Class notes

1970s

Oliver Blaise, Jr. (BSED ’70) received his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Syracuse University in May.

Priscilla Grant Doster (BS ’70, MED ’72, EDD ’82) retired several years ago from the Monroe County School System, where she served as an assistant superintendent, and is now in her fifth year as a member of the Monroe County Board of Education and second year as chairman of the board.

Lucy Madsen Guglielmino (EDD ’77) retired as a full professor from the Department of Education Leadership at Florida Atlantic University in 2011. She also served as chairman of the International Society for Self-Directed Learning until 2021. She currently serves on the board as immediate past chair, as an external reviewer for NorthWest University (South Africa) graduate students, and an editorial board member on the International Journal of Self-Directed Learning.

Richard Harris (BSED ’75) is chair of the Barack and Michelle Obama Community Arts Foundation.

Barry L. Jackson (PHD ’75) is a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of Malta. He retired from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and was named professor and director emeritus of the Drug, Alcohol, and Wellness Network. He now serves as vice president and professor of Osteo Re College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bucharest, Romania.

Valerie Stephens Leake (BSED ’79) is the program director of the counseling psychology doctoral program at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Peggy McGarity-Bryant (BSED ’79, MED’ 80, EDS ’88) retired after 30 years of teaching.

1980s

Mary Kathryn Barrett (BSED ’85) retired in May after teaching in Georgia for 32 years.

Debbie Clark (BSED ’83, MED ’86) recently began her 40th year in the classroom at Johnson High School in Gainesville, Georgia. A former Hall County School District Teacher of the Year as well as the College’s 2010 Alumni Awards Crystal Apple recipient, she was most recently selected as one of 20 semi-finalists in the nation for the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

Sandra Whaley Derrick (BS ’76, MED ’80) retired from 30 years of teaching home economics education in Whitfield County Schools in 2008. Since then, she has been a member and held leadership positions on UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences Alumni Association Board of Directors, the UGA Mentorship Program, the UGA Alumni Association’s Dalton chapter, the Dalton Whitfield Murray Retired Educators Association, the omega chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Robert Loughridge chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Judith Hill Garrison (BSED ’82, MED ’87) wrote a new travel book, “100 Things to do Athens, GA Before You Die.” It will be available this fall, and book signings will be scheduled in the city.

Bubba Jeter (BSED ’86) recently had a new indoor practice facility at Troup County High School named in his honor. He taught and coached football at THS in LaGrange, Georgia, for 24 years.

Denise (Companik) Juliana (BSED ’81) recently retired from a 30-year career as a CPA and partner with Eide Bailly LLP. She and her husband Patrick live in Timnath, Colorado, and have lived in northern Colorado since her graduation from UGA. She keeps busy in retirement with volunteering and now serves as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado.

Rebecca (Pugh) Kennedy (BSED ’84) retired after 33 years of teaching health and physical education.

James Lewis (BSED ’88) was promoted to professor at Brenau University in April and received the Provost Outstanding Faculty Award at Brenau in May.

Claire Hubbard Mann (BSED ’87) taught third grade for 16 years before creating a theatre arts program at her school, Riverside Elementary. For the past six years, she has directed an after-school theatre company where the students prepare all year for a spring performance at the local high school.

Elizabeth Plott (BMUS ’86, MMED ’92) was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda in 1999, retired from Union County Schools in 2018, and is now employed as a music consultant with ArtsNow.

William Taylor (BSED ’84) retired as the superintendent of Lowndes County Schools and now serves as the executive director of Coastal Plains RESA.

1990s

Stacey Altman (MED ’96) was selected to serve as interim dean of the College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University.

Elaine Dasher (ABJ ’89, MED ’96) participated in an international field experience in Bogota, Colombia, as a Fulbright Fellow in the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. She visited schools and universities, met students, teachers, and professors, and learned about the education system in Colombia.

Stephanie Dickens (BSED ’98, MED ’04) was named assistant principal at Comer Elementary in Madison County, Georgia in May after teaching for 24 years at Oconee County Elementary.

Anastasia Fischer (MA ’96) was elected president of the American College of Sports Medicine for 2022-23.

Amy Harkins (BBA ’99, MED ’01) is the new principal at Washington-Wilkes Elementary School.

Cindy Huffman (BSED ’90) retired after 32 years of service as an elementary school science teacher in Forney, Texas. She spent her entire career in the same school district, but taught five different grade levels and several thousand students over the span of her career.

Ginger Morgan (BSED ’97) accepted a position as an adjunct professor at Liberty University and will start teaching applied methods this January.

Jeff Teeple (BSED ’99) was one of six teachers selected as an Honor Teacher by Loganville High School’s 2022 senior class.

Gretchen Thomas (BSED ’94, MED ’96, ED ’00) was promoted to senior lecturer in the UGA College of Education’s Learning, Design, and Technology program.

2000s

Stephanie Baugh (MED ’05) is an associate professor in the Art Department at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. She also serves as the associate dean of academic initiatives, a three-year renewable position in the Division of Academic Affairs. 

Ashley Bellamy (BSED ’04) earned a master’s degree in education and is currently a media specialist for a public school in Georgia.

Derek Bowen (MED ’03, EDS ’09) was named principal of Gilmer High School in Ellijay, Georgia in April.

Joan Collier (MED ’09, PHD ’17) is the assistant vice president for equity and inclusion at Rutgers University where she co-leads university-wide strategic planning and comprehensive cross-campus engagement efforts to realize the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive learning and working environment.

Evelyn Shaw Corley (BSED ’05) won Meta’s 2022 Changemaker Award in Washington D.C., paving a path for her to positively impact more students’ lives than ever before.

Tonya Cornileus (MED ’05, PHD ’10) was promoted to senior vice president of learning and talent solutions at The Walt Disney Company in May. Her previous role was vice president of development, inclusion, and wellness at ESPN, which she held for 12.5 years.

Brian Culp (EDD ’05) co-authored the book “Critical Race Studies in Physical Education,” which was published in April. He was also recognized by Shape America for his significant contributions to curriculum and instruction. In July, he finished a successful stint as interim department chair in the Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education at Kennesaw State University.

Jessica King Holden (BSED ’05, BSA ’05), science curriculum director for Gwinnett County Public Schools, was recently named to the Board of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, an active and highly decorated chapter of Keep America Beautiful. Holden works with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and the over 140 schools in GCPS to provide students and teachers access to relevant, environmentally based citizen science and grant opportunities.

Willie Mazyck (BSED ’04, MED ’06) recently started a new position as global head of talent development at Danaher Corporation, a global Fortune 200 life sciences company with over 80,000 employees. He was also elected to serve on the UGA Black Alumni Leadership Council as well as the UGA Board of Visitors with his three-year term beginning this fall.

Lisa Melendez (BSED ’08) is an assistant principal at East Chicago Central High School and is currently working on a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Dyanna Motes (BSED ’08, MED ’10) works at Kemp Elementary School and recently joined an elite group of the nation’s top educators when she won The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). She is one of only two Georgia educators to win the award this year and is the only one to earn the honor for the field of mathematics. 

Colin Muething (BSED ’07, MED ’09) was recently awarded the Outstanding Young Texas Exes Award from the University of Texas at Austin.

Anna Nero-Self (BSED ’02) earned a master's degree from Kennesaw State University after graduating from UGA and is now in her 21st year in the classroom. She also serves as head of the English department at her school.

Cara Simmons (MED ’07, PHD ’18) was appointed interim director of UGA’s Division of Academic Enhancement in August.

Cara Turano (BSED ’01) was named president and executive director of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, a founder education and support nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, that serves entrepreneurs throughout the state.

2010s

David Ayers (MED ’10) was named dean of student life at the Mount Vernon School in Atlanta.

Meridith Balas (MED ’15) was appointed the executive director of alumni engagement at West Virginia University in March. She will continue to serve as an adjunct faculty member in the higher education program while also completing research at the Land Grant Center.

Megan Brock (PHD ’18) serves as a lecturer and academic coach at UGA as well as assistant director of Reacting to the Past and president of the Black Faculty and Staff Organization. In her personal life, she’s led a successful business in the restaurant industry and more recently launched her business’ very first food truck, M&M's Comfort Zone, LLC.

Jackie Clark (PHD ’17) was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor at Saint Martin's University in Olympia, Washington in May. In addition, she took on the role of associate dean for the College of Education and Counseling in January and leads two programs.

Ashton Dooley (MS ’17, PHD ’23) is director of student activities at Athens Technical College.

Tonia Dousay (PHD ’13) was named director of the University of Alaska Anchorage School of Education.

Raphael Florestal-Kevelier (PHD ’18) received the Hannibal E. Howell Award for Promoting Diversity in College Health from the American College Health Association in May 2021, was promoted to the executive director for Alice! Health Promotion and Public Health Initiatives at Columbia University in March, and started the inaugural role of assistant vice chancellor for student health and wellness and the executive director of the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago in July.

Staci Gelbaum (EDS ’13) was appointed director of internal resolution and compliance, Title IX for Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Chantelle Grace (BSED ’12, MED ’15, PHD ’22) completed a doctoral degree in educational theory and practice this summer and began a new role as a teaching faculty in social science education at Florida State University.

Brian Gura (AB ’14, MED ’17) accepted a position as an academic instructional designer at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Beverly E. Johnson (EDD ’17) was recently promoted to assistant director of UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. 

Tugba Karadavut (MED ’11, MS ’16, PHD ’16) works as an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Sciences at İzmir Democracy University, in İzmir, Turkey, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and conducting research on educational measurement and evaluation, research methods, and statistics.

Katherine Keese (MED ’15) gained full licensure as a professional counselor and opened her own private practice in Madison, Georgia, called Feeling Alright Counseling.

Emily Leask (AB ’17, BSED ’17) has recently been appointed as the head of innovation at My Online Schooling, a British international online school. 

Kate Long (BSED ’18, MED ’18) is in her fifth year of teaching in Clarke County School District. 

Dionte Patterson (BSED ’17) graduated with an MBA from Georgia State University and secured a role with Cloudmed, an R1 company.

Darius Phelps (BSFCS ’15, MED ’19, EDS ’21) was recently interviewed and spotlighted by WCBS New York (Channel 2 in NYC) about the need for Black male preK-12 teachers and their impact on the field.

Rosemary Pizza (MS ’19) is an instructional coach at Gaines Elementary School and Growing Readers district specialist.

Darrell Ray (PHD ’13) launched Systematic Equity Solutions, LLC, which partners with educational institutions, businesses, and non-profits to develop strategy and processes focused on organizational equity, training, and system-level planning. Ray retired from a 25-year career as an administrator and college professor.

Lindsay Sitterley (BSED ’13, MED ’15) earned a doctor of education from Columbus State University in May and is now an assistant principal.

Kari Smith-Murphy (MED ’19) is a doctoral student at Auburn University’s College of Educational Leadership concentrating on administration and supervision of curriculum, as well as a high school teacher at Loganville Christian Academy.

T. Hunter Strickland (BSED ’10, MED ’11, PHD ’19) was recently promoted to director of secondary education at Anderson University in South Carolina and went to press with Routledge on a book he co-edited called, “How Young Adult Literature Gets Taught: Perspectives, Ideologies, and Approaches for Instruction and Assessment,” due to release Oct. 22.

J.J. Thomas (MS ’19) started a new job as director of advancement at Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School in Athens, Georgia.

Julie Tull (BSED ’12, MED ’13) is a recipient of the 2021 Yale Educator Award, which is given to educators and counselors who have been nominated by a student from the incoming freshman class.

Samantha Weldon (MAT ’16) owns a small business in Milledgeville, Georgia, that serves children with disabilities both in school and at home.

Kimberly Wilber (EDS ’15) received a promotion from coordinator to director of gifted and intervention programs for Newton County Schools.

Aisha Wright-Burke (EDD ’14) moved into a new role at ADP, Inc. in July 2021 as the director of global talent planning, leading succession planning and related projects globally.

 

2020s

Ajit Bhattarai (PHD ’21) started a tenure-track assistant professor position at Idaho State University this past fall.

Caitlin Franchini (BSED ’20) accepted a clinical fellowship at the Arthur Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research in Atlanta and will be planning programming, conducting therapy sessions for clients who stutter, and assisting with research in the area of stuttering.

Taylor Grigg (BSED ’21) is a fourth-grade teacher at Sand Lake Elementary in Orlando, Florida.

Luke Hearn (EDD ’21) started as a part-time instructor of special education at the University of West Georgia.

Amanda Keller (BSED ’21) is beginning her second year of teaching as an interrelated special education teacher at Creek View Elementary School in Fulton County Schools and will serve as department chair.

Elliott Kuecker (PHD ’22) was hired as a teaching assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Christina Lawler (MED ’22) recently started a new position at Georgetown University as assistant director of class programs and reunion campaigns.

Jiyea Park (PHD ’22) graduated with a doctoral degree from the College’s learning, leadership, and organization development program and began working with the American Legislative Exchange Council as a post-doc research associate.

Marcus Pollard (EDS ’15) just finished his year as president for the Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association.

Ashleigh Rivera (BSED ’22) graduated in May and began working with Henry County Schools at Ola Middle School as an exceptional student educator for interrelated services.

David Stanley, Jr. (PHD ’20) recently accepted a tenure-track assistant professor position at Purdue University in the counseling psychology program in the Department of Educational Studies.

Chasity Tompkins (MED ’20) is an agriscience teacher and Future Farmers of America advisor at Coile Middle School.

Mark Warren (MS ’21) is the athletic director of external affairs at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Matthew Willis (BSED ’22) is teaching for the Clarke County School District at Coile Middle School.

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