VSU Recognizes Faculty with Annual Awarding of Tenure, Promotion

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University recently awarded tenure to seven faculty members.
 
The award of tenure constitutes permanent status as a member of the university faculty.
 
“Tenure is awarded to a faculty member whose teaching is judged to be superior, based on a number of measures,” said Dr. Robert T. Smith, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at VSU. “Further, to achieve tenure, faculty are also accomplished scholars in their field, as demonstrated by publications, creation of artistic works, presentations, performances, and other activities relevant to their particular discipline. Finally, to be awarded tenure, faculty have a record of accomplishment in service to their department, their college, and the university.” 
 
At VSU, tenure may be awarded, upon approval of the president, after a faculty member has completed a probationary period of at least five years of full-time service at the rank of assistant professor of higher.
 
VSU’s 2021 faculty tenure recipients are as follows:

• Joseph Mason, Department of Communication Arts, College of the Arts

• Dr. Colin Walker, Department of Communication Arts, College of the Art

• Peter Geldrich, Department of Music, College of the Arts

• Dr. Tamara Hardesty, Department of Music, College of the Arts 

• Dr. Jamie Workman, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services

• Dr. Yunseon Choi, Department of Library and Information Studies, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services

• Dr. Mary Beth Rousseau, Department of Management and Healthcare Administration, Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration  

VSU also recently awarded promotion to 29 faculty members.
 
Promotion is awarded to faculty members who demonstrate superior teaching; outstanding professional service to the university and/or the community; outstanding research, scholarship, creative activity, or academic achievement; and professional growth and development. Promotion to the rank of associate or full professor at a regional university like VSU requires the earned doctorate or its equivalent in training, ability, and/or experience.
 
VSU’s 2021 faculty promotion recipients are as follows:

• Joseph Mason, Department of Communication Arts, College of the Arts, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Colin Walker, Department of Communication Arts, College of the Arts, promoted to associate professor

• Peter Geldrich, Department of Music, College of the Arts, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Tamara Hardesty, Department of Music, College of the Arts, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Jamie Workman, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Yunseon Choi, Department of Library and Information Studies, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Mary Beth Rousseau, Department of Management and Healthcare Administration, Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to associate professor

• Dr. Jamie Landau, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, promoted to professor

• Brian Nelson, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to senior lecturer

• Dr. Thomas Aiello, Department of History, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to professor

• Dr. Grazyna Walczak, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to professor

• Dr. Joseph Robbins, Department of Political Science, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to professor

• Dr. Lorna Alvarez-Rivera, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to professor

• Dr. Roger McIntyre Jr., Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to professor

• Douglas Robinson, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, promoted to senior lecturer

• Dr. Lisa Lowe, School of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, promoted to assistant professor

• Dr. Corey Anderson, Department of Biology, College of Science and Mathematics, promoted to professor

• Dr. Alexandrina Focsan, Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Mathematics, promoted to professor

• Dr. Shaun Ault, Department of Mathematics, College of Science and Mathematics, promoted to professor

• Dr. Sandra Trowell, Department of Mathematics, College of Science and Mathematics, promoted to professor

• Dr. Dereth Drake, Department of Physics, Astronomy, Geosciences, and Engineering Technology, College of Science and Mathematics, promoted to professor

• Travis Hawkins, Department of Art and Design, College of the Arts, promoted to professor

• Dr. Rudo Tsemunhu, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to professor

• Dr. Katharine Adams, Department of Human Services, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to professor

• Dr. James Archibald, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to professor

• Dr. James Martinez, Department of Teacher Education, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, promoted to professor

• Dr. Luis Gonzalez, Department of Economics and Finance, Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to professor

• Dr. Luke Jones, Department of Economics and Finance, Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, promoted to professor

• Emily Rogers, Department of Reference Services, Odum Library, promoted to professor