes for the Department of University Studies, in addition to directing “Year 2 Kennesaw,” which provides specialized programming for second-year (sophomore) students.

Laura Dabundo (Back to top)
Dr. Laura Dabundo is Professor of English and Director of the KSU Press. Her Ph. D. is in English Romanticism, and her scholarship in this field includes two books (Encyclopedia of Romanticism: Culture in Britain from the 1780s to the 1830s [Garland, 1992] and Jane Austen and Mary Shelley and Their Sisters: Romantic Women’s Fiction in Context [University Press of America, 2000] and many articles and presentations. Before her academic career, she was an editor at J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA. Right now she is busy launching the KSU Press. A university press enables a major university to contribute to making our world and our society a better place, every day, for all of our communities. We do not necessarily only publish what we agree with, but we always publish what we expect will engage, inform, challenge, and inspire our communities.

Laura Davis (Back to top)
Laura Davis grew up in Charlotte, NC, attended Wake Forest University as an undergraduate and did her graduate work at Middle Tennessee State University . If you see her around campus and want to strike up a conversation, try ACC basketball, old cars, the best book you’ve read this year, what kind of animals you have, gardening, or good places to hike and camp, as these are a few of her interests. She just purchased her first bicycle and plans to ride it from San Francisco to Los Angeles next June as part of AIDSLifecycle, a fundraiser for people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. (But, for now she’s just trying to stay on the bike more often than she falls off of it). Teaching first-year composition is her favorite activity because she loves watching people move from an uncertainty about their writing ability into a confidence that they have something to say and can say it well. If you end up in her class this year, she’s looking forward to working alongside you, and she can not wait to meet you.

Joan E. Dominick (Back to top)
With twenty-eight years of successful work in higher education, Dr. Joan E. Leichter Dominick is an award winning college educator with a professional history in the disciplines of Adult Education and Communication. Dr. Joan E. Leichter Dominick holds a Doctorate in Adult Education from the University of Georgia (1990) and Masters Degree (1975) and Bachelors Degree (1973) in Communication Arts and Sciences from Queens College, City University of New York. As a doctoral student, she was a University of Georgia Kellogg Fellow. Currently she is the Director of the Senior-Year Experience at Kennesaw State University. This program, which she designed during her tenure in the Governor’s Teaching Fellowship Program 1996-1997, prepares seniors for their post-university experiences as productive national and global citizens.
Since joining Kennesaw State University in 1990, she has chaired the Communication Department, won the 1996 Distinguished Teaching and the 1996 Regent’s Distinguished Professor of Teaching and Learning at the university. Her academic project for the 1996 Regent’s Distinguished Professor of Teaching and Learning award was the design and implementation of a Presentation Technology Center to enhance the technology presentation skills of students across the campus. She now collaborates with the Presentation Technology Center facilitators in creating the innovative E-Portfolio Initiative for the college students in her KSU 4401: Senior Seminar and KSU 1101: First-Year Seminar based on her RACCE (Reflect + Assess + Collect + Connect + Express) College Student Portfolio Process, copyright 2002. Dr. Joan E. Leichter Dominick is the co-author of The Complete Graduate: A Workbook for College Seniors (Kendall Hunt, Second Edition 2003).

Kimberly Frazier (Back to top)
Prior to KSU Kim worked as Director of New Student Programs for 7 years whereby she taught GSU 1010, directed new student orientation, and coordinated several first-year initiatives and programs. Additionally, she worked at the University of South Carolina as the University Housing coordinator for academic programs and University 101. In regards to education, Kim is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Policy Studies—Higher Education program and also received her Master’s of Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in Psychology from Winthrop University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Clemson University. Kim’s hobbies include chatting with her students, spending time with her wonderful family, gardening, and reading decorating magazines! Her favorite quote is: “Wherever you are—be there!”

Ruth Goldfine (Back to top)
Ruth Goldfine received her Ph.D. in English Rhetoric and Composition from Georgia State University in 2004, and her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Dayton in 1986 and 1995, respectively. She joined the University Studies Department at Kennesaw State University in August of 2004 after teaching for seven years as both a part-time and full-time temporary instructor in the Department of English at KSU. Prior to teaching, she worked as a technical editor and writer for ten years. Although she was born and raised a Yankee (Cleveland, Ohio), Ruth has developed a fondness for the South, particularly the mild winters, and has enthusiastically adopted many Southern expressions, such as “y’all” and “fixin’.”

Dick Grover (Back to top)
Dick Grover holds a B.A. in Psychology and a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology, from the University of Florida. He also earned his M.B.A. at the University of South Carolina. He serves as an Associate Professor of University Studies. He is a licensed facilitator for “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” and has conducted 7 Habits training on local, state and national levels. Mr. Grover is widely known for his work and expertise on service-learning; he serves on the board of Cobb Housing, Inc. and as a National Service-Learning Peer Mentor. Prior to coming to KSU, Dick worked for 13 years with the Georgia Department of Education where he served as the state director of the Learn and Serve America program. His motto is taken from one of his favorite authors, Stephen R.Covey: “Many people climb the ladder of success and reach the top only then to discover that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.”

Letizia Guglielmo (Back to top)
Although a native of New York, Ms. Guglielmo has lived in the South (Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia) for the past 12 years. Her family is from Italy, so naturally, she grew up speaking both Italian and English at home and minored in Italian as an undergraduate. A fascination with languages and with communication in general led her to study French and Spanish as well and to pursue English as a major. Ms. Guglielmo is an Auburn University alum (War Eagle!) and accepted a position in the English Dept. at KSU in 2001 after completing graduate work at Middle Tennessee State. Beyond teaching courses in Composition and World Literature, she is working to complete a PhD at Georgia State in Rhetoric and Composition with a focus on technology and online learning. As a certified Yoga instructor, Ms. Guglielmo spends her spare time helping others to relax and to increase their flexibility.

Lola C. Hartness (Back to top)
Lola C. Hartness (Department of Health, Physical Education, and Sport Science) has taught at Kennesaw State since 1989, and currently serves as Aquatic Director. She also teaches numerous courses, including the HPS 1000 course required of all KSU students. In her work as aquatic director, Ms. Hartness epitomizes the KSU model of integrating undergraduate education with community service and outreach. In coordinating all activities at the campus pool, including swim instruction and competitive water sports, and in training potential aquatic professionals, Ms. Hartness benefits local high school swim teams, Six Flags and White Water lifeguards, and physical therapists.

Anne Hicks-Coolick (Back to top)
Dr. Anne Hicks-Coolick is the Director of the Center for Community Partnerships and Associate Professor of Social Work in the Department of Human Services. Before beginning her career in higher education, Dr. Hicks-Coolick was a clinical coordinator in a private psycho-educational program for students with learning disabilities and worked as a mental health counselor for children and youth. She researches, writes and presents on social, psychological, and educational issues relating to children and youth.

G. William Hill (Back to top)
Dr. Hill received his Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Georgia in 1979 and has been on the faculty at Kennesaw State University (KSU) since then. During his tenure at KSU, he has been a full-time teaching faculty member and assumed several administrative roles, including Department Chair of Psychology (1988-1994) and Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs (1998-2002), with a brief period as Acting Vice President from April-July 2002. In fall 2002 he became the full-time Director of the KSU Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, which coordinates programs and conferences designed to enhance teaching and student learning. His professional activities have primarily revolved around research on teaching in higher education, particularly in the discipline of psychology, and service to teachers. His recent research interests have focused on faculty use of and attitudes about extra credit, defining and assessing expected learning outcomes for the undergraduate major in psychology, student and faculty perceptions of the first day of class, and the development of resource materials to enhance the teaching of cross-cultural psychology.

In 1989 he founded, and still continues to coordinate, the annual Southeastern Conference on the Teaching of Psychology. He also helped organize three national conferences on best practices in psychology education, assessment in 2002, teaching the introductory psychology course in 2003, and teaching research methods and statistics in 2004. In fall semester 2005 he is coordinating a fourth conference on teaching critical thinking in psychology. He is active in a variety of national leadership roles in the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP), Division 2 of the American Psychological Association (APA), and in APA governance. His roles have included Program Chair for the annual STP program at the APA Convention, chair of the STP Long Range Planning Committee, and President of STP in 2001-2002. He is currently a member of the APA Board of Convention Affairs and serves as the Director of Programming for STP. He was honored to receive the KSU Distinguished Teaching Award in 1985 and is a Fellow of APA Divisions 1 (General Psychology), 2 (STP), and 52 (International Psychology) of APA. At the 2004 APA Convention he received the American Psychological Foundation Charles L. Brewer Award for Distinguished Teaching in Psychology.

Keisha Hoerrner (Back to top)
Dr. Keisha Hoerrner is the CLASS Director and an Associate Professor of Communication. An alumna of Kennesaw State, she joined the faculty in fall of 2000 and loves being able to teach at her alma mater.

Dr. Hoerrner’s graduate degrees are from the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. She served as an adjunct faculty member at UGA, Georgia State, and Kennesaw State while working on her Ph.D. then moved to Baton Rouge, La., to work as an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University. She was at LSU for two years before returning home to KSU.

Dr. Hoerrner’s primary research interests are learning communities and the effects of electronic media content on child audiences. She will have the opportunity to combine those interests this fall in the “From CNN to CSI: Facts and Myths of the Mass Media” learning community.

Emily Holler (Back to top)
Emily Holler is an Instructor of Communication and the Public Speaking Coordinator at Kennesaw State University. She estimates she has evaluated over 9,000 speeches in over eighty communication courses! Most semesters, she teaches multiple sections of Public Speaking. Emily also teaches the general education course, Human Communication. Emily earned her M.A. from Eastern Illinois University in Organizational/Interpersonal Communication.

Amy Howton (Back to top)
Amy Howton earned the Master of Fine Arts degree in dance from the Florida State University. She has taught at the University of South Alabama, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and several private schools throughout the southeastern United States, as well as performing and choreographing for a number of regional dance companies. She is the recipient of the Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 2000 Dance Educator of the Year award and the 2004 College/University Physical Education Teacher of the Year award. Currently she teaches dance and fitness courses and coordinates the HPS 1000 class at Kennesaw State University, as well as serving as Chair-Elect for the Dance Science and Somatics Council of the Southern District Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Wandra C. Hunley (Back to top)
By a majority family vote she was named Wandra Cortella Hunley. Purely by chance she was born in Marietta, GA. Like Meridan Hill in Alice Walker’s Meridian she is, “a woman in the process of changing her mind.” Wandra believes that it’s important to stay open to new ideas and never lose the fire of learning. She cherishes the words of poet Audre Lorde who reminds us, “that when I begin to use my strength in the service of my vision, it becomes less important whether I am afraid.” Wandra’s world is better and brighter because of music, books, babies, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, the television show Charmed, love, and laughter.

Tonya Jones (Back to top)
Tonya Jones joined the KSU faculty as an instructor in the Department of Mathematics in 1993 and later moved to the Department of University Studies in 2000. She holds a Masters of Science in Mathematics from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Georgia Southern University. She is the Director of Learning Support at KSU and is very interested in student success.

Mike Keleher (Back to top)
Mike Keleher came to Kennesaw State in 2002 and teaches learning support courses and freshman composition. He received the M.A. in English (Composition and Rhetoric) from the University of South Carolina and is working on his PhD at Georgia State University. His research interests include ethics, rhetorical theory, postmodernism, “third space” pedagogy and digital rhetoric. He is an avid golfer, guitarist, and film buff.

David King (Back to top)
Dr. David King teaches literature and film in the Department of English. He has taught at KSU since 1992 and has been involved with the CLASS program since its beginnings.

Katherine Kinnick (Back to top)
Katherine Kinnick, Ph.D., APR, is Director of Pre-College Programs and a professor of Communication. She directs the Joint Enrollment Honors Program for academically accelerated high school students. In addition, she teaches KSU 1101, the First-Year Experience Seminar, and a variety of communication courses. Dr. Kinnick was the 2003 recipient of Kennesaw State’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest award for teaching given at the university. She is a past president of the Georgia Communication Association and has held numerous leadership positions in service to the campus and community. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Georgia.

Marina Koether (Back to top)
Dr. Marina Koether is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She graduated from Queen’s University with a Ph.D. in Analytical/Environmental Chemistry in 1994 and arrived at KSU in 1998. She was the recipient of the College of Science and Mathematics 2003 Distinguished Advisor Award and the 2004 Distinguished Service Award. Currently, she is the Principle Investigator on the Merck-AAAS Grant in the funding of undergraduate students to conduct research at the cutting edge of biology and chemistry.

Natasha Lovelace (Back to top)
Natasha Lovelace earned her terminal degree, a Master of Fine Arts with a focus in Printmaking, from the University of Florida and her B.A. in Studio Arts from the University of South Florida. She has taught a variety of foundation-level Studio Art courses for art majors, but also enjoys connecting with non-art majors through her Arts in Society courses. She explains, �these courses have allowed me the unique opportunity to interact with non-art majors, where my goal is to show them that the Arts can function as a conduit to gaining an enlightened understanding of our world and our humanity.� Currently she holds a temporary position as Assistant Professor of Art in the Department of University Studies where she teaches the First-Year Experience Seminar tailored for the discipline-specific, Visual Arts Learning Communities at KSU. Ms. Lovelace is also a professional artist actively maintaining both a regional and national exhibition record, specializing in book arts and public installation artwork. On display at the KSU Center, is an exhibit she recently co-curated consisting of art and non-art majors' student work, created to accompany the Anne Frank Project, and personal artwork donated to their Permanent Collection.

Kathy Matthews (Back to top)
Kathy L. Matthews (Department of University Studies, Director of First-Year Experience) has directed Kennesaw State University’s nationally recognized First-Year Experience Program since 1996. She has been cited both by her students and her peers for devotion to students and her passion for teaching. Among the awards and honors she has earned, Ms. Matthews received the Catherine C. and Kenneth O. Kiesler Learning Support Programs Service Award, as well as the Learning Support Programs Distinguished Scholarship Award in 2001 and the Department of University Studies Distinguished Teaching Award in 2003. She was also the recipient of the Kennesaw State Athletics Mike Carroll Sportsmanship Award in 1998.

Her publishing credits include Making Connections, Achieving Success, Understanding Others, the text she helped edit for adoption in many KSU 1101 classes. Ms. Matthews is also an Assistant Professor of English, and specializes in developmental composition, African-American literature, and comparative literature. Ms. Matthews is a Ford Foundation Fellow and a founding and charter member of Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia (an affiliate of the National Association of Black Storytellers) and the Southern Order of Storytellers. “Through stories,” she says, “we make our connections. Stories entertain us, teach us, and inspire us. So, pass them on; spread the word!”

Laura McGrath (Back to top)
Dr. McGrath is an Assistant Professor of English at KSU. She teaches rhetoric and composition, computers and writing, and professional editing courses. Her research centers on electronic communication, virtual communities, multiliteracies, online learning, and student language use in electronic environments. Before joining the KSU faculty in 2004, she held a Brittain Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she taught technology-enhanced cultural studies courses.

Wendell McMurrain (Back to top)
Wendell McMurrain (Department of History & Philosophy) received his B.A. in History from the University of Georgia in 1991. He received a second B.A. cum laude, with Advanced & Research Honors, in Religious Studies from Georgia State University in 1995. He received his M.T.S. with a concentration in ethics from Emory University in 1998. Mr. McMurrain has taught at KSU since 2002. His professional interests are Comparative Religious Studies—comparative religious ethics, history of Religions, Philosophy of Religion, post-Modern Philosophy (a/Theology), and the History of the Roman Republic/Empire. His personal interests are his three children, pop-Culture, Atlanta Braves baseball, and UGA Football (Go Dawgs!).

Deborah Mixson-Brookshire (Back to top)
Ms. Deborah Mixon-Brookshire received a B.B.A. in Accounting and a M.B.A. with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from Kennesaw State University. Her motto/life creed is LIVE, LEARN, LAUGH, and have FUN while embracing yourself and others. Ms. Mixon-Brookshire was very active in her undergraduate and graduate life while attending KSU. She uses her experiences to relate to her students, and sets as a goal in her KSU 1101 classes to allow the students to explore the college journey while learning about themselves through a variety of topics.

Julia Morrissey (Back to top)
Julia Morrissey is an assistant professor of English in University College, where she teaches ESL Reading 0099, ESL English 0099, and English 1101 in learning communities. She also coordinates the Regents’ Exam preparation program and teaches Regents’ preparation courses. Her academic interests are varied and include an emphasis on the scholarship of teaching and learning in the fields of reading and writing. She retains the strong interest in American culture that caused her to earn a doctorate in American literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but now combines that with an equally strong interest in world cultures and global issues.

Peggy Moser (Back to top)
Ms. Peggy Moser has been at KSU since 1994. She has a diverse background, having taught in Japan and Germany, where she sponsored student councils for three years and The Netherlands where she supervised the floor secretaries for the Model United Nations at the Congressgabouw in The Hague for two years. In Germany, she was career counselor at Nurnberg American High School where she maintained a large career library for over 2,000 students. She was given a meritorious achievement award while teaching at this school. At College of the Canyons, Valencia, California, she taught ESL, English, and reading to a large Spanish community for three years. While teaching English and reading in Meridian, Mississippi, for ten years, she was on the steering committee for instigating a pilot program which put in place survival skills for students in grades K-12, and she co-authored the book which stated the policies and requirements for this program. She taught Adult Education in the night program at the Meridian Jr. College, which included a large Choctaw Indian population bussed from Philadelphia, Mississippi, and Meridian City Fire Department employees. Ms. Moser is an artist, has co-directed numerous plays for children in school systems where she taught and The Meridian Little Theatre, is a music lover, and is a better-than-average cook. Her motto is "Learn something from everyone you meet."

Martha Myers (Back to top)
Dr. Martha Myers is a tenured full professor of Computer Science and Information Systems. She holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems, M.A. in mathematics education, and B.A. in mathematics, all from the University of Texas at Austin. Her interests focus on the promotion of women and other underrepresented groups in the fields of science and technology. She is the faculty advisor for WIT –Women In Technology, a KSU student club. In addition she enjoys fabric, music and rocking babies.

Daniel M. Niederjohn (Back to top)
Dr. Niederjohn received his M.A. in 1999 and his Ph.D. in 2002 in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He completed his predoctoral internship at Emory University and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Georgia. Dr. Niederjohn’s research and practice interests include late-adolescent/early-adult development, the transition to college, and the processes of effective teaching and psychotherapy. He is presently serving as the faculty co-advisor for Psi Chi, the honors organization for psychology majors. Dr. Niederjohn is currently licensed in the state of Georgia.

Jan Phillips (Back to top)
Prof. Jan Phillips has taught at Kennesaw State University for over eight years. She began teaching English Literature and Composition in the Department of English in 1997, and she now teaches in the Department of Communication. During her career, she also taught at Shorter College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University . She was also a professional writer and editor and held positions as Senior Editor, Editorial Director, Editorial Assistant, and Free-lance Editorialist. She has written many articles as well as a chapter in a college-level English composition textbook. She is married to Joseph Phillips, who has also taught secondary History and Social Studies. Her hobbies include mountain bike riding, drawing, painting, raising plants and keeping beta fish. She attends Shiloh Hills Baptist Church where she and her husband are actively involved.

John Pritchard (Back to top)
Mr. Pritchard is a native of Canton (GA) and a graduate of Cherokee HS. His undergraduate work was completed at Columbus State University (BMusic) and his graduate work at the University of Michigan (MMusic). He earned his teaching certification at Kennesaw State University and subsequently taught band and other music-subjects at Dean Rusk Middle School and Sequoyah High School (Canton, GA) 1997-2001. He has been on the faculty at KSU since 2002, teaching FYE and music courses.

Tom Pynn (Back to top)
Tom Pynn is Instructor of Philosophy at KSU. He received an M.A. in Literature and an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Mississippi. His interests in literature include the American novel, post world war two American poetry, and East Asian poetry. In philosophy, Tom’s interests are phenomenology and existentialism, aesthetics, philosophy of peace, indigenous philosophy, yoga philosophy, Buddhism, and cross-cultural philosophy. When not working, Tom’s hobbies include, composing poetry, gardening organically, reading, playing guitar, and thinking. He lives in the Coosa River Basin with his wife Julie, daughter Abbey, two dogs and three cats.

Anne R. Richards (Back to top)
Anne R. Richards is assistant professor of English at KSU. She received her Ph.D. in rhetoric and professional communication and her master's degree in teaching English as a second language from Iowa State University, and her bachelor's degree in religious studies from Grinnell College. She and her husband, Iraj Omidvar, hope to take KSU students abroad to study art, literature, and travel writing in Tunisia in May 2006. Dr. Richards is interested in teaching and researching about culture, rhetoric, and visual and sound design in multimedia.

Wesley Riddle (Back to top)
Wes Riddle (Coordinator of the Center for Student Leadership) is originally from South Carolina where he received his BA in Communications from the University of South Carolina Aiken in May of 2003 and then went on to receive his MEd from the University of Georgia in May of 2005. Wes has been an instructor at Kennesaw State since July of 2005.

John M. Robinson (Back to top)
If you recognize these “lyrics” you know my genus:
Born on an Army base in Missouri.
Greatest state in the land of the free.
Burned down a chicken coop when I was only three,
And planted me a garden so I could eat a pea.
Johnny—Johnny Robinson
King of the Bio-sphere.

Michael Sanseviro (Back to top)
Michael Sanseviro, Director of Residence Life at Kennesaw State University, has worked in higher education for the past 14 years in various roles within student affairs. Michael completed his undergraduate studies in educational research, philosophy and religion at Emory University, his Master’s in higher education administration at Florida State University, and is currently completing his doctorate in educational policy studies at Georgia State University. In addition, Michael pursued a Masters in Management at Polytechnic University in New York. In addition to teaching KSU 1101, Michael also serves on the faculty of Keller Graduate School of Management teaching business communications.

David Schmidt (Back to top)
David Schmidt (University College) received both his B.A. in English and M.A. in Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University. He currently serves as the ESL Study and Tutorial Center Coordinator in the Department of University Studies. In this capacity, he coordinates the Conversation Partners Program, the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MTELP) admissions tests, and the International Regents' tests. He also acts as a general education academic advisor and English tutor for international students at KSU, and teaches English 0099, Reading 0099, English 1101, and English 1102.

Lesia Schnur (Back to top)
Ms. Lesia Miller Schnur received her Master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences from the University of South Florida and a second M.A. in Professional Writing, Kennesaw State University. As an academic librarian, she realized that her place was in the classroom. Transitioning to an Instructor in the Department of University Studies at Kennesaw State University, she teaches the KSU 1101: First-Year Experience course, as well as English Composition I and II. Her research interests include improved bibliographic instruction and utilization of technology in the classroom. Her lectures focus on the importance of multiple genres and interactive group projects.

Debbie Smith (Back to top)
Deborah N. Smith is an assistant professor at KSU, where she teaches Freshman Seminar and Senior Seminar. In the past, she has held positions at other higher education institutions in the areas of student life and wellness. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Furman University, a M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Georgia State University.

Sabine Smith (Back to top)
Dr. Sabine Smith is Associate Professor of German Studies in the Department of Foreign Languages, where she also teaches a course required for all Majors entitled “World Languages and Cultures.” Having grown up in Europe, she has enjoyed traveling and foreign language and culture studies. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis with a Designated Emphasis in Feminist Theory and Research, from where she graduated in 1996 with a doctoral thesis on sexual violence in German culture. Currently, her scholarly interests focus on best practices in Foreign Language pedagogy. She has been a faculty member at KSU since 1997.

Linda Stewart (Back to top)
Linda Stewart is an Instructor of English at Kennesaw State University where she teaches a sequence of composition courses and a World Literature course. She has taught English at Kennesaw for eight years. She is affiliated with the Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project, serving as Co-director last year and as the Pilot Teacher Coordinator for the “Keeping and Creating American Communities” multi-year project. At the University of New Hampshire, she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Arts in English Literature, joined Phi Beta Kappa, and taught general and honors composition courses. She has secondary school experience teaching a varied curriculum: debate, literature, composition, media studies, and humanities. Conference experience includes GCTE, NCTE, NWP, the Virginia Woolf Annual Conference, the Oklahoma State NWP, and the American Studies Association. Most recently her work has been published in Writing America: Classroom Literacy and Public Engagement and Writing Our Communities.

Ellen Taber (Back to top)
Ellen Taber holds a masters degree in professional writing from Kennesaw. Incorporating her background as published novelist, editor, and registered nurse, she shares tricks of the trade that help students lose their fears and build confidence in their writing and critical thinking. Because she believes that everyone has something to say, her goal is to help students identify the topics that interest them, then to use their creativity in writing the strongest arguments possible.

Carlton A. Usher (Back to top)
Dr. Carlton Anthony Usher studied Business Information at Virginia State University. He consequently earned his Masters in history at Clark Atlanta University where his emphasis of study was African American, Diaspora, and Global Studies. Subsequent to completing graduate work in both History and American Studies; he pursued a Ph.D. in Political Science. Dr. Usher is especially interested in the relationship between culture and politics, particularly popular culture. His book on the political philosophy titled, A Rhyme is a Terrible Thing to Waste (Africa World Press, 2006 ) grew out of that concern. In 2005, he was accepted to participate in EXCEL 2005, a university wide leadership program. Currently he serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of University Studies. Carlton is a Community Based Learning Fellow (CBL) and an active member of the American Democracy Project Team. He believes that �there is enough room on the planet for all of our ideas.�

Lori Waite (Back to top)
Dr. Lori Waite earned a P.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University. She also holds Masters degrees in Political Science and African American Studies. Her research and teaching interests are in the areas of social inequality and race, class, and gender studies. Dr. Waite has published several articles on the Chicago civil rights movement, known as the Chicago Freedom Movement and the southern Civil Rights Movement.

Denise White (Back to top)
Denise C. White is a Ph.D. candidate in Literary Studies at Georgia State University. She earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees at the College of Charleston. Fields of interest include Medieval Literature, Folklore and Mythology, and 20th Century British and American Literature. Her favorite topics for the classroom include World Literature, banned books, academic freedom, ethics, and research. She is an active member of Phi Kappa Phi, an international, interdisciplinary honor society. She is active in cat rescue and enjoys antiquing, baking, gardening, spending time with her cats and Newfoundland puppy named Byron and, of course, reading.

Susan Whitlock (Back to top)
Susan Whitlock is an Assistant Professor at KSU. She has taught the HPS 1000 Fitness for Living course for each of the 15 years she has been at Kennesaw. She is a former college basketball, volleyball, and tennis coach, and she maintains an advisory role in the KSU athletic department. Other courses that she teaches include activities courses such as Outdoor Recreation, Archery, Badminton, and Jogging, and Coaching Principles.

Leslie Wolfe-Cundiff (Back to top)
Leslie Wolfe-Cundiff has been an adjunct faculty member in KSU’s English Department since Fall '04, teaching English 1101 and 1102. She received her M.A. in Professional Writing at KSU in Summer '04 after working for some 30 years in communications as a broadcast journalist for TV and radio, public relations specialist, freelance writer and consultant. She’s worked for media outlets and corporations in Wisconsin, North Carolina, New York and Atlanta. Leslie and her husband, Jim Cundiff, live in Roswell with their 12-year-old twin daughters, Colleen and Mallory, and a small menagerie of pets.

Brian M. Wooten (Back to top)
Brian M. Wooten is the Director of the Center for Student Leadership and Instructor of University Studies at Kennesaw State University. He received a Bachelor’s degree in History from Furman University and a Master’s degree in public affairs with a focus in Student Development Theory from Kennesaw State University. He has worked at Kennesaw State for 10 years. He has been a contributing writer for the lithograph on the Development of Community on College Campuses for the First Year Experience.

Jiayan Zhang (Back to top)
Originally from China, Dr. Zhang studied at Nanjing Agricultural University (China) where he obtained his Master’s degree in 1990 and the University of California, Los Angeles, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 2004. He was research fellow at Nanjing Agricultural University (1990-1998) and visiting scholar at Wageningen University and Leiden University (Netherlands) (1996-1997). Currently he is an assistant professor of history at the Department of History and Philosophy, Kennesaw State University.

For more information on KSU 1102, please contact:
Cathy Bradford, KSU 1101/1102 Administrative Coordinator,
at 770-423-6243.

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