Meet Our New Faculty and Leadership Team Members

The NC State College of Education will welcome about a half-dozen new faculty members for the 2020-21 academic year, who will help drive our mission to solve pressing educational problems and improve learning across the lifespan. This year, several current faculty members have also accepted new leadership positions within the College of Education.
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NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Chandra Alston

Chandra Alston: ‘I Hope My Students Learn to Become Justice-oriented Practitioners’

“I am excited about joining a literacy faculty that’s outward focused with work that is embedded in and supportive of North Carolina communities. I am also drawn to the land-grant mission of the university and the ways the College of Education is working to provide access to materials and opportunities to improve educational opportunities for all North Carolina citizens,” said Chandra Alston, an assistant professor of literacy education who earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University

Meet Chandra Alston

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Michael Little

Michael Little: ‘I Was Very Impressed with NC State’s Commitment to Conduct Research to Directly Benefit the People of North Carolina’

“At NC State, we want our students to “Think and Do”. Extraordinary educators focus on that second word — showing students what they can Do with their new knowledge,” said Michael Little, an assistant professor of literacy, policy analysis, and program evaluation who earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Meet Michael Little

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Brean'A Monet Parker

Brean’A Monet Parker: ‘I Want Students to Learn the Process of Being a Critical Scholar’

“I wanted to be at an institution that has a lot of resources and is already doing transformative as well as innovative work. I kept hearing about NC State faculty members as well as amazing students who do this really interesting work, especially around social justice and multicultural counseling, and I wanted to be at a place that I could have that fostered and cultivated for myself as a faculty member,” said Brean’A Monet Parker, an assistant professor of counseling and counselor education who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Meet Brean’A Monet Parker

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Samantha Marshall

Samantha Marshall: ‘I Hope My Students Will Learn to Become Critical and Skillful Educators’

“NC State has a wonderful tradition and mission of serving the broader North Carolina community, while at the same time producing internationally impactful research. That’s a combination I was quickly drawn to,” said Samantha Marshall, an assistant professor of curriculum and developmental supervision who earned her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Meet Samantha Marshall

Amato Nocera: ‘I Believe That Learning Happens in Community’

“Teaching is a craft that takes years to master. I know from my own experience teaching that I am always learning and improving. But I think at the core of being a great teacher are the qualities of love and empathy,” said Amato Nocera, an assistant professor of educational equity and social studies who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Meet Amato Nocera

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Lam Pham

Lam Pham: ‘I Think People Learn by Doing’

“Getting an education opened doors for me that would never have been an option otherwise, and I want to do my part in making similar opportunities available for my students,” said Lam Pham, an assistant professor of educational evaluation and policy analysis who earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Meet Lam Pham

Assistant Teaching Professor Terrell Robinson, Ph.D.

Terrell Robinson: ‘All Students Can Achieve Success Given the Appropriate Tools and Support’

“Learning should be fun, practical, structured and meaningful. We must equip, engage and empower our students to greatness,” said Terrell Robinson, Ph.D., an assistant teaching professor in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences who earned his Ph.D. from Florida A&M University.

Meet Terrell Robinson

Matthew Reynolds: ‘I Believe Learning Comes from Experience’

“I hope my students learn the knowledge and skills they will need to become effective science teachers in the 21st-century classroom. I hope they become reflective and caring educators that critically analyze their teaching practice and continue to seek ways to improve,” said Matthew Reynolds, an assistant teaching professor of STEM education who earned his Ph.D. from NC State University.

Meet Matthew Reynolds

NC State College of Education interim associate dean for research and innovation, Karen Hollebrands, Ph.D.

Karen Hollebrands ’95MED: ‘ I Would Like to Help Support Research to Address Persistent Challenges in Education’

“I think an extraordinary educator is one who cares deeply about students, is reflective about their practice, considers creative solutions to challenging problems in education, is committed to continued learning and is passionate about their work,” said Karen Hollebrands, Ph.D., interim associate dean of research and innovation.

Meet Karen Hollebrands

John K. Lee: ‘When Our Faculty Excel Our Students Excel’

“The children that we teach face a lot of obstacles but they also face a lot of opportunities. Through our education, we can enable students to have opportunities to face those challenges and to be better at what they do. In doing that, it’s our responsibility to be as equitable as possible,” said John K. Lee, Ph.D., associate dean for faculty and academic affairs.

Meet John K. Lee

Erin Thomas Horne: ‘I am Thrilled to Continue My Work with the College of Education’

“As an alumna and Raleigh native, NC State has always held a special place in my heart and prepared me to Think and Do. I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the Office of Assessment and Professional Education in preparing high quality professionals,” said Erin Thomas Horne, Ph.D., assistant dean for assessment and professional education.

Meet Erin Thomas Horne

Jessica DeCuir-Gunby: ‘Extraordinary Educators Motivate Students to Want to Work Hard and Learn More’

“Extraordinary educators are knowledgeable about the subject area. They are excited about learning and this excitement is contagious. They build community in their classrooms by caring about their students’ well-being and affirming the knowledge that students bring to the classroom,” said Jessica DeCuir-Gunby, Ph.D., head of the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences.

Meet Jessica DeCuir-Gunby