New Faculty 2009

Alfred Adler is a temporary instructor in Mathematics. He has a Ph.D. in Computer and Communications Sciences from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Physics. He has taught at SPSU as a part-time faculty member since 2007, and has also taught at the University of Phoenix.

Ed Akins is an assistant professor in the Architecture program. He has an M. Arch. as well as B.S. in Architecture from Georgia Tech. He has prior teaching experience at Georgia Tech and at SPSU, both on a part-time basis.

Jonathan Arnett is a temporary instructor in Technical Communication. He has a Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric from Texas Tech, and has taught at SPSU as a part-time faculty member for the past year.

Michael Carroll is an assistant professor in Architecture. He has an M. Arch. II from McGill University in Montreal, and an M. Arch I and a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies from Dalhousie University in Halifax. He has prior teaching experience at Syracuse University and at McGill.

Craig Chin is an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology department. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University in 2006, and his M.S.E.E. there in 2001. His specialty area is biotechnology.

Donna Colebeck is a temporary lecturer in the ETCMA Department. She has an M.F.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Art Education from Nazareth College of Rochester. She has previously taught on a part-time basis at SPSU.

Rebecca Giddens is a temporary instructor in composition and literature. She has an M.A. in English from Clemson University, and has taught at SPSU as a part-time faculty member during Fall ’09.

Juan Carlos Guzman is a temporary instructor in the Business Administration program in the Finance. Dr. Guzman has completed the M.S. in Finance at Georgia Tech. He has a Ph.D. in Computer Science at Yale.

Jamye Hickman is an assistant professor in Psychology. She has nearly completed her Ph.D. in Engineering Psychology from Georgia Tech, and has an M.S. M.S. in Engineering Psychology from there. She has previously taught at SPSU on a part-time basis.

John Hicks is an assistant professor in the Construction Management Department. He has an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He has worked in the real estate development area for 21 years, as Senior Vice President for Development, Project Executive, Developer/Senior Project Manager, and Vice President of Development/Director of Design and Construction—Hospitality Development.

Edward Jung is an assistant professor in the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department. He has a Ph.D. and B.S. from the University of Minnesota, has been a visiting professor at Rutgers University, and has been a Director at Samsung Research and a Software Engineer at Motorola and Siemens. His main research is in the computer security area.

Lu Kang is an assistant professor in Chemistry. He has a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Chemical Physics Program) from Wesleyan University, and an M.S. in Chemistry from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (China). He has been an assistant professor at Union College (Kentucky) since 2004, and earlier was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Virginia. His specialty is microwave spectroscopy.

Adeel Khalid is an assistant professor in Systems Engineering in the Engineering Division. He has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. He has taught previously at SPSU on a part-time basis since 2007 and has worked as a systems engineer at Avidyne Corp.

John Lee is a temporary instructor in Surveying and Mapping. He has an M.B.A. from Kennesaw State University, and is a registered land surveyor in the state of Georgia. From 1996 until today, he has been the CAD and IT manager responsible for the introduction, training and conversion of the drawings produced for both Civil and Land Surveying plans, plats and maps. He is currently pursuing an M.S. in G.I.S.

Chia-Tien Dan Lo is an associate professor in the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department. He has a Ph.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology and an M.S. from National Taiwan University. He has taught at the University of Texas at San Antonio since 2002. His specialty area is network security.

Jennifer Louton is an assistant professor in Biology. She has a Ph.D. from the Brown University School of Medicine. She has been a Post-doctoral fellow at Schering-Plough Biopharma, in California. Her research is in the area of medical microbiology and immunology.

Stephanie McCartney is the laboratory coordinator for Chemistry. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia and the M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from George Washington University.  She also served as Maryland State and Virginia State Lab Events Coordinator for the Science Olympiad.

Douglass Morris is a temporary instructor in Mathematics. He has a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin and a B.S. in Mathematics from Stanford. He has been a full-time visiting instructor at Georgia State, and has taught part time at various USG institutions, including at SPSU.

Abi Salimi is a temporary instructor in the Software Engineering program. He has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Central Florida, and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa. He has prior teaching experience at SPSU (part time) and at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as a substantial record of industrial experience.

Carl Snook is an assistant professor in Political Science. He anticipates completing his Ph.D. in the immediate future at Michigan State University. His research focus is on state level political institutions and interest groups.

Ying Wang is an assistant professor in Mechatronics Engineering in the Engineering Division. He has a Ph.D. in Robotics and Mechatronics from the University of British Columbia, and an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He has taught previously at Ningbo University in China and as a teaching assistant at UBC.

Pegah Zamani is a temporary instructor in the Architecture program. She received her Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, in the area of Architectural Morphology and Design. She has previously taught as an instructor at Georgia Tech, and at Azad University (Iran).