Wayne D. Lewis, Jr, PhD is Inaugural Dean and Professor in the School of Education at Belmont University. Dr. Lewis most recently led the Kentucky Department of Education as the state’s chief state school officer from April 2018 until December 2019. His resume includes experience as a classroom teacher, teacher educator, postsecondary faculty member and program administrator at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and as an executive administrator in state government. His published research and writing over the last decade has been in the areas of education policy and politics, school-family-community engagement, and school choice, in American and international contexts.

Dr. Lewis completed undergraduate studies at Loyola University New Orleans. He earned a master's degree in Urban Studies with a concentration in Public Administration at The University of Akron, completed post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program in special education at The University of New Orleans, and earned a Ph.D. in Educational Research and Policy Analysis with a cognate in Public Administration at North Carolina State University. Prior to assuming appointments in state government, he was an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and educational leadership doctoral programs chairperson in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Cathy Eschete has more than 15 years of experience working in the field of education. Following the completion of her Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana College in Elementary and Special Education, she served as a resource and inclusion middle school teacher. Upon relocating to California, she served as a Clinical Supervisor providing early intervention services for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as providing consultation services to area school districts seeking to improve their special education programs.

She received a Master’s degree from California State University Stanislaus in Special Education and her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Special Education from Louisiana State University. During her PhD program, she served as a graduate assistant and taught special education courses at Louisiana State University. Dr. Eschete has presented at numerous professional conferences on topics, such as behavior management and instructional strategies to increase engagement. Dr. Eschete most recently served as Assistant Professor and Director of Field Experience in the School of Education at Louisiana College.

Dr. Sally Barton-Arwood joined the faculty at Belmont in 2006. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee and Master and Doctoral Degrees in Special Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Barton-Arwood brings over 30 years of experience in the field of education at K-12 and University levels. She has served in leadership roles as president of the Tennessee Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges of Teacher Education and vice-president of the Tennessee Council for Exceptional Children.

Known as “Dr. B.” to her students at Belmont, she teaches a First Year Seminar course as well as undergraduate and graduate courses about diverse Learners, classroom management, and data-based decision making in K-12 settings. She is also the faculty advisor for the Best Buddies Belmont student organization where Belmont students have the opportunity to build friendships with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. B. and her students work extensively in the community addressing issues of equity and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Because of this work, Dr. B. was the recipient of a 2016 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award presented by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Dr. B. areas of interests and scholarship include positive behavior supports, service-learning, teacher preparation, and teacher collaboration. She is an active presenter at state, national, and international professional conferences.

Dr. Rachael Flynn has experience in education at the elementary, middle, and university levels. She joined the Belmont faculty in 2003 and teaches courses in literacy.

Prior to coming to Belmont University, Dr. Flynn taught in Williamson County Schools in Williamson County, Tennessee, Tupelo Public Schools in Tupelo, Mississippi, and as an instructor at The University of Southern Mississippi. During these years, she conducted workshops and research in the field of literacy.

Dr. Flynn holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Elementary Education from Mississippi State University. In 2003, she completed her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction: Reading at The University of Southern Mississippi. She currently serves as faculty advisor for Student Tennessee Education Association at Belmont University. Dr. Flynn's area of emphasis is in literacy education. She is particularly interested in using children's literature across the curriculum to promote life-long learning, the impact of children's literature on the socialization of young readers, and methods for improving reading comprehension. Dr. Flynn is also interested in promoting literacy within the community through ties with the university and its students. Her personal interests include family, reading, travel, and sports of all kinds.

Dr. Mona C. Ivey-Soto is an Assistant Professor of Education at Belmont University and joined the department in Fall 2015 after serving as an Assistant Professor of Education for two universities in New York.  Dr. Ivey-Soto holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from New York University, an M.Ed. from Bank Street College of Education, an MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and a Ph.D. in Special Education and Clinical Sciences from the University of Oregon. 

 Dr. Ivey-Soto has extensive background as a community engaged scholar in the areas of teaching and learning in urban schools, poverty, trauma and toxic stress for children and families, and cultivating teachers as advocates and activists for marginalized communities.  Her recent publications, including two book chapters and articles, focus on issues of equity and social justice. 

 In addition to her role in the academy, Dr. Ivey-Soto remains committed to cultivating community-academic partnerships that provide a voice for communities of color and prepare teacher candidates for the work of community engaged teaching. She serves on the EL Council for MNPS, Criminal Justice Reform Committee for N.O.A.H and Alignment Nashville's LEAF group. She also works collaboratively with several nonprofits throughout Nashville and is beginning a new project to facilitate a Professional Learning Community on trauma and learning for MNPS staff. 

She is deeply committed to her Christian faith and attends the multicultural, multidimensional Strong Tower Bible Church in Nashville where she works closely with colleagues on the role of Christians in addressing issues of racism and other forms of oppression. 

Dr. Joy Kimmons, Professor, holds a B.A. and M.Ed. from Middle Tennessee State University and Ed.D. in educational leadership from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She has also completed additional studies at Vermont College of Norwich University and Goddard College in Plainfield, VT. She has taught courses in educational psychology, educational research, child development, middle school perspectives, educational tests and measurement, and gifted education.

Most recently, her teaching in the M.Ed. program includes a variety of courses which focus on learning communities. The foci include concepts of learning communities, educational leadership and management, and developing and sustaining learning communities. She works as a mentor to a number of graduate students completing their theses.

Her interests include the social context of education and the social organization of schools, with specific reference to family-school-community relations. Dr. Kimmons is also interested in the changing role of school leadership with an emphasis on instructional leaders. She has worked with local schools conducting professional development workshops in the areas of middle school education, multiple intelligence, constructivist teaching, diversity, parental involvement, and school-community relations. Her current research interests include promising practices in teacher education, developing and sustaining learning communities, and alternative licensure.

Dr. Amanda Nelms is an Assistant Professor of Education at Belmont University.  Before joining the Belmont faculty, Dr. Nelms served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and English Language Development Coordinator for Metro Nashville Public Schools.  Dr. Nelms holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Teaching English Learners, and a Doctorate in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University. 

Dr. Nelms teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in English Language Learners and Communication and Change.    

Dr. Nelms has presented at state and national conferences on topics such as English learners and literacy education, utilizing data to support English learners across content areas, and effective communication across learning organizations.  Her interests include strategies to support teachers when working with struggling English learners as well as effective communication and change management across learning organizations.  

Dr. Maria Danielle Garrett, Associate Professor of Chemistry Education, joined Belmont University in the fall of 2014. She graduated Suma Cum Laude with her B.S. from the University of Tennessee, where she majored in Chemistry and minored in English. After graduating, Dr. Garrett began her studies as a graduate student in the Chemistry Department at Vanderbilt University, where her research work focused on band edge recombination in cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide and cadmium sulfo-selenide alloy nanocrystals observed by ultrafast fluorescence upconversion. After completing her Ph.D., Dr. Garrett went on to receive her MAT from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Dr. Garrett has a diverse perspective on teaching, as her teaching experience lies in the high school and college levels. She strives not only to implement a teaching style that has a strong foundation of student interaction, emphasizes practical applications and encourages thinking outside the box, but also to help students grow and cultivate their love of learning and science, finding a deeper appreciation for the world around them. She has taught courses in physical science, chemistry, physics and physical chemistry.

Dr. Garrett has served as faculty research advisor for undergraduate students, several of whom have made presentations at the Tennessee Academy of Science (TAS), the Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS), and the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting. Her research interests include, but are not limited to, spectroscopy, calorimetry, and greener options in the chemistry classroom. Dr. Garrett currently teaches general chemistry, GOB (general, organic, and biochemistry) for nursing majors, science methods for elementary education and several special studies chemistry courses, including a survey of green chemistry and sustainability, and principles and methods of peer tutoring in chemistry. Dr. Garrett is heavily involved in the development and implementation of STEM outreach events for high school students and teachers.  Dr. Garrett has also participated in the ACS Science Coaches program since 2014, where she engages in chemistry outreach with 4^th grade students and teachers at a local school. 

 Garrett, M. D. It’s Easy Being Green: A Snapshot of a Professional Development Program Focused on Greener Laboratory Options in the Chemistry Classroom through the Lens of a Titrimetric Analysis of Milk of Magnesia and Vinegar, Chem. Educator. 2020, 25, 184-193. (Abstract) 

Garrett, M. D. Interdisciplinary Learning Communities: Bridging the Gap Between the Sciences and the Humanities Through Forensic Science. In Teaching Chemistry with Forensic Science; Editor, Harper-Leatherman, A. S.; Huang, L.; ACS Symposium Series 1324; American Chemical Society: 2019, pp 109-136. Web Release Date: 26-Sept-2019; DOI: 10.1021/bk-2019-1324.ch007. (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D. and Garrett, J. B. Wavelength Analysis of LEDs using Handheld Spectroscopes, Chem. Educator. 2017, 22, 130-134. (Abstract)

Garrett, M. D. The Effectiveness and Range of Natural Acid-Base Indicators, Chem. Educator. 2016, 21, 36-39. (Abstract)

Bowers, II, M. J., McBride, J. R., Garrett, M. D., Sammons, J. A., Dukes, III, A. D., Schreuder, M. A., Watt, T. L., Lupini, A. R., Pennycook, S. J. and Rosenthal, S. J. Structure and Ultrafast Dynamics of White-Light-Emitting CdSe Nanocrystals, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 5730-5731.

Garrett, M. D., Dukes, III, A. D., McBride, J. R., Smith, N. J., Pennycook, S. J. and Rosenthal, S. J. Band Edge Recombination in CdSe, CdS and CdSxSe1-x Alloy Nanocrystals Observed by Ultrafast Fluorescence Upconversion: The Effect of Surface Trap States, J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 12736-12746.

Kippeny, T. C., Bowers, II, M. J., Dukes, III, A. D., McBride, J. R., Orndorff, R. L., Garrett, M. D. and Rosenthal, S. J. Effects of Surface Passivation on the Exciton Dynamics of CdSe Nanocrystals as Observed by Ultrafast Fluorescence Upconversion Spectroscopy, J. Chem. Phys. 2008, 128, 084713.

Garrett, M. D., Bowers, II, M. J., McBride, J. R., Orndorff, R. L., Pennycook, S. J. and Rosenthal, S. J. Band Edge Dynamics in CdSe Nanocrystals Observed by Ultrafast Fluorescence Upconversion, J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 436-442.

Outreach Events:

It’s Easy Being Green: Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Science Classroom of Today summer workshop series for physical science and chemistry teachers

• Garrett, M. D. Go Green with G³: Garden Indicators, Gases and Galvanic Cells.  Belmont University: Nashville, TN, 2019.
• Garrett, M. D. Beat the Heat, Catch a Wave and Make it Float. Belmont University: Nashville, TN, 2018.
• Garrett, M. D. Please Pass the Salt: Chemistry – It’s “Saltsational.” Belmont University: Nashville, TN, 2017.
• Garrett, M. D. Cranberry Chemistry: Science with Superfruits. Belmont University: Nashville, TN, 2016.
• Garrett, M. D. Spice Up Your Chemistry Lab with Neutralization Reactions. Belmont University: Nashville, TN, 2015.

Celebrating the Women of Physical Science outreach event for high school students (2017 – present)

Sweet Sweet Chemistry: A Chromatography Challenge workshop for high school chemistry students (2016 – present)

Qualitative Analysis through Back Titrations: Neutralizing Agents – How Basic is It? workshop for AP chemistry students (2016 – present)

In the News:

C&EN: AACT's Science Coaches Program Celebrates 10 Years of Connecting Chemists with Teachers

Belmont Department of Chemistry, Physics Step Up Outreach Efforts

Garrett Hosts Science Workshops for Middle, High School Teachers

Garrett Hosts Field Trip for Local Students through work with the ACS Science Coaches Program

Annual Celebrating the Women of Physical Science outreach event

Back Titrations: Neutralizing Agents – How Basic is It?

Sweet Sweet Chemistry:  A Chromatography Challenge

Dr. Lauren Lunsford is the Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and as well as a Professor in the Department of Education. Dr. Lunsford was appointed Associate Dean in 2014 and joined the Belmont faculty in 2006. Her work has centered on preparing teachers to meet the needs of all of their students, particularly in the areas of literacy and technology. At Belmont she has taught a variety of courses in education including Human Development, Secondary Methods, Classroom Management, Secondary Literacy, Technology in the Classroom, and various Reading Specialist courses in the Education Department. Dr. Lunsford publishes and presents widely on the areas of literacy, teacher collaboration, and technology in the classroom.

Before joining the Belmont faculty, Dr. Lunsford served as an assistant professor of special education at San Francisco State University teaching courses on students with reading disabilities and with behavioral problems. She earned her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Special Education at Vanderbilt University and has worked with students at the elementary, middle and high school level.  Dr. Lunsford has taught and consulted in a number of cities including Atlanta, GA; Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; New York City, NY; Phoenix, AZ; Sacramento, CA; and San Francisco, CA. Her experience across grade levels in varying contexts contributes to her passion to help train teachers to help all students learn.

Harvey Sperling is a consultant to the Education Department, Belmont University. He is a former Headmaster of the University School of Milwaukee, as well as a former Director of the University School of Nashville. Sperling also served as a Program Officer at The Frist Foundation. Immediately prior to his arrival at Belmont in 2016, he was an Educational Consultant to the Vanderbilt University Center for Science Outreach & the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt. Sperling has a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, an MA from Washington University, St. Louis, MO, and an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the Milwaukee Institute of Arts & Design.

Mr. Sperling serves on the Education Council, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the Board of Directors of Palmer Trinity School (Episcopal) in Miami, FL, the National Board of Advisors for the Episcopal School of Nashville, and the Board of Directors of Equal Chance for Education. He is a Leadership Nashville alumnus and a former board member, consultant, or committee member of numerous institutions and agencies including PENCIL Foundation, Nashville Alliance for Public Education (NPEF), Alignment Nashville, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Charter Committee, The Frist Center for the Visual Arts (education committee), Independent Schools Association of Nashville, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Schools.

Although Mr. Sperling was the chief administrator of K-12 schools for many years, he continued to teach, advise, and assist students during those times. He gained a great deal of insights and inspiration from his students. During his career, he has lectured on a wide array of educational issues and also conducted seminars on Japanese art, history, and culture. At Belmont’s Education Department, he is honored and humbled to work with a remarkably talented and dedicated group of educators.