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Education Practice & Leadership Faculty & Staff | College of Education

Meet the Education Practice and Leadership Team

The faculty believe perspective gives meaning to the intellectual and practical elements of curriculum and instruction and these must be explored with students for their underlying assumptions, and for their relative strengths and weaknesses. The theoretical and practical paradigms that shape American education are explored for their implications in today’s increasingly global classroom.

Education Practice and Leadership
Main Office: H400 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: 615-963-5465
Campus P.O. Box 9561

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BChristian_2025 Beth Christian, Ed.D.
Professor
Department Chair, Education Practice and Leadership Literacy
B.A. 1991, University of Tennessee
M.A. 1993, Middle Tennessee State University
Ph.D. 2002, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University
Office: H405 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5324
Email: bchristian1@tnstate.edu  
Mrs. Gervaise Clark Mrs. Gervaise Clark
Administrative Assistant III
Office: H400 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5465
Email: geclark@tnstate.edu 
Nicole Kendall Arrighi, Ed.D.
Professor
Assistant Dean, Educator Preparation
Education Technology
B.S. 1999, University of Tennessee at Martin
M.S. 2000, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University
Ed.D. 2005, Tennessee State University

Office: 351 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5482
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Dr. Kisha Bryan Kisha Bryan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Coordinator: Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction
Foundations and Curriculum
TESOL
B.A. 1999 Voorhees College
M.A.T. 2001, State University of New York
Ph.D.  2012, University of Florida
Office: G405 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5466
Email: kbryan@tnstate.edu
Dr. Edokhamhen Ehichoya Edokhamhen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Coordinator, B.S. Early Childhood Education
B.S. 2008, Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria
M.A. 2017, East Tennessee State University
Ph.D. 2023, East Tennessee State University Office: F402 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Email: eedokham@tnstate.edu 
Dean Finch Janet Finch, Ph.D.
College of Education Dean/ ProfessorB.S.
1972, Tennessee State University
M.A., 1978, Tennessee State University
Ph.D. 1985, George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University
blue star Celebrating 25 years of Service
Office: E403 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-7038
Email: jfinch@tnstate.edu 
KGundi Kirmanj Gundi, Ed.D.
Professor
Program Coordinator
Ed.D. PreK-12 Leadership B.S.  1986, Tennessee State University
M.Ed. 1994, Tennessee State University
Ed.D. 1998, Tennessee State UniversityOffice: F409 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-2299
Email:  Kigundi@tnstate.edu 
DrGuy Retta Guy, Ed.D.
Professor
Foundations and Curriculum
B.A. 1982, University of Kentucky
MPA. 1995, Kentucky State University
Ed.D. 2004, University of Kentucky
Office: F405 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-7176
Email: rguy@tnstate.edu 
Dr. Dong Hyun Kang Donghyun Kang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Coordinator, Elementary Education
B.A. 2003, Seoul National University of Education
M.Ed. 2007, Seoul National University of Education
Ph.D. 2019, Texas A&M University
Office: E409 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5465
Email: dkang@tnstate.edu
Graham Matthews Graham P. Matthews, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Early Childhood Education
B. A. 1969, Central State University
M.A. 1970, University of Michigan
Ph.D. 1976, University of Michigan
M. Div. 1982, Vanderbilt University Divinity School
Office: F413 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5029
Email:  gmatthews2@tnstate.edu
TMcNeil Terrance McNeil, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Coordinator, Ed.D. Higher Education Leadership
B.S. 1994, Florida A&M University
M.Ed. 2011, Full Sail University
Ph.D.  2018, Florida A&M University
Office: E407 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: 615-963-2111
Email:   tmcneil3@tnstate.edu
RMelton Robbie Melton,  Ph.D.
Provost, Vice President/Professor
Ed.S. 1976, Wayne State University
Ph.D. 1979, University of Michigan
Phone: (615) 963-5301
Email: rmelton@tnstate.edu 
Dr. Respress Trinetia Respress, Ed.D.
Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies/Professor
B.B.A. 1989, University of West Georgia
M.A. 1994, Tennessee Technological University
Ed.D.   1997, East Tennessee State University
Office: Suite 400
Phone: (615) 963-7371
Email:    trespress@tnstate.edu
Heraldo Richards Heraldo Richards, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Coordinator, M.Ed. Special Education B.A. 1975, University of Chicago
M.A.  1985, University of Michigan
Ph.D. 1993, Northwestern University
Office: H407 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5620
Email:  hrichards@tnstate.edu
Celeste Williams Celeste Williams, Ed.D.
Professor
Foundations and Curriculum B.S. 1987
Guilford College M.S. 1995
Tennessee State University Ed.D. 2001 Tennessee State University
Office: H406 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5460
Email:  cwilliams@tnstate.edu
JWinn Jewell Winn, B.BA, M.PA, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Executive Director for International Programs & Academic Global Engagement
Senior International Officer/
Fulbright Scholar Liaison
Office: Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-4977
Email:  jwinn@tnstate.edu 
Dr. Hyeong Jean Yoo Hyeon Jean Yoo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Coordinator, M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction
TESOLB.S.  2007, Gyeongsang National University, South Korea
M.A.  2010 Gyeongsang National University, South Korea
M.S.  2021, Auburn University
Ph.D. 2021, Auburn UniversityOffice: F411 Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Phone: (615) 963-5470
Email: hyoo@tnstate.edu

 


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