ALD Doctoral Student Bios

Margaret Blagg is an assistant professor at Augusta University. In 2004, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She then went on to physical therapy school and earned a doctorate in physical therapy from the Medical College of Georgia in 2005. After some years of clinical practice, she began teaching as adjunct faculty and quickly accepted a full-time position teaching neuroscience and neurologic physical therapy in 2016. She knew that she wanted to pursue a terminal academic degree but struggled to find the right program for various reasons. She applied to the EdD program at Valdosta State University because of the university’s strong reputation in education, and because the program emphasized adult learning. As someone who specializes in neurology, Margaret has always been intrigued by how the brain works. The longer she has taught in higher education, the more interested she has become in how adults learn and how that is different from younger learners. With the program’s focus on adult learning and development, she says she knows she made the right choice in Valdosta State.

 

Tory Candea is a speech-language pathologist at Georgia Southern University, where she facilitates clinical learning for future speech-language pathologists. She has her clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology from Valdosta State University, her master of science in speech-language pathology from Ithaca College, and her bachelor of science in speech and hearing science from State University of New York at Cortland. Tory has additional certifications as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist, a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Certified Trauma Support Specialist, and a Certified End-of-Life Specialist. She is thrilled to be enrolled as a doctoral student in the Adult Learning & Development Education (Ed.D.) program.

 

Barbara Fernandez is dually certified in HR and have been in the HR field for more than 20 years.  She also is a registered nurse with a background in home health, hospice, and public health. She holds an associate's degree is in nursing, bachelor's degree is in healthcare management, and master's degree is in legal studies.  Today, she is a doctoral candidate in the VSU ACED program.  She has a passion for connecting adults with their potential and in today's environment it is critical for employers to invest in the continued development of their current workforce; to develop and reskill their existing talent as interactions between humans and technology becomes more sophisticated. This degree will provide Barb an added competitive edge and allow her to carve a path where she can work on my own terms as a consultant or talent development facilitator. Currently, she is the Vice President of Human Resources and Security for a large healthcare supply chain company in Southwest Florida.  Barb says she balances her work life with the joy of being a wife to her love of more than 30 years and being the mom of two grown young women.  Barb also enjoys photography and art in all mediums. 

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Diana Hardin currently works as the reading and writing specialist managing the writing area and providing academic coaching in the Learning Commons at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, TN. She has a special spot in her heart for learning support writing students and has been a college/university English teacher for more than 20 years. In addition to English, she holds degrees in music and chemistry, and I also had an eight-year run teaching Pre-K - 12 music, middle school science, and high school chemistry. Diana chose this program for two reasons. First and foremost, there was an offering for a focus in adult learning and development, which Diana felt would serve her well in my current role of academic support.  Also, she wanted a program that would be fully online with no in-person requirement. Diana states she has enjoyed every moment of this program and counts herself blessed to have found Valdosta State University.

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Abbey Hooten has taught Culinary Arts at Camden County High School since 2019. They have a Master's of Adult and Career Education from Valdosta State University and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from the University of Georgia. Abbey has helped many students who have struggled with mental health issues throughout their career and hopes to research teacher education programs for student suicide prevention. Abbey is passionate about student mental health and believes empowering teachers to be agents of change is the key to helping students in crisis. Abbey chose this program because of their prior experience in Valdosta State's Masters program, where they felt supported and inspired by the faculty. 

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Quiana Howard Gordon is a Senior Program Advisor at the National Institute for Student Success at Georgia State University. Her main role is to assist higher education institutions to improve their student success outcomes. Before joining NISS, Quiana worked for the Georgia Career Information Center, where she helped implement a statewide college and career development initiative for more than 1.6 million secondary students in Georgia. She holds a B.B.A. in Business Management from Georgia State University and an M.Ed. in Adult and Career Education (ACED) from Valdosta State University. Currently, she is pursuing an Ed.D. in the same discipline. Although Quiana is originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, she has lived as an Army brat in many places. She now resides in Lilburn, Georgia, with her husband, Robert, their toddler, Nate, and their Dalmatian, Spotticus.

 

Kristen Kennedy is a seasoned educator with more than two decades of experience, holding a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Utah Valley University and a master's degree in educational leadership. Her teaching journey began in New Mexico, where she spent nine years honing her skills across 4th, 5th, and 6th grades while concurrently advancing her education. Transitioning to higher education, Kristen joined Western Governors University (WGU) in 2013 as a Senior Program Mentor, guiding graduate students in Curriculum & Instruction and Learning Experience Design. Her role essentially involves academic advising and fostering student success. Now, embarking on my doctoral studies at VSU, her focus is on enhancing strategies for adult learners, an area she has identified as crucial in her tenure at WGU. Kristen’s aim is to contribute significantly to the field and optimize learning experiences for this specific demographic.

 

Dave Lakly is a Public Service Associate at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. He works in the Governmental Training and Education Division out of an Atlanta office, where he trains government employees and elected officials on various financial topics. He delivers face-to-face, online, and hybrid training and moderates several regular webinar series each year. His typical students are adult learners working in government. Dave was hired into his position as a subject matter expert, not an experienced trainer. His work in the ACED Ed.D. program has allowed him to expand and develop his skills as an instructor.

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Laura K. Lease serves as the Dean for Teaching, Learning, and Student Success and an Associate Professor of English at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA. She is especially passionate about helping students get off to a strong start with their college education, so she teaches primarily first-year academic writing and transition to college courses. She also oversees many of Wesleyan's student success initiatives and resources, including the Academic Resource Center, the Online Learning Program, and faculty development and instructional support. Laura earned a B.A. and an M.A. in English from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and has been working in higher ed for twenty-four years. She chose to pursue VSU's EdD in Adult Learning & Development to continue honing her knowledge and skills with an eye toward helping to create a more compassionate and inclusive higher ed landscape.

 

David Pomplas is a doctoral candidate in the Adult and Career Education program at Valdosta State University. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Empire State, an MA in American History from SUNY College at Brockport, and an MA in Social and Public Policy from SUNY Empire State. He has been employed as a facilitator at Charter Communications for the past six years. His decision to pursue a doctoral degree at Valdosta State University was motivated by his desire to enhance his professional prospects, advance my career, and contribute to the academic community in his field by expanding the existing body of knowledge. Additionally, he was drawn to VSU by its supportive staff, knowledgeable professors, flexibility, and affordable tuition.

 

Rebecca Storey is a Lecturer in the Department of Teacher Education at Valdosta State University. Prior to VSU, Rebecca taught for Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, North Carolina in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Additionally, Rebecca has taught elementary school in both Georgia and North Carolina and been a supervisor for the Georgia TAPP program. Rebecca chose to enroll in the Adult Learning & Development Doctoral Program at VSU to further her education in research and adult learning.

 

Rudyard Watson is a speech-language pathologist and clinical instructor with expertise in Adult Autism, Executive Function Skills, and Adult Acquired Language Disorders. With more than 17 years of experience in the field of speech-language Pathology, Rud has established himself as a knowledgeable and dedicated professional. As a clinical instructor at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, IL, he has been dedicated to one-on-one clinical-based instruction of graduate and undergraduate students in the Communication Disorders and Sciences Department. Prior to working at EIU, he gained experience in several settings, including acute and in-patient rehabilitation, skilled nursing geriatric speech-pathology, and public schools. Rud holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Eastern Illinois University, where he developed a strong foundation in clinical application and professional practice. Rud is deeply committed to the adult population and working to ensure they receive professional and quality intervention, and he continuously seek opportunities for growth and development. The decision to pursue my educational doctorate through the Valdosta State University Adult Career and Educational Development program was informed by the program's esteemed and flexible online design, as well as its emphasis on adult learning theory and its applicability to diverse educational settings. Through this program, Rud has gained invaluable insights into instructional strategies, curriculum design, and educational leadership, all of which have enhanced his ability to train future speech-language pathologists effectively and to provide quality care to adult clients. His multidisciplinary approach integrates the principles of adult learning with the specialized knowledge of speech pathology, allowing him to deliver comprehensive and client-centered services while nurturing the growth and development of aspiring professionals in the field.

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