MLFTC welcomes 34 new and promoted faculty this fall
Note: Links to faculty bios are included when available.
New Faculty
Kelvin Arthur, clinical assistant professor: Arthur joins MLFTC after 14 years teaching science and math education. His research interests include social and cultural impacts on education and evolving education staffing models.
Tara Bartlett, clinical assistant professor: Bartlett begins her new role at MLFTC after being a senior research analyst in the college. Her research and teaching interests focus on public policy and democratic innovations, particularly among youth and within school communities.
Toni Barton, clinical assistant professor.
Lauren Bedsole, clinical assistant professor.
Karen Benson, clinical assistant professor: Benson joins MLFTC from the Scottsdale Unified School District where she served as associate superintendent. She has experience in leading teaching and learning at the school, district and regional levels.
Pablo Bezem, assistant professor: Bezem comes from the University of California-Irvine where he was a post-doctoral scholar. His area of specialization is policy and governance in K–12 education.
Jordan Causadias, clinical assistant professor: Causadias joins MLFTC from Mesa Public Schools. Her expertise is in educational psychology, grief and trauma intervention for special education teachers and interdisciplinary special education collaboration.
Cindy A. Coe, clinical assistant professor: Coe joins MLFTC from various schools of education in Oregon. Her specialties are in Social Studies, English Language Arts, Assessment, and Content Literacy.
Brittany Jimenez, clinical assistant professor: Jimenez has previously worked as a coach of new teachers in the classroom as well as a middle school math teacher.
Patricia Geraghty, clinical assistant professor.
Jennifer Lichtsinn, clinical assistant professor: Lichtsinn previously served as a teacher of preschool children with and without special needs and as a preschool director.
Rachel Mayercek, clinical assistant professor: Mayercek begins her new role in MLFTC after dedicating 17 years to both ASU’s College of Health Solutions and MLFTC. Her expertise is in emergent literacy, oral language development, and support for children with disabilities.
Kristina McGinnis, clinical assistant professor: McGinnis joins MLFTC from Baylor University in Waco. Her background is in developmental disabilities and training natural change agents (i.e., caregivers and teachers) to implement evidence-based practices.
Wendy Nance, clinical assistant professor: Nance joins MLFTC from both Chandler Unified School District and Northern Arizona University. She brings PreK–12 and higher education expertise in human resources, community services, instructional and professional development.
Rachael O’Flaherty, clinical assistant professor.
Kenisha Manley, instructional professional.
Kerry Pennington, clinical assistant professor: Pennington joins MLFTC with a background in both teaching and administrative experience. Her research explores challenges to parental involvement.
Jonathan Perrone, clinical assistant professor: Perrone’s background is in teaching STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). He is also the STEM coordinator for the Arizona Educational Foundation.
Christine Sanchez, clinical assistant professor: Sanchez joins MLFTC from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where she taught courses related to classroom management, early language and literacy acquisition, multicultural education, reading and language arts methods and more.
Abdullah Saykili, clinical assistant professor: Saykili was formerly a postdoctoral research fellow at MLFTC. His expertise includes educational technology, AI in education, learning experience design and learning analytics.
Jennifer Stapley, clinical assistant professor: Stapley joins MLFTC from Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University. She has taught and supervised pre-service teachers in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Kathleen Thorius-King, professor: Thorious-King comes to MLFTC from Indiana University Indianapolis where she was a professor of special education and urban education studies. She was also the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Equity Center. Her background includes developing and facilitating cultural historical approaches to teacher learning toward the goal of inclusive education.
Paul Tontz, clinical assistant professor: Tontz has over 24 years experience in student affairs and higher education. His expertise includes program development, student development theory, diversity in higher education, military and veteran academic success.
Laura Venegas, clinical assistant professor.
Denise Waters, clinical assistant professor: Waters has worked as a K–12 educator in rural and suburban districts, and she brings a focus on collaborative learning environments. Previously she worked in marketing in communications for Fortune 100 organizations.
Rebekah West Keur, instructional professional.
Promoted faculty
Michele Amrein, clinical associate professor. Amrein was promoted from clinical assistant professor.
Amanda Boutot, clinical professor. Boutot was promoted from clinical associate professor.
Abby Brown, clinical associate professor. Brown was promoted from clinical assistant professor.
Antonio Duran, associate professor: Duran secured tenure and promotion from assistant professor.
Carla Firetto, associate professor: Firetto secured tenure and promotion from assistant professor.
Lindsey Moses, professor. Moses was promoted from associate professor.
Wendy Oakes, professor. Oakes was promoted from associate professor.
Tanya Pinkerton, clinical associate professor. Pinkerton was promoted from clinical assistant professor.