THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE SCHOOL
Graduate Ambassadors

The Graduate School > Current Students > Ambassadors

As a prospective student or a new student to the UA campus, we know that you need someone to actually talk with so that you may get more detailed information. Here's a list of our Graduate Ambassadors. Please feel free to contact them as you need; they will be very happy to assist you.
 
Graduate Ambassadors by Colleges
       Arts & Sciences
       Commerce & Business Administration
       Communication & Information Sciences
       Education
       Engineering
       Human Environmental Sciences
       Nursing
       Social Work
       Interdisciplinary Studies
 

College of Arts & Sciences
American Studies Jonathan White is a 43 year old graduate student, originally from Virginia. He is studying nineteenth century American history and military history. He recently completed a 22-year career in the Army, and studying at UA has long been a dream of his. His future career goal is to teach history, preferably somewhere in the southeast. Contact D.J. via: djwhite@bama.ua.edu.
American Studies Sarah Melton is currently a Graduate Council Fellow, and is from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from Emory University in 2006 with a B.A. in Classical Civilization. She is currently working on a MA in American Studies. She plans on pursuing a Ph.D. and entering the "wide, wild, wonderful world of academia." Contact her at: svmelton@bama.ua.edu.
Anthropology Mary Spanos is pursuing a Ph.D. in Anthropology. After a career in computer science and a lifetime fascination with ethnographic textiles, she came back to school to learn how to research and write about this fascinating aspect of culture. She earned her B.S. in computer science at the University of South Alabama and her M.A. in Anthropology at UA, where she’s been studying since 2004. Contact her at mary.spanos@ua.edu.
Biological Science Justin C. Bagley is a second year M.S. student in Biological Science studying ecology and evolution of fishes. He is from Tuscaloosa, AL, and previously obtained the B.S. degree in Biological Science from the University of Alabama in 2004. In summer of 2007, he completed a Link Fellowship at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, FL. This year, Justin is a recipient of a National Alumni Association License Tag Fellowship. Justin can be reached at bagle004@ua.edu.
Chemistry Meghna Dilip is a PhD student in Chemistry. She is from Chennai, India. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 2001 from the University of Madras, India and her master's degree in Environmental Science in 2003 from Anna University, Chennai. She can be contacted at dilip001@bama.ua.edu.
English Caitlin Lovely is a first-year student in the Hudson Strode program and is pursuing her MA in Renaissance Studies. She works as a tutor in the University Writing Center and as an RA to English department faculty to fulfill her GTA duties. She is also an assistant fiction editor for the BWR in her spare time. Contact Cait at: Celovely@bama.ua.edu.
English Donnie Jones is a Ph.D. student in English with a concentration in African American/American literature. He is from Jackson, Mississippi and is in his second year at UA. Contact Donnie at djones94@bama.ua.edu.
English Jeremy Ekberg is from Brunswick, GA. He is a second year doctoral student specializing in Twentieth Century English Literature. His research interests include the Theater of the Absurd, Postmodernism, Existentialism, war literature, and world literature. His goal is to become an English professor. Contact him via: jeekberg@bama.ua.edu.
English Kedra L. James is from the Mississippi Delta, specifically, Itta Bena. Currently, she is in her first year of pursuing a Ph.D. in English, with emphasis in Composition, Rhetoric, and English Studies at UA. She plans to become an English professor and later enter department and university administration, as well. Please contact her via: kljames1@bama.ua.edu.
English Norman Golar earned his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Alabama and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in English (Composition, Rhetoric, and English Studies) at the same institution. He is a current scholar of the Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars program and a former Ronald E. McNair scholar. He is originally from Chicago and has lived in Tuscaloosa for six years. The contact e-mail you can use is norman.golar@ua.edu.
English Rob Dixon is a Ph.D. student in English who is in his fourth year at UA. Originally from Mississippi, Rob has also lived in Boston, San Francisco, and here in Tuscaloosa. He earned his B.A. in English at UMass Boston and his M.A. at UA. Rob plans to teach English at the college level and pursue his research interests in American literature. Rob can be reached at dixon006@bama.ua.edu.
English Virginia Murphy is currently in the second year of her master’s degree in Renaissance
literature. She is from Charlotte, North Carolina and came straight to graduate school here at UA after finishing her BA at UNC-Chapel Hill. Currently, she is working on a thesis which investigates the relationship of the history folly conventions and the way folly is used in Sir David Lyndsay's Ane Satire of the Thrie Estaitis and Erasmus's Praise of Folly. She has begun applying to PhD programs and hopes to begin work on her PhD program next fall. Contact her via: vhmurphy@bama.ua.edu.
History Angela Jill Cooley is a Ph.D. candidate in History at the University of Alabama. She has been at the University for four years, is currently working on a dissertation, and plans to graduate in June 2009. Upon graduation, Jill plans to teach American and Southern history at the university level. She can be contacted at coole015@bama.ua.edu.
History David McRae is a Ph.D. student in History. He is originally from Birmingham, Alabama and has been at the Capstone for 3 years. His current work focuses on the social, political, and religious history of the modern South. He may be contacted at: dbmcrae@bama.ua.edu
History Steven Corhern is a master’s student in history interested in the American South and American religion. Originally from Starkville, MS, he has been in Tuscaloosa since August of 2006. He serves the in the SGA Senate as a graduate school representative. Steven can be reached via: sccorhen@bama.ua.edu.
Mathematics Brandon Ross Morgan is a native of Oxford, MS and a 2007 graduate of Alcorn State University. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Alcorn State University and is currently a first year graduate student working on a master’s degree in the mathematics at the University of Alabama. After completing the Master’s Program, he plans to pursue a doctoral degree in mathematics and later become a professor of mathematics at a university. Contact him via: Brmorgan@bama.ua.edu.
Psychology Brittany Travers is a Ph.D. student in cognitive psychology here at UA. She is originally from Colorado Springs, CO and received her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Brittany’s career goals are to continue doing research on the cognitive components of autism and to teach at the university level. Her email is bgtravers@bama.ua.edu.
Clinical Health Psychology Courtney Worley is a first year student pursuing a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology. She recently earned her MPH in Health Behavior from UAB. Contact Courtney via: cbworley@bama.ua.edu.
Clinical Geropsychology Michelle M. Hilgeman is a fourth-year pre-doctoral fellow in the Clinical Geropsychology concentration in the Clinical Psychology program. She is originally from Memphis, TN and graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, AL. She earned her master’s in psychology from UA in 2007 and currently works as a research assistant at the Center for Mental Health and Aging. Contact Michelle at: hilge001@bama.ua.edu.
Clinical Psychology-Law Tess Neal is a second-year graduate student in Clinical Psychology-Law. She moved to Alabama after completing her undergraduate education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she majored in Psychology and English. When she finishes graduate school, she would like to conduct forensic evaluations for the court and also to teach other students in the university setting. Contact her via tmneal@bama.ua.edu.

:: Back to Top


College of Commerce & Business Administration
...  
   

:: Back to Top


College of Communication & Information Sciences
Communication and Information Sciences Terra D. Moody, a Birmingham, AL native, is a dually enrolled master’s and Ph.D. student in Communication and Information Sciences. She received her B.S. from the University of Montevallo in Mass Communications. After receiving her Ph.D., Terra plans to pursue a position in health communication and media education, and develop television programming for children and adolescents. Contact Terra via Tmoody6@gmail.com.
International Relations Feng Sun is a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations. She is from China. She will also get a master’s degree in statistics by 2008. Fen can be contacted at fsun2004@yahoo.com.
Advertising and Public Relations

Tamay Shannon is originally from nowhere. Her mother is in the military; thus, she calls many places her home. She is currently working on her master’s in Advertising and Public Relations. She comes from a liberal arts background. She plans to graduate and get a job working in the advertising industry for a period of time, after which she will get her PhD in advertising and teach at the collegiate level. Contact Tamayt at tamay.shannon@gmail.com.

Mass Communications Carly T. McKenzie is pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences (Mass Communications). She is originally from Shreveport, LA and currently resides in Birmingham. She is currently exploring political communication and aspires to remain in academia as a professor and researcher. Contact Carly at carly.timmons@gmail.com

:: Back to Top


College of Education
Educational Psychology Ken Gunnells is a Ph.D. student in Educational Psychology. He is a native of Alabama, originally from Anniston, but currently living in Homewood. He is married with three children. Ken completed a master’s degree in Management Information Systems in 2006 at The University of Alabama. He also holds a 1996 Executive MBA from Samford University, and a 1986 Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ken plans to pursue teaching and research. Contact Ken via: Ken.Gunnells@ua.edu.
Elementary Education Maegan Slaten is a master's student from Somerville, Alabama pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. She graduated with her B.S. degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama in December 2006. Currently a Graduate Assistant with Creative Campus and an aerobics instructor at the Student Recreation Center, Megan also serves as a football recruiting hostess for the Alabama football program.She may be contacted at slate005@bama.ua.edu.
School Psychology Jenny Short is a doctoral student in School Psychology. Originally from Germantown, Tennessee, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mississippi University for Women in December of 2002 and her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Western Kentucky University in December of 2005. Jenny is currently serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for two undergraduate Educational Psychology courses, and upon completion of her doctorate, she aspires to secure employment as a faculty member in a university setting. Jenny has been at UA since August of 2005. Contact her at: jenny.short@gmail.com
School Psychology Sheena N. Jernigan is a first year Ed.S major in School Psychology, from Smyrna, Georgia. The recipient of the Graduate Council Fellowship, she is working towards assisting children, primarily working in elementary schools. Contact her at: Snjernigan@bama.ua.edu.
Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Tammy Crawford Cook is a Ph.D. candidate whose major focus is Secondary Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. She is from Scottsboro, Alabama, and taught high school English for ten years at Madison Academy in Huntsville, Alabama. Her graduate assistantship at UA has allowed her to teach teacher education courses and serve as copy editor for an online scholarly journal. Contact Tammy via: cook004@bama.ua.edu.

:: Back to Top


College of Engineering
Aerospace Engineering Karen Torres earned a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Alabama in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering. She is from Arab, AL. Contact her via: torre003@ua.edu.
Computer Science Edward C. Dillon, Jr. is from a small town in Southwest Mississippi called Bogue Chitto. He recently received his Bachelor of Art degree in Computer and Informational Science from the University of Mississippi. Currently, he is pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science at the Capstone and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in his present field of study. Eventually, he hopes to go into the computer science industry or continue research towards the goal of becoming a professor. Contact him via: ecdillon@ua.edu.
Materials Science and Engineering Rupak Das earned a master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and is finishing up his Ph.D. in the same field here in UA. Rupak is from Atlanta, Georgia and is a recipient of 'The University of Alabama Graduate Council Research/Creative Activity Fellowship' and serves as the 'Student Internships' Public Relations Manager' in the Student Government Association. Rupak can be contacted at rdas1@bama.ua.edu.
Mechanical Engineering Kang Cao is a doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering. Kang is from China and has been studying in UA since August 2005. He is currently working in the Exploration Systems Laboratory and researching fundamental heat transfer behaviors in the Near-Space environment. Kang is a current recipient of Graduate Council Research/Creative Activity Fellowship and a former recipient of regular Graduate Council Fellowship. He may be contacted at kcao@bama.ua.edu.

:: Back to Top


Human Environmental Sciences
Health Science Tabitha McMullin is from Montgomery, Alabama. She is a first year graduate student studying health science. mcmul017@bama.ua.edu 
Sports Management Nancy Boyd Graves is a Montgomery, Alabama native and 2001 University of Alabama graduate in Political Science. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Management through the College of Human Environmental Science (HES). She can be reached at ncboyd@bama.ua.edu.

:: Back to Top


Capstone College of Nursing
Nursing Case Management Rosemary Richardson is pursuing a master’s degree in Nursing Case Management and an Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership with Nursing Specialization. Her home town is Pensacola, Florida, and future career goals are to become a Nursing Educator at the college or university level. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Public Administration. Please contact her via: richardson@bama.ua.edu.

:: Back to Top


School of Social Work
Social Work D. Scott Batey is a PhD student in Social Work. Scott is originally from Oxford, Alabama, but now resides in Pell City, Alabama. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 1993 and his Master of Social Work ( MSW) degree in 1996, both from The University of Alabama. Scott's research interests revolve around rural substance abuse issues. He plans to work in a university setting after completing the PhD. Contact D. Scott via dsbatey@bama.ua.edu.
Social Work Juanita L. Johnson is a MSW student with a concentration in Children, Adolescents, and their Families. She also received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama in Child Development. Juanita is originally from Mobile, Alabama and is also a preschool teacher at University Church Preschool. Contact Juanita via: juanitajohnson1@hotmail.com.
Social Work Sarah Culp is from Dothan, Alabama and is pursuing a master's degree in the field of Social Work. She began the Advanced Standing program at UA in June 2007. She is scheduled to graduate May 2008. Her career goals are to practice social work with low-income, community-dwelling senior citizens. Contact Sarah at skculp@bama.ua.edu
Social Work Shani K. Collins is a Social Work doctoral student. A native of Greenwood, MS, Shani received a BA in English from Tougaloo College and an MA in Africana Women’s Studies from Clark-Atlanta University. Shani is a Graduate Assistant for the Graduate School and the Graduate Ambassador Coordinator. Upon graduation, Shani plans to pursue a career in higher education administration and continue her research on African-American women’s health and social issues. Ms. Collins can be contacted via skcollins@bama.ua.edu.

:: Back to Top


SEE ALSO: Information for Prospective Students | Admissions | Financial Aid | Graduate Catalog

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE SCHOOL

The Graduate School | Prospects | Contact

Update: January, 2008