Catawba College News Service

SALISBURY — According to Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Monica Cowart, Catawba College has added ten new full-time faculty members and two visiting faculty members for the 2024-2025 academic year.

“It is my pleasure to welcome our new faculty members to Catawba College,” Cowart said. “Their expertise and passion for teaching will undoubtedly enrich our academic community and inspire our students to new heights. Together, we will continue to foster a learning environment that values innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence. I look forward to seeing their impact on our campus and beyond.”

New Full Time Faculty

Dr. Aisha Adams

Associate Professor of Psychology

Hurley School of Arts and Sciences

Adams teaches a variety courses, including courses in general psychology, cognitive psychology, human memory, research methods and other selected topics in psychology. She comes to Catawba from Columbus State University. She earned her Ph.D. in experimental psychology, focusing on visual perception and memory from the University of Georgia in 2013. Adams is deeply engaged in research, following the Boyer Model of Scholarship, particularly in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and the Scholarship of Discovery. Her research applies empirical findings in memory and learning to classroom settings to enhance student outcomes.

Adams has presented her scholarly work at national and regional conferences, earning recognition such as the B. LaConyea Butler Poster Award at the 2020 Southeastern Teaching of Psychology (SETOP) conference for her project “Charty Party.” Her research also focuses on improving learning opportunities for underrepresented student groups in STEM fields.

Adams serves as co-Faculty Advisor for the Psi Chi International Honor Society Club and has supervised the attendance of over a dozen psychology majors to regional psychology conferences. Adams promotes equity and diversity among the faculty and student body. Adams has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and innovation, receiving awards such as the CSU Teaching Innovation Award and the Outstanding Teacher of Writing Award.

 

Professor Aaron Daniel Annas

Associate Professor of Digital Media Production

Ketner School of Business

Annas was previously an Associate Professor of Communications at SUNY Buffalo State University, where he also served as the Director of the Television and Film Arts program. He holds an MFA in Independent Film and Digital Imaging from Governors State University and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Mars Hill University.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Annas was the Academic Supervisor of the Buffalo/Niagara Film Office of Western New York. He has been involved in various leadership roles, including directing the SUNYWide Film Festival.

Annas is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been distributed, screened, and broadcast internationally on networks such as National Geographic, History Channel, and TVOne, and streaming sites such as Amazon Prime, Vudu, Google Play, iTunes, Apple TV, Tubi, and Roku Channel. His passion for filmmaking and media education is evident in his dedication to mentoring students and guiding them through the creative and technical aspects of television and film production.

With extensive experience in both media production and academia, Annas teaches courses such as Introduction to Digital Media Production, Production Leadership, and Documentary Storytelling.

 

Dr. Douglas Brown Clark

Assistant Professor of Religion

Hurley School of Arts and Sciences

Clark is an Assistant Professor of Religion specializing in American and African American religions, race and religion, and the religious dynamics of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. He holds a PhD in Religion (Historical Studies) from Vanderbilt University, where he also earned his MA in Religion and a Master of Divinity. Clark is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including religion and reparations, gender and queer theory, religious diversity, and the global history of Christian traditions.

Clark has received numerous fellowships, honors, and awards throughout his academic career. He was a Theology and Practice Fellow, supported by the Lilly Endowment at Vanderbilt University from 2014 to 2020, and received a Graduate Tuition Award from the same institution. In 2017, he was a Research Fellow at the Presbyterian Historical Society. His academic achievements include the Academic Achievement Award and the Banner Bearer honor at Vanderbilt Divinity School, where he graduated with the highest GPA in the Master of Divinity program and received honors for his thesis.

Clark has previously taught at Louisville Seminary and Vanderbilt University. Clark is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College, where he received departmental honors for his senior thesis in religion.

Clark teaches courses including introduction to religion, near eastern religions, religion in the Civil Rights Movement, and history of the Christian Church.

 

Professor Brittany Clere

Assistant Professor of Nursing/Simulation and Lab Coordinator

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance

Clere is an accomplished registered nurse with a strong foundation in critical care, mental health, emergency medicine, and adult medical-surgical nursing. She teaches courses, including Competency Skills Lab 1.2 and 3, Exploring Nursing, and facilitates all simulations for junior and senior nursing students.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Gardner-Webb University in 2022 and her master’s degree in nursing education degree in 2024. Clere is currently enrolled at Liberty University, pursuing her philosophy doctorate in nursing education with an anticipated graduation date of 2027. She began her nursing career at Wake Forest Baptist Health in the critical care unit after graduating from Davidson County Community College, where she obtained her associate’s degree in nursing in 2020.

Clere is passionate about teaching critical thinking and clinical judgment in nursing, skills that are essential across all specialties. Her dedication to patient care and nursing excellence has been recognized with several honors, including being a three-time nominee and July 2023 honoree of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Randolph Health ICU. Her clinical expertise includes identifying priority assessment findings, communicating changes in patient conditions, and providing timely interventions within the nursing scope of practice.

 

Dr. George Logan Daughtry

Assistant Professor of Exercise Science

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance

Daughtry teaches motor learning and applied kinesiology and movement analysis. He is an assistant professor of exercise science with a unique blend of academic and athletic experience. Daughtry earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Winthrop University and his doctorate in interdisciplinary biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is currently completing an education doctorate in kinesiology at Concordia University-St. Paul. Daughtry is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and holds additional certifications in CPR/AED/First Aid and online teaching.

As a former NCAA Division 1 football player at Presbyterian College, Daughtry brings a unique perspective to his teaching, combining athletic experience with a deep understanding of exercise science.

In addition to his teaching, Daughtry has been a strength and conditioning coach and internship coordinator, developing over 100 partnerships to support student career paths. He has presented at national conferences for the National Strength and Conditioning Association and continues to make significant scholarly contributions to the field of exercise science.

 

Dr. Gerard De Leoz

Associate Professor of Information Systems

Ketner School of Business

De Leoz teaches foundations of information systems for organizations and information systems planning. He is an associate professor of information systems with more than 15 years of experience in education, systems and network engineering, business systems analysis, project management and IT consultancy for companies like Accenture and Oracle. He holds a Ph.D. in information systems from Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, an M.S. in information technology from Ateneo de Manila University, and a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications Engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology.

De Leoz’s research focuses on the impact of IT on the sustainability of small businesses and team dynamics in information systems projects. His work has been published in prominent journals, including the European Journal of Information Systems and AIS Transactions for Replication Research. He further develops his research for submission to additional top-tier journals in his field.

As an educator, De Leoz brings his industry expertise into the classroom, teaching various courses, including management information systems, IT project management, data analytics, and network security. He served as the Business Information Technology Program Coordinator at the University of Tampa, where he prepared students for professional certifications and careers in IT through hands-on mentorship and industry-sponsored projects.

De Leoz is actively involved in professional organizations, including SIG Education and SIG IT Project Management of the Association for Information Systems (AIS), and is passionate about fostering IT learning communities.

 

Dr. Luis Fernández-Torres

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Hurley School of Arts and Sciences

Fernández-Torres comes to Catawba from Davidson College. He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Houston, a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Pennsylvania State University. Fernández-Torres has a solid academic and research background. He teaches general chemistry and the general chemistry lab.

Throughout his career, Fernández-Torres has been recognized with numerous honors, including his selection for the inaugural cohort of the HACU Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo (2019-2020) and participation in the International Leadership Academy (2019). He has also received multiple research grants and awards, such as the Faculty Research Initiative Grant from the University of Notre Dame and the NIH Pilot Research Awards from the University of Puerto Rico.

Fernández-Torres is an active member of the American Chemical Society and has held various leadership roles, including serving as president of the Puerto Rican Student Association at Pennsylvania State University. His dedication to research and teaching continues to shape his contributions to chemistry and the academic community.

 

Annie O’Brien

Assistant Professor of Religion

Hurley School of Arts and Science

O’Brien is an assistant professor of Religion focusing on religion in the Americas and has a deep commitment to exploring the intersections of gender, race, and public discourse within religious studies. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a graduate certificate in women’s and gender studies. Her dissertation, titled, “From Stone to Soil: The Defacement & Erosion of the White American Sacred,” earned her the McColl Dissertation Fellowship from the Center for the Study of the American South.

O’Brien also holds a master’s degree in religious studies from Wake Forest University, where she concentrated in religion and public engagement.

With experience as an adjunct instructor at Catawba College and as a teaching fellow at UNC-Chapel Hill, O’Brien is dedicated to fostering critical thinking and engagement in the classroom. Her work explores critical themes of race, gender, and religion in the public sphere, making her a valuable contributor to contemporary discussions in religious studies.

She is teaching religion and popular culture and is co-teaching a First-Year Seminar on Storytelling.

 

Dr. Natalie Rogers

Assistant Professor of English

Hurley School of Arts and Sciences

Rogers is an assistant professor of English with a specialization in creative writing. She teaches critical reading and writing and creative Writing: Prose Fiction.

Rogers earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of Denver and has fourteen years of teaching experience in the United States and abroad in Hong Kong. Rogers’s creative work often explores themes of trauma, humor, and cultural history.

In the classroom, Rogers emphasizes the power of storytelling and encourages students to take artistic risks through writing exercises and workshops. She fosters an inclusive and supportive learning environment, inspiring students to use writing to navigate their relationships with the world. Rogers’s passion for teaching first-year writing and literature courses is reflected in her commitment to helping students become engaged citizens and scholars through critical thinking, diverse reading selections, and collaborative projects.

 

Dr. Allyson Yankle

Assistant Professor of Politics

Hurley School of Arts and Sciences

Yankle specializes in public law, comparative politics, and American politics. She is teaching Introduction to American Politics and Presidential Politics.

Yankle earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and completed graduate certificates in human rights and college instruction. While at Radford University, Yankle taught a wide range of courses, including Introduction to American Politics, Judicial Processes, and U.S. Constitutional Law.

Yankle is deeply committed to connecting classroom instruction with professional development, demonstrated through her role as co-founder and director of the Radford University Law Society. Her teaching is interdisciplinary, incorporating insights from law, criminal justice, and political science. Yankle has been recognized for her scholarly contributions, receiving a Radford University College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Research Grant and participating in the National Science Foundation’s Cultivating Networks & Innovative Scholarship in Law and Courts Workshop.

In addition to her teaching, Yankle is passionate about academic advising and student support. She guides students from diverse majors and helps them explore career paths in law and public policy.

 

Visiting Faculty

Dr. Michael Seda

Visiting Professor of Accounting

Ketner School of Business

Seda is a visiting professor of accounting with a distinguished career spanning over four decades in academia and the professional world. Seda holds a Ph.D. in business education with a specialization in accounting from New York University, a doctorate in business administration (DBA) from Argosy University, and an MBA and bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. John’s University, where he graduated cum laude.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Seda has extensive professional experience as a CPA and auditor, having worked with firms such as Grant Thornton and Arthur Young & Company. He also owns his own CPA and real estate business, Michael A. Seda, CPA/Realtor. His experience includes roles as audit manager, technical manager at the AICPA CPA Examinations Division and accounting program director at several institutions, including Shaw University and Durham Technical Community College.

Seda is teaching accounting information systems and controls, Taxation Accounting, and Advanced Accounting.

 

Dr. Ashley Schoppe

Visiting Assistant Professor of English

Hurley School of Arts and Sciences

Schoppe is a visiting assistant professor of English with a Ph.D. in British literature of the long eighteenth century from the University of Tulsa. She also holds an master’s degree from the same institution and a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern State University. Schoppe specializes in British literature, with a focus on the works of the long eighteenth century.

Shoppe is teaching critical reading and writing, as well as a section of first year seminar in The Pursuit. She will be teaching British literature in the Spring, beginning with a Medieval literature course.

She was previously at Pfeiffer University where she also served as the English program coordinator. In addition to her teaching role, Schoppe is the managing editor of The Burney Journal, where she previously served as marketing editor. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Frances Burney Society, the Aphra Behn Society, and the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies. Her current book project focuses on the intersections of fashion and politics in the lives of eighteenth-century aristocratic women and literature from the period.