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
- To help new faculty members acclimate to the Athens State academic, administrative, and physical environments.
- To understand the meaning and the execution of effective teaching at Athens State University
- 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
- To provide a forum through which new faculty members discuss how to promote student success
- To assist in the retention of good faculty members
- To establish a sense of camaraderie among the new faculty members across colleges and appreciation for members of the staff and administration
- To educate new mentors about the mentoring process
- 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