University Leadership, Staff and Faculty

Hartwell University Leadership and Staff

Matthew Flippen, Founder & President

Dr. LaChristy Reed, Chief Academic Officer

Jessica Bowman, Vice President of Communications, Director of Admissions, Registrar and Student Services

Chris Merrell, Vice President of Advancement and Development

Ann Jagert, Financial Manager

Hartwell University Board of Regents

Dr. Donetrus Hill – Chairman, Executive Leadership Consultant with RJH & Associates, LLC and Senior Consultant with Global Schools Consultants

Dr. Kelly Bingham – Secretary, Former Superintendent of Liberty University K-12 Online

Dr. Eddie Coulson, Partner in the education consulting firm N2 Learning

Dr. Rick Fernandez, Accenture, Founder of the Path Forward Podcast

Dr. Jacqueline King, CEO of Black Women Empowerment, BWE Network and Black Women Empowered Safe Haven

Dr. Toby Travis, Founder of TrustED and Superintendent of The Village Christian Academy

Hartwell University Advisory Board

Dr. Lindsie Almquist – Education Leadership, Human Resource Management, Austin Independent School District – Executive Director of School Leadership & Campus Support

Dr.  Marla Behler – Education Leadership, Education Technology, Edgenuity Inc – Academies Instructional Supervisor

Dr. Lillie Cox – Education Leadership, WE LEAD Women in Educational Leadership – Owner/Founder

Kevin Dougherty – Education Technology, 806 Technologies – Chief Strategy Officer

Dr. Alex Granados – Higher Education Leadership, Calvary University – President

Pattie Griffin – Education Human Resources and Leadership, San Angelo School District – Former Business Operations Director

Dr. Mark Haywood – Higher Education Leadership, Grace School of Theology – Provost

Dr. La’Keisha Newsome – Education Leadership, Special Education, Henry County Schools – Special Education Supervisor

Hartwell University Faculty

Ms. Kristen Ainsworth – M.A., Theological Studies, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; M.Ed., University of Arkansas; B.M.E., Ouachita Baptist University. Adjunct Instructor, Education and Bible.

Dr. Modupe Alimi – Ph.D., Psycholinguistics, University of Ibadan; M.A., Language Arts Education, University of Ibadan; B.A., English, University of Ibadan. Adjunct Instructor, English.

Mr. Damien Armstrong – M.A., English, Southern New Hampshire University; B.A., Psychology, Southern New Hampshire University. Adjunct Instructor, English.

Dr. Neal Armstrong – D.B.A, California Southern University; M.B.A., California Southern University; M.Div., Northwest Nazarene University; M.A. Theology, Trevecca Nazarene University; B.A. Religion, Trevecca Nazarene University. Adjunct Instructor, Economics.

Mr. Perry Barrett – M.Ed., History, Delta State University; B.S., Social Sciences, Florida State University. Adjunct Instructor, History.

Dr. Marla Behler – Ed.D., Organizational Leadership, Northcentral University; M.A., Instructional Technology, Ashford University; B.S., Early Childhood Education, University of Mobile. Instructor, Education.

Mr. David Blaschke – Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; M.A., Philosophy, Biola University; M.S., Management, Texas A&M University; B.B.A., Management, Texas A&M University. Instructor, Bible, History, and Philosophy.

Dr. Heather Carnes – Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Stephen F. Austin State University; M.Ed., Educational Leadership, University of Texas at Tyler; M.A.T., Secondary Education, Austin College; B.A., English and Spanish, Austin College. Adjunct Instructor, Education.

Dr. Shelley Connell – Ed.D., Science, Morgan State University; M.S. Biology, Morgan State University; B.S. General Agriculture, University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Adjunct Instructor, Science.

Mr. Dennis Deeb – M.A., History, Salem State University; M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction, University of Massachusetts; M.S., Political Science, Suffolk University; B.S., Political Science, University of Massachusetts. Adjunct Instructor, History.

Ms. Amanda El-Aya – M.Ed., Texas A&M University-Commerce; M.A., Composition, Liberty University; B.A., English, University of North Texas. Adjunct Instructor, English.

Dr. Dorily Esquilin – Ph.D, Education, Leadership in Higher Education, Capella University; D.Min., Theology, Mizpa Christian University; M.A., Pastoral Christian Counseling, Mizpa Christian University; B.A., Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Adjunct Instructor, Communication and Bible.

Dr. Naomi Estrada – Ph.D., Criminal and Forensic Psychology, Walden University; M.A., Counseling, Webster University; B.A., Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso. Adjunct Instructor, Psychology.

Dr. Melissa Fields – Ed.D, Educational Leadership, Texas Tech University; M.Ed., Educational Leadership, Texas Tech University; B.A., English, Tarleton State University. Adjunct Instructor, Education.

Ms. Sarah Foreman – M.Ed., Mathematics, University of Texas at Arlington; B.S., Academic Studies, Sam Houston State University. Adjunct Instructor, Mathematics.

Dr. Joseph Francis – Ph.D., Biology, Wayne State University; B.S., Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University. Adjunct Instructor, Science.

Dr. Shannon Frazier – Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Argosy University; M.S., Educational Psychology, Capella University.B.A. Educational Psychology. Adjunct Instructor, Education and Psychology.

Dr. Pearl Garden – Ed.D., Supervision Curriculum and Instruction, Texas A&M Commerce; M.Ed., Advanced Literacy, Concordia University; M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Phoenix; B.S., Kinesiology, Texas A&M Commerce. Adjunct Instructor, Science of Teaching Reading and English.

Ms. Shemetha Green – M.S., Education, School Counseling, Troy State University; B.A. Elementary Education, Troy State University. Adjunct Instructor, Psychology.

Mr. Andrew Greenberg – Ph.D. Candidate, Public Policy, Liberty University; M.A., Public Policy, Liberty University; B.S., Communication, Lamar University; B.S., Political Science, Lamar University. Adjunct Instructor, Government and Economics.

Ms. Cassandra Hardy – M.Ed., Curriculum and Technology, University of Phoenix; B.S., Occupational Therapy, Tuskegee University. Adjunct Instructor, Education.

Dr. Jena Hawk – Ph.D., Higher Education Administration, The University of Southern Mississippi; M.A., Literature, The University of Southern Mississippi; B.A., English and Journalism, The University of Southern Mississippi. Adjunct Instructor, English.

Dr. Shika Hershel – Ed.D., Educational Administration, Texas A&M University-Commerce; M.S., Adult, Occupational, and Continuing Education; B.A., Journalism and Communication, University of Texas-Arlington. Adjunct Instructor, Education.

Mr. Chad Huffman – M.A. Theology, Biola University; M.A., Philosophy, Biola University; B.A., Biblical Studies, The College at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Adjunct Instructor, Bible.

Dr. Kandi Hunter – Ed.D., Education Leadership and Policy Studies, Tarleton State University; M.Ed., Education Administration, University of North Texas; B.A., Tougaloo College. Adjunct Instructor, Mathematics.

Dr. Peggy Johnson – Ed.D., Leadership in Educational Administration, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor; M.Ed., Educational Administration, Tarleton State University; Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science, Tarleton State University. Adjunct Instructor, Education.

Dr. Lori Johnstone – J.D., Loyola Marymount University; M.Ed., Education Leadership in Faith Based Schools, California Baptist University; B.A., Political Science, University of California, Riverside. Adjunct Instructor, Education and Government.

Dr. Lateria Joiner – Ed.D., Walden University; M.S., Technology Education, Mississippi State University; M.S., Instructional Technology, Mississippi State University; B.S., Secondary Education, Mississippi State University. Adjunct Instructor, Mathematics.

Dr. George Lasley – Ph.D., Higher Education Administration, Liberty University; M.Div., Liberty University; B.A.S., University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Adjunct Instructor, Education and Bible.

Mr. Timothy Lewis – M.Ed., Mathematics, University of Texas-Arlington; Bachelor in Civil Engineering, Morgan State University. Adjunct Professor, Mathematics.

Dr. Marisa May – Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Liberty University; M.A., Mathematics, Sam Houston State University; B.S., Mathematics, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. Adjunct Instructor, Mathematics.

Dr. Jeff McMaster – Ph.D., Leadership (Education), Andrews University; M.A, Counseling, Missio Seminary; B.A., Christian Thought, Liberty University. Adjunct Instructor, Bible and Education.

Dr. La’Keisha Newsome – Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Liberty University; M.A., Education, University of Phoenix; B.S., Education, Troy University. Adjunct Instructor, Education and Communication.

Mr. Patrick Parris – M.S., Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University; B.S., Forest Science, Texas A&M University. Adjunct Instructor, Science.

Dr. Elmira Ratliff – Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Mississippi; Ed.S., Educational Leadership, University of Mississippi; Ed.S., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Mississippi; M.Ed., English, Mississippi College; B.A., Secondary Education, Alcorn State University. Adjunct Instructor, English.

Ms. Floydreka Ray – Master of Public Health, Lamar University; B.S., Sports Medicine, Howard University. Adjunct Instructor, Health.

Dr. LaChristy Reed – Ph.D., Leadership in Higher Education;  Post Master Certification in Enrollment Management, Capella University; Master’s in Public Administration, Troy University; B.S., Criminal Justice, Troy University. Instructor, Education.

Dr. Brandi Robinson – Ed.D., Secondary Mathematics Curriculum & Instruction, Liberty University; M.Ed., Secondary Mathematics Curriculum & Instruction, University of New Orleans; B.A., University Studies, Education and Language, University of Tennessee. Adjunct Instructor, Mathematics.

Dr. Vanessa Rowan – Ph.D., Integrative Biology, Florida Atlantic University; B.S. Biological Sciences, Florida State University. Adjunct Instructor, Science.

Mr. Christopher Sanchez – M.A., Government, Regent University; B.A., Government, Grand Canyon University. Adjunct Instructor, Government.

Dr. Rachel Schichtl – Ph.D., Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Texas Tech University; M.S., Nutrition, University of Central Arkansas; B.S., Nutrition, University of Central Arkansas. Adjunct Instructor, Health.

Mr. Chet Truett – M.Ed., Educational Leadership, American College of Education; B.S., Biology, Health Education, The University of South Alabama. Adjunct Instructor, Education.

Ms. Traci Wilmoth – M.B.A., Stayer University; M.A., English, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; B.A., English Literature, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Adjunct Instructor, English.

Mr. Thomas Wurst – M.A., Secondary Education, University of North Texas; B.A., Education, University of North Texas. Adjunct Instructor, Human Geography.

Ms. Kristin Young – Ed.D. Candidate, Public Health, American College of Education; M.Ed., Health, American College of Education; B.A., Mathematics, Florida Atlantic University. Adjunct Instructor, Health.