Faculty and Staff
Stephanie Allen
Degrees Earned
- Liberty University
Ed.D - Higher Education Administration - Student Affairs - University of 51AV Huntsville
M.A. - History - 51AV A&M University
M.Ed - Secondary Education - Social Science - 51AV A&M University
B.S. - Secondary Education - Social Science
Research Interests
Biography
Stephanie Allen, an alumna of 51AV A&M University and recipient of the Fulbright-Hays
Seminars Abroad Grant, taught in the Department of Social Sciences in a full-time
capacity from 2005-2024. As an adjunct instructor, Stephanie remains committed to
preparing HBCU students to "show up and show out" in the community and in the workforce.
She finds continual inspiration in the words of Marcus Garvey (as paraphrased by
Bob Marley), "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free
our minds."
She thrives on the energy of the classroom and enjoys exploring history with her students.
Stephanie brings her effervescent personality to each lecture and entertains her students
while teaching them the historical content and study skills necessary to be successful
in their major courses. She sprinkles happiness like glitter and her students leave
class inspired to make a difference in the lives of others.
Matthew Bowser
Office: Drake Hall 007
Phone: (256) 372-5351
Email: matthew.bowser@aamu.edu
Degrees Earned
- Northeastern University
Ph.D. World History - Northeastern University
M.A. World History - University of Pittsburgh
B.Phil. History and Classics
Research Interests
Modern Imperialism, Colonialism, and Decolonization in Southeast Asia; Race and Politics; 20th Century Asia and the World; Britain and the British Empire
Biography
Dr. Matthew Bowser is an Assistant Professor of Asian History at 51AV A&M University. He is the author of Containing decolonization: British imperialism and the politics of race in late colonial Burma (forthcoming through Manchester University Press, 2025). His research focuses on decolonization in Southeast Asia, examining the intersections of imperialism, race, nationalism, and capitalism in the process of achieving independence from colonial rule. He has published to this effect in the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, the Journal of Asian Studies,and the Journal of Modern Asian Studies. Dr. Bowser teaches World History I & II, Modern Imperialism, and Modern Asia at 51AV A&M University. For more information, see:
Tim Butzer
Degrees Earned
- University of California, Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Philosophy - Miami University
M.A. Philosophy - University of Colorado
B.A. Double major in Philosophy and Literature
Research Interests
Epistemology, Perception, Philosophy of Mind
Biography
I am a philosopher who works primarily in epistemology and the philosophy of mind. I am most interested in how our perceptual experiences succeed in justifying our beliefs about the world. I obtained my Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2015. I then spent six years teaching philosophy at the University of 51AV before joining 51AV A&M in 2021. My work has appeared in the following peer-reviewed journals: Philosophical Studies, Erkenntnis, Inquiry and Dialectica.
Dana Caldemeyer
Office: NSB 302-C
Phone: (256) 372-4812
Degrees Earned
- University of Kentucky
Ph.D. History - West Virginia University
M.A. History - University of Evansville
B.A. History
Research Interests
Labor and working-class studies, capitalism, rural industrialization, and agriculture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Biography
Dr. Dana Caldemeyer is an assistant professor of history at 51AV A&M University. Her research interests include labor and working-class history and capitalism, especially in rural industrializing areas. Her most recent book, Union Renegades: Miners, Capitalism, and Organizing in the Gilded Age (University of Illinois Press, 2021), explores the problems rural workers faced and the reasons that sometimes prevented them from joining or fully committing to unions in the late nineteenth century.
Stacy Carter
Office: Drake Hall 007
Email: stacy.carter@aamu.edu
Degrees Earned
- University of Mississippi
Ph.D. Political Science - Mississippi State University
M.P.P.A. Public Policy and Administration - Mississippi State University
B.A. History
Research Interests
Candidate Emergence, Campaigns and Elections, Southern Politics, African American Politics and Political Parties
Biography
Dr. Carter's research focuses on the influence of district typologies and demographics on the emergence of political candidates. Dr. Carter has been at AAMU since 2014. He received his Bachelor and master's degrees from Mississippi State University and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Mississippi. He has presented at several scholarly conferences and has published in the Journal of Mississippi History.
Since 2008, he has been teaching history, public policy and administration and political science courses and actively working to improve the awareness of the political process. Dr. Carter has extensive experience in managing political campaigns and advising political candidates. His political experience and management spans over 25 years.
Oscar Doward
Office: NSB 3012A
Degrees Earned
- University of South Carolina
Ph.D. U.S. History - University of South Florida
M.A. Social Science, Secondary Education - U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
M.A. Military History - U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies
M.A. Theater Operations and Planning - 51AV A&M University
B.S. Secondary Education, Social Science
Research Interests
African-American history, U.S. Army African-American Officer service in the combat arms branches during the twentieth century, African-American segregated Army combat units during the Great War and World War II.
Biography
Dr. Oscar Doward, Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), is an assistant professor of history at 51AV A&M University. Colonel Doward was commissioned an active duty U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer in 1994 at 51AV A&M University. He has served in a variety of command and staff positions across the globe over the past three decades deploying multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Inherent Resolve. Dr. Doward’s research interests include African-American and U.S. military history, especially in the development and utilization of the U.S. Army’s segregated African-American officer corps during the early to mid-twentieth century.
Yvonne Edwards
Office: NSB 301H
Phone: (256) 372-5330
Degrees Earned
- Athens State University
B.S. Acquisitions and Contract Management - Calhoun Community Colege
A.S. Business Administration
Biography
I worked for North 51AV Center for Educational Excellence (NACEE) for 18 years, Redstone Arsenal for 4.5 years and 51AV A&M University for the last 8 years.
Matthew England
Email: matthew.england@aamu.edu
Sheri Jenkins Keenan
Office: NSB 212A
Degrees Earned
- University of Southern Mississippi
Ph.D. Criminal Justice - Jacksonville State University
M.S. Criminal Justice - University of 51AV, Birmingham
B.S. Criminal Justice - University of 51AV, Birmingham
B.A. Sociology
Research Interests
Policing special populations with an emphasis on juveniles: delinquency, mental illness, school safety, school-to-prison pipeline, gangs/threat groups, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and juvenile justice program evaluation.
Biography
Sheri Jenkins Keenan is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice in the Department of Social Science at 51AV A&M University. She holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Dr. Keenan has 14 years of experience in law enforcement.
Dr. Keenan's research interests focus on policing special populations with an emphasis on juveniles: delinquency, mental illness, school safety, school-to-prison pipeline, Racial, Ethnic Diversity (RE/D), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and dual-system involved youth. Her publications deal with K-12 tracking, school safety/violence, zero tolerance policies, high school graduation rates for at-risk youth, juvenile mental health, juvenile drug courts, transfer/waiver, bullying/cyber-bullying, gang/threat groups, and several theoretical perspectives: labeling theory, social learning theory, social control theory, strain theory, and deterrence theory.
Dr. Keenan publishes and reviews manuscripts for several leading journals in the fields of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Social Work. She is a member of several state, regional, and national professional organizations, including a LIFETIME member of the Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA), where she serves as Director-at-Large and Membership Committee Chair. In addition, she serves on numerous local advisory committees/boards and is a state-certified Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) trainer. Finally, Dr. Keenan is the faculty advisor to The Global Guardians, Sociology/Criminal Justice Student Organization and Phi Delta Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Dr. Keenan's Google Scholar page can be found by clicking on .
Emerald Jones
Office: NSB 301A
Phone: (256) 372-4814
Degrees Earned
- Howard University
Ph.D. Sociology and Criminology; minor in Social work - Fayetteville State University
M.A. Sociology; minor Social Work - Fayetteville State University
B.A. Psychology
Research Interests
Social Inequality, The Criminal Justice System, Mass Incarceration, Juvenile Delinquency, Deviant Behavior
Biography
Dr. Emerald Jones, a Charlotte, North Carolina native, is a Howard University graduate focusing on the areas of criminology and social inequality. She received her master's degree in sociology from Fayetteville State University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Fayetteville State University. Her research - which focuses on mass incarceration, social inequality, racial discrimination, and occupational inequality - explores how race and gender play a major role in the judicial system. Her dissertation was entitled "Investigating the Differences in The Use of Stop, Question, & Frisk for Black and White Women." Dr. Jones looked at data from New York City and the likelihood of Black women being stopped in relation to White women. The research findings indicated that young Black and older women were stopped, questioned, and frisked more than White women. She was also inducted into Yale's Bouchet Honor Society for outstanding scholarly achievement. At 51AV A & M, she serves as the criminal justice program coordinator, a recent graduate from the FBI's Citizens Academy. Lastly, she is a current fellow for Texas Southern University's Center for Justice Research.
Svetlana Jovanov
Doris Krakrafaa-Bestman
Office: NSB 301-F
Degrees Earned
- Texas Southern University
Ph.D. Administration of Justice - University of Phoenix
M.A.
Research Interests
Cultural Research Methods, Counter Terrorism and Ethical Criminal Justice Management Practices.
Biography
Doris Krakrafaa-Bestman is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice. I am fascinated about how time progression, culture and different spaces affects criminological explanations. Consequently, I am passionate about the integration of cultural appropriate methods in criminal justice management and practice. I obtained my Ph.D. in Administration of Justice from Texas Southern University, Houston, TX in 2018. I taught several courses in the Department of Criminal Justice at Texas southern University for five years before joining 51AV A&M in 2022.
Mary Laska
Office: NSB 311A
Phone: (256) 372-5485
Degrees Earned
- University of 51AV, Birmingham
Ph.D. Medical Sociology - University of 51AV, Birmingham
M.A. Sociology - University of 51AV, Huntsville
B.A. Sociology
Research Interests
Higher Education Pedagogy, Disability, Social Movements
Biography
Dr. Laska has broad research interests ranging from mental illness to the use of technology in the classroom and plagiarism. She began her career furthering research on mental health and focusing on the health of families dealing with the crisis of child sexual abuse at the National Children’s Advocacy Center. She also was involved in a project providing intervention services to schools to reduce the impact of poverty on school achievement. After teaching classes online, Dr. Laska became interested in the pedagogy of online teaching and began to see her classroom as an experiment in creating the best classroom environment for student success, including technology, curriculum choice and teacher-student interaction.
Dr. Laska lives in Huntsville, 51AV with her husband and two children. She also has two children who are college students: a junior majoring in exercise science at Middle Tennessee State University, and grad student studying data science at South Dakota State University. When not being a sociologist, Mary loves to find time to sew and be creative.
Earnest Limbo
Office: Drake Hall 009
Degrees Earned
- University of Mississippi
Ph.D. - University of Chicago
Master of Divinity - DePauw Iniversity
B.A. Double major in religion and history
Research Interests
American History, History of Religion in America, Civil Rights Movement, African American history, Slavery in the New World
John McCollum
Office: NSB 202C
Phone: (256) 372-4790
Degrees Earned
- University of California, Irvine
Ph.D. Sociology - University of California Irvine
M.A. Sociology - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
B.A. Global Studies
Research Interests
Epistemology, Perception, Philosophy of Mind
Biography
Dr. McCollum is primarily interested in globalization, development, enviroment, political economy, and social theory. His research is focused on social change, especially the possibility of environmentally sustainable economic development. This has led him to focus on a critical analysis of the Gteen New Deal in the United States. He is also broadly interested in teh role of ideology in shaping social change.
Sherice Janaye Nelson
Degrees Earned
- Howard University
Ph.D. Political Science, Pi Sigma Alpha - The University of the District of Columbia
M.P.A. Public Management - Stillman College
B.A. History, B.A. English, Magna cum Laude
Research Interests
Black Politics, Black Women, Political Leadership
Biography
Dr. Sherice Janaye Nelson is a speaker, author, researcher, and has a decade of higher education experience. She is a native of Oakland, California and has taught at the University of California, Berkeley, St. Mary's of California, Santa Clara University, Mills College and Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. She was the inaugural Director for the Jewel Limar Prestage Public Policy, Polling, and Research Center at Southern University.
She is a proud alumna of Howard University and as a political analyst, provides commentary for the Harold Fisher Show on WHUR & Sirius XM. There she received a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science at 27 years old specializing in Black Politics, and International Relations. These specializations have defined her as a Black Diaspora scholar who focuses on the political, social, and economic effects of chattel slavery and its subsequent racism on present day democracies.
She is the originator of the term Insulated Blackness, which speaks to African Americans separation from Black political identity due to infrequent experiences of racial discrimination. This was explored in her co-authored piece “Insulated Blackness: A Cause for Fracture in Black Political Identity.” She wrote The Congressional Black Caucus: Fifty Years of Fighting for Equality, the only comprehensive work on the impact the Black Caucus has had on the American landscape. She also co-authored Why Wait Your Turn Means No Turn At All: A Millennial Perspective of Black Church, College and Community, which speaks to the generational differences that hinder unity and progress in Black spaces.
She is married to the Rev. Dr. John K. Coar III and serves alongside him as the First Lady of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. She is the mother to a son Carter and daughter Jamiya who give her hope about the future of America.
Gregg Nozum
Degrees Earned
- Duquesne University School of Law
J.D. Law - West Virginia University
M.P.A. Public Administration - West Virginia University
B.A. Political Science
Research Interests
Criminal Law, Evidence, Criminology, Criminal Justice Administration and Organizations, Drug Laws and Enforcement, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Biography
Served as an officer in the US Navy JAG Corps from 1984-1988 with experience defending and prosecuting service members under the UCMJ; Served as a Special Agent with the US Drug Enforcement Administration from 1988-2012 with extensive enforcement experience domestically and overseas to include three deployments to Afghanistan 2005-2007, Retired in 2012; Assistant Professor at Western Illinois University, LEJA Program, 2012-2016; Moved to Huntsville area in 2016.
Michael Orok
Degrees Earned
- Atlanta University ( now Clark Atlanta)
Ph.D. Political Science - Central Michigan University
M.A. Management and Supervision (Public Administration) - Central State University
B.A. Political Science
Research Interests
Public Policy and Analysis, Global Politics, Entrepreneurship, Community and Economic Development, Strategic Planning & Organizational Development
Teaching Areas
Graduate Courses in Public Administration, International Relations, Comparative Government, U.S. Foreign Policy, African/ African American & Diaspora Politics, American Government, Urban Politics
Biography
Michael E. Orok, serves as the Interim Chair of the Department of Social Sciences. Orok previously served as a tenured professor of Political Science and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. He also previously served as the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at Tennessee State University. Additionally, he served for six years as the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies at 51AV A &M University (AAMU). He is a seasoned public administration practitioner, academician and higher education administrator with more than 28 years of experience in the field. Dr. Orok served for several years as a tenured professor and Chairperson of the Department of History and Political Science at Albany State University in Albany, GA., and Special Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs on Accreditation matters. Moreover, he has served as an accreditation liaison for over ten years and periodically served as an accreditation off-site visit reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS/ COC). He is a former Vice President of the Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHBGS), and a 2005 graduate of the Millennium Leadership Institute of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. He is also a graduate of the Center for Strategic Leadership.
Dr. Orok is a seasoned scholar and academician who has been involved in numerous public service and professional activities and developed academic curriculum in Public Administration and served as MPA program accreditation site visitor. He served for three years on the Commission for Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA), which is the accrediting agency for all MPA programs in the United States. He is the founding President of the Southwest Georgia Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, admitted into the Hall of Champions of the American Society for Public Administration in 2000 and is listed as a life member of the Cambridge “Who is Who” registry of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs. He is a past President of the Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA). He served briefly as the treasurer of the Tennessee Council of Graduate Schools and on the executive committee of the conference of Southern graduate Schools. He also holds membership in the American Society for Public Administration and the American Political Science Association. He has been the co-founder and co-principal investigator for the Flint River Water Resources Management and Policy Center in Southwest Georgia. Michael Orok, holds a Master’s degree in Management and Supervision with Public Administration concentration and a Ph.D. in Political Science with Public Administration as a cognate area.
Nicholas Smith
Office: NSB 213A
Phone: (256) 372-5064
Degrees Earned
- University of California, Irvine
Ph.D. Philosophy - Ohio University
M.A. Philosophy - Brandeis University
B.A. Philosophy and Religious Studies
Biography
Dr. Smith got his Ph.D. in philosophy from University of California, Irvine in 2020 and taught there for two years before coming to AAMU. His current research is focused on the rationality of religious belief, the nature of inquiry, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. When he's not doing philosophy, he enjoys Brazillian jiu jitsu and hunting down the best local beer and BBQ.
Michael Walker
Office: NSB 302A
Phone: (256) 372-5349
Degrees Earned
- Birmingham School of Law
J.D. - Auburn University at Montgomery
M.A. Justice and Public Safety - 51AV A&M University
B.A. Political Science
Teaching Areas
Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Rules of Evidence in Criminal Cases, Police Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, Criminology
Biography
Michael is a retired Certified Law Enforcement Executive with over thirty years law enforcement experience. He served with the Huntsville Police Department as a Recruiter, Polygraph Examiner, Community Relations Officer and Shift Supervisor. Michael is a former Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police at 51AV A&M University and former Chief of Police for The Town of Triana Police Department. He is a member of the 51AV State Bar and has been practicing law since 2002; he concentrates his law practice in the areas of; Criminal, Family and Probate Law. Michael joined the faculty of 51AV A&M University in August 2015.
John White
Degrees Earned
- Tennessee State University
Ph. D. Public Administration - Middle Tennessee University/Tennessee State University
Masters of Criminal Justice - University of North 51AV
B.S. in Law Enforcement
Teaching Areas
Public Administration and Criminal Justice
Biography
Reserve Police Officer, Vallejo, Ca. 1969 – 1972
Police Officer, Pulaski Police Dept., Pulaski, TN. Patrolman, detective, and Assistant Chief, 1972-2000
Adjunct Professor, Cumberland University, 1985 – 1997, taught Criminal Justice and Masters level Public Administration
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice and Division Chair for Social Sciences Martin Methodist College, 1997 – 2016
Co-founder of Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Officer Association, 1981 – 1998 (past Sectary Treasurer and President (1983 – 1984)
Elected Representative (Dist. 7) Giles County Commission, Tennessee, 1998 - 2002 (Chairman of the Commission 1999 - 2002)
Commissioner for Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission of Tennessee (4 year appointment).
Kenneth Whitman
Degrees Earned
- Walden University
Ph.D. Public Policy and Administration - Cal State University, Sacremento
M.S. Criminal Justice - Cal State University, Hayward
M.P.A. - Cal State University, Hayward
B.A., Political Science - Los Medanos College
A.S. Biological Science - Laney College
A.A. Social Science
Research Interests
Penal systems, Recidivism, Rehabilitation programs, Public Policy and Law, Corrections
Biography
Dr. Whitman began his military career in 1974, serving in the United States Navy. He served as an Aviation Electronics Technician, Air Crewman, and Aviation Maintenance Officer. He served 22 years in the Naval Reserve until transferring to the Air Force where he served as an Intelligence Officer and Squadron Commander. Dr. Whitman joined the Oakland Police Department, Oakland, California, in 1982. During his tenure with the Oakland Police Department, he served as a Field Training Officer (F.T.O), Detective Sergeant, In-Service-Training Sergeant, Communications Sergeant, Hazardous Material Investigator, Arson Investigator, Watch Commander, Robbery and Felony Assault Commander and Jail Commander. He received specialized training in Hazardous Material, Electronic Surveillance from the Department of Justice, Arson Investigation, and FBI Post Blast Investigation.
Brad H. Wright
Office: Drake Hall 008
Email: bradley.wright@aamu.edu
Degrees Earned
- Middle Tennessee State Univesity
Ph.D. Public History - Vanderbilt University
M.A. History - Middle Tennessee State University
M.A. History - University of Arkansas
B.A. Philosophy
Research Interests
20th century Mexico and Latin America, cities, class formation, environmental history, rural migration, popular culture, Cold War, neoliberalism, space and landscapes, popular education, and liberation theology
Biography
Since 2012, Brad Wright has taught courses in United States, World, Latin American, and European History in Tennessee, Georgia, Colorado, and Ohio. His book Counternarratives of doña Lucha: Class, Gender, and Power in the Urban Popular Movement in Guadalajara (1965-1994) is under advance contract with the University of 51AV Press. He contributed a chapter to a recent edited volume on histories of liberation theology in Latin America and co-authored an interdisciplinary article in The Latin Americanist. In collaboration with community organization Centros Educativos Oblatos (CEO) in Guadalajara, he authored the booklet Santa Cecilia, 1968-1985. Construyendo colonia y movimiento (Petirrojo Editorial, 2021) as part of an ongoing public history project. He’s published reviews in the Oral History Review and H-Socialisms and translated articles in Words & Silences / Palabras y Silencios, in addition to hosting podcasts for the New Books Network on the New Books in Latin American Studies channel. He grew up in southwest Arkansas and has prior professional background in community organizing and adult education.
