Meet our new faculty members at CCU
Coastal Carolina University welcomes 45 new faculty members to its campus, teachers who encapsulate a wealth of diversity and experience to share with our students. The College of Science has the largest number of new faculty at 17, with the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts close behind with 16. The Spadoni College of Education has six new faculty, University College has three, Kimbel welcomes two, and the Wall College of Business has one.
And they are impressive.
One new assistant professor of geography comes from the World Agroforestry Centre in the Philippines, where she worked with local communities to develop reforestation efforts. Another assistant professor of communication worked for five years in the nonprofit sector in western Australia. Another assistant professor, this one of photography, has toured his photographic Watershed Project nationally for the past five years.
We are so fortunate to add them to our already illustrious faculty. To introduce them, here are their short bios:
E. Craig Wall College of Business Administration
Zhili Tian, Assistant Professor of Management
Zhili Tian earned his Ph.D. in operations management from Washington University in 2011, an M.S. in management from UCLA in 2006, and an M.S. in transportation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002. Tian served most recently on the faculty at Florida International University and at Towson University. Since earning his doctorate, he has been an active researcher, publishing in high-quality journal outlets in his field. Tian will be teaching operations management, decision analysis and other courses in the operations management discipline.
Spadoni College of Education
James V. Davis, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
James Davis earned a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in curriculum and instruction with a focus on urban education He spent the last several years as an associate professor and program coordinator at a North Carolina university. Davis has research interests that include school transformation, teacher effectiveness, teacher leadership, principal leadership and serving at-risk populations. Davis has presented at the international, national and state levels.
Tiffany Hollis, Assistant Professor of Special Education
Tiffany Hollis earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction (urban education strand) from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Hollis’s research interests focus on the intersection of trauma, culture and special education while focusing on the ecological factors of students who have emotional and behavior disabilities or mental-health related issues. She also focuses on the importance of family-school-community-college partnerships to help youth thrive in the face of risk.
Nilo Ramos, Assistant Professor of Physical Education
Nilo C. Ramos earned his doctorate (2013) in kinesiology with an emphasis in sport pedagogy from the University of Georgia and his Master of Science (2006) and Bachelor of Arts (2002) degrees in health and physical education from Albany State University. Ramos has worked as a physical education teacher at the elementary and secondary levels and as faculty in other PE programs, including Oklahoma State University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and Emporia State University. With a focus on quality physical education, physical activity and sport instruction, Ramos’s research interests relate to teaching/coaching development and expertise.
Adriane Sheffield, Assistant Professor of Education (Foundations)
Adriane N. Sheffield served as the Science, Technology Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) coordinator for an elementary school in Tuscaloosa City Schools while completing her doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Alabama. Sheffield has more than 14 years of experience as an educator at the P-12 level, where she spent the bulk of her career working with underserved populations and children with disabilities. She is a certified trainer in the Classroom Organization and Management Program (COMP) and served as a district trainer in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Her Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Alabama will be awarded this fall.
Nicole Uphold, Assistant Professor of Special Education
Nicole Uphold earned her Ph.D. in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She taught high school students with severe disabilities in North Carolina, delivering community-based and academic instruction. She also worked as a certified rehabilitation counselor, assisting students with disabilities to develop and implement plans for employment. Uphold’s interests focus on preparing students with disabilities to reach their employment, education and independent living post-school goals.
Mary Katherine Walker, Assistant Professor of Literacy
Katie Walker earned her Ph.D. in reading with an emphasis in adolescent literacy and English as a second language (ESL) in 2017 from Texas Woman’s University. She has a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies with an emphasis in early childhood education and a master’s in language literacy education from Texas Tech University. She spent four years teaching language arts, reading, social studies and ESOL courses in the middle grades and an additional three years as an EC-12 ESL instructional coach. She has also taught undergraduate literacy and bilingual education courses as an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University and Texas Woman’s University.
Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Andrea Bergstrom, Assistant Professor of Communication
Andrea Bergstrom completed both her master’s and doctoral degrees in communication at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Prior to most recently serving in the position of lecturer in the Department of Communication, Media and Culture at CCU, Bergstrom spent five years as an assistant professor at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire, where she received the Distinguished Faculty Award for exceptional teaching and work with student organizations.
Ryan Bitzegaio, Assistant Professor of Visual Arts
Ryan Bitzegaio has professional experience in illustration, motion graphics, live television production, web development, game design and branding. He earned his B.A. in telecommunications from Ball State University in 2007 and his M.F.A. in graphic design from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2016. Before coming to Coastal Carolina, Bitzegaio established himself as an educator teaching courses across multiple disciplines at Ball State and Miami University, and he led software certification courses for working professionals at training centers across the country as an Adobe Certified Instructor and Apple Certified Trainer.
Simone Boissonneault, Lecturer of German
Simone Boissonneault has completed coursework for a Ph.D. in German at the University of Cincinnati and holds an M.A. in German from the University of Kentucky. She has taught German language and culture courses at both of these institutions. Most recently, she was a CCU teaching associate for the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies and the Department of Communications, Media and Cultures. As a lecturer at CCU, she will continue to teach German language, as well as a class in digital culture and design. German comics are one of her research interests, and she has presented her work at the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference.
Dominique Cagalanan, Assistant Professor of Geography
Before coming to CCU, Dominique Cagalanan was a senior associate scientist with the World Agroforestry Centre in the Philippines, and she taught at the University of Miami and Roger Williams University. Cagalanan earned her Ph.D. in geography in 2012 from Clark University, where she completed a dissertation entitled “The Role of Institutions in Shaping Livelihoods and Land Use/Cover in Northern Negros Natural Park, Philippines.” Her research and fieldwork focus on forest landscape restoration in the Philippines, in which she works with local communities to develop reforestation efforts that maximize agroforestry yields for local farmers while also benefiting native forest environments.
Maurico Castillo, Assistant Professor of Spanish
Mauricio Castillo earned his Ph.D. in Latin American and Iberian cultures from Columbia University in New York in 2014. He has taught at Barnard College, Sarah Lawrence College and the College of Mount Saint Vincent. He comes to CCU most recently from Rutgers University, where he was a visiting assistant professor from 2014 to 2017. He will be teaching Spanish language, literature and culture at all levels.
Thomas Castillo, Assistant Professor of History
Thomas Castillo’s teaching and research fields are in U.S. history since 1865; labor and cultural history; and immigration and migration. He earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Maryland, and his M.A. and B.A. in history from Florida International University. Castillo served as the coordinator and an academic adviser for undergraduate studies in the Office of Letters and Sciences at the University of Maryland from 2012 to 2017.
Mary Kate Clary, Teaching Associate
Mary Kate (Katie) Clary is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of History. She earned her Ph.D. in public history from Middle Tennessee State University, her M.A. in history from the University of Memphis, and her B.A. in history from Middle Tennessee State University. Since Fall 2015, Clary has been a teaching associate at Coastal, teaching CCU’s first public history and museum studies courses. She came to CCU from Blount Mansion in Knoxville, Tenn., where she served as the executive director from 2013 to 2015.
Cassandra Carlson Hill, Assistant Professor of Communication
Cassandra (Carlson) Hill entered the field of communication after five years working in the nonprofit sector in Western Australia. Gaining a passion for the art and science of communication processes during her time abroad, she returned to the U.S. and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees (summa cum laude) in communication at California State University at Fullerton. She went on to earn her doctorate in communication science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a focus on interpersonal communication and social influence. Her ongoing research explores advice and decision-making communication in varied contexts, namely between parents and their emerging adult children.
Alex Hogue, Assistant Professor of German
Alex Hogue earned his Ph.D. in German studies from the University of Cincinnati in 2016, where he completed a dissertation entitled “I, (Post)Human: Being and Subjectivity in the Quest to Build Artificial People.” He has taught German language and culture at University of Kentucky and University of Cincinnati and, most recently, was a lecturer in German at Coastal Carolina University during the 2016-17 academic year. He will be teaching German language, cinema and culture at all levels, as well as contributing to the digital culture and design program as an associated faculty.
Leigh Hughes, Assistant Professor of Visual Arts
Leigh Hughes is a Gold ADDY award-winning designer who spent the majority of her professional career developing promotional materials and in-store displays for Fortune 500 companies and major retailers, including Disney, Sherwin-Williams, Nestle, the United States Department of Tourism, Target, Toys-R-Us and Costco. She earned her MFA in visual communication design from Kent State University, where she began researching how game design can reduce the gender gap in STEM professions, particularly engineering and computer science. Prior to joining the visual arts faculty at Coastal Carolina University, she taught courses in typography, visual design media, design studio, design research and visual design literacy at Kent State University.
Elisa Modolo, Lecturer of Italian
Elisa Modolo holds a Ph.D. in Italian studies from the University of Pennsylvania, where she completed a dissertation entitled “Metamorphosis of the Metamorphoses: Italian re-writings of Ovid between Renaissance and Baroque.” She has taught Italian at Temple University and most recently was a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, where she taught Italian language and cinema courses. She holds graduate certificates from the University of Pennsylvania in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies and cinema studies. At Coastal, she will be teaching Italian language and culture at all levels.
Blair Niece, Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics
Blair Niece earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Illinois in 2017. Before starting his Ph.D., Niece earned a master’s degree in financial economics from Ohio University, a master’s degree in political science at Ohio University, and a B.A. in international relations from Shawnee State University. His primary areas of research are international cooperation on financial agreements and political risks to financial markets. Blair’s current book project explores how cooperation between nations deteriorates for international financial rules.
Edward M. Perez, Lecturer of Philosophy
Edward M. Perez earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Florida. His dissertation concerned the existence and nature of propositions as well as the logical structure of language. His current areas of research include the nature of abstract objects, the moral argument and the problem of evil. He has taught courses in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, contemporary world religions, ethics, ethics and technology, business ethics and argumentative writing.
Jeffery Ranta, Assistant Professor of Communication
Jeffery Ranta recently completed his Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of South Carolina. His dissertation defined instructional elements of strategic communication. Ranta also earned an M.A. in journalism from Temple University and a B.A. in journalism from the University of South Carolina. He served 10 years in the U.S. Navy in the surface warfare and public affairs communities. He is a Plank Center Fellow and a recipient of the George Johnson Lifetime Community Service Award.
Jeffrey Rich, Assistant Professor of Photography
Jeff Rich’s work focuses on water issues ranging from recreation and sustainability to exploitation and abuse. Rich explores these subjects by using long-term photographic documentations of very specific regions of the United States. He earned his MFA in photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design. His Watershed Project has toured nationally since 2012, with shows in New York City; Portland, Ore.; Asheville, N.C.; Bloomington, Ind.; Akron, Ohio; Amherst, Mass.; Morgantown, W.Va.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Atlanta, Ga.
Mimouna Zitouni, Fulbright Visiting Scholar
Mimouna Zitouni is joining us as a Distinguished International Visiting Lecturer through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. She is associate professor of sociolinguistics, computer mediated discourse, and English for Specific Purposes at University of Oran in Algeria. She is the president of the Doctoral Scientific Board, “Didactics of English for Specific Purposes,” a member of the LAROS Laboratory and chair of the LAROS research team on applied linguistics, languages for specific purposes, and translation science. In addition, she is managing editor of the journal IMMAGO. She earned her Ph.D. in sociolinguistics in 2013 from the University of Oran and has taught English for specific purposes at the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as sociolinguistics, computer mediated communication, and Maghreb dialectology. She has presented at numerous international conferences and published many articles on a range of topics in sociolinguistics and language acquisition. She will teach beginning Arabic for the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies and ENG 277: Literature Across Cultures for the English Department.
College of Science
Scott Carr, Assistant Professor of Physics
Scott Carr hails from the West Coast with a B.S. from UCLA. He began his doctorate at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and followed his adviser to Rice University, where he earned both an M.S. and a Ph.D. He synthesized and studied high-temperature superconductors and specifically focused his investigation on the role magnetism plays in determining superconducting properties. Following his defense, he spent one year as a visiting assistant professor at Berry College, a liberal arts college in north Georgia, where he taught courses and worked with students to develop tangible, classical analogs to quantum mechanical phenomena.
Justin Guilkey, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
Justin Guilkey earned his Ph.D. in human bioenergetics from Ball State University and has recently taught at Miami University (Ohio) and at the University of Cincinnati at Blue Ash. His area of research focuses on the effects of physical activity on cardiovascular function and long-term health in children.
Siming Guo, Assistant Professor of Engineering Science
Siming earned his B.A.Sc. in engineering science from the University of Toronto and his M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research seeks to use big data to improve the monitoring, modeling and situational awareness of the electric power grid.
George Wesley Hitt, Assistant Professor of Physics
Wes Hitt earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University with a concentration in nuclear physics. His dissertation research was on charged-particle spectroscopy for measuring astrophysically important properties of radioactive nuclei. Following his Ph.D., he was a postdoctoral scholar at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory and from 2009-2016, was part of the founding faculty of Khalifa University, a new start-up in the United Arab Emirates. Most recently, he was visiting associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering.
Brett Jarrett, Visiting Assistant Professor of Marine Science
Brett Jarrett is a geologist and marine scientist with more than 20 years of experience performing geological and geophysical studies. He holds an undergraduate degree in geology (Florida State University) and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in marine science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg, respectively. His Ph.D. research focused on the recent sedimentological development of the southwest Florida carbonate platform. Following graduate work, Jarrett held two postdoctoral positions conducting marine geological research, as well as two visiting assistant professor positions in marine science at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Colby College. Most recently, Jarrett has conducted extensive marine studies throughout the Caribbean islands.
Chelsea Kaunert, Assistant Professor of Recreation and Sport Management
Chelsea Kaunert earned her Ph.D. from Bowling Green University’s School of Media and Communication. Her emphasis is in media and society and gender communication. She earned her master’s degree in sport administration also from Bowling Green. Her research focus is in the area of media, gender and sport. She will be teaching moral and ethical reasoning in recreation and sport, media and public relations in sport, and gender and sport.
Cecilia Krahforst, Visiting Assistant Professor of Marine Science
Cecilia S. Krahforst is a marine biologist who has research interests in the fields of ecology, fish behavior and physiology, and management. The emphasis of her work is on soundscape ecology and how human behaviors influence fish behavior and larval development. Previous research includes exploring how vessel noise impacts fish acoustic communication, habitat use, reproduction and fish development (sensory reception). Her teaching emphasizes the use of current research to help students understand how the lecture material ties into social values.
Jakob Lauver, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
Jakob Lauver earned his Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Toledo and has taught the past two years at Adrian College in Adrian, Mich. His area of research centers on neuromuscular activation and skeletal muscle blood flow.
Brian Lee, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Brian Lee earned his B.S. in chemistry from the College of William and Mary and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Maryland. His dissertation research focused on the structure and dynamics of HIV proteins. During his postdoctoral fellowship at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, his research utilized biomolecular NMR spectroscopy for structural studies of zinc-binding proteins and protein-RNA complexes. As an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University, Lee continued his research on zinc-binding proteins that regulate gene expression. Most recently as a research assistant professor at Iowa State University, his research has focused on structural studies of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria.
Craig Morehead, Assistant Professor of Recreation and Sport Management
Craig Morehead earned his Ph.D. in sport and recreation management from Old Dominion University. He earned his master’s degree in sport administration with a certificate in facility and event management from Western Kentucky and his undergraduate work was in mass communication. His research interests include facility management, social media strategy and ticketing. He will be teaching area and facility management and financing sport and sales.
Matthew Murphy, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Matthew Murphy earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in experimental psychology from Tufts University. He teaches statistics, research methods, learning, animal behavior, cognition and biological psychology. His research investigates comparative animal cognition, primarily with pigeons, and includes topics such as false memory, lateral and frontal visual memory, spatial frequency perception, and abstracted relational learning. Murphy plans to start an animal behavioral research lab at CCU.
Melissa Paiva-Salisbury, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Melissa Paiva-Salisbury completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Vermont (to be conferred Fall 2017), and a Master of Arts in forensic psychology from Roger Williams University. She teaches courses in statistics, psychology and the law, research methods, and abnormal psychology. Clinically, she is keenly interested in forensic assessment, the dissemination of evidence-based approaches, and the incorporation of mindfulness into evidence-based approaches. Her current research interests include the heterogeneity within psychopathy, callous-unemotional traits, and the exploration of construct measurement.
Christine Rockey, Lecturer of Kinesiology
Christine Rockey earned her M.S. in wellness from the University of Mississippi. She has most recently been teaching in the CCU Honors Program and for University College. She will coordinate and supervise all aspects of the departmental internship program.
Marlena Ryba, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Marlena Ryba earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee. She has spent the last three years at Ohio State University as a postdoctoral researcher and fellow in the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Ryba teaches courses in general psychology, research methods, abnormal psychology and health psychology. Her research interests include evidence-based treatments of depression, behavioral medicine, and dissemination and implementation.
Amber Schleretha, First-Year Adviser in the College of Science
Amber Schleretha joins the dean’s office as a first-year adviser in the College of Science. Schleretha completed her bachelor’s degree in physical education with a concentration in exercise science (2012) and master’s degree in exercise science with an emphasis in health and wellness (2014) both from the University of South Florida. Prior to working at Coastal, she worked two years as a health fitness professional for Health Fitness Corporation and was a group fitness instructor in campus recreation at the University of South Florida. Most recently, Schlereth spent three years living in Albuquerque, N.M., before relocating to Myrtle Beach and becoming an academic adviser at CCU.
Nick Schlereth, Assistant Professor of Recreation and Sport Management
Nick Schlereth earned his Ph.D. in health, exercise and sport sciences with a concentration in sport administration from the University of New Mexico. While at UNM, he also earned his MBA with a concentration in strategic management and policy from the Anderson School of Management. He earned his M.S. in exercise science from The Citadel and his B.A. in gerontology from the University of South Florida. He has previously worked in various capacities with Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, Under Armour, and most recently with ESPN working with the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. His primary research interest is strategic management in sport organizations and small businesses, especially in areas of community engagement. He is the associate executive director of the National Sport & Recreation Law Association. He will be teaching marketing in the recreation and sport management program and event management.
Ryan Yoder, Associate Professor of Psychology
Ryan Yoder earned a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Bowling Green State University. He teaches courses in sensation and perception, physiological psychology, and research methods. His research interests include the brain mechanisms underlying navigation and spatial learning, and the effects of congenital vestibular dysfunction on brain development. Yoder has a grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders investigating otolith-dependent brain functions in mice.
University College
Andrew Busch, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Andrew Busch earned his B.A. in history at Illinois Wesleyan University, his M.A. in American studies and history at Purdue University, and his Ph.D. from the Department of American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He has been teaching in the American Studies Program, School of Interdisciplinary Students at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is joining the University Honors Program.
Sara Hottinger, Dean of University College
Sara Hottinger is joining us as the new dean of University College. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and Women’s Studies from Beloit College and her Ph.D. in feminist studies from the University of Minnesota. She has been serving as the interim dean in the School of Arts and Humanities at Keene State College in New Hampshire. Hottinger has tremendous experience in developing innovative interdisciplinary courses and degrees, led efforts to establish integrative general education programs, and has recently published "Inventing the Mathematician: Gender, Race, and Our Cultural Understanding of Mathematics."
Gabriela Perez-Alvadaro, Lecturer, Honors Program
Gabriela Perez Alvarado joins the University Honors Program faculty as a Teaching Lecturer. She received her B.S. in chemistry from Southwest Missouri State and her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Maryland. She has held the position of research assistant professor at Iowa State University in in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine and assistant professor at Southern Illinois University. Her main area of research is in proteins associated with cancer metastasis.
Kimbel Library & Bryan Information Commons
Jason Alston, Assistant Librarian
Jason Alston earned his Ph.D. in library science from USC-Columbia in 2017 and an M.S.in library science from North Carolina Central University in 2008. He most recently worked in reference and instruction at Midlands Tech. Alston is an information literacy librarian and will teach in the library instruction program. He will be the liaison to the Wall College of Business.
Amy Eiben, Assistant Librarian
Amy Eiben earned her M.S. in information from the University of Michigan in 2016. She previously worked in adult services in Farmington Community Library. Eiben is an information literacy librarian and will teach in the library instruction program. She will be the liaison to the Spadoni College of Education.
