faculty together in a group

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS:

MEET THE RESEARCH FACULTY

2023 URE Symposium
Will Baldwin, MPH, CPH

Will Baldwin, MPH, CPH

Health Services Administration

“Exploration is what you do when you don’t know what you’re doing.”
deGrasse Tyson

Education: 

Master of Public Health, University of South Florida

Research Interests:

College health, behavior change marketing

Student Presenter: (2022) Nickie Leon

Dr. Rebekah Barnett

Dr. Rebekah Barnett

Social & Behavioral Sciences

Never stop learning.  Without research, there would be no progress.

Education: 

  • Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology
  • MA in General Psychology, with a focus in Child Development.
  • Undergraduate: General Psychology & Counseling.
  • Practice Licenses for Developmental Psychology & Sensory Enrichment Therapy

Research Interests:

Mental Health & Wellness, Neuro-Developmental Disorders, Independent Living among disadvantaged/ disabled individuals, Learning styles & conditioning patterns.

Student Researcher: (2022) Tyler Bauer | (2023) Kayla Dixon

 

Dr. Brian Bell

Dr. Brian Bell

Engineering Department

“Learn How to Learn”

Education: 

PhD in Mechanical Engineering ​

Research Interests:

Biomedical Devices, nanotechnology, and gamified education

Student Presenters: (2023) Gabriella Brouk, Sorie Bangura, Nolwenn Amortegui

Dr. Linae Boehme-Terrana

Dr. Linae Boehme-Terrana

Baccalaureate Biology

“Students experience the process of science through research. Before that, science seems like a collection of facts.”

Education: 

Marine Science Ph. D., College of Marine Science USF

Research Interests:

Stable isotopes, microbiology, animal cognition, ecological physiology

Student Presenters: (2022) Alex Clark, Ellyce Hamel, Jade Almeida | (2023)  Shannon Ballard, Lena Conway

Dr. Amber Estlund

Dr. Amber Estlund

Communications Department

“Quote or favorite quote about the benefits of research experiences for students.”

Education:

Ph.D. in Literary Studies from Georgia State University

Research Interests:

19th Century American Literature, Modern Drama, First-Generation & First-Year College Student Success

Student Presenter: (2022) Alexis Gamache

Dr. Erin Goergen

Dr. Erin Goergen

Natural Science Department

“When you plant something, you invest in a beautiful future amidst a stressful, chaotic world .”

Education:

  • Ph.D. Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology (University of Nevada Reno)
  • MS Botany (University of Hawaii Manoa)
  • BS Biology (Creighton University)

Research Interests:

Plant ecology, invasion biology, ethnobotany

Student Presenters:  (2022) A. Teleszky, A. Nguyen,  G. Nunoo,  G. Rutherford,  H. Canham, K. Haynes, T. Redinger | (2023) Sofia Andreeva, Sarah Limle, Adam Robinson, Anna Medeiros, Olivia Rehberger, Eryn Mitchell

Sara Gomez, MA

Sara Gomez, MA

Social and Behavioral Sciences

“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
– Benjamin Franklin

Education: 

Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology – University of Central Florida

Research Interests:

My research interests have focused on norming and increasing the utility of a popular neuropsychological screening tool, resulting in two publications in the Applied Neuropsychology.  During my career at SPC, I have collaborated with psychology faculty at the University of Ulster and North West Regional College in Northern Ireland, to examine the cross cultural comparison of stressors between Irish and American college students with a published a paper in the British Journal of Guidance and Counselling.

Student Researchers: (2023) Allison Enriquez, George Sullivan

Dawn Ellis, MS

Dawn Ellis, MS

College of Computer & Information Technology

“Failure is so much more interesting because you learn from it.”
James Dyson

Education: 

  • Master of Science, Computer Science
  • Master of Science, Computational Engineering

Research Interests:

Data visualization, Data Mining, Artificial Intelligence

Student Researchers: (2022) Adelle Bradley, Mikeal Rodriguez, James Fernandez

Amy Kelley, MS

Amy Kelley, MS

Mathematics Department, College of Education, SPC Collegiate STEM High School

“Research means that you don’t know, but are willing to find out.”
Charles F. Kettering

Education:

  • B.S., Secondary Mathematics Education, St. Petersburg College
  • M.S., Mathematics, Emporia State University

Research Interests:

Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Equity

Student Researcher: (2022) Alexandria Johnson

Janice Kicklighter, MA

Janice Kicklighter, MA

Social and Behavioral Sciences

“The more that I learn about the fascinating field of Psychology,  the more I desire to learn.” I empower my students to do the same.

Education:

Master’s degree In Forensic Psychology and Mental Health Counseling

Research Interests:

Vaping versus Cigarette smoking

Student Researcher: (2022) Caleb Elliott |  (2023) Duke Alexander Panagiotis

Dr. Sunita Kumari

Dr. Sunita Kumari

Social and Behavioral Sciences

“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”
– Chinese Proverb

Education:

Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis on Higher Education Administration

Research Interests:

My interests include Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Information Literacy, Financial Literacy, and Economic Literary.

Student Researcher: (2023) Ryan Dzialo, Aimen Mudassar

Jeffery Kronschnabl, MPA

Jeffery Kronschnabl, MPA

Public Policy and Administration

“Life Priorities – Faith first, family second, yourself third, and then your job.”

Education:

  • Master’s Degree Public Administration University of South Florida
  • F.B.I. National Leadership Academy – Quantico, VA

Research Interests:

Community Partnerships

Student Presenter: Vivienne Kountz

Dr. Roberto Loureiro

Dr. Roberto Loureiro

Social and Behavioral Sciences

“You can make anything by writing.”
– C. S. Lewis

Education:

  • M.A. in Contemporary Culture
  • Th.M. in Theology
  • Ph.D. in Political Science

Research Interests:

Political Theory and Philosophy
Comparative Government

Student Presenters: (2023) Godfrey Torres

Dr. Ray Menard

Dr. Ray Menard

Natural Sciences Department

“Enjoy the Little Things in Life”

Education:

  • BS in Biology from the University of Illinois, Chicago
  • MS In Cellular and Molecular Biology from Florida A and M University
  • PhD in Pharmacology from Wayne State University School of Medicine

Research Interests:

Current research projects at SPC Gibbs involving the study of an antibiotic producing microbes, the antimicrobial effects of various spices and herbs, biofilm formation, protein and DNA analysis. I mentor students interested in obtaining hands on experience in microbiology, molecular and cell biology.

Student Researchers: (2023) Alexandra Acuna, Faith Parlapiano, Blake Duty, Angelica Delillo, Luis Quixtan, Gessica Sammaciccia                                              

Kim Molinaro, MEd

Kim Molinaro, MEd

Social and Behavioral Sciences

“Enthusiasm is the offspring of the soul.”

Education:

  • Lehigh University, Master’s in Community Counseling, Counseling Psychology Department
  • Bachelor’s of Science, University of Maryland, European Division, Major:  Psychology; Double Minor:  English and Sociology

Research Interests:

Self-Awareness variables that cultivate multicultural competence; Dynamics of memory, particularly episodic memories and distortions; Milieu Therapy and its impact in jail diversion in a jail diversion shelter; Mental health and criminology.

Student Presenters: (2022) Dakota Lawson, Alexis VandePol, Madison Gauley  |  (2023) Melina Crowder

Erica Moulton, MS

Erica Moulton, MS

Natural Sciences, STEM Center

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead

Education:

University of West Florida B.S
Prescott College M.S.

Research Interests:

ROVs, Turtles/Tortoises, Conservation, Blue Carbon, and Invasive Species

Student Researchers: (2022) Amber Maskell, Rachel Matta  |  (2023) Blake Duty, Angelica Delillo, Luis Quixtan, Gessica Sammaciccia 

Sharon Olsen, MA

Sharon Olsen, MA

Social and Behavioral Sciences

“Every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, and every individual makes a difference.”
Jane Goodall

Education:

BA Psychology, MA Psychology

Research Interests:

Positive Psychology, Grit, Mindfulness, Gratitude, Happiness & Subjective well-being, Human Flourishing, Positive Education, Positive Workplace & Organizations;

Advisor for the Seminole Campus Chapter of Psi Beta, the National Honor Society in Psychology

Student Presenters:  (2022) Amanda Broadwater, Melina Crowder  |  (2023) Melina Korovessi, Sofia Lachapelle

Dr. Douglas Rivero

Dr. Douglas Rivero

Social and Behavioral Sciences

“A Student is not a container you have to fill but a torch you have to light up.”
Albert Einstein

Education:

  • MA, PhD Political Science, FIU
  • BA Environmental Studies, FIU
  • College Leadership Grad Cert, UCF

Research Interests:

Cold War, Latin American, Environmental Politics

Student Presenters: (2022) Duke Panagiotis,  Felix Nickel,  Joshua Brown

Dr. Maura Scanlon

Dr. Maura Scanlon

Natural Sciences Department

“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.”
Zora Neale Hurston

Education:

  • BS Biological Sciences, MA Biology (Fisheries)
  • Ph.D. Organizational Leadership – Higher Ed Administration

Research Interests:

Ecology, Environmental Studies

Student Researcher: (2022) Travol Johnson

Bonnie Simmons, BS

Bonnie Simmons, BS

Natural Sciences Department

“Whatever we plant in our minds and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.”

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science, Biology Education 6-12​

  • Associate in Science, Photographic Technology​

Research Interests:

Microbiology research on prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms.​

Student Researcher: (2023) Xavier Phillips 

Dr. Shannon Ulrich

Dr. Shannon Ulrich

Natural Sciences Department

“If you don’t like bacteria, you’re on the wrong planet.”
Stewart Brand

Education:

  • B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science (University of Florida)
  • M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science (University of Florida)
  • Ph.D. in Biology – Concentration in Ecological and Environmental Microbiology (University of South Florida)

Research Interests:

Microbial Water Quality, Microbiology and Public Health, Molecular Biology, and Astrobiology

Student Presenters:  (2022) Anh Nguyen, George Nunoo, Adam Robinson  |  (2023) Summer Gallagher, Ella Baum, Sarah Limle, Adam Robinson

ASSESSMENTS

IE is responsible for ensuring the quality and value of academic programs, student support services, and administrative units, collaborating with the provost, deans, faculty, and administrators to identify and conduct assessments in various areas.

SURVEYS

PROGRAMMATIC ACCREDITATION

SPC is an accredited institution with many degree programs additionally accredited or approved by state and national organizations specific to those fields of study.

student speaking about project

STUDENT RESEARCH

Various opportunities to complete a research project are available to SPC students. Additionally, student researchers are invited to present their research projects at SPC’s Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium each fall semester.

MEET THE TEAM

Contact information for our Institutional Effectiveness Team;

  • Maggie Tymms
  • Jennifer McBride
  • Amy Eggers
  • Robert Mohr