College of Education

Faculty & Staff


Dr. Mary Davis Minter serves as the Dean of the College of Education. She earned her M. Ed. (Educational Administration) and Ph.D. (Educational Psychology) from the University of Texas at Austin. She holds teacher certification in secondary mathematics and in instructional supervision (K-12). Current research interests include increasing and improving the minority teacher pipeline and parenting and family literacy. Tel: (504) 286 – 5351 Fax: (504) 284 – 5546


STAFF
		Ms. Gilda Jones, Praxis Coordinator Tel: (504) 286 – 5351 Fax: (504) 284 – 5546

		Ms. Patricia Price Administrative Assistant Tel: (504) 286 – 5351 Fax: (504) 284 – 5546

		Ms. Gertrude Taplet Administrative Assistant Tel: (504) 286 – 5351 Fax: (504) 284 – 5546


FACULTY

		Dr. Glenda Allen-Jones, Chair, Early Childhood Education. Degree: Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana. Areas of research: Parent Involvement, male involvement, Head Start and Family Literacy. Presenter: American Educational Research Association (AERA), Illinois Head Start Association, Chicago Metro Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) Conference.


		Dr. Shawan O. Bellow is an Assistant Professor and Director of Field Experiences and Student Teaching in the College of Education. She earned her Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Leadership from NOVA Southeastern University in North Miami Beach, Florida. Her interest is in preparing pre-service teachers for the 21st Century classroom. In addition, Dr. Bellow has earned a Master of Arts Degree (Xavier University) as a Reading Specialist and a Bachelor of Science Degree (Our Lady of Holy Cross College) in Elementary Education. She is certified in gifted education, reading, and elementary grades 1-8.


		Dr. Sonia Boone is an assistant professor of Elementary Education. She received her B. S. Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, her M.S. Degree in Multicultural Studies from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University. She has 18 years of experience in the field of elementary education as a bilingual classroom teacher, an elementary building administrator, and as a school district-wide administrator. Her areas of research include instruction in the area of elementary, bilingual, two-way immersion, and multicultural education.


		Ms. Celina Carson is an assistant professor of Health, Nutrition, and P.E. She received her M.Ed. in Human Performance and Health Promotion-Exercise Physiology from the University at New Orleans. Her research focus is the effects of obesity in Early Childhood and Elementary school-age children’s academic performance.


		Dr. Jenny Wai Yung Cheuk, is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education She holds an Honors Diploma in Sociology from Lingnan University, Hong Kong, and a Masters degree in Special Education with a focus on Learning Disabilities from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. In January 2002, she enrolled in the doctoral program offered by the Department of Theory and Practice of the College of Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. In December 2005, she earned her Ph.D. with a major in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Early Childhood Special Education.


		Dr. Deborah W. Darby is an Assistant Professor of Reading. Dr. Darby received her B.A. in French, an M. Ed. and Ph.D. in Education from the University of New Orleans. She is a member of Phi Delta Kappa. Her research interests include Curriculum & Instruction and community-school partnerships.


		Dr. Kimberly Dickerson is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education. She received her Ph.D in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University, with an emphasis in Statistics. She currently teaches the Early Childhood and Elementary Math and Science Methods Course and Masters Capstone.


		Dr. Racquel J. Ezell is currently the Certification Officer. Dr. Ezell received her B.A. in Social Studies Education from Southern University at New Orleans, followed by a M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of New Orleans. Her research interests include using media mechanisms as pedagogical tools.


		Dr. Jamillah M.A. Grant is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education. She received her B.S from California State University at Fresno. Dr. Grant has a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Notre Dame College, New Hampshire and a Ph.D. in Curricuum and Instruction from Boston College, Chestnut Hill Massachusetts. Her research interests are teaching and learning with technology.


		Mr. Charlie T. Johnson, Jr. is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education. Mr. Johnson received an M.F.A. from the University of New Orleans. He teaches a variety of educational foundation, art methods and technology courses, supervised candidates’ field placements, and recently served as Interim Chairperson of Early Childhood and Elementary.


		Dr. Louise Kaltenbaugh holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University at New Orleans. Her professional career includes certification in English, grades 7-12; Ancillary Certification in State-Wide Program Evaluation; State BOE for NCATE; Louisiana Teacher Assistance and Assessment Evaluator; Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) Evaluator; and School Improvement Assessor. She has served as Assistant Dean in Graduate Studies and Associate Dean in the COE. Currently, Dr. Kaltenbaugh is Director of the Alternative Certification Program.


		Dr. Vincent Orlando is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Chair of the Elementary Education Department. He received his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University with a specialization in reading and Psychology.


		Dr. Katherine Reed Robinson is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education, currently serving as PK-16 Coordinator. She has over 30 years of experience in higher education which includes universities and colleges in her home state of Louisiana; Texas, Alabama, and Illinois. Among her many interests are: family, friends, and educating young people .


		Dr. Mattie Spears is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education in the College of Education. She earned the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2006. Dr. Spears completed her Bachelor’s degree in Education at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana and Master’s in Counseling at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her research interests include Effective Classroom Management, Curriculum and Instruction, and Differentiated Instruction.


		Dr. Pamela E. Wanga is an Associate Professor and Director of Child Development and Family Studies in the College of Education at SUNO. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Her dissertation research focused on The Impact of Supervisory Feedback on the Performance of Student Teachers and Their Effectiveness as Beginning Teachers. In addition, she holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Education degree.