Georgianna L. Martin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Martin’s research interests include the social class identity and college experiences for low-income students, the impact of college students’ out-of-class experiences on learning outcomes, college student social responsibility and social/political activism, and religio-spiritual pluralism in higher education. She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Iowa. Prior to that, she earned an M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and a B.S. in Psychology from Millsaps College.
Dr. Martin currently serves as Editor for Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and is a member of the Journal of College Student Development Editorial Board. At the University of Southern Mississippi, she teaches graduate level courses on college student development, multiculturalism and social justice, student affairs field experience, current issues in higher education, and demographics of American college students. Dr. Martin served as a member of the quantitative research team for the Wabash National Study on Liberal Arts Education from 2007-2011. She previously served as a visiting faculty member at Loyola University Chicago and prior to that worked as a student affairs professional at Millsaps College and Creighton University.
Assistant Professor, Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Martin’s research interests include the social class identity and college experiences for low-income students, the impact of college students’ out-of-class experiences on learning outcomes, college student social responsibility and social/political activism, and religio-spiritual pluralism in higher education. She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Iowa. Prior to that, she earned an M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and a B.S. in Psychology from Millsaps College.
Dr. Martin currently serves as Editor for Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and is a member of the Journal of College Student Development Editorial Board. At the University of Southern Mississippi, she teaches graduate level courses on college student development, multiculturalism and social justice, student affairs field experience, current issues in higher education, and demographics of American college students. Dr. Martin served as a member of the quantitative research team for the Wabash National Study on Liberal Arts Education from 2007-2011. She previously served as a visiting faculty member at Loyola University Chicago and prior to that worked as a student affairs professional at Millsaps College and Creighton University.
Melandie McGee
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Melandie is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Southern Mississippi and serves as a Graduate Assistant for the Department of Educational Studies and Research. Prior to that, she worked as a Graduate Assistant for the Student Support Services Office at The University of Southern Mississippi. She earned an M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University and received her B.S. in Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. Melandie’s research interests include at risk and underrepresented student populations and college success, student activism at historically black colleges and universities during the Civil Rights era, mentoring students of color, and student leadership and unethical hazing behavior among fraternities/sororities.
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Melandie is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Southern Mississippi and serves as a Graduate Assistant for the Department of Educational Studies and Research. Prior to that, she worked as a Graduate Assistant for the Student Support Services Office at The University of Southern Mississippi. She earned an M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University and received her B.S. in Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. Melandie’s research interests include at risk and underrepresented student populations and college success, student activism at historically black colleges and universities during the Civil Rights era, mentoring students of color, and student leadership and unethical hazing behavior among fraternities/sororities.
Amanda King
Doctoral Student, Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment
The University of Southern Mississippi
Amanda is a doctoral student in Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (RESA) at The University of Southern Mississippi. She is originally from Petal, MS and currently works on campus at Southern Miss as the Director of Admissions for Operations. Amanda earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Southern Miss in 2003 and Master of Education degree in College Student Personnel from Southern Miss in 2006.
Doctoral Student, Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment
The University of Southern Mississippi
Amanda is a doctoral student in Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (RESA) at The University of Southern Mississippi. She is originally from Petal, MS and currently works on campus at Southern Miss as the Director of Admissions for Operations. Amanda earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Southern Miss in 2003 and Master of Education degree in College Student Personnel from Southern Miss in 2006.
Lenore Malone
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Lenore is originally from Antigua, an island in the Caribbean, but relocated to the United States in 2006 to pursue her studies. Lenore holds a M.Ed. in Counseling & Human Services from Lehigh University and is currently a doctoral student in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Southern Mississippi. As a research assistant during her studies, she gained experiences researching historically black colleges and universities and first-generation college students from various backgrounds. Lenore’s research interests include mentoring, counseling and support services in higher education and social background challenges of first-generation/low-income college students. Presently, Lenore is a graduate research assistant in the Educational Studies and Research Department at The University of Southern Mississippi. Her hobbies include reading, traveling and she enjoys trying new foods. Lenore enjoys giving back to the community and is passionate about social advocacy, specifically in creating awareness about sex trafficking, counseling and student engagement on college and university campuses. She plans on pursuing a career in university administration and also hopes to provide counseling and support services to young women and students.
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Lenore is originally from Antigua, an island in the Caribbean, but relocated to the United States in 2006 to pursue her studies. Lenore holds a M.Ed. in Counseling & Human Services from Lehigh University and is currently a doctoral student in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Southern Mississippi. As a research assistant during her studies, she gained experiences researching historically black colleges and universities and first-generation college students from various backgrounds. Lenore’s research interests include mentoring, counseling and support services in higher education and social background challenges of first-generation/low-income college students. Presently, Lenore is a graduate research assistant in the Educational Studies and Research Department at The University of Southern Mississippi. Her hobbies include reading, traveling and she enjoys trying new foods. Lenore enjoys giving back to the community and is passionate about social advocacy, specifically in creating awareness about sex trafficking, counseling and student engagement on college and university campuses. She plans on pursuing a career in university administration and also hopes to provide counseling and support services to young women and students.
Mary Grayson
Graduate Student, Higher Education/Student Affairs Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Mary earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Currently she serves as a graduate assistant for the Student Academic Enhancement Program in the Athletic Department at USM. She is an academic mentor to student-athletes. Mary serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Higher Education and Student Affairs Association at USM. She is interested in working with student-athletes, under-served populations, low-income students, and first generation students.
Graduate Student, Higher Education/Student Affairs Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Mary earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Currently she serves as a graduate assistant for the Student Academic Enhancement Program in the Athletic Department at USM. She is an academic mentor to student-athletes. Mary serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Higher Education and Student Affairs Association at USM. She is interested in working with student-athletes, under-served populations, low-income students, and first generation students.
Whitney Wallace
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Whitney is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. Whitney completed her undergraduate studies at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy & Religion. In May 2010, Whitney founded the non-profit organization, F.R.E.E. or Fervently Reaching Educational Empowerment, in which she provides free tutoring and ACT preparation courses for students from low socioeconomic and disadvantaged backgrounds. In that same year, she became a Certified Mississippi Educator, in the area of Social Studies. Additionally, she is a 2012 National Academic Advising Association Annual Graduate Conference Scholarship Recipient. Whitney has recently completed her Masters of Education in Counseling and Personnel Studies/Student Affairs Administration and is now pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Administration at The University of Southern Mississippi. Her areas of research include the following: disability accommodations in higher education, pre-college programming and college readiness for high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the rise of homeless college students, and African American women in higher education. Whitney is passionate about education, and advocacy for more opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Whitney is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. Whitney completed her undergraduate studies at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy & Religion. In May 2010, Whitney founded the non-profit organization, F.R.E.E. or Fervently Reaching Educational Empowerment, in which she provides free tutoring and ACT preparation courses for students from low socioeconomic and disadvantaged backgrounds. In that same year, she became a Certified Mississippi Educator, in the area of Social Studies. Additionally, she is a 2012 National Academic Advising Association Annual Graduate Conference Scholarship Recipient. Whitney has recently completed her Masters of Education in Counseling and Personnel Studies/Student Affairs Administration and is now pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Administration at The University of Southern Mississippi. Her areas of research include the following: disability accommodations in higher education, pre-college programming and college readiness for high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the rise of homeless college students, and African American women in higher education. Whitney is passionate about education, and advocacy for more opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Tanya Mandishona
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Originally from Zimbabwe, Tanya is a first year doctoral student in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Southern Mississippi. After moving to the United States in 2007, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA, both from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS. During her time at William Carey, she worked in different roles in Housing & Residence Life and discovered her passion for student affairs. After completing her MBA in 2012, Tanya moved to Indiana where she spent a year working in both Student Life and Housing & Residence Life at Indiana University South Bend before returning to Mississippi to pursue her doctorate. She is currently a graduate assistant in the Department of Educational Leadership and School Counseling where she assists with recruitment and retention for their graduate programs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, watching movies, attending festivals, traveling and trying new restaurants. Tanya’s research interests include women’s issues in higher education, student engagement and recruitment and retention of low-income, first generation and minority students. After completing her doctorate, Tanya plans to pursue a career in administration while doing consultancy work with universities in the sub-Saharan African region.
Doctoral Student, Higher Education Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Originally from Zimbabwe, Tanya is a first year doctoral student in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Southern Mississippi. After moving to the United States in 2007, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA, both from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS. During her time at William Carey, she worked in different roles in Housing & Residence Life and discovered her passion for student affairs. After completing her MBA in 2012, Tanya moved to Indiana where she spent a year working in both Student Life and Housing & Residence Life at Indiana University South Bend before returning to Mississippi to pursue her doctorate. She is currently a graduate assistant in the Department of Educational Leadership and School Counseling where she assists with recruitment and retention for their graduate programs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, watching movies, attending festivals, traveling and trying new restaurants. Tanya’s research interests include women’s issues in higher education, student engagement and recruitment and retention of low-income, first generation and minority students. After completing her doctorate, Tanya plans to pursue a career in administration while doing consultancy work with universities in the sub-Saharan African region.
Alli Miller
Graduate Student, Higher Education/Student Affairs Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Alli earned a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Southeastern Louisiana University. At The University of Southern Mississippi she serves as the graduate assistant for the First Year Initiative office supervising student tutors for predominantly freshman classes. Alli serves as the Vice President for the Higher Education and Student Affairs Association at USM. She is also an editorial assistant for Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and a member of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Outside of The University of Southern Mississippi, Alli serves as the National Vice President of her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau. She has interests in working with Greek organizations, under-served populations, and first year/ first generation students.
Graduate Student, Higher Education/Student Affairs Administration
The University of Southern Mississippi
Alli earned a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Southeastern Louisiana University. At The University of Southern Mississippi she serves as the graduate assistant for the First Year Initiative office supervising student tutors for predominantly freshman classes. Alli serves as the Vice President for the Higher Education and Student Affairs Association at USM. She is also an editorial assistant for Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and a member of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Outside of The University of Southern Mississippi, Alli serves as the National Vice President of her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau. She has interests in working with Greek organizations, under-served populations, and first year/ first generation students.