Newsroom

The SEHD warmly welcomes a talented group of 11 new faculty members. This is the largest group of faculty hired at one time. They represent a broad range of professional and personal experiences and will add significantly to the diversity of our faculty. Their life experiences and research interests will fuel the dynamic learning environment in our school. Dean Lynn is grateful to associate deans Scott Bauer, PhD, Dorothy Garrison-Wade, PhD, and Barbara Seidl, PhD, for their leadership during the search processes.

Jenine “Nina” Buchanan, clinical associate professor in the Leadership for Educational Organizations (LEO) higher education program, earned her EdD in higher education administrative leadership from Widener University. She comes from Wilmington University, where she was an associate professor. Her research focuses on advising and mentoring higher education professionals.

Jennifer Camacho Taylor, clinical assistant professor in the Human Development and Family Relations program, earned her PhD in educational psychology with a concentration in human development and family science from the University of North Texas (UNT). She most recently served as a teaching fellow at UNT. Her research interests include human development, racial ethnic socialization, racial trauma, and symptomology.

Dèsa Daniel, assistant professor in the Counseling program, received a PhD in counselor education and supervision from the University of New Mexico. She is a licensed mental health counselor in New Mexico. Daniel’s research interests focus on supervision relationships for racial/ethnic minorities, the lived experiences of racial/ethnic college students, and the experiences of Black/African American womxn in academic spaces. Daniel advocates for inclusive spaces for racial/ethnic minority students within academia and within organizations for increasing graduate student resources.

Ester de Jong, professor in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education program, was raised in the Netherlands and earned her EdD in literacy, language, and cultural studies from Boston University. Most recently, she was a professor at the University of Florida. This former president of the TESOL International Association has authored more than 90 publications. Her research interests include equity and integration in dual language education and teacher preparation for bilingual learners.

Rashmi Gangamma, associate professor in the Couple and Family Therapy program, grew up in India and earned a PhD in human development and family science with a specialization in couple and family therapy from The Ohio State University. She comes to SEHD from Syracuse University, where she was an associate professor. Her research focuses on relational ethics in couple and family therapy, and culturally responsive systemic interventions for resettled refugees with multiple intersecting identities.

Erica Holyoke, assistant professor in the Responsive Literacy Education program, received her PhD in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on language and literacy studies, from the University of Texas at Austin. She comes to SEHD from Keene State College, where she was an assistant professor. Her research focuses on culturally sustaining pedagogical practices and restorative justice in literacy education.

Katie L. Jones has been promoted to a full-time alternative licensure instructor for ASPIRE to Teach after serving in part-time roles as assistant alternative licensure instructor and as an independent contractor for professional development since 2015. Her experience also includes key roles with Quinsigamond Community College, Harvard University’s Cambridge Harvard Summer Academy, New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning, the College of the Holy Cross, and Denver Public Schools. She earned her EdD from Northeastern University. Her research focuses on teacher leadership, retention and urban schools. 

Chélynn Randolph, clinical assistant professor in the Couples and Family Therapy program, earned her PhD in marriage and family therapy from Florida State University (FSU), where she was a McKnight Dissertation Fellow. Most recently, she was an instructor at FSU and a psychotherapist in private practice. Her research interests include destigmatizing therapy in communities of color and using interrelatedness to strengthen couples.

Tom “YiLe” Su, clinical assistant professor in the Couples and Family Therapy program, grew up in China and earned his PhD in marriage and family therapy from Florida State University (FSU). His dissertation explored how relational cultural intelligence leads to successful intercultural relationships. His other research interests include Asian and Asian American families, sexual and gender minority relationships, and general relationship development processes.

Renée Wilkins-Clark, assistant professor in Human Development and Family Relations, earned her PhD in applied family science and a certificate in social justice education from Kansas State University (KSU). Most recently, she was a graduate teaching and research assistant at KSU. Her research interests include family dynamics and the ways in which familial processes are influenced by societal and structural forces, specifically family transitions and trauma.

Sarah Woodard, senior instructor in the Responsive Literacy Education program, earned an MA in literacy, language, and culture from CU Denver and has been highly involved in leadership roles for the National Writing Project, the Denver Writing Project, and the Literacy Design Collaborative. Her publications and presentations explore teacher and student civic mindedness through personalized learning and writing.