World Campus Education Doctorate Students Spring 2024

Travis Mitchell serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer at Maryland Public Television. He oversees all content created, acquired, and aired on the statewide public television network's TV channels and online properties. Having amassed more than three decades of experience as an executive in commercial and public media, Mitchell earned an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in Philadelphia.

He completed further executive education study at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. has served on the foundation board of Morgan State University and as a member of PBS Children’s Media and Education Working Group, the PBS/CPB Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group and the National Cable Television Association Policy Issues Committee. Most recently Mitchell became the Chair of the Board of Visitors for Morgan State University's School of Global Journalism and Communications.

In 2021, Mr. Mitchell was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he also received an honorary doctor of humane letters from the university in recognition of his more than 25 years of service to the community as a media and non-profit executive.

Meet Shihong Zhang, a Chinese immigrant residing in New Jersey with my husband and two beloved sons. My passion for travel and gourmet food knows no bounds, allowing me to explore diverse cultures and cuisines across the globe.

I currently serve as a Chinese and Math teacher at Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey. Having embarked on my American journey 25 years ago, I have devoted the past two decades to shaping young minds in the teaching profession. Since 2003, I have built a comprehensive Chinese learning program in the Glen Ridge School District encompassing grades 7 through 12, culminating in the AP Chinese course. Currently, I am teaching Chinese II to AP Chinese for 9-12 grade students.

My commitment to excellence in education has not gone unnoticed. In the 2021-2022 school year, I was honored with the New Jersey Governor's Educator Award in Glen Ridge High School. Furthermore, I achieved a permanent Standard supervisor certificate in September 2023. Recently, I was humbled to receive the Educator of the Year award for 2023 from the New Jersey Chinese Teachers Association.

In 2021, I assumed the role of the founding President of the New Jersey Chinese Teachers Association, a position I hold with pride and responsibility. As a passionate educator, I am constantly driven to explore new avenues for personal and professional growth.

I am thrilled to join the Penn State World Campus D.Ed. family, a decision fueled by my eagerness to learn from experienced professors and engage with peers from diverse backgrounds. I look forward to the enriching experiences that this program will offer as I continue to strive for excellence in the field of education.

Jessica currently serves as Vice President of Market and Research Services at Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), a national higher education consulting firm. Jessica Ickes assists RNL campus partners in taking a data-informed approach to their enrollment and academic program planning, pricing, and perception studies within the market. She oversees a diverse portfolio of research projects for 50 to 100 campus partners annually from all sectors and across the country.

Prior to joining RNL, Jessica most recently served as the Vice President for Compliance and Accreditation at Florida Institute of Technology and before that as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Institutional Research at Lebanon Valley College in central Pennsylvania. Jessica has spent more than twenty years in higher education at five colleges and universities in leadership roles in institutional research, assessment, accreditation, compliance, planning, and executive leadership. Jessica is passionate about helping colleges and universities to use information for effective planning and strategic decision-making.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Juniata College in Psychology and French and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Andrews University. She lives in Palm Bay Florida with her husband and pug, Betty. She enjoys the outdoors and travel.

Kari earned both her M.Ed in Earth Sciences and her B.S. in Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics from Penn State. She spent five years as a broadcast meteorologist prior to earning her teaching certifications. Kari has taught both middle and high school science for seventeen years with most of her career being at the middle level.

In addition to her teaching duties, Kari was part of a team that authored the entire 6-8 middle school curriculum for her district, aligning it to the Next Generation Science Standards. She has been a mentor for student teachers from Penn State for more than a decade. Kari is zealous about sharing with other teachers, and is a board member of the Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association where she leads workshops to assist teachers as they adapt their own curriculum to the Pennsylvania STEELS Standards. Kari’s research interests center around curriculum writing and professional development for the Pennsylvania STEELS Standards using Ambitious Science Teaching.

Outside of the classroom, Kari is an avid runner and runs half marathons with her husband. She is a volleyball, ice skating and track mom.

Nicholas Reitz earned his master's degree in Elementary Education at the University of West Georgia. He currently teaches first grade at Park Forest Elementary School in the State College Area School District. Over the course of his twenty three year career, he has taught every grade and subject at the elementary level.

He also spent two years as the co-facilitator of Penn State’s award-winning Professional Development School, where he supervised yearlong student teachers and co-taught a section of the Social Studies Methods course. In line with his passion for education, and desire to help others in the field of education, he has served as a mentor teacher to fifteen Penn State student teachers, as well as several first year teachers. He has worked with his district’s English and Language Arts curriculum writing committee for fourteen years. Nicholas’s research interests include how to best implement structured literacy instruction and how to best provide professional development for both novice and veteran teachers.

When he isn’t teaching, or thinking about teaching, Nicholas is a father, husband, reader, and runner.
 

Marcelius ("Mar" "Sell" "Us) Braxton currently serves as the Director of the Center for Social Change and Belonging at Penn State and has over 14 years of experience working on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) as an educator, advocate, student affairs practitioner, and consultant. He has previously served as the Leader of DEI at Bexley City School District in Bexley, Ohio, Assistant Dean of Students and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Capital University Law School, Director of the African American Cultural Center at Austin Peay State University, and more.

Marcelius is a first-generation college graduate with a B.S. in Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics with an African Studies Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Missouri, and a J.D. (Juris Doctor) from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He has experience teaching courses in DEI, Philosophy, Political Science, African American Studies, Leadership and Organizational Administration, and the First Year Experience.

Marcelius is interested in exploring ways to integrate the principles of liberation, social change, and restorative practices into education, specifically centering race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, socioeconomics, status, and more.

Shannon O’Connor loves stories. She is deeply interested in how stories are told and structured, why we are drawn to them, and the power of stories hold in our lives as tools of deep healing and connection. Working as a librarian – or story steward – allows Shannon insight into the habits of readers, cultural trends in publishing, and how censorship tries time and again to suppress and regulate the power of story.

Having worn many hats over the span of her career, Shannon has gained experience in book buying and publishing, as well as unique insight into the world of indie bookselling. She has also spent years exploring and impacting the education of people of all ages, including work in the fields of English language and literature, online education, wellness programming, gifted education, and innovative social-emotional learning programs to help end relationship violence. Shannon finds herself back at Penn State for the third time as a Doctor of Education candidate to explore her research interests and make a meaningful impact on the wellness of teachers and learners everywhere.

Shannon’s research interests at Penn State are in the realm of story, mainly how we use story as a tool to find healing and how our own narratives can give us insight. She is interested in exploring people’s stories of recovery and hope and how they might connect to the ancient storytelling conventions of myths and fairy tales. She is deeply inspired by the work of Hugh Crago and the field of bibliotherapy.

My name is Charles C. Dees, Jr. and I am currently an Army Civilian Professional (ACP) working as an Instructional Systems Specialist at Fort Bliss, Texas. In my current position I design, develop, and revise lesson plans for Noncommissioned officer (NCO) Professional Military Education (PME) for future Sergeants Majors in the US Army.

My passion has always been the education of the adult learner. I am a self-motivated, conscientious person who works hard and come with a wide-range of skills that promotes a positive learning environment for life-long learning. I have a strong desire to design and develop meaningful curriculum using the latest best-practices and technology for the adult learner, especially for students with special needs. As I continue my educational journey, I look forward to using the knowledge and experience gained from the Doctor of Education program in building solid relationships in the community of practice and to make a significant contribution to the field of education. 

Annie Hughes is a dynamic consultant, educator and Certified Professional Coach. Annie is currently State Coordinator of Invent Penn State's LaunchBox & Innovation Network, a network of 21 entrepreneurship hubs across Pennsylvania serving community and University entrepreneurs. She is CEO and founder of Hughes Coaching & Consulting LLC, a boutique firm providing coaching for individuals and consulting for organizations seeking growth and change strategies.

In her previous roles as director of Harrisburg LaunchBox powered by Penn State, management consultant for Penn State Small Business Development Center, and Director of Outreach for Ben Franklin Technology Partners Central-Northern PA, Annie instructed hundreds of entrepreneurs in lean startup process, design thinking, and business planning and strategy. Annie also served as adjunct faculty at Penn State Harrisburg, teaching Foundations of Human Centered Design and Development to undergraduates in the Information Sciences & Technology Department.

Annie has over 15 years’ experience in innovation practice and product development within corporate and small business environments. Prior to her work at Penn State, Annie was a Manager of Disruptive Innovation at the Hershey Company, where she built new products in new categories within new innovation processes. Prior to Hershey she was Director of Sales and Marketing at Eco Lips, Inc., a startup in her home state of Iowa.

Annie has a B.S. from Northwestern University’s School of Communication and an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa. She lives in Harrisburg with her husband Andy and dog Shelby, where they volunteer in projects promoting community and economic development.

Manal is an accomplished advancement professional and philanthropy practitioner. Currently serving as the Vice President for Advancement at The American University of Kurdistan, she is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive advancement programs and for institutionalizing the newly registered AUK Endowment, a 501(c)(3) Foundation. Her ultimate goal is to institutionalize fundraising as best practice.

Previously, Manal served as the VP of Advancement and Director of Advancement at Birzeit University in Palestine. There, she planned and implemented major fundraising drives, working with the President and the Board's Development Committee to raise USD 100 million in nine years since founding the Advancement Office at Birzeit University in 2011.

Manal's skills extend beyond fundraising to training and creating learning opportunities for development professionals and non-profit leaders while advising organizations on private philanthropy and institutionalizing fundraising. She has consulted with and advised non-profit organizations across the Middle East, mentoring fundraising plans, conducting fundraising audits, and training fundraisers. Manal has worked with The Mohamed bin Rashid University United Arab Emirates and AFAC: The Arab Foundation for Arts and Culture in Lebanon and Yemen.

Manal earned an MA in Philanthropy Studies from Indiana University, United States, and an MBA from Birzeit University, Palestine. Her dedication to philanthropy in the Middle East is a continuous effort in her work and endeavors.

Ryan West is a wellbeing and relationship-focused leader and organizational change agent that seeks to transform the way individuals communicate and relate to others.  He is the Founder and President of EQualifyed, LLC, a training and consulting firm based in Zionsville, IN.  Ryan’s expertise includes the parallels that exist between emotional intelligence, personality type, and nonverbal communication, and the impact that each has on individual and team communication styles.  Having served as a co-occurring disorders counselor and workplace consultant for over 10 years, Ryan is also strongly aware of the link between employee health and wellbeing and employee performance. 

Ryan holds a master’s degree in psychology with an organizational concentration, and has delivered over 400 keynotes, lectures, breakout sessions, seminars, webinars, and workshops to thousands of people across the U.S. and abroad on a range of topics.  He is pursuing his doctorate in education (D.Ed.) from Penn State World Campus to enhance his working knowledge of adult learning theory, instructional methods and design, management and leadership, and workplace training and coaching as catalysts for organizational development and change.  He is honored to learn from and work alongside world-class faculty and thought-leading peers in the education field.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Kelley has pursued a lifetime love of both teaching and higher education over the past several decades. 

After receiving her B.A. in English Literature from the University of California at Santa Barbara, she lived in Los Angeles for almost a decade working in the corporate sector.   Returning to San Francisco in 1998 to complete her M.Ed. in secondary education at San Francisco State University, she spent an additional eight years working in secondary education as a classroom teacher, college lecturer, private tutor, and educational therapist.  In 2008 she was offered a high-level coaching position in the equine world (another lifelong passion) and eventually went on to launch her own competitive equestrian hunter-jumper training business in Silicon Valley, which she operated for 12 years.

After selling her business to her protegé in 2020, Kelley again chose to pursue additional education and has recently graduated from the University of Virginia with an Ed.S. in curriculum and instruction with a secondary emphasis in special education.  She now works as a member of the English faculty at her local high school and looks forward to continuing her educational research as part of the Penn State D.Ed. program.

Kelley lives in Northern California with her family and three Welsh corgis.  She continues to work in the equine industry as a nationally recognized USEF judge and course designer in her spare time, and spends her summers living in southern Spain.

My name is Kathryn J. DeUnger, and I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio. I currently live in El Paso, Texas with my husband and 10 year old son. I have served in the Army for over 23 years as a Military Policeman. My notable assignments include Command Sergeant Major of the 525th Miliary Police Detention Battalion, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Sergeant Major Course Instructor Department of Joint Interagency Intergovernmental and Multinational Operations, and I am currently the Sergeant Major Academy Assistant Chief of Education. I have deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

My civilian education includes an Associate’s Degree in General Studies and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, both from Troy University. I also earned a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education and the Distance Education Postbaccalaureate Certificate from the Penn State World Campus. I look forward to combining my experience with further research on the role of women in educational leadership during this program of study.

Chet Wade keeps his philosophy simple. Give more than you get. Care about who you eat with, not what’s on the menu. Don’t spend time, use it. It’s worked out well so far as a journalist, public relations executive, educator, husband, and father.

Chet is back at Penn State as a Doctor of Education candidate long after receiving his Journalism degree there. Quite a lot has happened since then. He worked as an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, served as vice president-Corporate Communications for “Fortune 500” company Dominion Energy, and now is the principal of a public relations boutique he founded called AftonRock Communications LLC.

In between, he squeezed in an MBA from Robert Morris University and has worked part-time for the last decade as an adjunct faculty member teaching public relations, journalism, and advertising – first at Virginia Commonwealth University and now at Point Park University. The students teach him more every semester than he teaches them. At VCU, Chet served as chair of the advisory board for the Robertson School of Media and Culture and was named the 2019 Distinguished Adjunct in Social Sciences.

None of this would have mattered without the love and support of his wife, Mary Lou, and daughters Lindsay and Jordyn.

Chet’s research interest at Penn State is in how to improve leadership education and training in the mass communications professions.

English instructor Natalia Morales has been in the profession for more than a decade. 
She earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education in English from the Inter-American 
University of Puerto Rico and a Master of English with a focus on Linguistics from the 
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. 
Natalia loves incorporating technology, gamification, and new, innovative strategies into 
her lessons to engage students with diverse backgrounds.

Throughout her career, she has had positions as a curriculum writer, workshop 
facilitator, tutor, and instructional coach. Aside from teaching, Natalia enjoys reading 
fantasy novels, learning about languages, binge-watching documentaries, advocating for 
animal rights, and working on art projects. 
Although Natalia enjoyed teaching in physical classrooms, she made the decision to 
pursue a virtual career in education at the height of the epidemic. Currently residing in 
Puerto Rico with her spouse, two cats, and an elderly dog, Natalia works as an ELA 
cyber-teacher at Esperanza Cyber Charter School in Philadelphia, PA.

Eugene was born and raised in Singapore and is currently a Mandarin Chinese teacher at an international school. His research interests intersect teaching and learning, gender, social-emotional development, and children’s literature. He believes morality is at the core of education and emphasizes incorporating values into his daily engagements with students so that they can navigate the world with love, kindness, and respect. Eugene is interested in investigating children’s interactions with literature and the development of reading programs to build social-emotional skills.

Eugene is a recipient of Singapore's Ministry of Education Teaching Award and started his career as a Chinese teacher at a local primary school. He has also journeyed with students across grade levels in an inclusive preschool, a British international school, and a university, and held the roles of Chinese Teacher, School Counselor, and Senior Assistant Manager of Student Administration. He holds a Master of Arts in Education (Distinction) from the University of Nottingham, a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology from the College of Allied Educators, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Credit) from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese (2nd Upper Honors) from Nanyang Technological University.

Outside of teaching, you will see Eugene volunteering at a local self-help group, facilitating story clubs for young children. He has also co-founded a reading club for older, underprivileged children and is fortunate to be recognized with the ‘Platinum’ and ‘Volunteer Commendation’ awards for outstanding service to the community by the National Library Board and the Chinese Development Assistance Council.

Michelle Kaschak is an Associate Teaching Professor of English at Penn State Lehigh Valley and an D.Ed. student in the Learning Design and Technology option at Penn State World Campus.  She received a B.A. in English from Chestnut Hill College, M.A. in English from Shippensburg University, M.S. in Education from Wilkes University and holds a PA secondary education teaching certification from Kutztown University. She is always willing to learn more about online teaching and Universal Design for Learning to help all students achieve success with online classwork. She is particularly interested in research about academic reading levels and how that impacts students in online learning environments. 

Hello all! My name is Ojorlimieyenju Onnekikami but please call me Limie. I am a counselor at both Santa Monica College and Victor Valley College. I have experience in general counseling and a focus on health sciences counseling. I enjoy working at community colleges, as I believe that it is one of the greatest ways into higher education. The accessibility to community colleges provides what I consider to be an important service to students who may have not had the chance.

My interests include ways to improve student services, and the effect of open enrollments in educational retention of students of color. I also have an interest in the California community college nursing point system and the effect on retention rates of students chosen by this method. I enjoy spending time with my family, researching topics and resting. A fun fact about me was that I was born with 12 fingers (no, I do not currently have 12 fingers). Excited to start this program with you all!

I am currently a Vice-President/Learning & Development Supervisor for Zions Bancorporation. I have been employed with Zions for 24 years, the last 17 in L&D.  I am a certified Master Trainer and Professional Coach. After completing my doctoral studies, I aspire to teach at my local university and help develop the next generation of business and community leaders.  
 
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education and Master of Education in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Workforce Education, both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I am married and have 2 sons, aged 11 and 8. I am a proud member and Past-President of Boulder City Sunrise Rotary.  I strive to set a good example for my sons with not only my educational and professional achievements, but in the way I live my life.
 
In my spare time I serve my community by officiating high school football.  I also work as an auxiliary college football official, and was privileged to officiate in the XFL last season. My other hobbies include golf, snowboarding, and photography.

Deanna Bergdorf spent her childhood in Akron, Ohio and then over the next few decades, Deanna made her home in both New York City and Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

Deanna began her current role as Director of Winter Term and Global Learning at Oberlin College in September 2019. Prior to that, she held administrative roles at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Columbia University, and Johns Hopkins University’s Hawaiʻi Research Institute. In addition to her work in higher education administration, Deanna’s professional life has included many years spent in theatre and modern dance, the fitness industry, consumer marketing, public health research, and nonprofit community engagement.

Outside of work, Deanna’s interests center on being an enthusiastic homemaker, where she is the sole parent of a small child and the caretaker of one giant dog and a very fluffy cat.

Reana Moody is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, and has earned her B.S in Human Development and Family Studies, her M.Ed in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Schools and Communities, and is currently working towards her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Reana is the first elementary school Mental Health Clinician for SCASD, providing individual counseling, group counseling, and mentorship across the district.

Reana also took on a role as one of the Equity Advocates in the district, ensuring that student voices and concerns were heard and ensuring that conversations were being held about how to create a more equitable environment for underrepresented groups. Reana aspires to be a dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at an institution after earning her degree. Her research interests focuses on exploring how culturally responsive classroom management can foster positive student outcomes, specifically, she’s interested in culturally responsive classroom management and its impact on students of color’s sense of belonging, academic achievement, and the frequency and intensity of disciplinary repercussions they face.

Her passion is to ensure students, especially students of color in predominantly white educational institutions feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive academically and personally.

Walter Milhoan currently works as a Residential Education Specialist at the Pennsylvania State University – University Park where he directly oversees the residential experience of more than 400 first year students, and indirectly oversees that of more than 4,200. Prior to his move to Pennsylvania, Milhoan lived in Ohio, where he was the first in his family to attend college. A two-time alumnus of Ohio University, Milhoan holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and political science and a Master of Arts in political science with a focus in American politics.

After earning his master’s degree and before his transition to student affairs, Milhoan worked as a legal assistant for a small law firm in Ohio. When Milhoan first read about the World Campus’s Doctor of Education program, he was drawn to apply for the program because of the convenience, prestige, and potential for learning. Milhoan’s areas of interest within this program are higher education administration and higher education law; he believes that the intersection of these two topics is invaluable to the understanding of the systems in and through which institutions of higher education operate.

Milhoan hopes to utilize this opportunity and the knowledge that he gains to assist students in their pursuance of higher education and in their overall college experiences

Daniel Mercado currently serves as the Director of Academic Support and Advising Services at Penn State Harrisburg. In this role, he coordinates the work of the Lambert Undergraduate Advising Center and the Russell E. Horn Sr. Learning Center, as well the First Year Seminar and New Student Orientation programs. Previously, he supported access programs at Millersville University, coordinated DEI recruitment at Messiah University, and served as a teacher in the Harrisburg School District.

Daniel earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Messiah University, with focuses on art and urban and multicultural education. He earned his master’s degree in organizational development and leadership with a concentration in higher education from Shippensburg University.

His research interests include higher education access programs for students of color, first generation students, and students of lower income; effective integrative of technology in the work of academic advising; developing communities of practice between faculty and staff to support student success; and fostering empowering and efficient work culture in higher education.

In his free time, he enjoys reading graphic novels, trying new foods, and seeking out anything that will make him laugh. He lives with his wife, two young children, and two cats in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Georjanne Rosa is an Assistant Program Director with the Penn State Millennium Scholars Program.Georjanne provides academic coaching and support to students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). She is deeply committed to supporting students as they build the skills and confidence to pursue their goals. Georjanne holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master’s degree in Social Studies Education from North Carolina State University.

Before coming to Penn State she taught in the public schools of North Carolina. She has more than a decade of experience supporting STEM students.  Prior to her current position, Georjanne was an academic advisor in the College of Engineering at Penn State. In addition to supporting the students in the Millennium Scholars Program, Georjanne manages the program’s social media presence. For the past three years Georjanne has organized the Millennium Scholars’ Giving Tuesday campaign helping the program raise almost $15,000 over three campaigns.

Beyond her work with the Millennium Scholars, Georjanne has supported diversity and inclusion at Penn State by serving on the Commission for Racial and Ethnic Diversity, the College of Engineering’s Diversity Education Committee and the Forum on Black Affairs.

As an emerging scholar, Amanda has gained a prominent voice in the field of counseling education through her work at the University of Minnesota where she received her masters in Counseling Education. Her research focuses on the development and implementation of anti-racist and neuro-inclusive counseling curriculum but also on assessing the impact of such curriculum on counselor trainee attitudes, knowledge, and skills. By exploring diverse instructional strategies, she aims to equip future counselors with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of a diverse clientele within the academic content, ensuring culturally sensitive and empowering therapy.

Residing in the beautiful state of Minnesota, Amanda is a loving mother of two children and has been married for 13 fulfilling years. Her experiences as a parent have further ignited her desire to create a more inclusive society where every individual has equal access to mental health support. Armed with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities, she believes that breaking down barriers and challenging systemic inequalities is crucial in creating a nurturing and empowering environment for all.

With her exceptional academic achievements and practical professional experience, Amanda is poised to become a transformative leader in higher education. Grounded in her own personal experiences and her commitment to social justice, she seeks to influence policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion on college campuses. Amanda's vision is to create a generation of counselors and higher ed. admins who possess the skills and knowledge needed to build empathy, understanding, and who ignite social change.

I am Eric Grego, the current Senior Associate Director of Admission and Transfer at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I grew up in Bear Creek, Pennsylvania and in 2014, I graduated from King’s College with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education/History. I was fortunate to begin working for the Office of Admission at King’s College directly after graduation, which allowed me to call this a career today. In 2019, I obtained a Master of Arts in Higher Education degree from Messiah College, now University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In my role at King’s College, I currently work with our transfer population looking for a fresh start as well as incoming freshman and coordinating our open house and Accepted Student’s Day programs. In addition to this role, I also currently teach our Freshman Year Experience (FYE) course as well as serve as an advisor for Junior Leadership Northeast. Outside of these experiences, I live with my wife, Katie, in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania and am an avid runner and Philadelphia sports fan.

Nikki earned both her B.S. in Elementary Education K-6 and Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State University.  As a student at Penn State, Nikki was awarded the Penn State Alumni Outstanding Student Teaching award for Fall 2012. Following graduation she began teaching in her home district, Council Rock. During this time she developed a passion for children’s literature and STEAM. Through her work with integrating STEAM concepts into her kindergarten classes, she was recognized again by the Penn State’s College of Education Alumni Society and awarded the Outstanding New Graduate Award. It was through these awards that Nikki became connected with the Penn State College of Education’s Alumni Society and served as a Board member for the past 5 years. 

Nikki has taught most grade levels from kindergarten to 6th grade in her elementary school. However, her current role in teaching is in its second year. Along with her small team, she is developing an elementary STEAM program for her school district. In this role she participates in the development of curriculum and implementation of core concepts related to teaching the STEELS standards to students in grades 1st-6th. It has been a rewarding and humbling experience for Nikki to be a key member of this team. 

Outside of her professional career, Nikki enjoys working at her parents’ coffee roastery, Old Village Roastery. Here she is able to spend time with her family and develop unique ways to roast coffee. Nikki’s passion for learning transcends the classroom as she is always attempting to learn new skills. She applies this in her home DIY projects and cooking. She shares these humorous experiences through her social media platform.

Julie Coder is an online science educational entrepreneur and certified Pennsylvania chemistry teacher, and she brings a rich, dedicated background in both science and education. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from University of Pittsburgh and pursued graduate coursework in Chemistry at Penn State University. During this time, Julie discovered a love of teaching and bringing her love of science into the classroom. Through the Penn State Center for Nanoscale Science, Julie was able to become heavily involved with science outreach, designing demonstrations based on her nanoparticle research and interning at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

In 2009, Julie accepted a high school Chemistry teacher position, teaching introductory and Advanced Placement Chemistry. In 2019, she began building her own education business, STEM Launcher, teaching online science-themed classes to all ages and offering one-on-one chemistry tutoring with an international client base.

Tracy Tyler serves as Assistant Principal at George Washington Elementary in Lakeland School District, in Westchester County, NY. Her favorite part of being an Assistant Principal is working alongside teachers, providing high-quality feedback on their practices to impact students. While this is her first school building leadership role, she has spent the prior 13 years as a curriculum and pedagogy leader planning and implementing professional learning experiences educators. Tracy is committed to transformative teaching and systemic change. From creatively addressing the academic needs of students in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods to delving into graduate studies at Bank Street College of Education and Hunter College, her career evolved from a focus on individual student success to a broader perspective on systemic inequities within the educational landscape. 

Her doctoral pursuits will reflect a desire to deepen her understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy, particularly in racially homogeneous schools. She hopes to expand her impact and is excited to engage with a diverse cohort, sharing perspectives and collectively advancing a more just and personalized educational experience for all learners.  

Tracy is a wife and mother of 9-year-old and 7-year-old daughters who she hopes will grow to be strong and resilient change-agents in an ever-challenging world.

Christina "Tina" Martin has dedicated over 30 years to the intertwined worlds of mathematics and education. With unwavering passion, she has inspired students across community colleges and four-year colleges in California, Nevada, and her home state of Pennsylvania.

Tina's academic foundation was established at Bryn Mawr College, a distinguished member of the Seven Sister Colleges, where she earned her A.B. in Mathematics. She continued her scholarly pursuits at the University of California, Santa Barbara, obtaining a master's degree in mathematics with a focus on knot theory. Her academic journey was further enriched by a transformative year abroad at Oxford University in England.

Motivated by her deep commitment to education, Tina is currently working towards a Doctor of Education degree at Penn State World Campus. She hopes to focus her research on comprehending and confronting the barriers of shame and trauma linked with mathematics, with the goal of empowering students and enhancing their confidence across both K-12 and higher education levels.

Beyond academia, Tina cherishes her roles as a mother to three young adults, a caregiver to two spirited golden and Labrador retrievers, and a devoted wife. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she revels in hiking, yoga, athletics, and immersing herself in nature's wonders. Additionally, Tina enjoys tabletop gaming and holds her spirituality in high regard, with her family serving as a cornerstone of positivity and inspiration in her life.