College
Highlights
Fall 2024
Leadership
Tammi Dice
Dean
Leadership
Maggie Barber
Associate Dean for Academic Programs & Assessment
Petros Katsioloudis
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
and Research
Jennifer Simmons
Assistant Dean for Student
Affairs & Engagement
Grant Funding
$10.4
Million
GRANT AWARDS FOR RESEARCH
Reconfiguration
The DCEPS College Reconfiguration initiative is mostly complete, with a new college structure consisting of 5 academic departments and a centralized fiscal department.
Join us in turning opportunity into achievement.
Each book on our wall symbolizes the support of generous donors, helping our students excel in their academic and career journeys. Each contribution fuels innovation, research, and academic growth.
Together, let’s write the next chapter — one page at a time.
Name a
Page of
Giving
Contact:
Cierre Curtis | ODU Office of Development
ccurtis@6lwboc.com (757) 683-3636
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 6lwboc.com/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:
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
LAST MONDAY WRITING DAYS
Dedicated research writing days, free from College-sponsored events and meetings.
2024 Holmes ScholarS
Cohort 1
Christine
Turner
Hilda Adu
Gyamfi
Staff Professional Development Fund:
This fund offers up to $500 per staff member to support participation in professional development opportunities, reinforcing our commitment to continuous learning and growth.
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)
18
Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE)
327
Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE)
36%
Upcoming Events
View the full college calendar at bigj.6lwboc.com/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
35
Peer-Reviewed
Publications
(published or accepted)
28
Presentations
(National & International)
4
Published
Books
8
Book
Chapters
8
~$366
External
Grants
k Cumulative
Grant Funding
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
29
Peer-Reviewed
Publications
(published or accepted)
45
Presentations
(National & International)
7
External
Grants
~$2.4
M. Cumulative
Grant Funding
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
Research Expertise
Fun Facts:
New Professionals
Marcella Otto
Lecturer of Sport Management
Research Expertise:
Fun Facts:
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
49
Peer-Reviewed
Publications
(published or accepted)
50
Presentations
(National & International)
30
External
Grants
~$9.1
M. Cumulative
Grant Funding
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
59
Peer-Reviewed
Publications
(published or accepted)
91
Presentations
(National & International)
4
~$278
External
Grants
k. Cumulative
Grant Funding
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.
New Department, Same Name (For Now)
The STEMPS department bears the same name as before the reconfiguration, but has a completely new structure. Now, it holds 3 graduate programs: EPPE, Instructional Design & Technology, and Library Science. The department will seek SCHEV approval for a new name soon, marking the last major change of the DCEPS College Reconfiguration.
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.
Stanford Top 2%
Dr. Helen Crompton 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. Crompton joins a select few scholars from ODU who are also on the list of top scholars.
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
56
Peer-Reviewed
Publications
(published or accepted)
54
Presentations
(National & International)
2
External
Grants
~$882
k. Cumulative
Grant Funding
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!