College

Highlights

Fa​ll 2024

Leadership

Tammi Dice

Dean

Leadership

Assistant Dean for Student

Affairs & Engagement

Grant Funding

Reconfiguration

The DCEPS College Reconfiguration initiative is ​mostly complete, with a new college structure ​consisting of 5 academic departments and a ​centralized fiscal department.

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Giving

Culture of Research

The DCEPS Research Support Center has ​concluded its first year of operations. ​We’ve introduced PIVOT-RP, a software ​that connects faculty with research and ​grant opportunities, as well as hired a ​graphic designer and an editor to help ​with all of your research needs.

Visit odu.edu/education/research

Dean’s Faculty ​Advisory Council

We are excited to introduce the new Dean’s Faculty ​Advisory Council, which consists of one faculty member ​representing each department to provide input and ​feedback on college initiatives:

• Dr. Lauren Robins (CHS)
  
• Dr. James Bartlett (ELWD)
  
• Dr. Lynn Ridinger (HMSSE)
  
• Dr. Michelle Arnold (T&L)
  
• Dr. Julaine Clunis (STEMPS)
  

TCEP

The Center for Educational Partnerships (TCEP) has rejoined ​our college as an enterprise center.

Their mission is to promote individual & institutional learning ​that enhances the success of educators and students in ​Virginia and beyond by forming sustainable collaborative ​partnerships with schools, institutions of higher education, ​cultural institutions, and the agencies that support them.

Paraprofessional Pathways

We’re working with districts such as Hampton, Newport News, ​Norfolk, Northampton, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Southampton, ​Portsmouth, Accomack, Williamsburg-James City, and the ​Eastern Shore. These pathways, along with our lab schools, ​are creating a strong pipeline of well-prepared educators.

Paraprofessional Pathways

We have received recent grant support from ​the National Center for Teacher Residencies ​Black Educators' Initiative to promote teacher ​diversity - additionally, we have established ​early teacher pathways from high schools to ​ODU through division partnerships in ​Educators Rising and Teachers for Tomorrow.

Grow Your Own

We are also expanding our “grow your own” ​programs in collaboration with Portsmouth, ​Hampton, and Chesapeake.

Critical Conversations

The Critical Conversations in Education series will go into its ​fifth year. This year, it will focus on analyzing and addressing ​student equity achievement gaps.

The Search Begins Anew

We are re-launching our searches for a Research Center ​Director and Director of Strategic Partnerships in the coming ​months to ensure we have the right fit for the College.

Many thanks to Dr. Petros Katsioloudis for continuing his ​work with the Research Center, and to Dr. Jody ​Sommerfeldt, who has accepted the role of Interim Director ​of Strategic Partnerships.

Center Spotlight

Learning Resource Center (LRC)

Michael Ruffin - Director of Innovative Technology

About

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is a fun, collaborative space where students, faculty, and staff de-stress, gain new skills, and enrich learning through events, immersive experiences, and enrichment opportunities. The center provides access to study spaces, technology resources, children's and young adult books, computer gaming, virtual reality experiences, 3D printing services, training/workshops, and much more. The LRC has the largest collection of children's and young adult books across the entire university. Enjoy reading your favorite books while taking advantage of the LRC's open study spaces and lounge areas. Complimentary snacks, coffee, and drinks are provided periodically.

Center Spotlight

Center for Movement, Health & ​Disability (CMHD)

Justin Haegele, Ph.D. - Founding Director

About

Founded in 2021, The Center for Movement, Health, & Disability (CMHD) is a training and research center housed within the Department of Human Movement Sciences (HMS) within the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies (DCEPS) at Old Dominion University. Its purpose is to engage in evaluating and understanding health disparities among persons with disabilities and other health conditions, and to implement research-based trainings/programs to enhance well-being among these populations. Efforts will be supported through external funding.

Center Spotlight

Center for Implementation & Evaluation ​of Education Systems (CIEES)

Jonna Bobzien, Ph.D. - Executive Director

About

Change Your Game

Joanna Garner’s Work in Identity and Inventiveness Comes to Life ​in the “Change Your Game | Cambia Tu Juego” Exhibition at the ​Smithsonian Institution. Garner, executive director of The Center ​for Educational Partnerships, worked on the project for five years ​with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, curators, historians ​and designers to create the exhibit which examines the ​intersection of sports and innovation.

VA Counselor of the Year

Dr. Sheila Barnhart-Ramirez, a ​school counselor for Hampton City ​Schools and graduate of Old ​Dominion University's DCEPS ​Master's program, has been named ​the Virginia Elementary Counselor ​of the Year for her commitment to ​providing effective care to students. ​She also recently achieved national ​recognition from our national ​association (ASCA), for her ​exemplary school counseling ​program (RAMP designation).

Teacher in Residence (TIR)

Career & Advising Research ​Center (CARC)

Career & Advising Research ​Center (CARC)

Office of Clinical Experiences ​(OCE)

Upcoming Events

View the full college calendar at www.odu.edu/eps!

Faculty/Staff ​Meeting

Last Monday Writing Days

Caffeine with the Dean

DCEPS Family Picnic

Tuesday, September 17th

College forum for Faculty & ​Staff

Monday, September 30th

Contact Dr. Petros ​Katsioloudis for details

Tuesday, October 1st

Encourage your students to ​attend!

Thursday, October 17th

Family Picnic for faculty & ​staff in the EDUC Building ​Quad (Rain Date: Oct. 24)

Leadership

Mark Rehfuss

Chair

Jamie Hartsfield

Assistant Chair

New Professionals

Dr. Tom Sequin

Assistant Clinical Professor, Counseling ​(Clinical Focus)

Tom Seguin grew up near Cincinnati, OH, enjoying reading and

playing the trumpet and hockey. He completed his undergraduate

studies in psychology at Miami University in 2009. Following graduation,

he enlisted in the US Air Force and served for six years as an airborne

Korean linguist before completing his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at ​the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2017. Tom began his professional career as a counselor ​in private practice in Nebraska, specializing in relationships and parenting. Dr. Seguin ​completed his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at ODU in 2024. He holds active ​counseling licenses in Nebraska and Virginia and is a Nationally Certified Counselor and ​Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor. He lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and three ​daughters, with whom he continues to share his love of music, hockey, and reading.

Scholarly Activity

First Cohort

The first cohort of the Ed.S. in School ​Counseling finished and graduated in May ​of 2024. The next cohort of 10 students is ​beginning this August.

Gateways

The department developed a gateway ​between the Advanced School Counseling ​Ed.S. program and the Ph.D. in Counselor ​Education and Supervision program - 2 ​learners from the inaugural cohort will ​enter the Ph.D. program in August 2024.

Down the Pipeline

The department is early in the process of ​pursuing SCHEV approval for an Online ​Master’s in Human Services Leadership ​program.

Diversity Champion

Dr. Judith Wambui Preston was among those named at ​the 2024 John R. Broderick Diversity Champion Awards.

In the Books

The Faculty Research, Scholarship and Creative ​Achievement Award celebrates tenured faculty members ​and their high-quality research and scholarship. Dr. Ed ​Neukrug was one of this year’s recipients.

ACA Fellows Award

Dr. Jeff Moe was recently selected by the American ​Counseling Association (ACA) as the 2024 recipient of the ​ACA Fellows Award. He is one of three recipients of this ​award nationally. Throughout his career, Dr. Moe's main ​scholarship focus has been LGBTQ issues in counseling.

Running Ahead

Started the Frank Scaringello Scholarship, which will ​provide money fro college or post-secondary school ​training to a runner who engages in volunteer work.

Leadership

Mickey Kosloski

Chair

New Professionals

Dr. Kim Bullington

Assistant Professor

Dr. Kim Bullington's career spans both academic and ​student affairs. Her experience makes her uniquely placed ​to understand both areas of higher education. She is the Co-​Editor-in-Chief for Higher Education Politics and Economics. ​Her research interests include student success, underserved ​students, multiracial students, student veterans, non-/post-​traditional students, student loans, and STEM preparedness. ​She just had her 31st year anniversary of being at the ​university.

Fun Fact:

“I've been to every continent except Antarctica.”

New Department, New Name

Formerly called the Department of Educational ​Foundations and Leadership, this department has a ​new name to reflect a new structure:

Department of Educational Leadership and ​Workforce Development.

Scholarly Activity

Training Specialist

The Training Specialist program, led by Dr. Cindy ​Tomovic, will be the first to launch a compressed ​course curriculum, beginning in the fall.

Military Pathways

Military Pathways agreements have been signed for ​Training Specialist, Industrial Technology, Marketing ​Education, & Technology Education - creating ​pathways for service members and veterans to earn ​credits for military training and experience.

Provost’s Fellow

Dr. Dennis Gregory has been selected as a 2024-25 Provost's Fellow for ODU/EVMS ​Integration Efforts, alongside Dr. Alireza Hosseini. With the ODU/EVMS integration ​taking effect on July 1st of this year, they will work through policies and procedures ​to ensure the two institutions can be incorporated to serve the entire University ​community. Both have been involved in their institutions respective faculty senates, ​being a part of the work that goes into policy- and procedure-making. One of the ​goals is to move forward this year to find answers that satisfy both sides of the ​institution.

Shaffer Award

Dr. Dennis Gregory was awarded the ​NASPA Robert H. Shaffer Award for ​Academic Excellence weighted heavily on ​teaching.

Excellence Award

Dr.s James Bartlett and Mitch Williams ​won the national Excellence Award from ​the national Institute for Staff and ​Organizational Development.

Lifetime Achievement ​Award

Dr. James Bartlett won the Association for ​Career and Technical Education Lifetime ​Achievement Award.

In Development

Development is underway for a course ​centered on DEI, to potentially be included ​in all ELWD graduate programs.

Bringing Cheer

This December, the industrious students of the Industrial ​Technology program outdid themselves by creating an ​innovative range of STEM (science, technology, engineering, ​and math) toys. These toys, meticulously designed for youths ​aged 6 to 18, have been crafted as part of the students' ​mission to make the holidays a little brighter for kids at the ​Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk.

Leadership

Jonna Bobzien

Xihe Zhu

Assistant Chair &

Executive Director, CIEES

Chair

New Professionals

Adam Fix

Lecturer of Park & Recreation Management

Dr. Adam Fix is a former park ranger, working primarily in Yosemite ​and Sequoia Kings-Canyon National Parks. Dr. Fix earned a Ph.D. ​from the State University of New York College of Environmental ​Science and Forestry and completed postdoctoral research at the ​Ohio State University. Prior to joining Old Dominion, Dr. Fix was a ​visiting assistant professor at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

Fun Fact:

“I have two children (Oliver is 4 and Frances is 2) and I look forward ​to exploring all the beautiful natural spaces of Virginia with them!”

New Professionals

Yo Han Lee

Assistant Professor of Sport Management

• Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern ​Colorado
• Previous Faculty at Defiance College, OH.
  

Research Expertise

• Ticket Pricing, Consumer Demand, Consumer Behavior
  

Fun Facts:

• Nicknamed "Centipede“ at home because he loves to collect ​kicks.
  
• Went to a soccer prep school to be a professional player back in ​S. Korea.
  

New Professionals

Marcella Otto

Lecturer of Sport Management

• Ph.D. in Kinesiology, LSU (2020)
• Previous faculty member at Hampton, and Northern Illinois ​University
  

Research Expertise:

• Applying management and human resource development ​concepts within the sport volunteer settings
  

Fun Facts:

• Took a group of students on a study abroad trip to Australia for ​two weeks last summer
  
• Born and raised in Germany, has an Italian name, but does not ​speak Italian (yet…)
  

New Professionals

Carla Knox

Office Manager

Carla Knox is the Office Manager for the Department of Human ​Movement Sciences & Special Education. She holds an Associate ​of Applied Sciences from Tidewater Community College in ​Norfolk, VA, and an Executive Assistant Certification from Saint ​Anthony College, Lima, Peru. Carla has over 20 years of ​experience supporting high-level management and managing ​administrative offices across various industries, including ​corporate travel agencies, international corporate construction, ​and hospitality management. She previously served at ODU as an ​Administrative Assistant at the Dean’s Office, College of Health ​Sciences, and at the University Registrar.

Carla’s passions include cooking and dance.

Scholarly Activity

New Department, New Name

Formerly called the Department of Human Movement Studies, ​this department has a new name to reflect a new structure:

Department of Human Movement Studies & Special Education.

New Concentration

The Special Education program was given ​approval for a new concentration: Special ​Education - Early Childhood Education, ​and has started student enrollment.

SCHEV Award

Jerry Shook Award

Selena Layden won the ​2024 Jerry Shook Award ​from the Association ​for Professional ​Behavior Analysts.

VAPHERD Teacher of the Year

Katelyn Makovec won the ​VAPHERD Teacher of the Year ​award for college/university.

SHAPE America

HMSE alum Jimmy Grassano, a Health & Physical ​Education teacher in Virginia Beach, was named the 2024 ​Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America ​Southern District Teacher of the Year.

Lindsey Nowland ​received the 2024 Ruth ​Abernathy Scholarship ​from SHAPE America ​and Graduate Student ​Award from Adapted ​Physical Education SIG.

HMSE ​Doctoral ​Students took ​five tenure-​track jobs in ​2024!

Ally Keene

Elizabeth City State University

Michael Kostick

Benedictine College

Hana Almouhamadi

University of Hail in Saudi ​Arabia

Lindsey Nowland

Cal State - San Bernadino

Lindsay Ball

SUNY - Cortland

National Recognition

The Online Master of Science in Sport ​Management program has earned ​the distinguished honor of being one ​of the best programs across the US, ​by Sports Degrees Online.

Stanford Top 2%

Dr. Justin Haegele was recognized as one of the top 2% of cited ​researchers worldwide for 2022. Stanford University compiles a ​database of the top 100,000 scholars in 22 scientific fields ​across 55 countries. Dr. Haegele joins a select few scholars from ​ODU who are also on the list of top scholars.

Leadership

Shana Pribesh

Elizabeth Burns

Chair

Assistant Chair

New Professionals

Julaine Clunis

Assistant Professor

Dr. Julaine Clunis's academic interests converge at the intersection of

knowledge organization and informatics, enriched by her engagement

with data science, social computing, and information technologies.

Her research interests span knowledge organization, health informatics,

ontologies, the semantic web, linked data, metadata, data curation, cultural

heritage informatics, and knowledge representation. Dr. Clunis earned her MLIS, MS, and ​PhD from the iSchool at Kent State University. She is deeply engaged in addressing the ​challenges and opportunities associated with information access, data harmonization, and ​interoperability. This includes the application of knowledge organization standards and ​practices across diverse contexts. Her methodology integrates advanced data analytics, ​including text mining, natural language processing, database management techniques, and ​semantic analysis, to refine and expand the utility of information systems.

Fun Fact:

I love music of all kinds and in another life used to play the steel pan.

New Professionals

Dr. Amber Matthews

Assistant Professor

Amber Matthews (she/her) holds a PhD in Library and Information ​Science from Western University (Canada). Dr. Matthews' research ​utilizes community-based frameworks to explore equity-based ​education and learning programs for youth in public library ​contexts. Prior to doctoral studies, Dr. Matthews had a nine-year ​career in community and fund development where she worked ​collaboratively with communities to make tangible improvements to ​non-profits, healthcare, and community services in Canada and ​abroad.

Fun Fact:

“I was once a competitive roller derby player and skated with the name ​Belle Hooksya.”

New Professionals

Kristie Escobar

Lecturer

Dr. Kristie Escobar’s areas of expertise include the information ​needs and behaviors of LGBTQIA+ young adults as well as college ​students on the autism spectrum. For the past 8 years, she has ​served as an instructor in multiple MLIS programs across the ​country, teaching subjects such as knowledge management, ​collection development, library programming and services, and the ​information needs of all ages.

Fun Fact:

“I am an ambivert--anyone who knows me believes to me to be an ​extrovert but, inside, I am really shy.”

Scholarly Activity

Provost's Fellow

Dr. Tony Perez has been named the 2024-25 Provost's Fellow for ​Academic Success. Dr. Perez will use self-determination theory as a ​framework to build supports for students who might otherwise struggle. ​As an expert in motivation in the field of educational psychology, Dr. ​Perez is uniquely qualified to lead this university level initiative.

Provost's Fellow

Dr. Elizabeth Burns has been ​selected as a 2024-25 Provost's ​Fellow for Communications. This ​fellowship was designed to improve ​communication between Academic ​Affairs and the rest of the ODU ​community. Dr. Burns will be ​concentrating on the communication ​stemming from several university ​entities including the ODU Faculty ​Senate and the larger ODU audience.

EPPE Grad Wins AERA Award

Recent EPPE graduate, Dr. Melani ​Loney, won the Graduate Student ​Research Award for AERA's SSRL Sig. ​This award was based on her ​dissertation: Effects of self-regulated ​learning on community college ​students' metacognition, motivation, ​and achievement in geoscience ​courses. Dr. Loney was advised by Dr. ​Linda Bol and supported by Dr. ​Joanna Garner. Dr. Loney works as a ​program manager at The Center for ​Educational Partnership at ODU.

Leadership

Jamie Colwell

Chair

New Professionals

Dr. Amber Keesee

Lecturer of Elementary Education

Dr. Amber Keesee is serving as a lecturer in the Department of ​Teaching and Learning. She holds an Ed.D. and Ed.S. in Curriculum ​and Instruction and a M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Liberty ​University. She also received a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech. ​Prior to joining Old Dominion University, Dr. Keesee was a school ​testing coordinator, an elementary and middle school teacher, ​STEM coordinator, and a gifted teacher in Maryland and Virginia ​Title I schools.

Fun Fact:

“I enjoy cross-country road trips.”

New Professionals

Dr. Ayse Ozturk

Assistant Professor of Elementary ​Mathematics Education

Ayse Ozturk is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education in ​the Department of Teaching and Learning at Old Dominion ​University. She received her Ph.D. in STEM Education, specialized in ​mathematics education at The Ohio State University. Her research ​focuses on learning and teaching mathematics as a humanizing ​practice. She is interested in building teacher candidates’ capacity to ​transfer their passion and knowledge to students in meaningful ​ways. To make mathematics more relevant and accessible, she has ​focused on designing and teaching equitable mathematics curricula ​through enacting mathematical modeling, which involves using ​mathematics and personal experience to inform decisions about ​the real-world situations.

New Programs

SCHEV has approved 2 new Master of Arts ​in Teaching (MAT) programs, in ​Elementary Education and Secondary ​Education, to launch in 2025. These will ​replace the M.S.Ed. Initial Licensure ​programs.

Program Changes

The B.S.Ed. program in Early Childhood education is ​being phased out, and curricular changes have ​been made to the B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education ​PK-6, to include a stronger emphasis on early ​childhood learning.

Scholarly Activity

Faculty Teaching Awards

Dr. Jori Beck has earned ​the University Doctoral ​Mentoring Award and ​the DCEPS Teaching ​Award.

Faculty Teaching Awards

Dr. Kelly Rippard has ​been named to the ​2024 ODU Alumni ​Association 40 under ​40!

Dr. Jomo Mutegi is serving as the ​Director of Prestigious Scholarship ​and Experiential Learning ​Collaborations for the Perry ​Honors College.

Jody Sommerfeldt is serving as ​DCEPS Interim Director of ​Strategic Partnerships.

Dr.s Jamie Colwell and Angela Eckhoff received approval ​for a study abroad program that will run in Summer ​2025, called Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary ​Education, taking undergraduate students to Scotland!