Name: Marjorie Blicharz, Ph.D.

Previous Education: Clemson University, Master of Education (MEd), Counselor Education -Student Affairs; The College of New Jersey, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Non Profit and Community Development Concentration

Background Experience: Prior to joining Rowan, I was the Director of Scholarship Programs at a local non-profit, supporting access to higher education for students in foster care for 5 years. I worked with the Department of Children and Families as an Education Specialist beforehand. I also worked for Residence Life and Housing at three separate institutions, with practicum experiences in Diversity and Inclusive Education, Alcohol Education, and Orientation on college campuses.

Current Career Goal: To continue working in higher education, whether through administration and policy, institutional research, or advising and supporting students.

Research Interests: My research interests range from supporting underserved populations, including students in foster care; career and vocational research; and mental health and identity support on college campuses, including students, faculty, and staff.

Name: Melissa Franzosi, Ph.D.

Previous Education: MS in School Counseling. Certified Director of School Counseling, Certified PK-12 Supervisor

Background Experience: 18 Years as a school counselor (High School/Middle School) in New Jersey and Indiana

Current Career Goal: To continue working in the NJ PK-12 Public School System for 9 more years. Adjunct. "Teach on the Beach" after my 30 years in the public school systems.

Research Interests: Mental Wellness and Interventions in Schools. Focus on Educator Wellness and now moving to Wellness and Work-Life Balance of Female Administrators.

Name: Erin Kalup, Ph.D.

Previous Education: MST, English MA

Background Experience: Before coming to Rowan, I taught at multiple high schools, including an alternative school and a middle school, where I gained valuable experience working with diverse student populations and adapting instruction to meet varied learning needs. I also taught Composition 101 at Rutgers–Camden, which deepened my experience with college-level writing instruction and helped shape my approach to teaching critical thinking and academic writing.

Current Career Goal: To conduct advanced research into the mechanisms and root causes of the school-to-prison pipeline, with a focus on zero-tolerance policies, school policing, and racial disparities in student discipline. I aim to publish my findings to contribute meaningfully to academic discourse, secure grant funding to support this work, and mentor future educators and researchers committed to equity in education. In addition, I am open to applying my research and leadership skills in a more administrative capacity that utilizes my Ph.D. to take on a leadership role within a school or district. In that role, I would work to reform disciplinary practices, implement restorative justice programs, and lead initiatives that promote a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive school culture for all students.

Research Interests: Trauma-informed pedagogical approaches with an emphasis on the transformative power of literature, particularly Shakespeare, in addressing women's trauma within carceral settings. I explore how educational interventions can disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, guided by abolitionist principles and restorative justice. Central to my work is the development and implementation of intervention strategies rooted in the Teaching-Family Model, aiming to support vulnerable youth and create alternatives to punitive disciplinary systems.

Name: Stacey Magrone, Ph.D.

Previous Education: BA in Elementary Education and BS in Special Education

Background Experience: I have worked as a special education teacher in New York for over 20 years and continue to do so part-time. I’m fortunate that my former school district remains flexible and supportive as I pursue further studies. Since 2018, I’ve also served as an adjunct instructor in the Special Education Department at NYU, where I’ve taught a range of courses focused on inclusive special education.

Current Career Goal: I aspire to become a full-time professor, collaborating with both general and special education teachers to support inclusive education.

Research Interests: How collaborative practices among educators can support the meaningful inclusion of students with disabilities, as well as how literacy instruction is designed and delivered to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

Name: Brielle Nieves, Ph.D.

Previous Education: MA in Teaching & BA in English, Spanish, and Global Studies

Background Experience: After earning my Master’s in Teaching, I began my career as an English Language Arts teacher in Camden, New Jersey, where I’ve worked to support student growth through culturally responsive instruction. Currently, I am teaching 7th grade and in my third year of teaching.

Current Career Goal: To move into educational leadership and administration. I aim to lead initiatives that help diverse students feel more connected to their learning and achieve greater academic success.

Research Interests: Latino students and how to make their learning experiences more reflective of their culture. I am particularly interested in exploring how culturally responsive practices can promote greater access, equity, and academic success for all students in diverse educational settings.

Name: Olusola J. Ogundola, Ph.D.

Previous Education: M.A. Media Studies

Background Experience: With a background in media and academia, I championed disability representation and advocacy in Nigeria, working to create inclusive environments and support disabled students in academic settings.

Current Career Goal: To leverage my passion for teaching and research to advance Indigenous Inclusive Education, fostering culturally responsive learning environments that honor diverse perspectives and promote academic excellence for all students.

Research Interests: Fostering Indigenous Inclusive Education through culturally responsive pedagogies, exploring the intersections of culture, identity, and academic success for all students.

Name: Amanda Potter, Ph.D.

Previous Education: Master of Science in Teaching (MST)

Background Experience: High School English Teacher

Current Career Goal: To partner with schools to help teachers become more effective in the classroom.

Research Interests: Programs that are aimed at helping the progress of educational needs for black and brown students.

Name: Estyr Bomgardner, Ph.D. (2025)

Concentration: Special Education

Previous Education: M.A. Special Education, San Francisco State University and B.A. Psychology. Rutgers College of Arts and Sciences Camden            

Background Experience: Special Education Teacher and Behavior Therapist and Interventionist

Current Career Goal: I see the PhD program helping me towards my lifelong goal of doing research pertaining to autistic populations in educational settings.

Research Interests: Socio-emotional learning and impact on academic achievement, increasing self-advocacy in sped populations, efficacy of current special education methodologies in long term outcomes.

Name: Natoya Coleman, Ph.D. (2021)

Concentration: Urban and Diverse Learning Environments

Previous Education: M.A. Elementary and Secondary School Administration and Supervision, Bowie State University, M.A. Education and Secondary Education and B.A. English and Political Science, University of Michigan

Background Experience: Ninth Grade Academy and Scholars Program Coordinator, English and Language Arts Teacher

Current Career Goal: I hope to create a rigorous yet culturally responsive curriculum for urban school districts to implement.

Research Interests: Culturally responsive teachings, curriculum development/a comparative analysis.

Name: Kerry Cormier, Ph.D. (2022)

Concentration: Special Education

Previous Education: M.A. in Teaching and B.A. in History Northeastern University Background Experience: ¾ Instructor and former Special Education English teacher

Research Interests: What works in special education

Name: Felicia Crockett, Ph.D. (2024)

Concentration: Higher Education

Previous Education: M.A. Higher Education, Rowan University and B.S. Biology, Ramapo College of New Jersey            

Background Experience: Graduate Research Assistant, Intern for Engineering Learning Community, Educational Opportunity Fund Program Graduate Assistant and student organizations and Greek life work.

Current Career Goal: My current goal is to become a tenure professor whose research transforms the educational system.

Research Interests: I am hoping to explore research interests involving diversity, equity, opportunity programs, and underrepresented students.

Name: Angeline Dean, Ph.D. (2022)

Concentration: Urban and Diverse Learning Environments

Previous Education: M.S. Community/Economic Development, B.A. Social Science, Thomas Edison State University

Background Experience: Community Organizer, Non-profit/Co-Founder Executive 

Current Career Goal: Presently, aiding me in becoming more knowledgeable about what I don’t know/that I don’t know, aiding me in conferring/obtaining more knowledge and as I move forward I feel I can best answer that question.

Research Interests: Voice, intersectionality of systems that dismantle equity, voice, marginalization around race, social justice.

Name: Madji Fall, Ph.D. (2020)

Concentration: Language and Literacy

Previous Education: M.Ed. Teacher Leadership and ESL Certificate, Rowan University and B.S. Business Administration and B.A. Liberal Studies, Thomas Edison State College

Background Experience: Teacher of English as a Second Language and World Cultures/Spanish

Current Career Goal: I hope to engage in research that will contribute to the literature on immigrant and language minorities’ formal and informal educational experiences across the globe.

Research Interests: I hope this program will continue to support my exploration of the literacies of immigrant diasporas and language minorities and how they are impacted by the socio-economic circumstances and political climate of the countries where they reside.

Name: Donn Garby

Concentration: Higher Education

Previous Education: M.S. in Educational Leadership, Old Dominion University and B.A. in Political Science, Flagler College

Background Experience: Residence life and student organization and event support

Research Interests: Town/gown relations, community engagement and policies within higher education

Name: Lesa Givens

Concentration: Special Education

Previous Education: M.A. Special Education, Rowan University and M.A. Music Theory, Catholic University of America, and B.A. Elementary Education and Music Education, NC Central University

Background Experience: Special Education Teacher, Teacher Training Instructor, and Music Instructor

Current Career Goal: I would like to learn more about and develop the skills of research and scholarly inquiry, and scholarly writing which will be necessary to future goals.

Research Interests: 1.) Bringing teacher training and educational opportunities to severely under-privileged populations, especially in poor nations (ie. Post conflict nations, third world nations). 2) Inclusive education-using alternative education model effectively

Name: Benita Kluttz-Drye, Ph.D. (2023)

Concentration: Special Education

Previous Education: M.S.W. Social Work, University of South Carolina, Special Education Certification, University of North Carolina, School Administration Certificate and B.S.W. Social Work, North Carolina A& T University

Background Experience: Exceptional Children’s Program Administrator and Special Education Teacher

Name: Sharada Krishnamurthy, Ph.D. (2022)

Concentration: Language and Literacy

Previous Education: M.A. Writing, Rowan University, M.A. French, Ohio State University, and B.A. History, Women’s Christian College

Background Experience: Writing Center Director, Faculty/Instructor College Composition and French.

Research Interests: The inequities that bilingual and multilingual learners experience in educational settings and ways to address them. Changing negative/deficit perceptions of English language learners/bilinguals/ multi-linguals to positive ones.

Name: Nina Nagib, Ph.D. (2022)

Concentration: Counselor Education

Previous Education: M.A. School Counseling, Eastern University and B.A. Psychology & Sociology, Grove City College

Background Experience: School Counselor and founding director of non-profit aimed at empowering and creating opportunities for girls globally

Name: Mbuh Payne, Ph.D. (2024)

Concentration: Special Education

Previous Education: M.Ed. in Special Education, Pennsylvania State University, M.A. Interactive Communication, American University and B.S. in Mass Communication, University of Buea, Cameroon

Background Experience: Human Services, working with individuals with developmental disabilities

Research Interests: The role positive behavior supports play in the lives of adult learners whose untreated behaviors negatively impact their social /learning habits and examining the intersection between applied behavior analysis and the social model of disability.  

Name: Eshe Price, Ph.D. (2022)

Concentration: Urban and Diverse Learning Environments

Previous Education: M.A. Education and Human Development/Bilingual Special Education, George Washington University and B.S. Elementary Education, Towson University

Background Experience: Special Education Mentor/Teacher, Grade Level Chair, and Math Teacher

Current Career Goal: My current career goal is to become a professor and research partnerships between higher education and P12 schools.

Research Interests: My research interests include urban education professional development in schools and implementing culturally responsive pedagogy.

Name: Sanaz Shahi, Ph.D. (2025)

Concentration: Higher Education

Previous Education: M.A. in Higher Education, Rowan University, M.B.A. Business Administration, Bahar Business School

Background Experience: Database specialist, sales & marketing experience

Research Interests: Commercialization and technology in Higher Education

Name: Sa-Rawla Stoute, Ph.D. (2024)

Concentration: Higher Education

Previous Education: M.S. Counseling Education and B.A Psychology, St. John’s University in Jamaica

Background Experience: Counseling and teaching at the college level

Research Interests: LGBTQIA+ students and the negotiation of their identities

Name: Daniel Tulino, Ph.D. (2020)

Concentration: Language and Literacy

Previous Education: M.F.A. Creative Writing, M.A. English, and B.A. English, William Paterson University

Background Experience: English Language Arts Specialist and Teacher

Current Career Goal: There are a few careers I have been thinking about once I complete this program. One of the biggest goals would be to find a full-time faculty position, but I could also see myself doing more grassroots work. At this point, I am trying to experience as many possibilities as possible and keep many doors open to opportunity.

Research Interests: I have a strong connection to literature and power of personal narratives, therefore, I would love to research students’ critical thinking skills, curricula, and the literary canon. By doing so, I want to explore the ways racism affects the institutional outcomes in education.