VSU Recognizes Faculty with Awarding of Tenure, Promotion

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University recently awarded tenure to 10 faculty members.

The award of tenure constitutes permanent status as a member of the university faculty.

“Tenure is awarded to a faculty member whose teaching is judged to be superior, based on a number of measures,” said Dr. Robert T. Smith, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at VSU. “Further, to achieve tenure, faculty are also accomplished scholars in their field, as demonstrated by publications, creation of artistic works, presentations, performances, and other activities relevant to their particular discipline. Finally, to be awarded tenure, faculty have a record of accomplishment in service to their department, their college, and the university.” 

At VSU, tenure may be awarded, upon approval of the president, after a faculty member has completed a probationary period of at least five years of full-time service at the rank of assistant professor or higher.

VSU’s 2022 faculty tenure recipients are as follows:

• Dr. Melissa Pihos, Department of Communication Arts in the College of the Arts

• Dr. Cori Crews, Department of Accounting in the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration

• Dr. Ilke Kardes, Department of Management and Marketing in the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration

• Dr. Nicole Alemanne, Department of Library and Information Studies in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services

• Dr. Taralynn Hartsell, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services

• Dr. Hoa Nguyen, Department of Human Services in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services

• Dr. Keith Lee, Department of Political Science in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

• Dr. Heidi Gonzalez, School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences

• Dr. Mark Reinhardt, School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences

• Samantha Paul, Department of Reference and Lending Services in Odum Library

VSU also recently awarded promotion to 24 faculty members.

Promotion is awarded to faculty members who demonstrate superior teaching; outstanding professional service to the university and/or the community; outstanding research, scholarship, creative activity, or academic achievement; and professional growth and development. Promotion to the rank of associate or full professor at a regional university like VSU requires the earned doctorate or other terminal degree or its equivalent in training, ability, and/or experience.

VSU’s 2022 faculty promotion recipients are as follows:

• Dr. Eugene Asola, Department of Teacher Education in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Jennifer Beal, Department of Teacher Education in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Herbert Fiester, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Sakhavat Mammadov, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Cristina Calestani, Department of Biology in the College of Science and Mathematics, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Adam Safer, Department of Biology in the College of Science and Mathematics, promoted to senior lecturer

• Dr. Roy Copeland, Department of Accounting in the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Jie Fowler, Department of Management and Marketing in the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Candace Witherspoon, Department of Accounting in the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to full professor

• Joshua Atkins, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to senior lecturer

• Dr. Fanhao Nie, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to associate professor

• Tommy Crane, Department of Art and Design in the College of the Arts, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Melissa Porterfield, Department of Communication Arts in the College of the Arts, promoted to senior lecturer

• Dr. Laura Wright, Department of Reference and Lending Services in Odum Library, promoted to librarian full professor

• Dr. Mark Kasper, School of Health Sciences in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Melissa Pihos, Department of Communication Arts in the College of the Arts, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Cori Crews, Department of Accounting in the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Ilke Kardes, Department of Management and Marketing in the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Nicole Alemanne, Department of Library and Information Studies in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Taralynn Hartsell, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to full professor

• Dr. Hoa Nguyen, Department of Human Services in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Keith Lee, Department of Political Science in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Heidi Gonzalez, School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, promoted to associate professor

• Samantha Paul, Department of Reference and Lending Services in Odum Library, promoted to associate professor

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