Jan 2026

Vol.VIi, Issue Iii

School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies

Leadership Corner

As we step into 2026, I would like to begin by expressing my genuine excitement about starting the year with all of you! Our school continues to thrive because of your talent, dedication, and commitment to students, and I am grateful for the energy and expertise each of you brings to our community.

The months ahead are full of opportunities to connect, celebrate, and learn together. We have several highlights on the horizon, including our upcoming General Education Conference, Earth Day Celebrations, faculty awards, and our engaging student experience series, which will bring fresh perspectives and ideas to our work. I hope you will find time to participate and join the conversations that help define who we are as a school.

We are also moving forward with an important hire this year and will be launching a search for a new Chair of English and Rhetoric. I appreciate your support as we work to identify strong leadership for this department and continue strengthening our academic offerings. More broadly, our school remains deeply committed to supporting programs across the university, and I am proud of the collaborative role we continue to play in advancing shared goals.

Finally, a small but happy note: I have created a spreadsheet listing a selection of free books available to faculty. These will be mailed out on a first-come, first-served basis, so I encourage you to take a look if something catches your interest. Let me know.

Thank you for all that you do, and for the care and creativity you bring to your work every day. I am looking forward to another year of progress, connection, and shared success.

Jody Dekorte, PhDDean & Vice PresidentSchool of of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies

What’s Buzzing in MaPS?

Celebrating Scholarly Excellence: Galia Fussell and CM801 Students Recognized

We are proud to share that Galia Fussell has announced exciting news from CM801: four students’ proposals have been accepted for conference presentation, including one from Health Sciences and three from the EdD program. Their revised Unit 9 assignments will also be published in the conference proceedings. Congratulations to Carmen Morales, Santwana Thukral, Yashin Chen, and Calliope A. Pappadakis on this outstanding scholarly achievement and well-deserved recognition of their research and innovation.

These are the titles of their articles:

Carmen Morales: "Evaluating the Impact of Kotter's 8-Step Model for Change on Risk Adjustment (RA) Leadership and Staff Behavior: A Qualitative, Tech-Enabled Approach to Change Management.”
Santwana Thukral: "Leadership Competencies and Behaviors Driving Digital Transformation in Healthcare and Biotechnology: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study.”
Yashin Chen: "Tech-Integrated Language Instructions for Heritage and Second Language Learners: Practical Implementation of Personalized Learning in a Chinese Language Course with Snorkl AI.”
Calliope A. Pappadakis: "Supporting Online Adult Learners in GenAI-infused Practices: An Exploratory Sequential Study to Understand Lived Student Experiences through the GenAI-ALE Framework.”

Galia Fussell, PhDEnglish & Rhetoric Faculty

Congratulations to Barbara Green on Recent Journal Publication

Please join us in congratulating Barbara Green, Assistant Chair, on the publication of her article, “Academic Leadership by Day, Student by Night: Juggling Department Management, Teaching, and a PhD Program as a Minority Woman,” in Xchanges: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Technical Communication, Rhetoric, and Writing Across the Curriculum (Issue 19.2). This work offers a meaningful contribution to scholarship by highlighting leadership, perseverance, and the lived experiences of minority women in academia.

Barbara Green, MAAssistant Department Chair

Galia Fussell, PhDEnglish & RHetoric Faculty

Michelle Bianco, PhDEnglish & RhetoricFaculty

Celebrating Faculty Scholarship: Galia Fussell and Michelle Bianco to Present at SITE 2026

We are excited to highlight Galia Fussell and Michelle Bianco, Full-Time English & Rhetoric Faculty, who will be presenting at the SITE 2026 Conference in Philadelphia. Their scholarship has also been accepted for publication in the conference proceedings, highlighting timely and impactful research in higher education.

The titles of their articles include:

"Promoting Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Academic Integrity in Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study”
"The Anxious Student: Metacognitive and Expressive Writing Interventions for a Post-Rewiring Generation"

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement and contribution to research, innovation, and teaching practice.

Faculty Achievement: Jonathan Cardew

We are pleased to share that Jonathan Cardew is a contributor to the craft book Flash Fiction Writing Tips: Penned by Masterful Flash Writers From Around the Globe, published by Vancouver Flash Fiction. The book brings together insights from accomplished flash writers around the world and is now available in both eBook and paperback formats on Amazon. Congratulations on this exciting publication and contribution to the literary community!

Jonathan Cardew, MAEnglish & Rhetoric Faculty

Faculty Research Presentation: Ashley Leininger

Ashley Leininger will be presenting her research in existential psychology at the Annual Social Psychology and Personality Conference, as part of the American Psychological Association pre-conference, on February 24. Her poster explores morality and perceptions of self and others as moderated by purpose in life. Congratulations on this important scholarly contribution and conference presentation!

Ashley Leininger, PhDHumanities & Social Sciences Faculty

Celebrating Excellence Across MaPS

This year, we are excited to highlight this year's award nominees for their outstanding contributions, dedication, and impact across the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. These individuals exemplify excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and leadership. Please join us in celebrating our nominees, and save the date for our live awards ceremony on March 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET, where we will announce this year’s award recipients!

Outstanding Faculty of The Year Nominees

Brooke Bernhardt, MA

Allen Farina, EdD

Ashley Leininger, PhD

Ismail Joseph, MS

Mark Marino, MEd

Jennifer Graham, MA

Michael Tafel, MA

Helen Collins. MBA

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD Nominees

Brooke Bernhardt, MA

Michael Heeren, MA

Kristen Meymaris, MS

Stuart Collins, MA

Shama Grimmage, EdD

Allen Farina, EdD

Amy Smith, MS

Miya Nelson, PhD

TRAILBLAZER AWARD Nominees

Holley Linkous, PhD

Melissa Coakley, PhD

Christopher Grice, PhD

Glen Davenport, PhD

Monica Bess, EdD., MBA

OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AWARD Nominee

Sandra Nite, PhD

REcognition Planning Committee

Mya Field, PhD

Darrell Evans, EdD

Jennifer Schott, MS

Holly Linkous. PhD

Ashley Leininger, PhD

Heather Booth, MS

Jan Watson, MFA

Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht, PhD

Justina Buck, PhD

Kevin Muir, MA

CONFeRENCE BRIEFS

(L-R)Kirsten Meymaris, MS, Mary Bruce, PhD, Carol Hannahs, MS, MA, Melissa Scranton, PhD

51st Annual AMATYC (American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges) Conference

Four members of the Math Department: Mary Bruce, Carol Hannahs, Kirsten

Meymaris and Melissa Scranton, showcased transformation at the “Biggest Little

Math Conference in the World” hosted at the “Biggest Little City in the World (Reno)”.

The 51st Annual AMATYC (American Mathematical Association of Two-Year

Colleges) Conference was held for three days on Nov. 13-15, 2025. Mathematics

faculty members as well as professionals involved in the first two years of college

mathematics education were in attendance.

The following presentation was shared:

Title: Just a Little Chat for Big Transformation: AI-Supported Math Chats

Presenters: Mary Bruce, Kirsten Meymaris, and Melissa Scranton

Summary: Four different generative AI tools were highlighted that super-charge

motivation, increase learning potential, and personalize the student experience – all with

some form of an AI ChatBot!

Leslie Johnson, MS, Asst. Chair pictured with the 2025 AI EZ Coordinator, Devena Singleton

2025 Online Learning Consortium

MaPS Assistant Department Chair Leslie Johnson traveled to Orlando, FL in November to present and volunteer at the 2025 OLC Accelerate annual conference. In her Express Session, "Accelerate Success: Reinventing Synchronous Learning with Choice and Flexibility," Leslie shared how Seminar Teams is driving engagement, retention, and satisfaction for both students and faculty in PG math classes. She also helped facilitate the inaugural AI Exploration Zone, an interactive exhibit hosted by West Coast University and sponsored by Noodle. If you are interested in collaborating on one or more proposals for 2026 OLC Accelerate, please contact Leslie: ljohnson6@purdueglobal.edu. Note: As an OLC institutional member, Purdue Global faculty and staff receive a reduced conference fee.

Culture, Engagement, & Community Updates

Vanessa Myers, MSScience Faculty

The MaPS CEC Committee has hosted 5 episodes of our "Theory to Practice" series this academic year and will be hosting Episodes 14-17 over the next four months. The Theory to Practice Series focuses on helping faculty implement their learnings from CEC (Culture, Engagement and Community) themed training into the PG classroom. Episode 14 will be presented by Stephanie Thompson on January 29th at 2:00 pm ET, titled "Fostering Inclusive Excellence: Your Guide to CTL Faculty Development Resources".

Our MaPS CEC Student "Amplify" series will continue with PG student Sasha Delgado interviewing PG Student Harper DePagter, Thursday, January 29th at 3 pm ET. The Amplify Series was designed to give our PG students a platform to share their amazing stories. In our second episode of the CEC Amplify Series, join us for a candid interview with PG student Harper DePagter, who will share their personal journey as a transgender woman and published author.

Our ERG Partnership subcommittee has helped host multiple events over the last couple of months with various PG ERGs, and seeks to continue supporting our employee affinity groups. Please reach out to the MaPS CEC committee leader (vanessa.myers@purdueglobal.edu) if you have any needs we can help with for your ERG! We can provide assistance with event planning and execution, flyers and other publication materials, and sometimes, with just our presence!
To stay connected with upcoming CEC events, visit the CEC website.

BITS & PIECES

Call for Proposals: GEC 2026

This is a friendly reminder that proposals for the 18th Annual Purdue Global Virtual General Education Conference, taking place April 21–23, 2026, are due February 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. This year's theme, Be the Change: Innovation and Inspiration in General Education, invites faculty, staff, and administrators to share innovative practices, research, and strategies that advance General Education and support student success. Proposals are welcome across all conference tracks, including research, evidence-based practices, leadership, innovation, inclusivity, and lightning sessions, as well as special Earth Day pre-conference sessions on April 20, 2026. Please refer to the 2026 GEC Proposal and Session Guidelines for complete details.

Don't miss this opportunity to engage with colleagues and contribute to the future of General Education. Submit your proposal by February 1.

Beyond the Books: When Life Brings a Doppelgänger

While visiting Tennessee over Christmas, Stephanie Thompson, Assistant Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences, spent time with longtime family friends, the Johnsons, friends for more than 50 years! Pictured together are Stephanie, David Johnson, Marsha Johnson Thompson, and her sister, Jennifer Workman. Fast forward to a professional moment: when Stephanie first met Amy Smith, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was looking at Marsha's doppelgänger! To prove it wasn't just her imagination, she included a photo of herself with Amy Smith from the AGLS Conference in October 2025. Proof that sometimes academia really does feel like a small world. You be the judge!

[L-R]Stephanie Thompson, PHD, David Johnson, Marsha Johnson Thompson, and Jennifer Workman

Stephanie Thompson, PHD & Marsha Johnson Thompson

Stephanie Thompson, PHD & Amy Smith, MS

Josef Vice, PhDEnglish & Rhetoric Faculty

New Publication from Josef Vice

We are pleased to recognize Josef Vice, Full-Time faculty member in English & Rhetoric, as co-editor, alongside Laura Getty, of the new book Queer Identities in Popular Culture, published by MacFarland. The volume includes Josef’s chapter entitled “Gender(alizations): Queer Identity Development in Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper.” Congratulations on this meaningful contribution to scholarship and cultural studies! Learn more about the book at the publisher’s site.

January Pearson Celebrated for Poetry Chapbook

We are pleased to recognize January Pearson, Full-Time faculty member in English & Rhetoric, whose poetry chapbook, Nothing Left to Fix, was selected as a finalist in Finishing Line Press's 2025 contest and will be published in early April 2026. The chapbook is currently available for pre-order. Congratulations on this outstanding literary achievement and recognition of creative scholarship!

January Pearson, MAEnglish & Rhetoric Faculty

Celebrating Our Faculty at Graduation

We were delighted to see Denise Coblish and Beth Duncan, adjunct faculty members in the English & Rhetoric department, celebrating together at commencement. The opportunity to connect in person and share such a meaningful milestone made the day especially memorable for them both. Denise earned her Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation, and Beth earned her MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Congratulations to all who celebrated this special occasion!

Beth Duncan & Family English & Rhetoric Adjunct Faculty

Beth Duncan(R) English & Rhetoric Adjunct Faculty

Denise Coblish(L) & Beth Duncan(R) English & Rhetoric Adjunct Faculty

Circle of Community Champions Program Update

The Circle of Community Champions program, led by the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies, was created to celebrate Purdue Global students, faculty, and staff who make a difference through volunteer service. Through this initiative, we have had the privilege of recognizing individuals whose commitment to service reflects the heart of our community.

At this time, the MaPS Circle of Community Champions program is sunsetting, aligned with broader shifts in university-level community engagement and recognition structures.

We are deeply grateful to all who participated and shared their service experiences. We proudly recognized the following individuals through the program:

Stuart Collins
Ashley Leininger
Mahin Tawrat
Rebecca Calahan
Amber Evans

The School of MaPS values the spirit of volunteerism and community engagement reflected by our faculty, staff, and students, and we thank all who have contributed their time and talents in service to others. Your commitment to making a difference has left a meaningful and lasting impact.

Stay Connected With MAPS!

Looking to get involved? Check out the MaPS Community Events Calendar for upcoming events and meeting links, all in one place!

Also, don't forget to follow our school's LinkedIn page:
School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies (Purdue Global)

On this page, we share Purdue Global and higher education news, highlight the achievements of our faculty, staff, and students, and post professional development opportunities.

Don't miss this chance to stay connected with our growing professional community!

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