Educational Leadership Faculty & Staff

Professor of Educational Leadership and Higher Education

celue@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-2493
BEB 462

Dr. Chinasa Elue is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at Kennesaw State University, where she teaches in the Higher Education and Student Affairs master’s degree concentration and serves as Program Coordinator. Her scholarship centers on grief in higher education, trauma-informed leadership practices in organizational settings, and the health and well-being of historically underrepresented populations.

Dr. Elue directs the Research Lab for the Study of Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Effectiveness, and the Well-Being of Educational Leaders, where her work advances research-informed practices that support humane, inclusive, and sustainable learning and work environments. Her research and commentary have been featured in national media outlets including USA Today, The Portia Show on Fox 5 Atlanta, DiversityInc, and Better Homes and Gardens, as well as leading academic journals such as The Journal of Higher Education, The Journal of Negro Education, and Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice.
Dr. Elue is also a TEDx speaker, where she introduced the concept of grief-conscious communication, a transformative framework that calls leaders and institutions to engage grief with intention, compassion, and care in order to foster individual and collective well-being.

Limited Term Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

severe12@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-2494
BEB 447

I teach graduate-level courses in the Department of Educational Leadership, including courses in the EDS Tier II and Teacher Leadership programs. As a scholar-practitioner, I bring more than thirty years of K-12 experience to my teaching and research, having navigated every level of the K-12 system from the classroom to the district office, including service as Chief of Staff to a Superintendent. My work is grounded in the scholar-practitioner tradition - the belief that research and practice are not separate activities, but the same work approached from two directions.

My research examines how leadership develops in practice, with a particular focus on high-need school contexts. My scholarship spans three interconnected strands:

• Teacher Leadership in High-Need Schools: I examine how teacher leaders facilitate instructional improvement and collaborative inquiry in turnaround and high-need contexts, giving voice to the conditions and mechanisms that make that leadership possible in the schools that need it most.
• Job-Embedded Professional Learning and Coaching: I investigate how collaborative structures such as PLCs, coaching cycles, and inquiry teams build leadership capacity over time, equipping educators with the knowledge and practices needed to lead instructional improvement from within their schools.
• Leadership Identity Development: I explore how teachers come to see themselves as leaders, including the turning points, relationships, and structural conditions that shift professional self-concept and sustain leadership practice over time.

My research is deeply rooted in the realities of high-need schools and the educators who serve them, and it is driven by a commitment to preparing leaders who can transform practice for the students who need it most.

Clinical Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

cgoodgam@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-2498
BEB 457

As a Clinical Assistant Professor, I bring experience as a school-based leader from multiple districts in the metro Atlanta area. I teach courses in the masters and Tier I certification programs, working closely with present and aspiring leaders as they grow in their leadership practice. 

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

kharr345@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-2836
BEB 452

I teach graduate-level courses in the Department of Educational Leadership. Through my research, I center the experiences of people with marginalized racial identities throughout the P-20 Education system. More specifically, I focus on using community-engaged research methods to center the voices of Black children, families, and communities; investigate best practices for anti-racist and asset-based approaches to leadership; and examine school, university, and community relationships within the education system. I work closely with EdD students through dissertation advising and mentoring, and teaching courses related to research, equity, and school, family, and community partnerships. 

Assistant Professor of Teacher Leadership

dmaitra1@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-7736
BEB 456

I teach graduate-level courses in the Department of Educational Leadership. Through my academic scholarship, I center the experiences, voices, and cultural capital of marginalized students, aiming to create more inclusive and equitable educational environments. As a transdisciplinary educational researcher, my work spans three interconnected domains:

• Amplifying marginalized voices across STEM and other disciplines- I aim to bring attention to their experiences and recommendations, shedding light on the challenges and barriers they face while navigating their academic journey
• Professional development of educators-equipping them with the knowledge, pedagogies, and skills needed to effectively support and engage multi-marginalized students.
• And finally, I investigate how teachers can integrate students' identities and cultural capital into classroom lessons, with a special focus on STEM education.

My research bridges literacy education and STEM education with an equity lens, and it is deeply rooted in critical theories, aiming for transformational change. I also extensively (formally and informally) mentor students with multi-marginalized identities.

Assistant Professor of Teacher Leadership

mota1@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-2951
BEB 454

I teach Master's courses in Teacher Leadership and Educational Leadership. My research agenda is on community inclusion in the eligibility process for special education with a current concentration in autism. I have been involved in education for 20+ years having taught in PK-12, community college, and university settings. My experience in leadership includes advocacy, educational policy, and local district expertise in autism-related services. I am also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and I have worked in instructional technology in math curriculum and assessment across the nation, including Georgia, and internationally.

Clinical Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

jrobi313@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-6489
BEB 455

I teach graduate courses in the Department of Educational Leadership. Supporting current and future leaders in developing and refining their professional practices, I draw from my experiences as a leader in various K-12 settings to further effective instructional leadership, improved stakeholder communication, and strengthened vertical connections. 

Associate Professor of Higher Education

jwells42@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-4981
BEB 461

I teach graduate courses in higher education and educational leadership, including assessment, organizational management, legal and ethical issues, developmental theory, and qualitative research. My scholarship focuses on higher education assessment and standards, students’ sense of belonging, civility and civil dialogue, and historical thinking as professional practice. More specifically, my work explores how these areas inform student success, democratic engagement, and organizational learning in higher education. I maintain an active collaborative research agenda focused on belonging, loneliness, and civil dialogue and work closely with master’s and doctoral students through teaching, dissertation advising, and mentoring. I have served in national leadership roles with the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), including as editor of multiple editions of CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education.