Benson, an assistant professor of marriage and family therapy in the RCOE’s Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling, holds a Ph.D. in human development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), as well as an M.A. in marriage and family therapy from Appalachian and a B.S. in family and child science from Florida State University. In addition, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina. She joined the college’s faculty in 2017.

Benson said she feels a call to engage in social justice work professionally, personally and faithfully. Her research and clinical focus is on therapy that is anti-racist, economically just and both inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ individuals. She has published and presented her research nationally and internationally.

Benson is a clinical fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a member of the National Council on Family Relations, chairing the council’s Social Justice Network. Her current research explores the personal experiences of transgender and nonbinary people in relation to gender-related legal initiatives and discourse in North Carolina.

Redmond, an associate professor of media studies in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, earned her Ed.D. in curriculum and teaching from Boston University, an M.A. in educational media from Appalachian and a B.A. in fine arts from Saint Michael’s College. She joined the college’s faculty in 2011 as an assistant professor and was promoted in 2016.

Redmond teaches courses in media studies and teacher education. Broadly, her research focuses on teaching and learning with, through and about media and technology. Specifically, she examines critical media literacy as a subject of study and way of teaching that cultivates students’ preparation, fluency and empowerment in physical and digital spaces through creative and expressive inquiry.

Currently, she is investigating media literacy assessment, ecomedia literacy, privacy and data mining, and multimodal pedagogies for critical media literacy through visual journaling.

Van Loan is an associate professor of special education in the RCOE’s Department of Reading Education and Special Education. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Ed. in special education from the University of Florida and a B.S. in sociology from Florida State University.

He joined the college’s faculty in 2009 as an instructor — he was hired as an assistant professor in 2010 and was promoted in 2016. He has also served as special education undergraduate and graduate program director (2015–17). In addition, he is a former special education teacher, migrant health educator and Peace Corps volunteer.

Van Loan teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in emotional and behavioral disorders, classroom management and positive behavioral supports, methods for instruction and research and issues in special education. His research interests include teacher–student relationships, cognitive behavioral interventions and educational services for disadvantaged youth in schools, juvenile corrections and psychiatric schools.

Jackson is a professor of qualitative research and social science theory in the RCOE’s Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. She earned her Ph.D. in language education from the University of Georgia and holds an M.Ed. in middle grades language arts from North Carolina State University and a B.S. in middle grades language arts education from the University of Georgia. She joined the college’s faculty in 2003 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2009, then professor in 2014.

In her 16 years with the RCOE, Jackson has closely mentored 28 graduate students in doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis work across a range of disciplines, including educational leadership, arts-based research, gender studies, music therapy and English. Three of her mentees have won the Naylor Award for Outstanding Dissertation.

Jackson also leads workshops and seminars on theory and research across populations that include Appalachian faculty as well as the wider academic community at institutions in the U.S. and Europe. She deeply values both the relationships and the transformations that emerge in her mentoring practices, she said.

Saylors serves the RCOE as director of marketing, communications and engagement. She earned her M.A. in higher education from Appalachian and a B.A. in English/communication arts from Lees-McRae College.

She joined the college’s staff in 2010 as a university program associate in the Office of the Dean and, until recently, served as the scholarship coordinator and accelerated admissions recruiter (2015–19). She moved into her current role in April.

Saylors is also a student — she is currently enrolled in Appalachian’s MBA program. In addition, she teaches a First Year Seminar course as well as a course titled “So You Think You Want to Teach.”

Taylor, professor of career and technical education (CTE) and undergraduate program director in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, earned her Ed.D. in technology education from North Carolina State University. She holds an M.Ed. and a B.S. in industrial education from Clemson University.

She joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2005 as an assistant professor and undergraduate program coordinator of technology education in the Department of Technology and Environmental Design, now known as the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and served as the department’s interim chair from 2014–15. Taylor was promoted to associate professor in 2010 and professor in 2016.

Appalachian’s CTE program, which Taylor has directed since it was established in 2015, is North Carolina’s only such program. As director, Taylor promotes and strengthens CTE through advocacy, fundraising, regional partnerships, curriculum development and more. In addition, she serves as the executive director and state advisor of North Carolina Technology Student Association (NCTSA), a nonprofit national student organization devoted to teaching technology education to young people.

Taylor said Appalachian’s CTE program is successful because the faculty and administration are committed to preparing CTE teachers in North Carolina. The program, which offers students six concentrations, serves as a model of efficiency and collaboration. Furthermore, the program is growing: CTE added a new business-focused training concentration — workforce education and development — in the fall of 2018, and an agriculture education concentration is accepting students for fall 2019.

McGee, associate professor of research and evaluation in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She holds an M.S. in agricultural education from the University of Florida and a B.S. in agriculture education from North Carolina State University. She joined the college’s faculty in 2012 as an assistant professor and was promoted in 2017.

McGee’s research interests include assessment, program evaluation, self-efficacy and STEM education, and she teaches courses in research methods, applied statistics and classroom assessment. Her research has been published in the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, Action in Teacher Education and the International Journal of Educational Research.

In addition, McGee is a faculty fellow in the Center for Analytics Research and Education (CARE) in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business. She is also a co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant-funded project titled “Appalachian High Achievers in STEM” and an external evaluator for Appalachian’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). She currently serves as president of the North Carolina Association for Research in Education (NCARE).

Goodman, senior lecturer in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, earned his M.A. in educational media from Appalachian and B.A. in biology from Harvard College. He joined the college’s faculty in 1993 and is now in his 26th year of teaching at Appalachian.

Goodman has taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses during his time at Appalachian, including Science Education; Media Literacy; Documentary Film; Photography; Video Production; Multimedia and Teaching; Instructional Graphics; the Physics, Biology and Psychology of Sight and Sound; and Instructional Design.

He shared that he sees the role of the teacher to be an “enthusiasm engineer” — that is, to facilitate others’ desires to learn and connect. To do this effectively, according to Goodman, instructors need more than teaching techniques; they have to make sure that their own curiosity is strong.

Goodman’s ongoing project titled “Human Wonder Research” attempts to pose questions related to amazement and connection with the world and each other.

The Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork, established in fall 2018, provides a balanced education for children, teachers, principals and families through the implementation of research-based practices, state-of-the-art literacy instruction and exemplary classroom instruction and administration. The academy is a model for professional development and social justice emphasizing sustainable practices in global education and responsible living.

The academy’s leadership team includes Dr. Robin Groce, assistant dean of the academy; Tasha Hall-Powell ’01 ’09, academy principal; Verschello Nelson, academy assistant principal; and Dr. Amie Snow ’06 ’14, director of curriculum and instruction.

The leadership team works closely with each other in collaboration with Appalachian faculty and staff from a variety of academic disciplines and institutional offices, including science, math, social studies, reading, music, art, sustainability, technology, library science, educational leadership, counseling, expressive arts, budget offices, human resources, graduate programming, equity and compliance, grants and sponsored programs and more. The team also works closely with the University of North Carolina System and UNC Legislature to provide open access to school business. The team has participated in numerous state- and System-sponsored events since 2016 to further the work of the school and in the best interest of children.

Through an environment of communication and collaboration, the leadership team has fostered valuable relationships for children, staff and families with strategic practices of restorative justice and positive behavior support. Each member of the leadership team plays a very specific role of working toward excellence in building school community and increasing student achievement.

Some highlights from the academy’s first year:

• The leadership team hosted the first Laboratory School Summit this spring that brought representation from all laboratory schools in the System, state legislators and other dignitaries together for the common good.
• Students and staff are committed to the core principles of HIKE (honesty, integrity, kindness and excellence) as demonstrated in decreased behavior issues/office referrals from the previous school year and increased attendance and academic standing.
• The academy’s Battle of the Books team earned second place at the regional contest and is progressing to the final district-level competition.
• The students hosted a Black History Wax Museum and presented to guests about the contributions of black Americans. Special guests included two African American authors, and an African American radio talk show personality.
• The academy established a Student Ambassador Team as well as an elected Student Council who recently visited Appalachian’s campus and met with Chancellor Sheri Everts, members of Appalachian’s Student Government Association and Appalachian Student Ambassadors to share values of leadership and learn more about college student life.