Certified Peer Observers
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College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs
Alejandro Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Public Affairs and Planning
Certified Peer Observer
Email: aro@uta.edu
Phone #: (817) 272-3357
Barbara Marini, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Architecture
Certified Peer Observer
Email: b.marini@uta.edu
Diane Jones-Allen, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Landscape Architecture
Certified Peer Observer
Email: diane.allen@uta.edu
Phone #: (817) 272-8315
Jiwon Suh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Public Affairs and Planning
Certified Peer Observer
Email: jiwon.suh@uta.edu
Phone #: (817) 272-2801
Joowon Im, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Landscape Architecture
Certified Peer Observer
Email: joowon.im@uta.edu
Phone #: (817) 272-4307
Karabi Bezboruah, Ph.D
Professor
Public Affairs and Planning
Certified Peer Observer
Email: bezborua@uta.edu
Phone #: (817)272-3301-0727
Letora Anderson, M.A.
Assistant Professor
Landscape Architecture
Certified Peer Observer
Email: letora.anderson@uta.edu
Steven Quevedo, M.A.
Associate Professor
Architecture
Email: squevedo@uta.edu
Phone #: (214)649-6933
Tanner Ozdil, PH.D
Assistant Professor
Landscapr Architecture
Email: tozdil@uta.edu
Phone #: 817-272-5089
College of Business
Dr. Mahmut Yasar
Goolsby-Jacqualyn A. Fouse Endowed Chair
Professor
Department of Economics
Email: myasar@uta.edu
Office: Room 329
Email: hila.fogelyaari@uta.edu
Office: Room 412
College of Education
Dr. Carla Amaro-Jiménez
Interim Associate Dean for Enrollment and Strategic Innovation
Associate Professor, Literacy/ESL
Research Interests: English language learners, teacher prep, student success
Bio: Dr. Carla Amaro-Jiménez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher and Administrator Preparation at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). As an experienced bilingual education teacher and educator, she now works with pre- and in-service teachers as well as administrators who work with English learners and their families. Her research focuses on the intersections between teacher preparation, classroom instruction, and family involvement to identify additive practices to support English learners and Hispanic students in diverse 21st century classrooms. She also served as the Director of the Pathways to College Access and Career Readiness Program for almost a decade; Pathways included the implementation of UTA-manned GO Centers at 24 area high schools, early college experiences, and parent/community outreach.
Dr. Candace Joswick
Interim Chair, TAP Department
Associate Professor
Bio: Dr. Candace Joswick is an associate professor of mathematics education and interim chair in the Department of Teacher and Administrator Preparation
Dr. Holly Hungerford-Kresser
Associate Professor, Literacy Studies and English Education
Research Interests: Teacher education, postsecondary literacies, digital literacies, and underserved student populations.
Dr. Kathryn Pole
Associate Professor, Literacy Studies
Research Interests: Literacy, family literacy, literacy teaching, teacher development
Dr. Deborah Williams
Clinical Assistant Professor, Literacy Studies
Research Interests: Educator preparation, teaching reading, action research
Bio: Dr. Deborah Williams serves as Visiting Assistant Professor in the Curriculum and Instruction Department’s Literacy Studies Program. She teaches courses for the reading specialist certification and assists with managing data. Prior to joining the University of Texas at Arlington, Dr. Williams was an associate professor and undergraduate reading program coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University and assistant professor at Cameron University. During her nine years as teacher educator, Dr. Williams has mentored teacher candidates and literacy professionals in Lawton Public Schools, Dallas, Nacogdoches and Frisco Independent School Districts. Dr. Williams’ research interests involve mixed methods related to program impact, development of teacher candidates in the science of teaching reading, and action research.
Dr. Kathleen Tice
Assistant Professor of Practice
Teaching Interests: Through this service-learning experience, prospective teachers read aloud to English language learners from working poor families, and the children received a tote bag of the books read aloud at the family literacy event each semester.
Dr. Sonja Ezell
Clinical Assistant Professor, EC-6
Research Interests: Early childhood, literacy, educator preparation, multicultural children’s lit, social-emotional learning
Dr. Joohi Lee
Professor, Early Childhood Mathematics Education
Research Interests: Children’s math proficiency, racial/ethnic gaps in math
Dr. Zulma Mojica
Assistant Professor
Dr. Luis E. Pérez Cortés
Assistant Professor
Bio: Dr. Luis E. Pérez Cortés is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Higher Education, Adult Learning, and Organizational Studies. His research focuses on the role of technologies, particularly in how the playing, making, and modding of games impact the literacy practices and perspectives of under-represented and under-served populations. He explores how these practices enable individuals to see the world, society, and themselves as malleable and open to redesign. With over twelve years of teaching experiences across Puerto Rico and four U.S. states, he emphasizes student-centered learning environments that promote creativity, critical thinking, and real-world application. At UTA, he teaches in the Instructional and Learning Design Technology (ILDT) masters program.
Dr. Joel Leader
Assistant Professor of Practice
Email: joel.leader@uta.edu
Phone #: 817-272-2127
Office: Hammond Hall 415
Office Hours
By Appointment on Teams
Bio:: Dr. Joel Leader is an assistant professor of practice in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Arlington. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and M.Ed. in Secondary Education from the University of North Texas, and his B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Kansas. He joined the UTA faculty in 2022 after serving 15 years in PK-12 education as a teacher, campus administrator, and district leader. His research explores how school and district leaders collaborate with stakeholders to design accountability systems that reflect community values and goals. Additional interests include educational policy, school law, equity-focused reform, educator preparation for social justice, and school-community relations. Dr. Leader is active in TASA, TCPEA, and serves as UTA’s Plenum Representative to the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA).
College of Engineering
Dr. Laureano R Hoyos, Ph.D.
Professor
Email: hoyos@uta.edu
Dr. Abeer Omar Almughrabi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Dr. Shih-Ho Chao, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Melanie L Sattler, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Hyejin Moon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Frank K Lu, Ph.D.
Professor
Dr. Stefan Dancila, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Ankur Jain, Ph.D.
Professor
Email: jaina@uta.edu
Dr. Shuchi Deb, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Habib Ahmari, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Sharareh (Sherri) Kermanshachi, Ph.D.
Professor of Research
Dr. Srinivas Prabakar, Ph.D.
Professor of Instruction
Dr. Vinayak Kaushal, P.E., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Instruction
Aiswarya Acharath Mohanakrishnan
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Alexandra Stefan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Instruction
Dr. Chenxi Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Ahmad Bani Hani, Ph.D.
CRTLE Faculty Facilitator
Dr. Arpita Bhatt, Ph.D.
Professor of Instruction
Dr. Karthikeyan Loganathan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Kendra L. Wallis, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Faculty Advisor for Resource and Energy Engineering
Dr. Maysaa M Hamdan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Instruction
College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Fletcher Coleman, PhD
Assistant Professor
Area Coordinator
Dr. Molly Cummins, PhD, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Assistant Professor, Communication Studies
Public Speaking Course Coordinator
Email: molly.cummins@uta.edu
Office: FAB 257
Dr. Jaya Davis
Professor
MA Programs Director
Email: jbdavis@uta.edu
Research Areas: Juvenile Justice, Corrections, Reentry, Women and crime
Dr. Diane Lange, Ph.D. Michigan State
Department of Music
Professor, Music Program Director of Field Experience
Area: Music Education
Bio: Diane Lange is Professor and Music Program Director of Field Experience where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Early Childhood and Elementary Music Education. Dr. Lange received her Bachelor of Music in Education and Master of Music from Central Michigan University and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Additionally, she taught elementary music for ten years in Michigan and Nevada. She received her Orff Levels at Memphis State University and Gordon Institute for Music Learning Levels from Michigan State University. She has presented several national and international pedagogical workshops. Her research interest includes combining Orff Schulwerk and Music Learning Theory, and developing curricular material for elementary-aged students. Dr. Lange has published three books, numerous book chapters and articles, and is a co-author for Jump Right In: The Elementary Music Curriculum, Grades Kindergarten and 5. Dr. Lange was president for the National Gordon Institute for Music Learning and North Texas chapter of American Orff Schulwerk Association, and was regional representative for Early Childhood Music and Movement Association where she hosted an Early Childhood Music Conference. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Lange’s service to the university has included Area Coordinator of Music Education, Associate Chair of the Music Department, Curriculum Chair, and currently she is the chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Dr. Lange has received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Crawford AuSable School District and was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at the University of Texas at Arlington in spring 2019.
Dr. Naomi Cleghorn, PhD Stony Brook University, MA University of Texas at Austin
Associate Professor, Anthropology
Email: cleghorn@uta.edu
Research Specialization: Bioarchaeology; zooarchaeology; human osteology; Old World prehistory and human origins; the archaeology of Neanderthals and early modern humans; biological anthropology.
Dr. Alma Garza, PhD University of California, Irvine
Assistant Professor, Sociology
Sociology Student Association Faculty Advisor
Dr. Graham Hunt, Ph.D. Duke University
Department of Music
Associate Chair, Professor, Music Theory and Composition Area Coordinator
Area: Music Theory and Composition
Bio: Graham Hunt is Professor of Musicology and Music Theory at the University of Texas at Arlington. He received his Ph.D. in Musicology from Duke University. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in music theory journals, including 2 articles in the most pre-eminent journal in the field of Music Theory, Music Theory Spectrum. He has also presented 5 times at the national meeting of the Society of Music Theory. He served as President of the Texas Society Music Theory from 2011-2014. He has given the keynote speech for the Oklahoma City University Theory Conference and has been a guest speaker at the Music Theory Lecture Series at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the University of Texas at Austin. He has published on subjects such as Wagner, Neo-Riemannian analysis, the Three-Key Exposition in Sonata forms, and, most recently, problematic rondo forms in Classical and 19th-Century finales, in journals such as Journal for Schenkerian Studies, Integral, Theory and Practice, 19th-Century Music Review, and Music Theory Spectrum. He was also selected to be the Grace and Joseph Valentine Visiting Professor at Amherst College (Massachusetts) in 2009. His latest research applies the groundbreaking theories of William Caplin, "Formal-Function Analysis," which was derived from the theories of Arnold Schoenberg to examine formal ambiguities that have previous defied traditional analytical interpretations, such as three-key expositions, truncated rondo forms, and opera arias, duets, and ensembles. Most recently, he was been invited to contribute a chapter to "Mozart Operas", a volume published by Leuven press, on Sonata forms in Mozart's operas, published an article in Music Analysis (published in the UK) on "Diverging Subordinate Themes" in sonata forms ranging from Scarlatti to Bruckner, and contributed a chapter to “Wagner studies” on formal functions of leitmotivs in Wagner’s opera Lohengrin. This November, he will present a paper on “Lesser, Redundant and Inconvenient Rondo Forms” at the national Society for Music Theory, which will be held virtually.
Dr. Jeffrey Witzel, PhD, Arizona
Department of Linguistics and TESOL
Associate Professor
Email: jeffrey.witzel@uta.edu
Office: 546 University Hall
Interests: Psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, second language acquisition and teaching, research methods.
Andrew J. Milson
Ph.D., University of Georgia (1999)
Professor (2010)
Email: milson@uta.edu
Office: 344 University Hall
Areas: Historical Geography of the U.S., Human Geography, Geographic Education, GIS
Dr. Peggy Semingson, PhD, UT Austin
Department of Linguistics and TESOL
Associate Professor
Email: peggys@uta.edu
Office: 548 University Hall
Interests: Digital pedagogies, online learning, literacy teacher education, bilingualism, ESL.
Carie Kapellusch, MA, Stephen F. Austin State University
Senior Lecturer, Communication Studies
Email: cariek@uta.edu
Office: FAB 2113
Dr. Richard White, PhD, Louisiana State University and A&M College
Lecturer, Communication Studies
Email: richard.white@uta.edu
Office: FAB 2112
Dr. Karishma Chatterjee, PhD, The Ohio State University
Associate Professor of Instruction- Communication Studies
Email: chatterjee@uta.edu
Office: FAB 271
Melinda Long
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email: mmlong@uta.edu
Office: College Park Center - 0101H
Rachael Mariboho
Lecturer
Assistant Director of Digital Teaching and Learning in English
PhD, University of Texas at Arlington (2016)
Email: mariboho@uta.edu
Office: 613 Carlisle Hall
Mónica de la Fuente Iglesias
Director of Certificate in Spanish Interpreting
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Email: monica.delafuente@uta.edu
Office: 316 Hammond Hall
Email: bsasley@uta.edu
Interests: International relations, foreign policy analysis (decision-making, identity, emotions), Middle East, Israel, Turkey, politics of Jewish identity
Eli Shupe, Ph.D. Rutgers University (2020)
Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Email: eli.shupe@uta.edu
Currently Teaching: Topics In Humanities, Biomedical Ethics, Topics In Bioethics
Dr. Dorothy Kalanzi, PhD Texas Woman's University
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Sociology
Email: kalanzi@uta.edu
Research Specializations: Medical sociology; public health; gerontology; HIV/AIDS; Africa
Dr. Ivy Hauser, PhD, U Mass - Amherst
Department of Linguistics and TESOL
Assistant Professor
Email: ivy.hauser@uta.edu
Office: University Hall 543
Interests: phonetics, phonology, the phonetics-phonology interface, phonological contrast and phonetic variation.
Dr. Marie Bissell, PhD, Ohio State University
Department of Linguistics and TESOL
Assistant Professor
Email: marie.bissell@uta.edu
Office: 551A University Hall
Interests: Laboratory phonology, language variation and change
College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Thomas Dombrowsky, PhD, RN
Clinical Professor
Department of Undergraduate Nursing
Research Focus: My research focus is on the factors that affect the functional status of older adults, professional identity formation of student nurses and new nurses, and the evolution of social networks among nursing students and new nurses.
Priscila Tamplain, PhD
Interim Department Chair for Kinesiology
Associate Professor; Area of Specialization: Motor development
Department of Kinesiology
Research Focus: My research focus is on assessment, mechanisms, and interventions for motor development in typical and atypical populations, with a particular interest in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and associated conditions (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders).
Donna Cleary, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Undergraduate Nursing
Katherine Kreis, MSN, RN
Clinical Assistant Professor, Simulation
CONHI Smart Hospital
Maxine Adegbola, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Clinical Professor
Department of Undergraduate Nursing
Zui Pan, PhD
Professor, Senior Member of National Academy of Inventors
Area of Specialization: Pathophysiology of esophageal cancer, muscle and cardiovascular diseases
Department of Graduate Nursing
Research Focus: My research focus is on calcium signaling in esophageal cancer and esophageal diseases, nutrient calcium and zinc in prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle and cardiovascular diseases
Gabriela Whitener, DNP, RN, CCRN, CNL
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Undergraduate Nursing
Email: gabriela.whitener@uta.edu
Office: PKH 626
Lucas Farris, MSN, RN, CNE
Clinical Assistant Professor, Nursing-Undergrad;
Simulation Operations and Education Manager
CONHI Smart Hospital
Email: lucas.farris@uta.edu
Office: W Mitchel St. and S West St, Office, SH: 305L
Kira Short, DNP, NNP-BC, APRN, C-ELBW, C-ONQS
Associate Chair of Graduate Clinical Education and Program Director
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program
Department of Graduate Nursing
Brandie Green, PhD
Program Director - Bachelor of Public Health
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology
Kaseya Tshikunguila, DNP, RN, CCRN
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Undergraduate Nursing
Email: kaseya.tshikunguila@uta.edu
Office: PKH 536
Agnes Deleawe, DNP, RN, CNE
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Undergraduate Nursing
Email: agnes.deleawe@uta.edu
Office: PKH
Email: Fatoumata.jallow@uta.edu
Office: PKH 626
Umber Darilek, PhD, RN, IBCLC
Assistant Professor
Department of Undergraduate Nursing
College of Science
Ahmed Ali
Adjunct
Email: aahmed@uta.edu
Shanna Banda, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Arlington, 2020
Professor of Instruction
Assistant Vice Provost
Area: Mathematics Education, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Nilakshi Veerabathina, PhD, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences
Professor of Instruction
Associate Chair
Area: Astronomy
Email: adam.castillo@uta.edu
Office: PKH 463
Email: caitlin.maynard@uta.edu
Office: LS 235
School of Social Work
Teaching Interests: Introduction to Social Work, Social Work Professionalism, Theories of Human Behavior and Diverse Population
Anne Nordberg, PhD, MSW
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Professor
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Research Interests: Problem-Solving Courts, Forensic Social Work, Populations At-Risk for Criminal Justice Involvement, Structural Violence, Qualitative Methodologies, Innovative Approaches to Reduce Recidivism
Catherine LaBrenz, PhD, LMSW
Associate Professor
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Research Interests: Child Welfare; Reunification; Permanence; Family Engagement
Research Interests: : Sleep Health, Mental Health, Substance Misuse, Health Promotion and Health Disparities and Mind/Body Interventions
Research Interests: Racial equity and inclusion in K-12 schools; school climate and culture; adolescent mental health; culturally responsive school-based and school-linked mental health services; school social work practice
Darlene Hunter, PhD, LMSW, MPH
Director of Undergraduate Programs
Associate Professor of Practice
De’An O. Roper, PhD, LCSW
Associate Professor of Practice
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Research Interests: Sexual and gender minority health disparities, the intersection of behavior change and technology, health risk behaviors, substance abuse, mental health and criminal justice.
Research Interests: Health and Mental Health of Vulnerable Populations; Refugee and Immigrant Health and wellness
Dianna Woods-Jones, EdD, MSW
Assistant Professor of Practice
Personal Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Research Interests: Social Welfare Policy; Educational Policy and Decision-Making in Education; Co-Occurring Disorders of Mental Health and Substance Use in Communities of Poverty
Research Interests: Substance use disorders, addiction treatments and suicide prevention in the general population with emphasis on veterans and service members; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment, group psychotherapy, developing interdisciplinary health treatment teams, and measuring the impact and relevance of feedback on the treatment experience.
Research Interests: Racial disparities in mental health, decolonizing social work education, and equitable access to higher education
Research Interests: International Social Work, The Intersection of HIV and Contextual Social Norms, Adolescent Risk Behaviors, Comparative Social Policy
Research Interests:: Child Welfare, Foster Care, Substance Use, Juvenile Justice, Dually-Involved Youth, Health Disparity, Administrative Data Research, Program Evaluation, Measurement Development
Jennifer Murphy, PhD, MSW, MS
Assistant Professor
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Research Interests: Child and adolescent mental health, Mental health service utilization, School of social work practice, Interprofessional mental health practice in schools, and Adverse Childhood Experiences
Research Interests: Qualitative & Mixed Methods Approaches focused on: Public and nonprofit leadership, Local and regional public/private partnerships to address human service needs, and Affordable housing and homelessness prevention/remediation innovative solutions.
Karen Magruder, DSW, LCSW-S
DSW Program Director
Associate Professor of Practice
Research Interests: Aging, mental health, health promotion, long-term care, hospice, dementia, sustainability, environmental justice
Karla Arenas-Itotia, LMSW
Associate Professor of Practice
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
IPVE Taskforce Chair
Research Interests: Social Work Education, online, interprofessional and experiential learning, school social work, student success and support services, education access, community outreach, interpersonal violence, trauma, mental health, social work direct practice, and issues of gender, family, race, and ethnicity.
Research Interests: Health and well-being of older adults with cognitive impairment, non-pharmacological interventions, social engagement, minority older adults and family caregivers, home- and community-based services, and health disparities.
Research Interests: Military Social Work, Trauma Therapy (PTSD, Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault), Traumatic Grief
Research Interests: Child Welfare, Domestic Violence, Victim Services, Community Development, Non-profit management, Volunteer Coordination
Research Interests: Aging, grandparents, ethnicity (Chinese), assistive technology, Intergenerational Support and Healthy Aging, Health Disparity, Health Care Utilization, Acculturative Stress, Social support and Well-being of Older Adults, Asian American Older Adults
Research Interests: Sexual violence, Intimate partner violence, Social Media, Masculinities, Couple and Family Therapy
Research Interests: Aging in Place, Home and Community-based Services, Family Caregiving, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia, Assistive Technology, Transportation Equity
Research Interests: School Social Work, Children and family connections, Parenting, Behavioral Health Integration, Trauma and Impact of experiential learning student populations
Research Interests: Suicide Prevention Research; Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs); Adolescent Substance Use Behaviors; Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health; Barriers to Health Service Utilization; International Social Work Research
Rachel Voth Schrag, PhD, LCSW
PhD Program Director and Associate Professor
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
IPVE Taskforce Development Subcommittee Chair
Research Interests: Violence Against Women, Trauma and Mental Health, Convergence of Poverty and Interpersonal Trauma, Violence Against Women in Diverse Educational Settings; Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Intervention
Regina T. Praetorius, PhD, LMSW-AP
Associate Dean for Academic & Student Affairs
Professor
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Research Interests: Trauma, Suicide, Maternal Well-being, Suicide Bereavement, Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS), and Social Work Education
Research Interests: Program Evaluation; Nonprofit Management; Social Policy; Comparative Social Policy; and Nonprofit Advocacy
Research Interests: Family wellbeing, child wellbeing, parenting, prevention of family violence in global settings; economic empowerment; immigrant and refugee populations
Scott Ryan, PhD, MSW, MBA
Professor
PI, Title IV-E Child Welfare Partnership Project
PI, LCCA/LCPA Project
Research Interests: Reproductive ethics, specializing in LGBTQ advocacy and inclusivity, moral distress, and clinical social work ethics.
Tiara Okoruwa, PhD, LMSW
Assistant Professor of Practice
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Research Interests:: Social Work Faculty Preparedness; Controversial Conversations in the Classroom; Qualitative Methodology
Tracy Orwig, LCSW, FNAP
Director of Interprofessional Education
Associate Professor of Practice
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Research Interests: Health Interventions, Health Disparities, Health Literacy and the Impact of Interprofessional Education on Health Students
Research Interests: Health Equity, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Social Drivers of Health, Healthcare System Solutions