College of Education New Faculty Arrive for 2018-19 Academic Year

The University of Maryland College of Education welcomes an accomplished and diverse group of new faculty members for the 2018-19 academic year. UMD tapped into local talent as well as professionals hailing from Chicago, Iowa and Florida. A few, as UMD alumni, already know their way around campus. The group comes to UMD COE with myriad experiences and research interests, ranging from helping youth with disabilities to social justice issues.

Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education

Senior Faculty Specialist
Alma Mater: George Washington University

Gramlich’s research focuses on exploring the strategies and tools that help youth with disabilities succeed as they transition from the school system to employment. Her passion for transition, career development and customized employment promoting integrated inclusive employment for people with disabilities stems from her experience advocating and developing creative strategies for the inclusion of her younger sister, who is blind and has learning disabilities.

“I have always felt that everyone who wants to work can work, and should be given every opportunity to develop skills and contribute to the community,” Gramlich says. “Through creativity, high expectations and appropriate supports, people with disabilities can contribute to the workforce and be a real benefit.”

At UMD COE, Gramlich is excited to work with the Way2Work Maryland project, which promotes education and employment success for youth with disabilities. The research falls directly in-line with her interests in helping youth transition out of high school successfully and promote competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities, she says.

Senior Faculty Education Specialist
Alma Mater: Northcentral University

Dr. Hommer is an educational specialist. She was the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment of Frederick County Public Schools before coming to UMD. Her daughter, who was born with a visual impairment, inspired Dr. Hommer to study the field of visual impairment.

COE houses Connection Beyond Sight and Sound, a Maryland State Department of Education and UMD partnership supporting children and young adults with deaf-blindness, which is among the reasons Dr. Hommer was attracted to the College.

“It was my desire to serve with, and learn from, the experts in deaf-blindness who are providing consultation, professional development, specialized services, resources, and technical assistance to children, educators, and families across the state,” she says.

Associate Professor
Alma Mater: University of Maryland

Dr. Kelly joins UMD COE from Loyola University Chicago, where she served as a program director and associate professor of higher education. She earned master’s and doctoral degrees in social foundations from UMD COE, and says the opportunity to return to her alma mater and work with other renowned faculty is particularly exciting.

Dr. Kelly’s research interests broadly explore campus racial diversity, gender equity, and socially-just education. Her research centers on the experience of women and People of Color in historically White research institutions, teaching social justice in graduate preparation programs and promoting equity on college campuses.

“As a faculty member, I am determined to shift the center to give voice to my marginalized existence as a Black woman, as well to others marginalized in the academy,” Dr. Kelly says.

Assistant Clinical Professor
Alma Mater: University of Maryland

Dr. Martin comes to UMD COE from Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, where she was an assistant professor of special education. Her research interests include intensive reading intervention, inclusive practice for content area access, and social support for students with high incidence disabilities.

“The goals of the department are aligned with my passion to prepare educators who can support students with varying academic and social-emotional needs,” she says.

Early opportunities supporting students with disabilities and inspirational educators throughout her academic career drew Dr. Martin to the field.

Department of Teaching, Learning, Policy and Leadership

Senior Faculty Specialist
Alma Mater: University of Maryland

An alumnus of UMD COE, Dalesio was a teacher and reading specialist for 10 years before teaching reading education courses as an adjunct instructor in the Graduate Education Department at Johns Hopkins University. Most recently, she served as a Supervisor of Residents in COE’s elementary education program. As a senior faculty specialist, she’s excited to be part of continuing UMD COE’s tradition of producing qualified and enthusiastic teachers.

“I enjoy working with educators in various roles, both new and veteran, in and out of the classroom, and school and University-based,” Dalesio says. “I’m excited to be a part of shaping this next generation of future teachers.”

Assistant Professor
Alma Mater: Michigan State University

Dr. Hankerson is an assistant professor in the UMD COE language, literacy, and social inquiry program. Most recently, she served as a Lecturer in English at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. The quality of the students, staff and research drew her to UMD.

“I was impressed with the diversity of faculty, staff and students on UMD's campus,” Hankerson says. “I was also impressed with the type of progressive scholarship that faculty and students were working on.” 

Dr. Hankerson’s research explores the intersections among race, class, language, writing and equity. She brings a breadth of knowledge and experiences to her research, including several years of experience working as an English educator and language activist in racially and ethnically diverse K-20 and community settings. 

Assistant Clinical Professor
Alma Mater: University of Iowa

Having earned an undergraduate degree at UMD, Dr. Liu is making a homecoming at UMD. She comes to UMD from the University of Iowa, where she served as a clinical assistant professor in the Teaching and Learning Department in the College of Education. She earned her M.F.A. from the Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program and her Ph.D. from the Language, Literacy, and Culture Program.

She has an interdisciplinary research focus centered on social justice and educational access and equity. Dr. Liu has founded and facilitated art-based writing workshops in public literacy spaces where she has worked with a range of community partners, including writers and artists at homeless shelters, veterans in rehabilitation and recovery programs at the Veterans Affairs, Latinx youths from rural communities, and student-athletes in yearlong preparatory programs.

“I seek to center voices and narratives of strengths that have otherwise been dismissed,” she says. “In short, I seek to learn from our communities; to identify needs alongside members; to ensure mutual benefits, reciprocity and sustainability; and to work toward a more democratic and socially-just world.”

Assistant Clinical Professor
Alma Mater: University of Miami

Dr. Jones comes to UMD COE from the University of Miami, where she earned her doctorate degree. Previously, she was a high school Spanish teacher.

Dr. Jones’ research focuses on English learners and teacher preparation. In particular, she’s interested in language and literacy instructional practices to support English learners in K-12 classrooms. Having faced and overcome the challenges that many classroom teachers encounter today—from working with limited resources to balancing overcrowded classrooms—she says she is dedicated to instilling her passion for teaching in others so that they too can find joy in teaching and learning, and that UMD COE is the perfect fit.

“I knew right away that COE was filled with hard-working faculty and staff that have a strong commitment to innovative teaching, rigorous scholarship, and meaningful service,” Dr. Jones says. “These commitments align well with my own goals and aspirations, which is how I know I will be at home here.”

Senior Faculty Specialist
Alma Mater: Harvard Graduate School of Education

Scott has spent nearly 35 years in civic education as a classroom teacher and in nonprofit settings. Most recently, she served as the senior director for Teacher Professional Development Programs & Curriculum at Street Law, Inc. She also worked as a university supervisor for a number of years, and has been impressed by the quality of teacher education programs at UMD COE.

“While it has been enormously rewarding to work with professional teachers who are intent on improving their craft, I am now drawn to the idea of working with pre-service teachers,” Scott says. “I hope to be of service as my students learn best practices for teaching and while they shape their identities as educators.”

In particular, Scott is dedicated to helping social studies educators teach students essential knowledge and skills that empower them to take informed action and be engaged in the work of democracy, and ultimately, in shaping the future.