Alumni News

Kanler Cumbass, M.Ed. 2021 and Education Strategy Group(ESG) associate, recently co-authored an article with Oreyane Tate highlighting the ways that lawmakers across the United States seek to legislate higher education's role in students' economic mobility and the overall economic well being of states.

Ben Cecil (PhD 2022) co-authored a report, “2023 Economic Mobility Index,” with Chazz Robinson published on Third Way’s website.

by Jewel Caruso

Stan Jackson (Ph.D. 2023) was selected for the 2023-2024 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).

by Jewel Caruso

Rachel Burns (PhD 2018) published a report with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association titled, State tuition and fees for undocumented students. Burns is currently a senior policy analyst at SHEEO.

by Jewel Caruso

by Jewel Caruso

Maggie Parker, PhD 2022, was recently selected as the director of the Office of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness at UGA. 

by Jewel Caruso

by Jewel Caruso

by Jewel Caruso

by Jewel Caruso

Juanita Hicks (EdD, 2018) is the new senior associate vice president and chief human resources officer for the University of Georgia. She started her new position on July 1, 2023. 

In the news release, Ryan Nesbit, vice president for finance and administration, said, "Much has been done and much is in progress to help advance support to the university community, and I am confident that Juanita will provide the vision, leadership, and support to continue building on this very positive momentum and energy."

by Jewel Caruso

John Fuchko III (EdD 2019) was named as the new interim president at Dalton State College and started on June 1, 2023.

In the news release, Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, said "Dr. Fuchko has outstanding experience as a campus leader and with the university system office, and will serve Dalton State and its students, faculty and staff well in the interim."

by Jewel Caruso

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) recently released the book, Volatility in State Spending for Higher Education edited by Jennifer A. Delaney.

Two McBee faculty members, James C. Hearn and Erik Ness, collaborated with two alumni, Denisa Gándara and Paul Rubin, to write a chapter in this new book, titled “Political Volatility in State Commitment to College Completion Efforts.” This project was a product of the William T. Grant Foundation grant.

by Jewel Caruso

Research by three McBee Institute PhD graduates and a former postdoctoral associate is published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. The article, titled "'One of the Weakest Budget Players in the State': State Funding of Higher Education at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic" is a qualitative study of higher education appropriation decisions in two states.

by Jewel Caruso

Melissa Whatley (PhD 2019) is the recipient of the 2023 TLS Innovative Research in International Education Award from NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

This award is given to individuals whose research is applicable to international education and meets NAFSA's knowledge domains. Their research must also demonstrate an impact in the field of international education and addresses the innovative nature of the research. 

by Jewel Caruso

Jeffrey P. Stein (EdD 2017) was recently named as the 10th president of Mary Baldwin University and will start July 1, 2023.

Stein is a graduate of the executive education doctoral program at the McBee Institute. Through his 21 years at Elon University, he served as the vice president for strategic initiatives, an assistant professor of English, associate vice president, and chief of staff to the president, and secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Alexa Arndt (PhD 2023) served as a research assistant with the J. W. Fanning Institute. Her research interests include women in senior leadership roles within institutions of higher education. Arndt was also previously the president of the Higher Education Student Society (HESS).

Brian Brookey (MEd 2023) serves as the Regional Director of Development for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA. His research topics include higher education development practices and the growing importance of development plays in a university’s success. 

by Jewel Caruso

John Mitchell, EdD 2011, was on the March 16 episode of The Forbes Books Podcast.

With host Joe Pardavila, Mitchell discusses how the pandemic changed the world recruitment and talent management in this episode. Mitchell touches on how the possibility of a recession is causing companies to slow their hiring with the goal of not having to lay off many people in the future.

by Jewel Caruso

Ben Cecil, PhD 2022, recently accepted a new position with Third Way as a senior education policy advisor Previously, Cecil was a research associate for the American Council on Education (ACE) based in Washington, D.C., while he was earning his PhD.

Third Way is a national think-tank that champions modern center-left idea. Cecil joins their higher education team that strives to "expand the conversation about federal higher education policy from focusing solely on cost to comprehensively prioritizing return on investment for students and taxpayers."

by Jewel Caruso

Graduates of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education excel in many different areas of our field. Below are the alumnae that we are aware of who are currently teaching in higher education classrooms across the United States.

Karley Riffe, PhD 2018

Kelly Rosinger, PhD 2015

by Jewel Caruso

Jim Morrison (EdD, 2011) was recently named the new chief strategy officer for the University of Oklahoma. This role will involve overseeing the coordinated implementation of strategic plans to “ensure university-wide alignment and progress across all three OU campuses.”

by Jewel Caruso

A research paper co-authored by Amy Stich and Melissa Whatley in 2020 recently appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

by Jewel Caruso

Hee Jung Gong (PhD 2021) recently accepted a tenure-track assistant professor position in the department of educational leadership, policy and technology studies at the University of Alabama.

by Jewel Caruso

Danielle Buehrer (EdD, 2021) was elected to the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees this past December.

In their annual meeting in December, Buehrer was voted in by the majority of the College Delegate Assembly. She started her three-year term on January 1st, along with the rest of the Class of 2025.

by Jewel Caruso

John Mitchell (EdD 2011) recently wrote an opinion piece in ITProToday called "Take a Ridge on the Workforce Rollercoaster." Mitchell uses a rollercoaster as a metaphor for the ever-changing job seeking environment, and how companies should change their mindset to adapt and be "armed with the best tools and resources on the hiring front."