• Ed.D
  • Meet the faculty
  • Meet our students
  • Student Handbook
• Admissions Criteria
• Curriculum
• Prerequisites

Cohort 2013-2014

Full Name: Scott R. Argo

Undergraduate Institution: Georgia Regents University

Master’s Institution: Georgia Regents University

Master’s Degree: Master of Public Administration

Job (Title and Location): Assistant Director of Academic Admissions, Georgia Regents University

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? I chose the program because of the reputation of the faculty, department, and the institution along with the program’s practitioner-scholar model.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: Strategic Enrollment Management, College Choice, Student Retention and Progression, Student Employment, Organizational Behavior, Service Learning, Dual-Enrollment.

Full Name: Catherine Tungol Binuya

Undergraduate Institution: University of South Carolina- Honor’s College, University of South Carolina

Master’s Institution: Georgia State University

Master’s Degree: MS Community Counseling

Job (Title and Location): Associate Director Advising, Counseling & Retention Services-Online Campus, Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? The EdD SAL program represents an amazing opportunity to advance my knowledge of student affairs in higher education. The unique structure of the program supports my personal, academic and professional development in a well-rounded way. Completion of the program will help me to make a greater impact with my students and my colleagues as a scholar-practitioner in the field.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: Retention, Systems-approach to support services, Multicultural/Diversity issues

Full Name: India L. Blackburn

Undergraduate Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Master’s Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Master’s Degree: Educational Leadership

Job (Title and Location): Interim Dean of Student Service and Director of Student Life, Georgia Perimeter College

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? I chose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership program because of the challenging and supportive faculty, co-hort model and the ability to complete my studies part-time while working full-time.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: My interests include first generation and non-traditional student retention and persistence, equity, access and inclusion, and legal issues in higher education.

Full Name: Jennifer Brannon

Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia

Master’s Institution: Georgia Southern University

Master’s Degree: Higher Education Administration

Job (Title and Location): Vice President of Student Affairs, Middle Georgia State College

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? I chose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership for the format and the content of the program. I felt this program is the right fit for me as a full time working student affairs professional.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: active duty and veteran students

Full Name: Jennifer Chadwick

Full Name: Joshua James Curtin

Undergraduate Institution: Georgia Southwestern State University

Master’s Institution: Georgia Southwestern State University

Master’s Degree: MBA Management

Job (Title and Location): Director of Campus Life within the Division of Student Affairs

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? This program provided great access to where I live and work in Georgia. By allowing me to complete my degree primarily online, I can get the degree that will help me educate the students at GSW, and allow me to advance in the field of student affairs.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: Study Abroad Programs, Human Resources

Full Name: Kasey Helton

Undergraduate Institution: Carson-Newman College

Master’s Institution: University of Tennessee

Master’s Degree: MS College Student Personnel

Job (Title and Location): Director of Campus Services, Southern Polytechnic State University

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? All UGA’s higher ed programs are highly respected. As my career progressed, and it became more evident that a doctoral degree was the right direction for me, I couldn’t have been more excited to be a part of this program.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: how business and student affairs intersect, the "return on investment" for student success programs represent, partnering with industry to enhance student learning

Full Name: Chrystal Cox McDowell

Undergraduate Institution: Wake Forest University

Master’s Institution: Wake Forest University

Master’s Degree: MAEd

Job (Title and Location): Director of Thomaston Upward Bound at Atlanta Metropolitan State College

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? The EdD SAL program will allow me the opportunity to glean from some of the nation’s leading Student Affairs professionals. Given the outlined courses, esteemed faculty, and research status of UGA, the EdD SAL Program will be the perfect marriage between my career and research goals.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: Student Life/The effectiveness of college access programs for low-income students, Retention and college graduation of minority students, First-generation college freshmen experiences (socially and academically)

Full Name: Honi O’Kelley

Undergraduate Institution: Mississippi University for Women

Master’s Institution: University of Georgia

Master’s Degree: College Student Affairs Administration (CSAA)

Job (Title and Location): Assistant Dean for Campus Life, Director of Student Involvement and Leadership; Oxford College of Emory University; Oxford, GA

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? Aside from knowing that I would have the privilege of learning from some of the best faculty in the country, I was particularly attracted to the blended format of this program, which accommodates the demands of my career.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: College student development on two-year campuses

Full Name: Colleen Riggle

Undergraduate Institution: Alma College

Master’s Institution: Grand Valley State University

Master’s Degree: M.Ed

Job (Title and Location): Assistant Dean of Students and Director Women’s Resource Center, Georgia Institute of Technology

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? When I first heard of this program I was elated as I had been longing for a program where I can continue my full time career, while studying at the advanced-level simultaneously. I like the emphasis on student affairs leadership and it will be a nice transition from my masters degree.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: gender-equity, gender based violence, social justice

Full Name: Mary Roberts

Undergraduate Institution: Presbyterian College

Master’s Institution: University of South Carolina

Master’s Degree: Student Personnel Services

Job (Title and Location): Director, University Career Center, Georgia College

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? I chose UGA because of its strong reputation for developing outstanding student affairs professionals. As I considered part-time programs, it was also important for me to experience the cohort model and make real connections with the other students and faculty. The weeklong immersion experience in Athens along with the accessibility of regular classes at the Griffin campus made this the ideal opportunity for me as a working professional.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interests: Career development and employability of student leaders, career services within the academic curriculum, hiring and organizational structures within higher education, college choice and leadership skills development

Full Name: J. Michael Stewart

Undergraduate Institution: Georgia College

Master’s Institution: Mercer University School of Education

Master’s Degree: Master’s of Family Services

Job (Title and Location): Vice President of Student Affairs – Middle Georgia State College

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? This program has been in development and on my radar for a number of years and is exactly what I’m looking for personally and professionally. After spending several days in the program, my expectations have been far exceeded, related to working with an educated and caring faculty and staff as well as a fantastic co-hort of diverse and highly knowledgeable colleagues.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: Student Conduct outcomes and perceptions, Stereotypes of College Students and impact on development, LGBT issues related to college students

Full Name: Donna Lee Sullins

Undergraduate Institution: Auburn University

Master’s Institution: University of Georgia

Master’s Degree: M.Ed. College Student Affairs Administration

Job (Title and Location): Associate Director of Student Life for Student Conduct and Student Development at Dalton State College in Dalton, GA

Why did you choose UGA’s EdD in Student Affairs Leadership (EdD SAL) program? I was excited about the practitioner-scholar cohort model of the program that allows me to continue working while taking classes . I am really excited about the internship in the third year, so that I can explore new areas and gain valuable experience for future positions while still being a full-time employee. Also, the well-respected faculty who are teaching our targeted curriculum in a hybrid format made me believe this program was the best fit for me.

Student Affairs Interest/Research interest: The college experience of non-traditional students, first-generation students, and commuter students; support beyond graduate school for student affairs professionals in their job search/career building process; emerging campuses; orientation and retention best practices; and student learning in the conduct process