Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Caring, dedicated faculty
As a student in the Department of Allied Health Studies, you’ll find that our talented, experienced faculty members are valuable resources and allies. They not only provide you with the knowledge and skills that you need but also help you achieve your academic goals and launch your career.
Our faculty members’ areas of research and expertise include disability sports, disease prevention, effects of exercise on the body, and muscle recovery and vascular health. Our instructors are passionate about teaching and their fields — and they care about your success.
Faculty and staff
Dr. Jay Thornton
Dr. Jay Thornton’s areas of interest are promoting physical activity, models of teaching and outdoor recreation. Before teaching in higher education, he worked in the public school system for seven years teaching physics, physical science and physical education and coaching athletics.
Dr. Thornton earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education in kinesiology from SFA. He holds an EdD from Texas A&M University-Commerce in supervision, curriculum and instruction-higher education.
Dr. MiHae Bae
Dr. MiHae Bae earned her Bachelor of Science in physical education and her Master of Arts in sport pedagogy from Seoul National University. She holds a PhD from the University of Maryland.
Dr. Linda Bobo
Dr. Linda Bobo’s areas of interest include effective clinical instruction and the utilization of video feedback. She completed her Bachelor of Science at Northeast Louisiana University and her Master of Education at Northwestern State University. She holds a PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Her professional activities include serving as a sports medicine volunteer with the United States Olympic Committee.
Dr. Deborah Buswell
Dr. Deborah Buswell earned her Bachelor of Science in physical education from The University of Maine and her Master of Science in physical education from Baylor University.
She holds a PhD in adapted and developmental physical education from Texas Woman’s University. Her research interests include disability sports, inclusion and teacher preparation.
Dr. Derek Cegelka
Dr. Derek Cegelka earned his Bachelor of Science in health science from Lock Haven University and his Master of Public Health from East Stroudsburg University. He holds a PhD in health education from The University of Toledo.
His research interests include death and dying, gerontology and sexuality education.
Dr. Mary Hawkins
Dr. Mary Hawkins earned her Bachelor of Science in biology and two Master of Education degrees – in health and wellness promotion and in sports administration – from Northwestern State University. She holds a PhD in health science from the University of Arkansas.
Her areas of interest are community and public health, disease prevention, active living, program planning and program evaluation.
Dr. Eric Jones
Dr. Eric Jones earned his Bachelor of Science in fitness and sports medicine from Southeast Missouri State University. He earned both his Master of Arts and PhD in exercise physiology from the University of Alabama.
His areas of interest include environmental stress, thermoregulation, hydration and muscle recovery.
Dr. Dustin Joubert
Dr. Dustin Joubert earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in kinesiology from Sam Houston State University. He received his PhD in exercise physiology from Texas A&M University.
His research interests include endurance exercise performance, blood pressure and vascular health.
Amanda Moore
Amanda Moore earned her Bachelor of Science in education and human development from Bowling Green State University, where she majored in dance. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in dance choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
In addition to teaching at the university level, she has professional experience as a dance teacher and as an artist in residence at Dance Project in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Sharon Rice
Sharon Rice holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education in education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Her professional experience includes public school teaching for Center Independent School District, where she was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2013 and 2017.
Dr. James Rowe
Dr. James Rowe holds a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Angelo State University, a Master of Science in exercise physiology from Texas Christian University and a PhD in exercise physiology from Texas Woman's University.
His research interests include the influence of diet and exercise risk factors for metabolic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
Dr. DawnElla Rust
Dr. DawnElla Rust holds a Bachelor of Science in community health from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Science in health and physical education from Emporia State University, and an EdD in health promotion from Oklahoma State University.
Her professional goal is to make "healthy" the easy choice through policy, environmental change and system change.
Heather Samuelson
Heather Samuelson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Sam Houston State University.
She specializes in modern dance in the Limon style and choreography.
Sarah Sanchez
Visiting Lecturer
Sarah Sanchez holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Texas State University and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Sam Houston State University.
In addition to teaching at the university level, she has professional experience as a choreographer, dancer and fitness instructor.
Dr. John Stewart
Dr. John Stewart holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a Master of Science in geography/geographic information science, a Master of Public Health and a PhD in health services policy and management from the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Victoria Wagner-Greene
Dr. Victoria Wagner-Green earned her Bachelor of Science in education from Bowling Green State University, her Master of Public Health from the Northwest Ohio Consortium of Public Health and her graduate certificate in contemporary gerontological practice from The University of Toledo. She also completed her PhD in health education at The University of Toledo.
Dr. Melinda Watts
Dr. Melinda Watts completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at Stephen F. Austin State University. She earned her PhD in athletic training from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Her area of interest is injury prevention for rodeo athletes.
Dr. Kristina White
Dr. Kristina White holds a Bachelor of Science in education from the University of Miami, along with a Master of Science in sport pedagogy and a PhD in kinesiology, exercise, nutrition and health from Baylor University.
White has professional experience as a certified athletic trainer for Varsity Cheer and Southwest Sports Medicine in Texas.
Dr. Robyn Whitehead
Dr. Robyn Whitehead holds a Bachelor of Science in exercise science and a Master of Science in sports administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and a PsyD in health and wellness psychology from the University of the Rockies.
Her professional experience includes work as an exercise physiologist.
Dr. Todd Whitehead
Dr. Todd Whitehead holds a Bachelor of Science in exercise science, Master of Science in exercise physiology and PhD in applied physiology from the University of Southern Mississippi.
His areas of interest include ergogenic supplements and novel training techniques.
Jordan Berry
Bio coming soon!
Sellena Burger-Fennell
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Amber Chelette
Chelette is a native East Texan that came to the university in 2021. Her research interests include biomechanics of novel sports and movements, fitness assessments for persons with disabilities and innovative pedagogical methods. She, along with Dr. Robyn Whitehead and Dr. Todd Whitehead, received the Wolter’s Kluwer Innovation in Teaching in Exercise Science award in 2024.
Jaime Contreras
Bio coming soon!
Sarah Gill
Gill is SFA’s assistant bowling coach. During her time as a student at SFA, she was a student-athlete on the bowling team while studying kinesiology. In 2021, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with a minor in health science.
Dr. Kimberly Howard
Howard earned her Bachelor of Science in nutrition and physical fitness and Master of Education in curriculum and instruction – health education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She earned her Doctorate in Education in health education from the University of Kansas. Her research interests include online health and wellness education design/instruction, obesity prevention, and health education digital literacy.
Hallie Huysmans
Bio coming soon!
Shelby Kite
Shelby Kite completed her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and Master of Science in kinesiology at SFA.
Dr. Robert McDermand
Dr. Robert McDermand has an extensive background in sport business and higher education administration. He has spent nearly two decades working in student-athlete academic services at four universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. McDermand received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Public Administration from Ohio State University. He completed a Master of Business Administration and a doctoral degree in educational leadership at SFA. McDermand was the Region IV director for the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletes and a member of the N4A Board of Directors from 2016 to 2019. His research interests include intercollegiate athletics, sociology of sports, sports business and the use of data in sports.
Kenneth Morton
Ken is currently the Director of Campus Recreation at SFA and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Allied Health Studies. Previously, he was the Director of Recreational Sports from 2001 to 2010 at Sacramento State University. He was also an adjunct instructor and member of the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration Department’s Advisory Board. Ken also served as the Director of Student Activities and Campus Recreation at McMurry University from 1993 to 2001. There he had the chance to administer many campus life programs such as Orientation, Student Government, Student Activities and the Student Union.
Ken has a Bachelor of Science in recreation administration and Master of Education in sport and recreation management from Hardin-Simmons University and is a Certified Recreational Sport Specialist, or CRSS. He has presented or been a keynote speaker at numerous regional and national conferences and has been a consultant for several schools on recreation and orientation programs. He was also the recipient of the 2007 Horace Moody Award from NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, which is given to an organization member who has made a lasting difference in mentoring students and guiding students in their professional development.
Ken is an avid proponent of wellness initiatives at the university and community levels and believes that collaboration across all campus departments is the key to making a positive difference in a campus culture. Ken considers student development a calling and promotes student engagement and learning in every initiative in which he is involved. He tries to live his professional message through exercise, travel, scuba diving, hiking, rafting and any other outdoor adventure he can try.
Dr. Muswamba Mwamba
Mwamba is an internationally board-certified lactation consultant, a public health practitioner and a scholar. His research interests center around immigrant health within minority groups in the context of health disparities in the United States. As a professor, Mwamba provides a global perspective on both clinical and nonclinical information to educate students about important advancements and trends in wellness, nutrition and public health leadership.
Mwamba is dedicated to continuous learning. He pursued his education in Belgium, obtaining a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering and a master's degree in the biochemistry of human nutrition from the Catholic University of Louvain. Additionally, he achieved a second master’s degree in food science and technology from Ghent University. Recognizing significant disparities in maternal and child health, he expanded his expertise in the complexities of public health in the U.S. and beyond. This led him to complete a master’s degree in public health at the University of North Texas and a doctoral degree in public health executive leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Wycliffe Njororai
Njororai is a professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science. He has a doctoral degree in physical education and sport from Kenyatta University and focuses his research on intercollegiate sport, association football or soccer, track and field, sport labor migration, physical activity and health, performance sport, sociology of sport, pedagogy, recreation, and leadership in sports.
Amy Perkinson
Perkinson earned her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Tarleton State University and her Master of Science in kinesiology from SFA.
Jasmine Randolph
Randolph serves as kinesiology and health science adjunct faculty. Jasmine holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in student affairs and higher education. During her time as an undergraduate, she became heavily involved with recreation where she found her passion. Randolph has continued her journey in collegiate recreation and serves as the assistant director for sport clubs at James Madison State University.
Bonnie Ryan
I was born in Nacogdoches, graduated from SFA in 1997, UTMB PA School in 2002, and have been practicing for 22 years.
Sally Sowell
Sowell completed her Bachelor of Science in aquatic biology and has conducted graduate research in environmental sciences, air and water at SFA. Sowell masterfully adapted into the role of leading of the SCUBA training program in the Department of Allied Health Studies.
As an internationally recognized Elite PADI, or Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Instructor and the first female PADI Course Director (Instructor Trainer) in Texas, she has trained thousands of entry level dive students and often guided them into the professional track to later become SCUBA Instructors. As a travel specialist leading groups around the world to Caribbean islands, the Red Sea and South Pacific she thrives in helping expand divers horizons and further honing their skills in the deep blue. Her love of continued education helps her mission to make her students the best SCUBA divers possible with the Earth's environment being top of mind.
Mackenzie Suggs
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Keilea Sumrall
Sumrall completed her Bachelor of Science at SFA and Master of Science at Texas A&M University. She earned her Doctor of Health Science from A.T. Still University. Her areas of interest is athletic training education and injury prevention in the performing arts setting.
Jessica Waguespack
Waguespack holds a Bachelor of Science in community health from SFA and a Master of Science in health studies from Texas Women’s University. She also is a certified health education specialist.
Her professional experience includes work in worksite health, tuberculosis education, community health, wellness coaching, peer health education, and alcohol and drug misuse programming.
Steven Whitman
Whitman moved to Nacogdoches following his graduation from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and the University of Florida with a Master of Education in student personnel in higher education. Whitman works at SFA‘s Campus Recreation Department as the associate director of facilities.
Elexis Rockwell
Bio coming soon!
Dr. Lisa McCleary
Dr. McCleary has over 10 years of experience working as a school psychologist and behavior specialist with children, teachers and families. She is a Licensed School Psychologist, or LSP, a Licensed Psychologist, or LP, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with Doctoral Designation, or BCBA-D. Dr. McCleary has extensive experience providing psycho-educational evaluations, school-based behavioral and academic consultation, as well as direct interventions (i.e., therapy and crisis intervention) in a variety of public-school systems both in Tennessee and East Texas. In addition to public school systems, she has provided behavioral health services (i.e., diagnostic assessment and therapy) in a private practice to a wide range of children and adults with disabilities, as well as a clinic providing ABA therapy to children with Autism. Currently, Dr. McCleary is an assistant professor at SFA.
Nashae Turner
Nashae is Clinic Director at Department of Allied Health Studies' Counseling Clinic. With 24 years of experience in clinical mental health, she specializes in counseling supervision. Nashae holds a Master of Arts degree from SFA and enjoys reading and community service in her free time.
Chelsi Woods, MEd, BCBA, LBA
Chelsi Woods is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over a decade of experience in education and applied behavior analysis. She earned her Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies from SFA and her Master of Education in special education from Texas A&M University.
Chelsi’s professional background spans classroom teaching, district-level leadership and clinical ABA practice. She has served as a special education teacher, coordinator, district behavior specialist and behavior analyst, where she developed and implemented behavior intervention programs, supervised staff, and provided professional development for teachers and parents. Her expertise includes conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), developing Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), and aligning behavioral supports with academic goals.
Currently, Chelsi partners with school districts, parents and clinics to provide consultation, staff training and family coaching. She is passionate about preparing future educators and practitioners with practical, evidence-based tools that promote student success across home, school and community environments.
Dr. Glen McCuller
Dr. Glen McCuller is a professor in the Department of Allied Health Studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education.
Ralf Schuster, PhD, MEd, BPsycSc, CRC
Dr. Ralf Schuster has obtained Bachelor's degrees in psychology from both James Cook University and San Diego State University. He completed a Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling at Auburn University and attained a PhD in rehabilitation counseling and administration (with a concentration in rehabilitation and clinical counseling) from East Carolina University.
Dr. Schuster teaches a wide range of courses, including interviewing and helping skills, human lifespan development, counseling theories, behavioral statistics, diagnosis and assessment, professional counseling practices, rehabilitation counseling, research in rehabilitation, rehabilitation services and substance abuse counseling. His research interests encompass treating alcohol use in older adults, evaluating the validity of common clinical practices in mental health and rehabilitation counseling, and utilizing imaging techniques in cognitive neuroscience. He is actively involved in comprehensive statistics-driven research projects within rehabilitation and counseling.
Dr. Schuster is a researcher with a diverse portfolio spanning three primary domains: evidence-based practices in vocational rehabilitation, and the relationships among neurological disorders using big data. His work is rooted in a commitment to advancing knowledge through systematic analysis of large-scale archival and secondary data.
In vocational rehabilitation, or VR, Schuster has focused on defining and categorizing evidence-based practices to address the field’s reliance on "best practices," which often lack empirical support. His efforts include publishing foundational studies, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses, that evaluate the effectiveness of VR interventions. Contributions include:
- A systematic review of vocational evaluation outcomes, highlighting the limited efficacy of current tools.
- Development of a classification system for assessment instruments in VR and mental health counseling.
- Tracing the historical timeline and adoption of evidence-based and related practices in VR.
- Ongoing meta-analyses of VR services to identify effective interventions and inform policy decisions.
The second research area involves using big data to explore connections between neurological disorders. With a strong foundation in cognitive neuroscience, his aim to uncover insights through advanced statistical analyses of patient and population data.
Deena Petersen
Deena received her BS degree in speech-language pathology from Abilene Christian University and MS in speech-language pathology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She previously worked as a speech language pathologist in public schools, Department of Defense schools in Japan and private clinic settings. She has been teaching at SFA in the speech-language pathology program for 14 years.
Nandhu Radhakrishnanm, PhD
Dr. Nandhu Radhakrishnan is a professor in the communication sciences and disorders program. He was born and raised in India and later moved to the United States to pursue his doctoral studies. He earned his PhD at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and completed his clinical fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center in Pennsylvania.
His areas of expertise include clinical, professional and performance voice disorders. He has published numerous manuscripts and conducted national and international workshops on the assessment and treatment of voice. Dr. Radhakrishnan has also developed innovative voice therapy techniques, including the Nasal Resistance, or NR, Technique and the Voiced Whistle Technique.
Radhakrishnan is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Voice, Voice Science Advisory Committee of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Voice Foundation and Voice and Speech Trainers Association, and is the former central governor of the Pan American Vocology Association.
Beyond his professional work, Dr. Radhakrishnan is a Tamil playwright, stage artist, videographer, hobby chef and YouTuber (www.youtube.com/iniyaacademy). He is fluent in English, Tamil and Hindi.
Courtney Bobalik, MS, CCC-SLP
Courtney Bobalik is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over 8 years of experience providing speech/language services to children via public schools and adults via inpatient rehab and skilled nursing facilities. Courtney is passionate about evaluating and treating communication disorders across the lifespan.
Kristin Holloway
Kristin Holloway holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in speech-language pathology from SFA. She has been a practicing American Speech-Language Hearing Association, or ASHA, certified SLP since 2008. Her professional experience includes providing SLP services in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health, public schools, and private clinics.
Jaime Michise, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF
Jaime Michise has been a speech-language pathologist for the past 15 years. She has worked in a variety of settings, including a two-year adventure abroad in Nagoya, Japan. Jaime is a board-certified specialist in stuttering, cluttering and other fluency disorders and has a private practice in Frisco, TX focusing on working with clients of all ages who stutter. At SFA, she teaches the graduate stuttering course. She has also taught graduate stuttering and counseling at her alma mater, Bowling Green State University. Jaime has presented at international, national, state and local conferences and has published on the topics of stuttering, mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT. Jaime is also a faculty member at Camp Shout Out for Youth Who Stutter and a co-chapter leader of the Dallas teen chapter of the National Stuttering Association. In her free time, she enjoys running, yoga, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Kaz, and two little girls, Emma and Mia.
Dr. Luis E. Aguerrevere
Dr. Luis E Aguerrevere is the director of the Human Neuroscience Laboratory at SFA. He is from Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He has a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Tennessee Technological University and a Master of Science and PhD in applied biopsychology from the University of New Orleans.
Dr. Aguerrevere’s focus is the examination of the biopsychological factors that contribute to chronic pain, post-concussion syndrome and sports performance. His specific areas of research are pain assessment, neuropsychological and neurophysiological assessment, somatization and malingering differentiation and the experimental validation of neurotherapy.
Debra Bankston, MA, CCC/SLP
Debra Bankston is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Allied Health Studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education.
Dr. Elizabeth Buell
Dr. Elizabeth Buell is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Allied Health Studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education.
Jessica Conn
Jessica Conn is a speech-language pathologist and faculty member in the graduate speech-language pathology and undergraduate communication sciences and disorders programs. She received both her Master of Science in speech-language pathology and Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders from SFA. Mrs. Conn’s experience as a speech-language pathologist includes working with children and adults in outpatient, acute, in-patient rehab and skilled nursing facilities.
Sarah Drake, MS, RDN, LD
Sarah Drake is a registered dietitian and director of the undergraduate dietetic program. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings as well as in food service management and wellness. Her interest areas include women’s health, nutrition counseling and feeding infants and children. She weaves integrative and functional nutrition concepts into her courses.
Drake received her Bachelor of Science in dietetics with a specialization in health promotion from Michigan State University, completed her dietetic internship at Loyola University Chicago and received her Master of Science in human sciences from SFA.
Amy Durham, MS, CCC/SLP
Amy Durham is a speech-language pathologist and part-time clinical instructor in the communication sciences and disorders program. She is a proud alumna, receiving both her Master of Science in speech-language pathology and Bachelor of Science in speech-language pathology, with a minor in hearing impairment, from SFA.
Durham has experience as a speech-language pathologist working with early childhood intervention, geriatric rehabilitation, and children and adults in outpatient and hospital settings. She is a member of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Durham supervises graduate-level student clinicians at the Greater East Texas Community Action Program Head Start in Nacogdoches and teaches undergraduate clinical phonetics.
Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey
Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey is an associate professor in the school psychology program. She completed her PhD in educational psychology/school psychology at Oklahoma State University. While there, she also completed a specialty in applied behavioral analysis through extended work with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Ellis-Hervey worked on various studies with faculty, peers and research teams and presented much of this work at national conferences. Some of these studies included topics such as various math interventions, peer and sibling victimization, PTSD and autism spectrum disorders.
Within the school system, she served as an integral part of student assistance teams and individualized education program teams. She also worked with students and teachers on various behavioral and academic interventions. Ellis-Hervey’s dissertation study, The Comparison of Sensory Integrative Therapy (Specifically Weighted Vests) and Applied Behavioral Analysis (Specifically a Differential Schedule of Reinforcement) in the Treatment of Children Who Have Autism Spectrum Disorder, proved to be quite beneficial, and she is working to publish the results of the study while furthering her research in the area.
Erin Keeling, MS
Erin Keeling received her Bachelor of Science from SFA and her Master of Science in speech-language pathology from Texas Woman’s University. Keeling has nearly 15 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist in public schools. She joined the SFA faculty as a clinical instructor in fall 2016.
Dr. Wendy K. Killam
Dr. Wendy K. Killam received her PhD in counselor education from the University of Arkansas. She received her Master of Science in community counseling from Texas A&M University-Commerce and her Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University. She also holds an MBA with an emphasis in health care administration. Her research interests include college student wellness and adjustment and issues older adults face. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and a past president of a division of the Association for Adult Development and Aging. Killam has delivered numerous presentations and written many publications on various topics in the field of counseling.
Dr. Daniel F. McCleary
Dr. Daniel McCleary is the program coordinator of the Master of Arts in school psychology program. He has worked in schools as a school psychologist, in private practice as a licensed psychologist, and in academia. His research interests primarily pertain to academic and behavioral interventions, school crisis plans, ethics, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Karen Morton
Karen Morton is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Allied Health Studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education.
Darla O’Dwyer, PhD, RDN
Dr. O’Dwyer is the director of the Master of Science in nutrition and integrative health and Dietetic Internship program and the coordinator of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics at SFA. Passionate about integrative and functional nutrition, she inspires students to connect science with real-world application. Through her online practice, Gut Professor, she specializes in digestive and autoimmune disorders, bringing clinical and entrepreneurial experience into the classroom. She is dedicated to preparing future health and wellness professionals to succeed in both traditional and nontraditional career paths. Her research focuses on the role of the microbiome in health and disease, dietary supplements and the benefits of fermented foods.
Justin Pelham
Justin Pelham has worked extensively in clinical dietetics with a focus on community nutrition outreach. In the hospital setting, he collaborated with the interdisciplinary team as well as counseling patients and/or families in various units such as the ICU, medical-surgical unit, women’s center and oncology center. When working full time as the dietitian of Nacogdoches Medical Center, he developed a medical nutrition therapy outpatient program to better meet health care needs for the local community. He continues to practice in the clinical and community nutrition settings.
Pelham completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at SFA. He also participated in the highly competitive SFA dietetic internship.
Jill Pruett
Jill Pruett considers herself an unconventional dietitian with interests and experience in education, business, health care, community and food service areas. She has had an extensive career working as a registered dietitian nutritionist in the food industry, including test kitchen management positions at the Quaker Oats and Ralston Purina companies. She also worked in public relations and sales and as a clinical dietitian before coming to SFA.
As a clinical instructor, Pruett has instituted creative experiential learning initiatives to engage students and promote the retention of key core concepts. Her mission is to increase an interest in the taste and health of vegetables in all diets. She holds a Master of Science from SFA and a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University.
Dr. Kelly Raley
Dr. Kelly Raley serves as a clinical audiologist for the Cole Audiology Lab. She received her Doctor of Audiology from the University of Florida, Master of Science in audiology from the University of Texas at Dallas-Callier Center and Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She has dedicated her career to clinical excellence and enjoys the role of supervisor for graduate students during clinical practicum rotations.
Dr. Lydia Richardson
Dr. Lydia Richardson, director of and assistant professor in SFA’s communication sciences and disorders program, received her SLPD in speech-language pathology from Nova Southeastern University and her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science at SFA. Richardson has many years of clinical experience as a speech-language pathologist in a variety of settings, including outpatient rehabilitation, hospital, nursing home, public schools and home health. Her areas of interest are child language and articulation, autism and aural/oral habilitation. Richardson is a Hanen-certified speech-language pathologist and is certified in the picture exchange communication system.
Christy Stewart
Christy Stewart is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Allied Health Studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education.
Aley Vardeman, MS
Aley Vardeman is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Allied Health Studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education.
Christina Tuell, EdD, CHES
Dr. Christina Tuell serves as the Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Well-Being at SFA, where she leads efforts to enhance student well-being by treating the whole person—mind, body and spirit. With a strong foundation in public health, community engagement, and higher-education leadership, Dr. Tuell is passionate about fostering equitable access to services, cultivating meaningful relationships and using data-informed strategies to support student success. Her research interests include health literacy, digital health promotion and health education.
Outside her administrative role, she brings warmth and a commitment to positive regard in all her interactions, believing that building connections is key to thriving communities and healthy outcomes.
Capt. Jerome Jones - executive officer, assistant professor of military science
Capt. Jerome E. Jones joined the Marine Corps in 2007 as a legal service specialist, where he served eight years and numerous positions. After serving honorably in the Marine Corps, he went back to school to pursue a college degree.
Jones graduated from Campbell University with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, commissioned through Officer Candidate School on active duty and branched military police in 2017. His first duty station was with the 93rd Military Police Battalion at Fort Bliss, serving as a platoon leader. Upon completion of the tour, Jones was assigned to 787th Military Police Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he served as a company commander with Charlie Company. As a commander, he assisted in training soldiers and military police law enforcement professionals in the United States Army. During this time, Jones also received a master’s degree in organizational security and business management.
Jones is now serving as an assistant professor of military science in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Military Science.
Landon Evans
Landon Evans earned a Master's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in clinical exercise physiology from Texas Woman’s University and Master's degree in Human Sciences with an emphasis in integrated and functional nutrition from SFA. He's passionate about both nutrition and exercise science.
For over decade he's served as a clinical exercise physiologist in cardiac and vascular rehabilitation at CHI St. Luke's in Lufkin. He's a registered dietitian currently working as a Clinical Dietitian at Christus Mother Frances in Tyler. He also serves as an adjunct clinical instructor at SFA.
Dr. Levi McClendon
Dr. McClendon has a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of counselors. His expertise in clinical practice, counseling education and supervision ensures that LPC-Associates receive the highest quality training and support. Dr. McClendon holds a Doctor of Philosophy in counselor education and supervision from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a licensed and board-certified counselor.
His extensive background includes:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors #72662)
- Board Certified Counselor (National Board for Certified Counselors #348089)
- LPC Supervisor Training (Sue Clifford, Ph.D., LPC-S).
Contact the Department of Allied Health Studies
Call: 936.468.3503
alliedhealth@sfasu.edu
Faculty Directory
Visit: Norton HPE Complex, Room 204
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 13015, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962