Our Faculty
Simmons faculty encourage students to aspire toward high goals in their careers, to meet the rigors of preparation in their fields, and to build toward a better future for all.
Endowed faculty
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Stephanie Knight, Ed.D.
Leon Simmons Endowed Dean of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Well-respected in her field, Knight began her service as the Simmons School dean in August 2017. Prior to this, she joined Pennsylvania State University in 2009 as professor of educational psychology, where she taught courses in educational psychology and effective learning. In 2013 she became associate dean at Penn State, leading the College of Education’s undergraduate and graduate studies programs. Prior to that, she held a 20-year tenure at Texas A&M.
Knight’s scholarship includes interest in relationships between instructional strategies, classroom processes, learning environments and student outcomes; teacher professional development, and the use of observational techniques to study classroom processes. She recently concluded five years as co-editor of the Journal of Teacher Education and also served from 2004 to 2006 as co-editor of the Teaching, Learning and Human Development section of the American Educational Research Journal. She currently serves as associate editor of the Review of Educational Research. READ MORE.
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Stephanie Al Otaiba, Ph.D.
Patsy and Ray Caldwell Centennial Chair
She’s passionate about helping children learn to read successfully by providing them with reading interventions that have evidence behind them and by developing an evidence base for new interventions.
Her research team has attracted federally funded grants to support this line of research, which is conducted in Dallas ISD schools. Impact can be seen in these schools, where historically many children have not been able to read on grade level. READ MORE.
"Support for the work we do at Simmons translates directly into improving the knowledge of teachers. Further, this translates into increasing students’ reading abilities and, in turn, their preparedness to succeed in school and as citizens.”
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Akihito Kamata, Ph.D.
Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Endowed Professor
Dr. Kamata is a Professor at Southern Methodist University (Department of Education Policy & Leadership, Center on Research and Evaluation, Simmons School of Education & Human Development; Department of Psychology, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences). Prior to joining SMU in 2013, Dr. Kamata was a Professor at the University of Oregon and Florida State University. Dr. Kamata's primary research interest is psychometrics and educational and psychological measurement, focusing on implementation of item-level test data analysis methodology through various modeling framework, including item response theory, multilevel modeling, and structural equation modeling. READ MORE.
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Leanne Ketterlin Geller, Ph.D.
Texas Instruments Endowed Chair in Education
Dr. Ketterlin Geller is a professor in Simmons’ Education Policy and Leadership department and is director of the K-12 STEM Initiatives project in the Lyle School of Engineering. Her scholarship contributes to understanding and closing the gap in mathematics education by emphasizing the role that educational systems play in supporting teachers’ instructional decision making.
Her work includes creating assessments that teachers can use to make meaningful decisions and understanding what makes tests more (or less) accessible for some students. READ MORE.
“Because we know that pressing problems are multi-dimensional and multi-faceted, our faculty works together to harness our unique perspectives to make a difference in shaping the education of tomorrow.”
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Candace Walkington, Ph.D.
Annette and Harold Simmons Centennial Chair
Dr. Candace Walkington is the Annette and Harold Simmons Centennial Chair, Professor and was a Gerald J. Ford Research Fellow in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University, specializing in mathematics education. She holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mathematics from Texas A&M University, and she is a former NSF-GK12 Fellow and college mathematics professor. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from University of Texas at Austin. She was also an IES Postdoctoral Fellow in Mathematical Thinking, Learning, and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Walkington was a recipient of a Spencer Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Grant. In 2019, Dr. Walkington received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from the U.S. Department of Education. READ MORE.
Full Professors
Jill Allor, Ed.D
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Jill Allor is a University Distinguished professor with the Department of Teaching and Learning. She received her Ed.D. in special education with an emphasis on reading and reading disabilities from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 1996. A former special education teacher, her research is school-based and focuses on reading acquisition for students with and without disabilities, including students with learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities. Prior to arriving at SMU in 2004, she held faculty appointments at Florida State University and Louisiana State University. READ MORE.
Eric Bing, MD, Ph.D.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management, Global Leadership Institute
Eric G. Bing, MD, Ph.D., MBA is a professor of global health in the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management in the Simmons School and in the Department of Anthropology in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at SMU. He has a concurrent appointment with the George W. Bush Institute as senior fellow and director of global health. READ MORE.
Michael S. Harris, Ed.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Michael S. Harris is a Professor of higher education and director of SMU's Center for Teaching Excellence. His research investigates the impact of economic, political, and social changes influence on the culture, strategy, and behavior of higher education institutions. His current research focuses on differences in behaviors with respect to different missions and organizational cultures. READ MORE.
Lin Lin Lipsmeyer, Ed.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Lin Lipsmeyer has conducted interdisciplinary research in learning sciences, cognition, and innovative technologies. Her research has resulted in over 110 scholarly publications including journal articles, books, and book chapters. In addition, she has been PI, Co-PI, or researcher on numerous NSF and foundation grants bridging learning sciences, artificial intelligence, and STEAM learning. Lin also serves as the Development Editor-in-Chief of one of the top journals in education and educational research, the Educational Technology Research and Development. READ MORE.
Anthony Petrosino, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Petrosino serves as Professor in the Simmons Department of Teaching and Learning. Dr. Petrosino has received more than 17 million dollars in grants from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education and the McDonnel Foundation for Cognitive Studies. His research interests include students understanding of experimentation, engineering education and the development of expertise. He is Co-Founder of the nationally recognized UTeach Program. Dr. Petrosino has published over 40 peer reviewed journal articles, made over 100 national and international conference presentations and has supervised a dozen doctoral dissertations. READ MORE.
Paige Ware, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Paige Ware is a professor in the Department of Teaching & Learning and Associate Provost at Southern Methodist University. Prior to earning her doctorate in Education, Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of California at Berkeley, she was an English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher. Her research focuses both on the use of multimedia technologies for fostering language and literacy growth among adolescents, as well as on the use of Internet-based communication for promoting intercultural awareness through international and domestic online language and culture partnerships. READ MORE.
Jiun-Yu Wu, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Jiun-Yu (Jerry) Wu earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. His research is at the intersection of digital learning and computational methods, including Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), Generative AI, and Social Network Analysis (SNA). Through this transdisciplinary approach, Dr. Wu analyzes vast amounts of multimodal data to uncover significant insights, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making that bridges theory and practice. READ MORE.
Associate and Assistant Professors
Flávio Azevedo, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Flávio Azevedo’s research is grounded in the learning and cognitive sciences and it is organized into three intersecting strands—the nature of STEM interests and interest-driven participation, learning out of schools, and foundations of cognition and learning in STEM disciplines. Broadly, the construct of interests refers to the diverse ways people engage any given activity, so that pedagogies for interest development can be powerful pedagogies of inclusion. READ MORE.
Sondra Barringer, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
As an Associate Professor in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership, Dr. Sondra N. Barringer teaches courses in statistics and academic governance. She was awarded her Ph.D. and Master of Art in Sociology from the University of Arizona where her research was funded by the Association for Institutional Research and an Excellence Graduate Fellowship in the Social Sciences. READ MORE.
Corey Brady, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Corey is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and the Learning Sciences and director of SMU's Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning (TEIL) cluster. His research focuses on mathematical and computational modeling and computational modeling, with a particular emphasis on supporting and understanding the collective learning of classroom groups. READ MORE.
Scott L. Davis, Ph.D.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Associate Professor Scott Davis is a physiologist who joined the faculty of SMU in the Fall of 2010. He is the Director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory in the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management. He is also currently an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. READ MORE.
Xiaodan Hu, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Dr. Xiaodan Hu is an associate professor in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership at the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on postsecondary finance and policy on college access and success, with a focus on educational equity in community colleges. She has designed and led or co-led funded research projects from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Dual Enrollment Research Fund. READ MORE.
Willis Jones, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Dr. Willis A. Jones serves as interim chair for the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management and is an associate professor of higher education in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership at the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Dr. Jones’s research uses quantitative data to examine the antecedents and outcomes of college/university behavior, strategy, structures, and policies. READ MORE.
Prajakt Pande, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Prajakt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning and is affiliated with SMU’s Technology-enhanced Immersive Learning Cluster (TEIL). He also holds a Research Associate position at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Prajakt earned his Ph. D. from the Learning Sciences Research Group at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. READ MORE.
Magdalena Pando, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Magdalena Pando is an Associate Professor of Bilingual Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, M.A. in Romance Languages: Spanish, and a B.A. in Spanish from Texas Tech University. READ MORE.
Alexandra Pavlakis, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Dr. Pavlakis is an Associate Professor of Education Policy and Leadership. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.Sc. in Social Policy and Planning from The London School of Economics and Political Science, an M.Sc. in Teaching from Pace University through the New York City Teaching Fellows Program, and a B.A. in History from Brown University. READ MORE.
Meredith Richards, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Dr. Meredith Richards is an Associate Professor of Education Policy and Leadership. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy from the University of Texas at Austin and was an IES Post-doctoral Fellow in Education Policy and Methods at the University of Pennsylvania. READ MORE.
Kyle Roberts, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. J. Kyle Roberts is a Research Associate Professor of Teaching and Learning in the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University. Before rejoining SMU, Dr. Roberts was a principal data scientist and client success leader at Resultant providing consulting advice to professional sports teams, marketing firms, financial sector clients with assets >$75B (AUM), and healthcare organizations. His research specializes in multilevel modeling and predictive analytics. He has authored several functions in R and co-authored the R package yhat (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/yhat/index.html). He has conducted numerous training sessions on multilevel analysis at annual meetings of the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the Southwest Educational Research Association. Dr. Roberts was also the founder and first president of the Multilevel Modeling SIG of AERA (https://www.aera.net/SIG140/Multilevel-Modeling-140). READ MORE.
Kelsey Schenck, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Kelsey E. Schenck, Ph.D is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning and is affiliated with SMU’s Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning Cluster (TEIL). She received her Ph.D. in 2023 in Educational Psychology-Learning Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. READ MORE.
Quentin Sedlacek, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Quentin Sedlacek is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education at the Simmons School of Education and Human Development. He holds a B.A. in Physics from Harvard University, an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in Race, Inequality, and Language in Education and Teacher Education from Stanford University. Prior to attending Stanford, he taught science and mathematics for five years at public schools in Mississippi and American Sāmoa. During his doctoral studies, he co-founded a peer mentorship program for graduate students and organized a yearlong event series centering the perspectives of LGBTQ+ people of color in education. After completing his Ph.D., he served as a postdoctoral STEM education researcher in the College of Science at California State University, Monterey Bay. READ MORE.
Sandra Frost Waldron, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Sandra Frost Waldron is an Assistant Professor of Education Policy and Leadership in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development. She completed her Ph.D. in Education Policy at Michigan State University. She also holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor’s of Science in Education from the University of Miami. Prior to her Ph.D. studies, Dr. Frost Waldron also worked as a teacher and as a school admissions professional at both the PK-12 and higher education levels. READ MORE.
Jeanna Wieselmann, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Jeanna R. Wieselmann is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education Foundations, B.A. in Child Psychology, M.Ed. in Elementary Education, and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, all from the University of Minnesota. She was a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. READ MORE.
Clinical Professors and Lecturers
Kristie Abt, Ph.D.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Kristie Abt, PhD, ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management. Dr. Abt completed her PhD in Exercise Physiology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2005. Over the last 19 years she has broad teaching, mentoring, and advising experience in undergraduate and graduate programs in Applied Physiology and Health Management, Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Exercise Physiology, Health and Exercise Science, and Rehabilitation Sciences. READ MORE.
Cindy Anderton, Ph.D.
Counseling
Dr. Anderton earned her bachelor’s in psychology and business administration from Utah State University, her Master’s in Counseling from Idaho State University and her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counselor Education & Supervision (CACREP Accredited). READ MORE.
Watt Lesley Black, Jr., Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Watt Lesley Black, Jr. joined the SMU faculty after a 26-year career in public schools, where he began as a foreign language teacher and ended with a successful 8-year tenure as principal at Blalack Middle School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. READ MORE.
Sarah Brown, Ph.D.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Sarah Brown joined the SMU Sport Management faculty in January 2020. She teaches Applied Management in Sport, Contemporary Issues in Sport, Senior Project, and Sport Data Analytics in the undergraduate program and Research Design in the graduate program. Prior to joining SMU, Dr. Brown taught courses at Texas A&M University (where she completed her doctoral work) and Texas Women’s University. Previously, Dr. Brown worked as a corporate attorney. She has experience working for the Texas Rangers and multiple fortunate 100 companies including Nike. READ MORE.
Roxanne Burleson, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Roxanne Burleson is a Clinical Associate Professor as well as the Director of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and M.Ed. in Accelerated Leadership Program within the Simmons School of Education & Human Development. Her research interests include education policy and governance of public and non-profit organizations. Roxanne spent thirty-one years in public education as a teacher, middle school and high school principal, and assistant superintendent for Plano ISD. In her assistant superintendent position in Plano, she worked closely with other administrators to improve test scores on state assessments, as well as develop strategies and best practices to lower failure rates and increase graduation rates in Plano high schools. Currently, Roxanne serves on the Board of Directors for Library Foundation of the Plano Public Libraries and is the Treasurer for the Plano Metro Rotary Club. She is a member of the “Women Making a Difference” nonprofit in Plano, and she serves as past-president of the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano. READ MORE.
Peter Carton Jr., J.D.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Peter Carton, J.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of Sport Management in the department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, NJ and his experience includes working for Major League Baseball (MLB). READ MORE.
Anthony Cuevas, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Tony Cuevas is a Clinical Professor and director of the Teacher Development Studio. Dr. Cuevas began his career in education as a secondary teacher in Louisiana and earned his Ph.D. in Instructional Systems from Florida State University. He worked as an Instructional Designer and Curriculum Director at EDS and A.T. Kearney for several years before joining SMU. He designed the curriculum for the SMU Guildhall Master of Interactive Technology degree program, rated one of the top programs in the U.S., and served as Academic Director for several years before transferring to Simmons School. READ MORE.
Greta Davis, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Dr. Greta Davis is a counselor educator, career counselor, and executive coach with over 20 years of experience in career development providing services to individual clients, organizations, academic institutions, and the federal government. READ MORE.
Mario De La Garza, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Dr. De La Garza earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling from the University of North Texas. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Abilene Christian University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a supervisor credential in the state of Texas as well as a National Certified Counselor. READ MORE.
Mag Gabbert, Ph.D.
Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies
Dr. Mag Gabbert is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Graduate Liberal Studies. Dr. Gabbert has a Ph.D. in English, with a focus in creative writing, from Texas Tech University, an MFA in creative writing from the University of California at Riverside, and a BA in English from Trinity University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, with Honors in English. READ MORE.
Nick Gesualdi, Ed.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Nick Gesualdi, Ed.D. is the Director of the Aspiring Leaders Program and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Education Policy and Leadership Department. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan, and a Doctorate of Education from Vanderbilt University. READ MORE.
Francesca Go, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Francesca Go received her Ph.D. in Special Education with emphasis on behavioral disorders, from the University of North Texas in 2005. Prior to that, she taught students with behavioral disorders in upper elementary and middle school. Dr. Go received her M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education from Vanderbilt University, and her B.A. in Government and History from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Go's research and teaching interests center on behavior, reading, cognitive disabilities, autism, assessment and measurement. READ MORE.
Tara Godhwani, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Tara Godhwani is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and a Doctoral Candidate at the University of North Texas (UNT) where she is finalizing her degree in Counselor Education and Supervision (CACREP Accredited). She earned a Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Texas at Arlington. READ MORE.
Sydney Hammit, Ph.D.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Sydney Hammit joined the SMU Sport Management Faculty in August 2024. Her teaching portfolio is interdisciplinary, teaching Facility and Event Management, Contemporary Issues in Sport, Advanced PR in Sport, and Senior Project. Before joining SMU, Dr. Hammit taught courses at The University of Arkansas, where she completed her doctoral studies. READ MORE.
Thomas L. Hartsell, J.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Thomas L. Hartsell, Jr. is a lawyer and mediator in private practice with a specialty in family law and mental health practice issues. He has been active in the mediation field since 1986. He is a coauthor of "The Portable Lawyer for Mental Health Professionals, an A-Z Guide to Protecting your Clients, Your Practice and Yourself" and "The Portable Ethicist, An A-Z Guide to Responsible Practice" published by John Wiley & Sons and is a frequent lecturer to mental health professionals and organizations. READ MORE.
Johnitha Watkins Johnson, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Johnitha Watkins Johnson earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Urban Education in 2013. During her doctoral studies at Texas A&M University, she mentored pre-service and in-service teachers in various contexts, and began her research agenda, which focuses on equity in education. She also holds a M.S. in Juvenile Forensic Psychology from Prairie View A&M University. READ MORE.
Allison Kanny, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Dr. Allison Kanny is a Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor in the Education Policy and Leadership department at Southern Methodist University. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA, a M.A. in Urban Education (concentration in Educational Policy and Administration) and clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Loyola Marymount University, and a B.A. in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College. READ MORE.
Kate Montgomery, Ed.D.
Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies
Dr. Kate Montgomery serves as Clinical Assistant Professor and inaugural Department Chair for the Doctor of Liberal Studies, Master of Dispute Resolution, Master of Liberal Studies and associated graduate certificate programs. In her extensive innovative and interdisciplinary career, she has worked with world-renowned and DFW organizations such as SMU, Mary Kay Inc., Frito-Lay, Inc., Anheuser-Busch Companies, Dallas Museum of Art, and Gannett Co., Inc. In addition, she co-founded the DLS program, one of four in the world. Kate serves on the board of the national Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Program, collaborating with fellow program directors and having co-presented at director workshops since 2013. READ MORE.
Farnoosh Nouri, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Dr. Nouri is an educator, author, researcher, and presenter. She has been a practitioner since 1997. In addition to teaching, her major area of research has been on the Electromagnetic Aftereffects of Near-Death Experiences. She is the author of the book "So Long Depression". READ MORE.
John Potter, O.D.
Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies
John Potter, O.D., M.A., is an active practitioner in dispute resolution and conflict management. He has mediated more than 3,000 disputes including many in the health care field. He received a Doctor of Optometry from Indiana University and an M.A. in Dispute Resolution from SMU. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Distinguished Clinical Scholar at the State University of New York’s State College of Optometry. READ MORE.
Amy Richardson, Ed.D.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. Amy Richardson is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Annette Simmons School of Education and Human Development and the Director of Educator Preparation and the Scholarship of Teaching. Prior to earning her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern Methodist University, she was a secondary social studies and English teacher and a research assistant for the New Jersey Center for Character Education. Her areas of expertise include teacher education, social studies education, and the use of technology, specifically mixed reality simulations, to support teacher learning and development. Amy is principal investigator on the Raising Texas Teachers grant funded by Raise Your Hand Texas. READ MORE.
Laura Robinson-Doyle, Ph.D.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Laura Robinson-Doyle, M.S., is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Sport Performance Leadership (SPL) program. She completed her Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Kinesiology at Texas Woman’s University, with an emphasis in population and global health. Laura’s research interests include physical (in)activity, food insecurity, vulnerable populations (to include military and homeless), and global and community health programming. Laura earned her Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Development from Texas Woman’s University, with an emphasis in addictions, and adolescent and young adult counseling. READ MORE.
Karla del Rosal, Ph.D.
Teaching and Learning
Karla del Rosal, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Annette Simmons School of Education and Human Development. She is the Director of Graduate Studies at SMU, leading the Master of Education and Master of Science in the Learning Sciences programs. Karla holds a Ph.D. in Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her expertise includes teacher education, second language acquisition, cultural responsiveness, and formative assessment, with a focus on best practices for English learners in Mathematics and Science classrooms. READ MORE.
Edita Ruzgyte, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Dr. Edita Ruzgyte is a couples and marriage therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor. After coming to the United States from Lithuania, Dr. Ruzgyte received a Ph.D in family therapy. In her dissertation she explored the cultural and social aspects of relationships and sexuality. She continues to do research examining social influences in relationship dynamics and sexual expression in post- Soviet Union countries. READ MORE.
Brooke Ryan, D.P.T
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
Brooke Ryan, PT, DPT, OCS, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Sport Management. Dr. Ryan attended Southern Methodist University for her undergraduate, receiving her B.S. in Applied Physiology and Health Management. After SMU, Dr. Ryan completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. READ MORE.
Brandy Schumann, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Dr. Brandy Schumann is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Registered Play Therapy-Supervisor, National Certified Counselor, Professor at Southern Methodist University (SMU), and the President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Schumann holds a Doctoral degree in Counseling, with a specialty in Play Therapy from the top ranked play therapy program in the world, which is at the University of North Texas. READ MORE.
Misty Solt, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Misty Solt, Ph.D., is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor as well as a National Certified Counselor. Dr. Solt is a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor and received her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in 2003 where she was an Adjunct Professor in the Counseling Department. Dr. Solt has served as the director for SMU's Center for Family Counseling from 2008-2011, and taught courses in the area of Practicum and Child Counseling. READ MORE.
Ashley Stone, Ph.D.
Education Policy and Leadership
Dr. Ashley Stone is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Director of the M.Ed. in Higher Education program in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership at the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development where she teaches courses such as Critical Understandings of Race and Gender in Higher Education, Equity and Access, History of Higher Education, Leading Diverse Campuses, and Leading in Student Affairs. READ MORE.
LaKaavia Taylor, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Dr. LaKaavia Taylor earned her Ph.D. in counseling with a specialty in play therapy and psychoeducational assessment at the University of North Texas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, National Certified Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, Certified Child-Centered Play Therapy Supervisor, and Certified Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Supervisor. READ MORE.
Terra Wagner, Ph.D.
Counseling Graduate Studies
Dr. Terra Wagner received her PhD in Counseling from the University of North Texas, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. Dr. Wagner primarily teaches practicum, group counseling, and diverse communities as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Additionally, she serves as the Clinic Director, overseeing operations at all SMU counseling clinics. READ MORE.
Denise Walker, Ph.D.
Counseling
Dr. Walker is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and Louisiana, and also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Louisiana. Dr. Walker earned her B.S. and M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Dr. Walker completed her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Texas A&M University-Commerce with a specialization in Student Affairs. READ MORE.
Bradley Warren, M.S.
Applied Physiology and Sport Management
BJ “Coach” Warren has been with the Applied Physiology and Sport Management Department since January of 2013. Previously, BJ taught at Collin College, West Virginia University, and various middle school and high schools. BJ has coached 10 State Champions, 7 All-Americans, 11 All-American considerations, 3 Academic All-Americans and broke over 150 team records. READ MORE.