Office of the Dean

Dr. O'Hair (vita in PDF) serves as dean, professor of educational leadership, and executive director of the Kentucky P20 Innovation Lab. She has led statewide school renewal networks in two states, published over forty research articles and scholarly chapters in educational leadership and teacher education journals and volumes; and has authored and edited seven books in the areas of school-university partnerships, democratic education, diversity, and communication. Dr. O’Hair has directed over twenty doctoral dissertations and has been the principal investigator on grants totaling more than $40 million.

Parker Fawson, Associate Dean for International Engagement

Dr. Fawson (vita in Word) joined the Curriculum and Instruction faculty in 2010 where he serves as Department Chair and Professor of Literacy.  He has  broad experience working with teachers of struggling readers in high poverty settings including elementary schools in both urban and rural environments.   Dr. Fawson is active in providing professional service to national reading organizations in various capacities including his service as editor of Literacy Research and Instruction.  He is co-author, with D. Ray Reutzel of Your Classroom Library:  New Ways to Give It More Teaching Power and La biblioteca de aula:  Formas de potenciar su valor educativo, both published by Scholastic, Inc.  Dr. Fawson has also been highly involved in developing international engagement opportunities for education students where he has placed student teachers and graduate students in New Zealand, Chile, the Philippines, and Rwanda.   

Steve R. Parker, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services

Dr. Parker (vita in PDF) received his Ed.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1995. His areas of interest include athletic probation and its effect on donor contributions to the university; event management solutions, issues, and problems; and using knowledge of the law as a competitive advantage in sport, fitness, recreational, and academic settings. Dr. Parker  teaches courses in Kinesiology, specifically in event management and sport law. Dr. Parker assumed his Dean responsibilities on July 1, 2010.

Rosetta F. Sandidge,  Associate Dean for Accreditation, Assessment, and Planning

Dr. Sandidge (vita in Word) holds a bachelor's degree in vocational home economics education from Texas Christian University and an M.S. and Ed.D. in vocational education from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Sandidge is an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Her areas of academic interest and research include teacher assessment, teacher induction, classroom management, and gender equity. She began her career at the college in 1983.

Dr. Shapiro (vita in PDF) received his Ph. D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1979.  Dr. Shapiro serves as director of the multidisciplinary Biodynamics Laboratory which is housed in the Center for Biomedical Engineering.  His research interests include whole body biomechanical analysis with special emphasis on injury mechanisms and evaluation of musculoskeletal function. Dr. Shapiro collaborates with faculty in Sports Medicine, Orthopaedics, Biomedical Engineering, Athletic Training and Physical Therapy.  Instrumentation utilized in the laboratory includes high speed 3-D videography, electromyography and force platforms.  Dr. Shapiro has a joint appointment in Biomedical Engineering.

Tricia Adolph, Executive Assistant to the Dean

Tricia received her B.A. in political science from the University of Southern California.  She served as Administrative Services Coordinator II at USC.  She brings a wealth of administrative knowledge and skills to the College of Education where she is now in her fourth year.  Tricia currently serves as the faculty liaison for the Dean's office, coordinates the Dean's calendar, travel, and events.  She also facilitates and manages faculty  employment, evaluations, faculty- and staff-information management, promotion and tenure, sabbaticals, retreats, committee assignments, strategic plan, and the college directory.

Faith Cordray, College Grants Officer 

Faith represents OSPA as the College Grants Officer (CGO) for the College of Education and works with the faculty on the various aspects of grant proposal development, proposal submission and post-award management. She is from Atlanta, Georgia where she was a contracts officer at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the U.S. Army Environmental Policy Institute. She is assigned to the College of Education through OSPA. Faith is an alumnus of the University of Georgia, with a B.S.Ed in Secondary English Education.

Marjorie Gallt, Administrative Support, Office of Development and Advancement 
 
Margie joined the College of Education in 2013 in the Office of Development and Advancement.  She will work with student activities, alumni, public relations and development initiatives. She also will oversee the College’s Ambassador Program and will assist with events such as the Scholarship Banquet and the Teachers Who Made a Difference Program.    Margie earned her BS in Business from Indiana State University.  She is originally from Wisconsin and started her career with Procter and Gamble in Green Bay.  Margie is a lifelong Packer fan.

Martha Geoghegan, Administrative Assistant to Associate Deans Parker and Sandidge

Martha has worked for the College of Education for 11 years. She is the Database Specialist in the Office of Academic Services and Teacher Certification, monitoring database performance, maintaining data compliance, correcting inaccuracies, ensuring its availability to users, and controlling privileges and permissions to database users.  She communicates important information to students such as Academic Status, Student Teaching approval, and processes the college’s Dean’s List.  She maintains the unit’s budget and employment records, and works with the Courses & Curricula committee to get course and program proposals passed.  Martha has also been the Staff Council representative for the department for many years.

Amanda Nelson is communications director for the Kentucky P20 Innovation Lab: A Partnership for Next Generation Learning.  The Lawrenceburg, Kentucky native holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky.  She previously spent eight years with the university’s public relations department where she directed media relations efforts for the UK Medical Center.

Cindy Jennings, Administrative Coordinator II

Cindy is a graduate from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in Business/Fashion Merchandising.  She has been employed at the University of Kentucky since 1994 and has worked in the College since 1998.  She previously worked in Human Resources in various positions. Cindy oversees all of the college’s payroll transactions on the SAP Payroll system.  She is the liaison between the college’s departments and the university’s Payroll/Compensation departments.  Cindy also maintains the college’s personnel files and DOE’s for faculty, sets up accounts for Development, and works on many other personnel issues.

Michelle Traynor, Administrator Support Associate

Mary Ann Vimont,  Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs

Mary Ann works closely with UK PR and UK Alumni in developing programs, events and publications that promote the College and engage and inform alumni.  She is an Associate Professor in Curriculum and Instruction, co-chair of the Elementary Program, and teaches a graduate class in economic education.  Her interests are economic education, international studies, and business and education networks.

Rosemary Waters, Administrative Staff Officer

Gwen Winder, Administrative Assistant

Gwen serves as administrative assistant to the Dean’s Office and the Business Office where she coordinates daily office functions and traffic.  She previously worked with former Deans John Harris and Shirley Raines, and is happy to be working in the College of Education once again.  Gwen is a native of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in Communications.