Meet Education Faculty

Adjunct Professor

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Before arriving in Kentucky, Dr. Calleroz White served in Student Affairs at Arizona State University (ASU) at the West and Tempe campuses in various roles, including Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students.  During her tenure at ASU, she was responsible for key university initiatives: leading college outreach and access initiatives in the Phoenix community and launching three new on-campus facilities totaling $50M.  Dr. Calleroz White holds a BS in Spanish and English Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and received an MEd in Higher Education and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program from Arizona State University.

Assistant Professor

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Since joining the College of Education in 2001, Karen has been teaching methods courses in K-12 literacy and literature in the B. S. and MAT initial teacher certification programs. She serves as academic advisor for teacher candidates, university supervisor for student teachers, and faculty sponsor for the Kentucky Education Association Student Program, while being active in professional organizations and educational service groups as an advocate for universal literacy. Dr. Dunnagan earned the B. A. degree in Communication and Secondary Teaching Certification and the M. A. degree in Communication with a K-12 Reading Specialist’s Certification. She taught speech communication, English language arts and directed literacy programs before beginning her career in teacher education at St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI. She completed the Ph. D. at The Ohio State University in Educational Theory & Practice.

Associate Professor

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Dr. Barbara Foster shares her expertise in classroom management and instructional design with teachers in local school systems and frequently presents at state, national, and international conferences including presentations in Taiwan and Australia. Her current research interests include topics related to dialogue, reflection, behavior management, assessment, mathematics education, and brain-based teaching and learning. Dr. Foster earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership Education from Spalding University and received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Elementary Education, as well as an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Indiana University. She served as an elementary and middle school teacher and principal in both public and parochial schools in the 25 years prior to joining the College of Education faculty.

Adjunct Professor

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Dr. Laura Harbolt earned a BA in English and History from Centre College, an MA in English from the University of Kentucky, and an EdD in Leadership at Spalding University. She has experience as a secondary teacher in the public school system and an adjunct professor at Jefferson Community and Technical College. At the University of Louisville, Dr. Harbolt was senior lecturer in composition, the assistant coordinator of the Writing Across the Curriculum program and completed thirty-three graduate hours in the rhetoric and composition program. She was co-author of a large grant to enhance undergraduate writing curriculum and was awarded an instructional grant to study teacher and student attitude to writing evaluation. She has presented papers at national conferences on writing assessment and pedagogy, writing across the curriculum, and locally on leadership strategies in hospice volunteer services. Dr. Harbolt was National Sales Director at a corporate sales organization and is currently an Executive Director at a large, not-for-profit hospice and palliative care organization.

Director of the Teacher Leadership Program
Director of Initial Teacher Certification
Chair of the College of Education
Associate Professor

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Dr. Kristen Harris, Chair of Spalding University’s College of Education and director of Spalding’s Initial Teacher Certification programs, earned her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland, College Park. During her tenure in Maryland, she researched and worked with pre-service and veteran teachers in urban high schools. Prior to that experience, Dr. Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Centre College. She then taught high school history and geography in Boyle County, Kentucky. Dr. Harris has also worked with the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association, and her scholarship focuses on college access and choice for high school students in Kentucky.

Adjunct Professor

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Dr. Susan Jackson-Dowd earned a BA from Murray State University in journalism/radio television, an MA from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Education, and an EdD in Leadership Education from Spalding University. Jackson Dowd is the executive director, president and publisher for Presbyterian Women, Inc., the women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Previously, she served as communications coordinator for Presbyterian Women, managing editor for Horizons magazine, and associate editor for the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Jackson-Dowd’s leadership experience also includes national and international board service, including chair, World Day of Prayer U.S.A. Board of Governors and executive committee member, World Day of Prayer International Committee. Jackson-Dowd is a national and international group facilitator and a speaker and workshop leader on women’s organizations and leadership, as well as on systemic issues that impact women and children.

Dean of Graduate Education
Professor

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Dr. Kurt Jefferson is currently the Dean of Graduate Education. He earned a BA from Western Illinois University in Political Science and MA and PhD degrees from the University of Missouri–Columbia in Political Science. He is the author of two books, the most recent of which is, Celtic Politics: Politics in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. He has published numerous scholarly articles in such journals including the Journal of Scientific Psychology, The Encyclopedia of Race and Racism, and North American Journal of Welsh Studies. He has been a frequent commentator on world affairs and leadership in various local, regional, national, and international media outlets. Dr. Jefferson served more than 24 years at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where he was a professor, department chair, division chair, and assistant dean. He was the founding director of leadership studies at Westminster where he also taught courses in leadership theories and practice, innovation and creativity, and transnational studies.

Director of the EdD: Leadership Program
Assistant Professor

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Thomas Malewitz is Assistant Professor and Interim Director of the EdD: Leadership Program at Spalding University. He earned a BA in Mathematics & Philosophy from Eastern Michigan University, a B.Phil. from Sacred Heart Major Seminary, and an M.T.S. in Pastoral Ministry and Graduate Certificate in Scripture from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. He earned his PhD in Education and Social Change from Bellarmine University, where his dissertation was awarded the Drs. Robert and Kathleen Cooter Social Justice Advocate Award. Dr. Malewitz has experience as a secondary teacher in Catholic education as well as a lecturer at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the fields of Education and Theology. He has presented papers and workshops at national conferences on 21st century pedagogical practices, adolescent formation and spirituality, and ethical leadership. He is a CMA book award-winning author for Authenticity, Passion, and Advocacy (Wipf & Stock, 2020) in the category of youth and young adult pastoral ministry. Dr. Malewitz has peer-reviewed articles published in The Journal of Catholic Education and The Merton Annual. He is an active member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA), College English Association (CEA), International Thomas Merton Society (ITMS), and Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland (TMS-GBI).

Director of Field Experiences

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Jennifer Mangeot received her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Louisville and her M.Ed. from the University of Kentucky. She spent eight years as an elementary school teacher in Fayette County Public Schools and in the Archdiocese of Louisville. In 2000, she began work as a student teacher supervisor at Bellarmine University, where she also worked as an adjunct professor in the School of Education. In 2007, Jennifer began work as a university supervisor here at Spalding, as well as taught the student teaching capstone course before becoming the current Director of Field Experiences and the Certification Officer.

Adjunct Professor

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Dr. Christopher Walsh, the immediate past chair of Spalding University’s College of Education, is the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Before joining the leadership team at Spalding, Dr. Walsh served as Assistant Professor of Education in the Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education at Bellarmine University. Dr. Walsh is an experienced educational leader having served in the Archdiocese of Louisville as an assistant principal and principal prior to his transition into higher education. Dr. Walsh earned his undergraduate degree at Western Kentucky University. Later, he earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree at Spalding University, a Master of Arts in Instructional Leadership and School Administration degree from Bellarmine University, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership Education degree from Spalding University. Dr. Walsh’s research interests are focused on the ethical domains of educational leadership, as well as motivation and decision-making theory in educational leadership.