First-Year Faculty Experience

An Athens State University faculty mentor is an experienced and trusted faculty member who works with a first-year faculty member (a.k.a., protégé) participating in the First-Year Faculty Experience.  A faculty mentor serves as an available resource, a supportive and friendly guide, a respectful advocate, and an active listener for the protégé.

Vision

The Athens State University First-Year Faculty Experience will become a culture of mentoring faculty members culminating in the long-term success of all faculty members who have participated in the program.

Mission

The program provides a supportive framework for its new faculty members (protégés) to achieve success by strategically assigning mentors to protégés leading to a professionally trusting relationship.  Moreover, the First-Year Faculty Experience offers opportunities for protégés to interact across academic departments, colleges, and other university units through engaging, collaborative, informational sessions, and workshops.

Program Goals

1. To help new faculty members acclimate to the Athens State academic, administrative, and physical environments.
2. To understand the meaning and the execution of effective teaching at Athens State University
3. To foster a relationship with a faculty mentor that should be free from scrutiny, creating a relationship in which a new faculty member has a sense of discretion when sharing concerns regarding general or specific aspects of the academic appointment
4. To provide a forum through which new faculty members discuss how to promote student success
5. To assist in the retention of good faculty members
6. To establish a sense of camaraderie among the new faculty members across colleges and appreciation for members of the staff and administration
7. To educate new mentors about the mentoring process
8. To establish a desire among faculty to serve as a mentor or serve multiple times as a mentor.

Contact Information

Ronald Merritt

Professor of Mathematics, Department Chair, and FYFE Director

• Phone:256-233-6527 Phone:256-233-6527
• Email:Ronald.Merritt@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences
• Office:

  Waters Hall, Room S203A

Members of the 2022-23 FYFE Cohort

Dagan Bond-Turner

Assistant Librarian

• Phone:256-216-6667 Phone:256-216-6667
• Email:dagan.bond@athens.edu
• Department:Kares Library

Tina Camba

Assistant Professor of Management/HR Management

• Phone:256-216-5371 Phone:256-216-5371
• Email:Tina.Camba@athens.edu
• Department:College of Business
• Office:

  Sanders Hall, Room 219

Dr. Alana Daniel

Assistant Professor of Business Analytics and Strategic Management

• Phone:256-216-5384 Phone:256-216-5384
• Email:Alana.Daniel@athens.edu
• Department:College of Business
• Office:

  Sanders Hall, Room 204

Dr. Patricia Elmore

Assistant Professor of English Education

• Phone:256-216-6633 Phone:256-216-6633
• Email:Patricia.Elmore@athens.edu
• Department:College of Education
• Office:

  Founders Hall

Dr. Yahia Fadlalla

Associate Professor of Computer Science

• Phone:256-233-6537 Phone:256-233-6537
• Email:Yahia.Fadlalla@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences

Travis Morgan-Chavers

Instructor of Early Childhood Education

• Email:Travis.Morgan-Chavers@athens.edu
• Department:College of Education

Ronald Muhammad

Distinguished Assistant Professor of Professional Practice

• Email:Ronald.Muhammad@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. C. David Ragsdale

Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences

• Phone:256-233-6502 Phone:256-233-6502
• Email:dave.ragsdale@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences
• Office:

  Founders Hall, Room 231

Lawrence Reeves, III

Assistant Professor of Logistics/Supply Chain Management

• Phone:256-216-5372 Phone:256-216-5372
• Email:Lawrence.Reeves@athens.edu
• Department:College of Business
• Office:

  Sanders Hall, Room 316

William Richardson

Assistant Professor of Drama & Theatre Arts: Lighting and Scenic Design

• Phone:256-233-6533 Phone:256-233-6533
• Email:William.Richardson@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Christopher Roberts

Instructor of Logistics/Supply Chain Management

• Phone:317-397-5315 Phone:317-397-5315
• Email:Christopher.Roberts@athens.edu
• Department:College of Business

Dr. Kem Roper

Writing Center Director/Assistant Professor of English

• Phone:256-216-6670 Phone:256-216-6670
• Email:Kem.Roper@athens.edu
• Department:Kares Library
• Office:

  Writing Center

Dr. Maria Steele

Assistant Professor of Nursing

• Phone:256-233-6513 Phone:256-233-6513
• Email:Maria.Steele@athens.edu
• Department:College of Arts and Sciences
• Office:

  Founders Hall, Room F348

Dr. Janet Willisson

Assistant Professor of Information Systems/Cybersecurity

• Phone:256-216-5375 Phone:256-216-5375
• Email:Janet.Willisson@athens.edu
• Department:College of Business
• Office:

  Sanders Hall, Room 216