Oct 14, 2024  
2024 - 2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024 - 2025 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Liberal Arts (Faculty & Staff)



Samantha Morgan-Curtis, Ph.D., Professor, Interim Dean
Joel Dark, Ph.D., Professor, Associate Dean

Art

Kaleena Sales, Associate Professor, MFA, Interim Department Chair

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Sue Ballard De Ruiz, Associate Professor
M.S. 1992, (Housing/Interior Design and Resource Management) Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Samuel Dunson, Associate Professor
M.F.A., 2000, Savannah College of Art and Design; B.S., 1992, Tennessee State University

Cynthia Gadsden, Instructor
B.A., 1983, Talladega College; M.B.A., 1987, Tennessee State University; B.S., 2006, Tennessee State University; M.A., 2008, Ohio University

Xingkui Guo, Professor
B.F.A., 1992, Nanjing University (China); M.F.A., 2003, University of Cincinnati

Carlyle Johnson, Professor
B.F.A., 1975, M.F.A., 1977, The Ohio State University

Jane A. McKinney, Associate Professor
B.A., 1974, Scarritt College; M.A., 1977, George Peabody College for Teachers; M.F.A., 1993, Memphis College of Art

LaKesha Moore, Assistant Professor
M.F.A., 2009, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; B.F.A., 2005, Washington University St. Louis, MO

Kaleena Sales, Associate Professor
B.S., Tennessee State University; M.S., 2006, Virginia Commonwealth; M.F.A., 2014, Savannah College of Art and Design

Communications

Tameka Winston, Ed. D., Interim Department Chair

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Sean Allen, Assistant Professor
M.A., 2016, Rhetorical Studies, Hofstra University; B.A., 2013, Wiley College Secondary Education

Patrick Clinton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2018, University of Louisiana Lafayette, Lafayette, LA; M.F.A., 2013, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

William Flood, Assistant Professor
M.F.A., 2013, Performance, The University of Louisville; B.A., 2002, Acting/Wright State University

Eric Frazen, Assistant Professor
M.F.A., 2012, Product Design-Michigan State University; B.A., 2008, Comm Studies and Performance-South Dakota

Patrick E. Idoye, Professor
B.A., 1974, University of Ibadan (Nigeria); M.A., 1978, Ph.D., 1981, Florida State University

Lawrence James, Professor
B.S., 1971, South Carolina State College; M.A., 1972, Texas Technological University; Ph.D., 1976, Wayne State University

Michael Jeffries, Ph.D., Associate Professor
B.A., 1995, Harding University; M.A., 2003, Harding University Theology; Ph.D., 2013, Regent University

Kimberly Johnson, Associate Professor/Director
B.A., 1997, Northwestern University; M.Div., 2003, McCormick Theological Seminary; Ph.D., 2011, University of Memphis

David Lee
M.F.A., 2015, Directing, Illinois State University; B.F.A., 2001, Acting & Directing, University of Arizona

Terry Likes, Professor and Department Chair
B.A., 1985, Maryville University; M.A., 1988, Western Kentucky University; Ph.D., 1996, University of Kentucky

A. Mason Chambers
B.S., 2016, Mass Communications, Tennessee State University; M.F.A., 2011, Visual Media Arts Emerson College

Jacqueline W. Mitchell, Professor
B.A., 1969, Howard University; M.A., 1970, Ph.D., 1973, The Ohio State University

Marc Payne
B.F.A., 1993, Professional Theater, North Carolina A&T; M.F.A., 1990, Acting, State University of NY-Binghamton

Joseph Richie, Associate Professor
Studied English, music, and theater at Florida State University, received a B.A..1980, English, Voorhees College; M.M.A., 1983, Media Arts, University of South Carolina

Karen Russell, Associate Professor
M.S., 1998, Mass Communications, Arkansas State University;  B.S., 1991 Radio/TV, Arkansas State University

Qi Tang, Associate Professor
B.A.,1997, Sichuan International Studies University (China); M.A., 2000, Ph.D., 2008, Bowling Green State University

Arierelle Vincent Taylor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
M.B.A, 2015, Management, Wayne State University; B.A. 2010, English & Communications, University of Michigan

Erik Werner
M.A. 2017, Organizational Leadership, Trevecca University; B.A. 1998, Communications, UT Knoxville

Tameka Winston, Ed.D., Associate Professor and Interim Department Chair
B.A., 2001, Alcorn State University; M.A., 2005, Austin Peay State University; Ed.D., 2009, Tennessee State University

Criminal Justice

Deborah Burris-Kitchen, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair

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Lynette Barnes, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Ph.D. Criminal Justice, Rutgers University

Deborah Burris-Kitchen, Professor and Department Chair
B.A., 1988, Indiana University; M.A., 1990; Ball State University; Ph.D., 1995, Western Michigan University

Mark Chaires, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Criminal Justice, State University of New York, Albany

Ronald Craig, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Ph.D. Criminal Justice, Michigan State University

George Kakoti, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Ph.D., Criminal Justice, Indiana University, J.D., Indiana University

Michael Montgomery, Professor
B.S., 1974, Eastern Kentucky University; M.S., 1979, Eastern Kentucky University; Ph.D., 2007, Public Administration, Tennessee State University

Robert Smith, Assistant Professor
B.A., 1972, Tennessee State University; J.D., 1977, Howard University Law School

Larry D. Woods, Professor
B.A., 1966, Emory University; J.D., 1969, Northwestern University School of Law

History, Political Science, Geography and Africana Studies

Adebayo Oyebade, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair

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Corey Barwick, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2016, Political Science, University of Colorado Boulder

Gashawbeza Bekele, Assistant Professor
B.A., 1997, Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia); M.Phil., 2001, University of Oslo (Norway); Ph.D., 2007, West Virginia University

Michael T. Bertrand, Associate Professor
B.A., 1985, M.A., 1988, University of Louisiana, Lafayette; Ph.D., 1995, University of Memphis

Keisha Brown, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2015, East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Southern California

Sheri Bartlett Browne, Professor
B.A., 1986, Lewis and Clark College; Ph.D., 2002, University of Minnesota

Shameka Cathey, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2013, (Political Science) Howard University, M.P.P.A., (Master of Public Policy and Administration) Mississippi State University

Theron E. Corse, Associate Professor
B.A., 1988, University of Georgia, Athens; M.A., 1992, Ph.D., 1995, Vanderbilt University

Elizabeth E. Dachowski, Professor
B.A., 1984, Indiana University; M.A., 1987, Ph.D., 1995, University of Minnesota

Joel H. Dark, Professor and Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts
B.A., 1990, Middle Tennessee State University; M.A., 1991, Ph.D., 1998, Vanderbilt University

K.T. Ewing, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2014, History, University of Memphis

John P. Miglietta, Professor
B.A., 1984, Fordham University; M.A., 1987, Ph.D., 1995, New York University

Kyle Murray, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2011, Political Science, University of Limerick, Ireland

Adebayo O. Oyebade, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair
B.A., 1981, M.A., 1985, University of Ife (Nigeria); Ph.D., 1995, Temple University

David A. Padgett, Associate Professor
B.S., 1987, Western Kentucky University; M.S., 1992, Ph.D., 2001, University of Florida

Andrew J. Patrick, Assistant Professor
B.A., 1996, University of Colorado-Boulder; M.A., 1997, University College London (United Kingdom); M.Sc., 2005, University of Southern Maine; Ph.D., 2011, University of Manchester (United Kingdom)

Andrea Ringer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2018, History, University of Memphis, M.A., Public History, University of Arkansas-Little Rock, B.A. History., Texas A&M University- B.A. History

Brian Russell, Assistant Professor
B.A., 1995; M.A., 1998, University of Arkansas; Ph.D., 2004, University of Tennessee

Erik S. Schmeller, Professor and Department Chair
B.S., 1991, Fort Hays State University; M.A., 1993; Ph.D., 1999, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Maat Sekhmet, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2009, Africology and African American Studies, Temple University

Learotha Williams, Jr., Assistant Professor
B.A., 1996; M.A., 1998; Ph.D., 2003, Florida State University

Wosene Yefru, Professor
B.A., 1972, Wilmington College; M.A., 1974, Ohio University; Ph.D., 1983, Howard University

Languages, Literature, and Philosophy

Michelle Pinkard, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Interim Department Chair

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Jill Anderson, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2005, Purdue University; M.A., 2007, Ph.D., 2011, University of Mississippi

Charles Bowie, Associate Professor
B.A., 1996, University of West Florida; B.A., 1998 Oakwood College; M.T.S., 2000; M.A.; Ph.D., 2008, Vanderbilt University

Rebecca Dixon, Professor
B.A., 1992, Oberlin College; M.A., 1996, Temple University; M.A., 2021, Middle Tennessee State University; Ph.D., 2000, Temple Universit

Christopher Field, Associate Professor
B.A., 2003, University of Cincinnati; MA, 2005, University of Dayton; Ph.D., 2015, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Shane Gomes, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2010, University of Hawaii at Hilo; M.A., 2015, University of Northern Colorado; Ph.D., 2020, North Dakota State University

Phillip Grayson, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2004, University of South Carolina-Aiken; M.A., 2006, University of Tulsa; Ph.D., 2017, St. John’s University

Jennifer Hayes, Associate Professor
B.A., 2006, University of Tennessee; M.A., 2010, Tennessee State University; Ph.D., 2013, Middle Tennessee State University

Shannon Hayes, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2009, University of California-Santa Cruz; M.A., 2012, State University of New York-Stony Brook; Ph.D. 2019, University of Oregon

M. Wendy Hennequin, Professor
B.S., 1989, Central Connecticut State University; M.A., 1992, Central Connecticut State University; Ph.D., 2006, University of Connecticut

Zeba Khan-Thomas, Assistant ProfessorB.A., 2009, Florida State University; M.A., 2013, North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D. 2019, Indiana University-Bloomington

Francesco Masala, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2011, Universita di Genova (Italy); M.A., 2015 University of Kentucky; Ph.D., 2018 University of Kentucky

Marc R. Mazzone, Associate Professor
B.A., 1984, Williams College; M.A., 1987, Ph.D., 1993, Indiana University

Emily Murray, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2002, University of Tennessee; M.A., 2006, Middle Tennessee State University; 2015, University of South Carolin

Samantha Morgan-Curtis, Associate Professor
B.A., 1991, University of Tennessee at Knoxville; M.A., 1993, University Tennessee at Knoxville; Ph.D., 2002, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Katrina Newsom, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2005, Marygrove College; M.A., 2011, Wayne State University; Ph.D., 2018, Wayne State University

Megan O’Neil, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2005 Auburn University, M.A., 2013 University of Kentucky; Ph.D., 2016 University of Kentucky

Olufemi Oyebade, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2010, Vanderbilt University; M.A., 2012 Tennessee State University

Roxane Pajoul, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2007, Paris VII (France); M.A., 2009, Paris VII (France); M.A., 2013, Vanderbilt University; Ph.D., 2018, Vanderbilt University

Elaine A. Phillips, Associate Professor
B.A., 1989, Vassar College; M.F.A., 1992, Arizona State University; M.A., 1993, Ph.D., 1996, Vanderbilt University

Michelle Pinkard, Associate Professor
B.A., 2000, Paul Quinn College; M.A., 2005, Morgan State University; Ph.D., 2013, Arizona State University

Lucas A. Powers, Professor
B.A., 1984, M.A., 1986, University of North Carolina; Ph.D., 1990, Vanderbilt University

Philip Shafer, Assistant Professor
B.S., 2004, Middle Tennessee State University; M.A., 2006, Middle Tennessee State University

Justin Whitney, Assistant Professor
B.A., 2004, University of Texas-Austin; M.A., 2012, Texas State University-San Marcos; Ph.D., 2018, The University of Utah

Heidi Noyes Williams, Associate Professor
B.A., 2004, M.A., 2007, Murray State University

Michelle Wise, Associate Professor
B.A., 1995; M.A., 1999, University of South Alabama

Music

Darryl Glenn Nettles, D.M.A., Interim Department Chair

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


Robert Bryant, Associate Professor
Ph.D.,2012, Curriculum & Instruction Mercer University, M.Ed., 2017, Higher Education Administration, Georgia Southern University, M.M., 2008, Music Education, Florida State University

Mark Crawford, Professor
A.A., 1983, B.S., 1985, Freed-Hardeman College; M.M., 2009, Austin Peay State University; M.Ed., 1989, Ed.D., 2006, Vanderbilt University

Robert L. Elliott, Professor 
B.A., 1980, University of New Orleans; M.M.E., 1992, Loyola University-New Orleans; D.M.A., 2003, University of Memphis

Derrick Greene, Assistant Professor
B. S. 2016, Tennessee State University, M.M., 2018, University of Memphis

Larry Jenkins, Assistant Professor
M.M. 2014, Howard University, B.S. 2009, Tennessee State University

Reginald A. McDonald, Associate Professor
B.M.E. 1991, Alabama State University; M.M.Ed., 1997 State University of West Georgia; Ed.S., 2002, Clark Atlanta University; Ed.D., 2009, University of Alabama

Darryl G. Nettles, Professor
B.F.A., 1983, State University of New York at Buffalo; M.M., 1987, D.M.A., 1995, University of Illinois

Ljerka Rasmussen, Associate Professor
B.A. 1984, University of Sarajevo; M.A. 1987, Wesleyan University; Ph.D. 1999, Wesleyan University

Jeffrey Tackett, Assistant Professor
B.S., 1989, M.S., 2002 Tennessee State University.

Richard D. Todd, Associate Professor
B.M. 1990, University of Cincinnati; M.M. 1993, Southern Methodist University; D.M.A., 2007, North Texas University

J. Van Dyke, Associate Professor
M.M., 2004, Keyboard Performance, Austin Peay State University, D.M.A., 2011, Piano Performance, Ohio State University


 

Sociology, Social Work, and Urban Professions

Oscar Miller, Professor and Department Chair

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Karen Abel, Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Sociology, 2015, Utah State University; M.S. Sociology 2010, Utah State University; B.S. Sociology (Magna Cum Laude). 2005, University of Utah; A.S. Individualized (High Honors), 2003, Utah Valley University

Barbara S. Kilbourne, Professor
B.A., 1981, Geography, University of Texas at Dallas; M.A., 1985, Public Affairs and Demography, University of Texas at Dallas; Ph.D.,1991, Political Economy (Emphasis in Social Stratification and Demography, University of Texas at Dallas

Roger Klomegah, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Sociology, South Dakota State University; M.A., Sociology, University of Manitoba; B.A. in Sociology and Linguistics, University of Ghana

Mahgoub E. Mahmoud, Professor
B.A., 1971, Cairo University at Khartoum (Sudan); Social Work Diploma, 1975, B.So., 1978, University of Khartoum (Sudan); M.A., 1981, Ph.D., 1983, Brown University

Oscar Miller, Jr., Professor and Department Chair
B.A., 1986, Murray State University; M.A.,1988, Ph.D., 1993, Vanderbilt University

Edward K. Sanford, Associate Professor
B.A., 1979; M.A., 1981, North Carolina Central University; Ph.D.,1991, Howard University.

Josie A. Scales, Associate Professor
B.S., 1970, Tennessee State University; M.A.,1973, Fisk University; Ph.D., 1989, Howard University

Ismail H. Yigit, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2020, Sociology, Mississippi State University (MSU); M.A., 2013, Sociology, Istanbul University (IU); B.A., 2009, Philosophy, Bursa Uludag University