Our Staff and Faculty
Vanessa Allen-Brown
Associate Professor, School of Education
638J Teachers College
Vanessa Allen-Brown is an Associate Professor of Educational Studies, whose areas of expertise include liberation theology, culturally responsive pedagogy, African American feminist theory, oral history, and international education.
Chris L Atchison
Professor, Geoscience Education, School of Education
600E Teachers College
Dr. Atchison specializes in Geoscience Education. His research involves creating full access to the Earth Science disciplines for students and scientists with physical, sensory, and developmental disabilities, and evaluation of the instructional strategies that promote inclusive communities of learning in field settings. He is the Founder of the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (www.TheIAGD.org), an organization charged with advocating for students and geoscientists with disabilities, while promoting an accessible pathway into the Geoscience workforce through the development of innovative and inclusive research opportunities and instructional strategies.
Jonathan M. Breiner
Associate Professor, School of Education
600D Teachers College
Emilie M Camp
Associate Professor, Educator, School of Education
615S Teachers College
Anna Fricano DeJarnette
Associate Professor and Director | School of Education, School of Education
615B Teachers College
Anna DeJarnette is an associate professor of math education. She earned her Ph.D. in mathematics education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She studies students' mathematics learning through problem solving, groupwork, and opportunities for mathematical discourse. More broadly, she is also interested in students' development of problem solving practices across STEM contexts including science and engineering.
Susan A. Gregson
Associate Professor-Field Service, School of Education
600H Teachers College
Susan Gregson is a Associate Professor, Field Service in the Curriculum & Instruction and Middle Childhood Education programs at UC. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on mathematics education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Her research and teaching focus on equitable classroom practice, developing political knowledge for teaching mathematics, and the preparation of mathematics teachers for effective instruction of marginalized students. She has coached teachers and taught secondary mathematics in rural and urban schools, both in the United States and abroad.
Karen A. Haring
Associate Professor, Field Service, School of Education
615F Teachers College
Karen Haring taught middle school math, social studies and language arts for 7 years. Her research interests include equity and inclusion in middle grades education, Universal Design for learning, and teacher preparation. Currently, she coordinates and supervises field experience for teacher candidates in the Middle Childhood Education programs, and teaches several undergraduate and graduate courses.
Marshella (Shelly Sheats) L. Harkness
Professor, School of Education
Prior to coming to the University of Cincinnati, in September 2005, Dr. Shelly Sheats Harkness began her career as a mathematics teacher in Indianapolis. After 12 years of public school teaching, she pursued a Ph.D. As a graduate assistant she taught courses at Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. In 2002, Dr. Harkness earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana University. She was an Assistant Professor at Miami University from 2003-2005. As an Associate Professor a UC, Shelly currently is Co-Editor for the School Science and Mathematics journal. Her research interests include: STEM education; the impact of teachers’ listening and believing (Elbow, 1986); Ethnomathematics; and the connections between mathematics and social justice. Dr. Harkness enjoys teaching, working with doctoral students, and visiting K-12 classrooms.
Sarah E Schroeder
Professor - Field Service, School of Education
615L Teachers College
Sarah Schroeder is an instructional designer and educator passionate about the creation of engaging, relevant and equitable e-learning solutions. Passionate about understanding learner diversity and designing the way our brains work, Sarah believes in the success of all learners and empowering them to do more vs. simply learn more. In addition, Sarah's work focuses on preparing teachers to work in urban communities, partnering with local teachers to create a community of learning including educators, community members, and pre-service education students.
As a faculty member, Sarah coordinates the Digital Learning Design certificate program for undergraduate students and connects UC learners with community partners. She also teaches courses related to educational technology and media literacy, specifically focused on applying Universal Design for Learning using technology. Sarah is an ISTE certified educator, a certified Quality Matters facilitator and master reviewer, a graduate of the Educause Educational Technology Leadership Institute, and has supported grant-funded development of blended learning solutions for K-12 districts. During the recent pandemic, Sarah and her students have supported blended and online learning development for local districts.
Outside of UC, Sarah provides consulting services, coaching and professional devlopmet for K-12, non-profit, corporate and higher education organizations. Before joining the University of Cincinnati, Sarah was a faculty member in the Department of Communication at Northern Kentucky University, an Instructional Designer in Northern Kentucky University's Center for Innovation and Technology in Education, and a professional diversity educator.
Sarah received her BA in education from Indiana University and her MS in Communication from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently a candidate for the EdD in Urban Educational Leadership.
As a faculty member, Sarah coordinates the Digital Learning Design certificate program for undergraduate students and connects UC learners with community partners. She also teaches courses related to educational technology and media literacy, specifically focused on applying Universal Design for Learning using technology. Sarah is an ISTE certified educator, a certified Quality Matters facilitator and master reviewer, a graduate of the Educause Educational Technology Leadership Institute, and has supported grant-funded development of blended learning solutions for K-12 districts. During the recent pandemic, Sarah and her students have supported blended and online learning development for local districts.
Outside of UC, Sarah provides consulting services, coaching and professional devlopmet for K-12, non-profit, corporate and higher education organizations. Before joining the University of Cincinnati, Sarah was a faculty member in the Department of Communication at Northern Kentucky University, an Instructional Designer in Northern Kentucky University's Center for Innovation and Technology in Education, and a professional diversity educator.
Sarah received her BA in education from Indiana University and her MS in Communication from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently a candidate for the EdD in Urban Educational Leadership.
Kay K. Seo
Professor, Instructional Design and Technology, School of Education
615O Teachers College
Dr. Kay Seo is a Professor of Instructional Design and Technology (IDT). She received her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from Utah State University with a perfect GPA and was selected as the recipient of the Ph.D. Scholar Award. Focusing her research on learner engagement and digital technology in online environments, she has published widely in top-tier academic journals and has presented numerous papers at nationally and internationally renowned conferences. She teaches advanced IDT courses at the master's and doctoral levels, including Design of Blended and Online Learning Environments, Instructional Design, Multimedia Studio, Master's Project, and Doctoral Seminar. Dr. Seo is the Founding President of the Learner Engagement Division and the Learner Engagement SIG of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, a highly regarded academic and professional organization in the field.
Sarah M Stitzlein
Professor, School of Education
610F Teachers College
View full website, including publications and information about current writing projects, at http://sarahstitzlein.wix.com/portfolio
I am a Professor of Education and Affiliate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cincinnati. As a philosopher of education, I use political philosophy to uncover problems in education, analyze educational policy, and envision better alternatives. I am especially interested in issues of political agency, educating for democracy, and equity in schools. I consider how to best educate citizens, with special attention to addressing current struggles in democracy related to matters of truth, political dissent, polarization, populism, and political hope.
I am Co-Editor of the journal, Democracy & Education and President of the Ohio Valley Philosophy of Education Society. I am a scholar of American Pragmatism and previously served as President of the John Dewey Society.
I have received the the University of Cincinnati Jack Twyman Award for Service Learning, the Distinguished Teaching Award, and Golden Apple awards. At my previous university, I earned the University of New Hampshire Outstanding Professor award. I am also the recipient of the American Association of University Women Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and the National Endowment for the Humanities Teaching Development Fellowship.
I am a Professor of Education and Affiliate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cincinnati. As a philosopher of education, I use political philosophy to uncover problems in education, analyze educational policy, and envision better alternatives. I am especially interested in issues of political agency, educating for democracy, and equity in schools. I consider how to best educate citizens, with special attention to addressing current struggles in democracy related to matters of truth, political dissent, polarization, populism, and political hope.
I am Co-Editor of the journal, Democracy & Education and President of the Ohio Valley Philosophy of Education Society. I am a scholar of American Pragmatism and previously served as President of the John Dewey Society.
I have received the the University of Cincinnati Jack Twyman Award for Service Learning, the Distinguished Teaching Award, and Golden Apple awards. At my previous university, I earned the University of New Hampshire Outstanding Professor award. I am also the recipient of the American Association of University Women Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and the National Endowment for the Humanities Teaching Development Fellowship.
Janet Mannheimer Zydney
Professor, Instructional Design and Technology, School of Education
615E Teachers College
Dr. Janet Mannheimer Zydney is a Professor in Instructional Design and Technology within the School of Education. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Communciation and Technology from New York University. Prior to coming to the University of Cincinnati, Dr.Zydney completed her post-doctoral fellowship in special education technology at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Zydney’s research is on the use of technology-based scaffolding in online environments, multimedia programs, and digital games to improve students’ problem solving and critical thinking. She teaches classes in design-based research, learning sciences and technology, universal design for learning, and teaching with technology. She has received awards for her excellence in teaching with technology in innovative ways. She is the author or co-author of numerous refereed publications on the use of technology to improve students’ learning. She is co-author of a book about online learning– Going Online with Protocols: New Tools for Teaching and Learning (Teachers College Press, 2012). She has presented at regional, national, and international conferences and given invited talks on her research.
Complete List of Publications
Complete List of Publications