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As º£½ÇÊÓƵ prepares for the 2026-2027 academic year, the College is welcoming new faculty and academic leaders whose expertise spans education, healthcare, science, digital learning, libraries, and the humanities.

Students will also find new academic pathways this fall with the addition of three undergraduate programs across the School of Arts & Sciences and School of Health Sciences. Together, these additions reflect º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s continued commitment to strong teaching and an academic portfolio that responds to students’ interests and an evolving workforce.

Meet Our New Faculty and Academic Leaders

• Kristen Burry, Special Education Clinical Instructor and Coordinator, is a º£½ÇÊÓƵ alumna who earned both her bachelor's degree in Special Education and master's degree in Trauma-Informed Education from the College. She brings experience as a special education teacher, math intervention teacher, and behavior interventionist, with a focus on individualized learning, evidence-based instruction, and positive behavioral supports. Her credentials also include K-12 multi-categorical special education certification, endorsements in Project-Based Learning and Teaching the Gifted and Talented, and training in trauma-informed education.
   
• Ashlee Gregory, PT, DPT, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, is a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy with extensive clinical, teaching, and research experience. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Duke University, completed a neurologic physical therapy residency through the Medical University of South Carolina, and has served as program director for Prisma Health's Neurologic Residency Program. Her work focuses on neurological rehabilitation, exercise, and expanding access to health and wellness resources for people with neurologic conditions.
   
• Johnna Herrick-Phelps, Ph.D., Dean of Online and Digital Learning and Professor, joins º£½ÇÊÓƵ with more than 20 years of higher education experience, with leadership spanning online and digital learning, faculty development, curriculum, academic operations, and student support. Her leadership roles have included Associate Dean for Online and Digital Learning at Princeton Theological Seminary, Chief Online Learning Officer and Vice President for Online Education at Champlain College, and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Granite State College. She has led large online academic portfolios and worked extensively with faculty to develop high-quality online programs and learning experiences. She holds a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Development Systems from Fielding Graduate University.
   
• Tori E. Peacock, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology and Biology Instrumentation Coordinator, brings experience in biomedical research, laboratory instruction, and student mentoring. Her graduate research at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine has included work in sepsis immune dynamics, microbiota composition, and MHCII polymorphism, along with extensive experience in flow cytometry and cell sorting. Peacock has also taught laboratory courses in biochemistry, organic chemistry, and molecular cell biology and mentored undergraduate and graduate researchers.
   
• Monika Rhue, Ed.D., MLIS, Dean of Library, Learning, and Student Success, brings more than 24 years of higher education experience in academic libraries, digital scholarship, and academic support. She previously served as Director of Library Services and Curation at Johnson C. Smith University and later managed UCLA's $3.6 million Mellon Foundation-supported Archiving the Age of Mass Incarceration initiative. Rhue earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from High Point University, where her dissertation received the 2024 Dissertation Distinction Award, and has built her career around connecting libraries, information literacy, technology, scholarship, and community engagement.
   
• Sorina Riddle, Online Lecturer of English, joins º£½ÇÊÓƵ to support the College’s online English curriculum and growing community of online learners. She earned her Master of Arts in English from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and has been teaching composition and literature classes at the college level for over twenty years, ten of which have been online. Riddle has taught at Coker University and Pfeiffer University, where she created and oversaw the Writer’s Studio. She is passionate about current events and first-year writing.

Three New Undergraduate Programs

º£½ÇÊÓƵ is also launching three undergraduate programs this fall, expanding options for students interested in media, design, science, public health, and the environment.

In the School of Arts & Sciences, the new Culture & Media Studies program examines how media, design, and culture shape society while helping students build practical skills in areas such as media production and graphic design. The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts prepares graduates for work in fields including public relations, social media, media research, copywriting, and cultural programming.

Also in the School of Arts & Sciences, the new Graphic Design program combines creative exploration with practical experience across print, digital, and emerging media. Through studio courses, collaborative projects, internships, and a senior capstone, students will build professional portfolios and develop skills for careers across the creative industry.

In the School of Health Sciences, the new Environmental Health program connects science, public health, and environmental policy to explore the relationship between the environment and human health. Students may choose science or policy concentrations and gain practical experience through labs, fieldwork, internships, and research.

Ready for a New Academic Year

Fall classes begin on campus Monday, August 31, when º£½ÇÊÓƵ will welcome returning Koalas and a new class of students beginning their College experience.

With new colleagues joining the academic community and new programs available to students, º£½ÇÊÓƵ looks forward to the opportunities ahead in the 2026-2027 academic year. Welcome back, Koalas!