VALDOSTA — VSU recognized 24 faculty members for teaching, service, scholarship, and professional achievement.

Release:

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University has awarded tenure and/or promotion to two dozen faculty members.

Tenure may be awarded, upon approval of the president, after a faculty member has completed a probationary period of at least five years of full-time service at the rank of assistant professor or higher. The award of tenure constitutes permanent status as a member of the VSU faculty.

Promotion may be awarded to faculty members who demonstrate superior teaching; outstanding professional service to the university and/or the community; outstanding research, scholarship, creative activity, or academic achievement; and professional growth and development. Promotion to the rank of associate or full professor at a regional university like VSU requires the earned doctorate or other terminal degree or its equivalent in training, ability, and/or experience.

The 2026 honorees are:

College of Science and Mathematics

Ansul Lokdarshi — Department of Biology, awarded tenure

Shipra Gupta — Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Ahana Roy Choudhury — Department of Computer Science and Engineering Technology, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Krishnapriya Kottakkal Sugathan — Department of Computer Science and Engineering Technology, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Erin Grabarczyk — Department of Biology, promoted to associate professor

James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services

John Lairsey — Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Kathy Nobles — Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Karen Terry — Department of Teacher Education, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Heather Kelley — Department of Human Services, promoted to full professor

Forrest Parker — Department of Teacher Education, promoted to associate professor

Jamie Workman — Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, promoted to full professor

Changwoo Yang — Department of Library and Information Studies, promoted to full professor

Jieun You — Department of Leadership, Technology, and Workforce Development, promoted to associate professor

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Shelly Yankovskyy — Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Sarah FitzGerald — Department of History, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Joel Harper — Department of English, promoted to principal lecturer

College of the Arts

Hank Rion — Department of Communication Arts, awarded tenure and promoted to full professor

David Nelson — Department of Communication Arts, promoted to full professor

Kristin Yu — Department of Music, promoted to principal lecturer

Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration

Wenjuan Guo — Department of Management and Marketing, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Md Ruhul Amin — Department of Economics and Finance, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor

Lynn Crump — School of Accountancy, promoted to senior lecturer

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Angela Felkins — School of Nursing, promoted to senior lecturer

Odum Library

Catherine Bowers — Reference Services Department, promoted to full professor

Photo Album:

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