Pitt Education Welcomes 11 New Faculty Members
As the 2024-25 academic year begins, 11 new faculty members are joining the ranks of the talented scholars at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.
The incoming faculty members have expertise in a wide range of subjects, including higher education access and policy, critical youth development, special education, and chronic disease prevention.
“I am thrilled to welcome our new colleagues to our School of Education,” says Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher, the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of Pitt Education. “Each of them are outstanding researchers and practitioners in their fields with an impressive dedication to igniting learning for all. I look forward to them sharing their expertise with our students, engaging in our scholarly community, forming new collaborations and partnerships, and joining in our commitment to equity and justice.”
Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy
Rosa Maria Acevedo
Assistant Professor of Practice
Rosa Maria Acevedo has 20 years of experience in providing greater access and opportunities to marginalized students in postsecondary education. Driven by her background as a first-generation college student and diasporic Puerto Rican woman, Acevedo is a critical scholar who investigates the mobility experiences of vulnerable populations, particularly low-income ethnoracially minoritized students abroad.
Most recently, Acevedo was the associate dean of students, director of horizons student support services, and interim director of the Latino Cultural Center at Purdue University. At Purdue, she created, led, and instructed a global leadership study abroad curriculum in Morocco, South Africa, Costa Rica, Greece, Spain, and Cuba.
Acevedo has a PhD from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; a master’s in public administration from the University of Michigan; and a bachelor’s in political science from Bowling Green State University.
Sergio A. Gonzalez
Assistant Professor
As an assistant professor of higher education specializing in critical qualitative methods, Sergio A. Gonzalez is interested in understanding the lived experiences of historically marginalized individuals, specifically queer and trans People of Color within educational environments.
As a first-generation academic, Gonzalez’s experiences in undergraduate and graduate school shaped how he shows up in community and navigates academia. His interdisciplinary research is informed by Women of Color Feminisms, specifically Black and Queer feminist ideologies, Chicana/Latina feminisms, and Jotería Studies within higher education scholarship.
Prior to the Pitt School of Education, Gonzalez was an assistant professor at Duquesne University. He earned a PhD in higher education and Master of Arts in applied gender studies from Claremont Graduate University; a Master of Education in postsecondary administration and student affairs from the University of Southern California; and a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from Manhattanville College.
Brett Ranon Nachman
Assistant Professor
Through his scholarship and practice, Brett Ranon Nachman explores how colleges can cultivate more equitable learning experiences for underrepresented students, such as those with autism or disabilities, community college transfers, and LGBTQIA+ students.
Nachman is director of research for College Autism Network, a non-profit organization that elevates autism advocacy, research, and training. He is also the co-principal investigator for Postsecondary Education: Autistic Collegians’ Experiences of Success, a national study cataloging the experiences of hundreds of autistic learners.
Nachman was previously an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, a postdoctoral research scholar at North Carolina State University’s Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an adjunct faculty member at multiple institutions. He earned a PhD and master’s in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Arizona State University; and an associate’s degree in journalism from Scottsdale Community College.
Nicholas C. Neupauer
Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice
For the last 17 years, Nicholas C. Neupauer has been president of Butler County Community College (BC3), which has been ranked as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania nine times since 2015. Under Neupauer’s leadership, BC3 grew into a regional institution, opening six campus locations in northwestern Pennsylvania.
As visiting assistant professor of practice, Neupauer will focus on community college leadership, strategic planning, and organizational and crisis communication. In addition to his new role at Pitt Education, Neupauer is interim vice president of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.
Neupauer has received many awards over the years for his teaching, community service, leadership, and communication. He has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University, a master’s degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate from West Virginia University.
Department of Health and Human Development
Deanna A. Ibrahim
Assistant Professor
Deanna A. Ibrahim’s research focuses on youth’s critical consciousness development; in other words, their ability to recognize structural inequities and engage in sociopolitical action. She primarily examines arts-based youth programming and has created research-practice partnerships with youth-serving arts organizations in New York, Rhode Island, and Washington.
An interdisciplinary researcher, Ibrahim’s work is informed by the fields of education, developmental psychology, critical pedagogy, community psychology, creative youth development, and arts education.
Prior to joining Pitt Education, Ibrahim earned a PhD in applied psychology from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Development, and Education at New York University. She received her bachelor’s in psychology and theatre from Muhlenberg College and is trained as a teaching artist and creative facilitator, dancer, and theatre artist.
Duck-chul Lee
Professor and Director of the Physical Activity Research Center
As a physical activity epidemiologist, Duck-chul (DC) Lee researches the health benefits of movement, fitness, and aerobic and resistance exercise training on clinical biomarkers, chronic disease prevention, and longevity.
In addition to his role as professor, Lee is director of the school’s new Physical Activity Research Center (PARC). Carrying on the legacy of the school’s former Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center, PARC aims to improve human health and quality of life by generating meaningful physical activity research data, training future leaders in physical activity research, and implementing evidence-based practice into sustainable active lifestyles for everyone.
Prior to joining Pitt Education, Lee was a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University’s College of Human Sciences. He received a PhD in physical activity epidemiology from Seoul National University in South Korea and completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of South Carolina.
Zack Wilson
Assistant Professor of Practice
Zack Wilson joined the Pitt School of Education faculty as a visiting professor in 2023 and was promoted to assistant professor of practice. His research is focused on the use of wearable technology to estimate activity levels and energy expenditure.
Wilson is a two-time Pitt Education alumnus, having earned both a PhD in exercise physiology and a master’s degree in health, physical activity, and chronic disease from the school. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Slippery Rock University.
Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leading
Ghirmay Alazar
Visiting Assistant Professor
A life-long learner and educator, Ghirmay Alazar recently moved to Pittsburgh from Indianapolis, Indiana, where he worked as a director of student services in an urban school district and as associate faculty at Indiana University. Alazar’s research interests include teacher leadership, teacher’s collective efficacy, and executive function skills and neuroscience.
Born in Eritrea, a country in eastern Africa, Alazar came to the United States in 1989 and began his education as an English language learner. His experience with mentoring at-risk students inspired him to pursue teaching and earn a master’s in special education from Regis University. After some experience in the classroom, Alazar became curious about improving the support of students with special needs, which led him to earn a PhD in educational leadership and policy from the University of Denver.
Johanna Higgins
Assistant Professor of Practice
Johanna Higgins is an assistant professor of practice in applied behavior analysis and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-D and will teach courses in special education practices and applied behavior analysis. Through her research, Higgins examines the use of naturalistic-developmental-behavioral interventions and supporting caregivers of young children who are at risk for or diagnosed with autism.
Higgins is an alumna of the Pitt School of Education, where she earned her Master of Education and PhD in early intervention with a specialization in autism. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from The College of Wooster.
JoVonne Tabb
Visiting Assistant Professor
JoVonne Tabb has experience teaching in K-12 settings and adult day programs and has conducted advanced research and instruction at the university level. Her work incorporates inclusive and equitable education practices, particularly for marginalized communities.
Drawing on her background in special education and applied behavior analysis, Tabb’s research seeks to address the impact of racial and cultural factors on assessment, intervention, and educational outcomes for students with disabilities. She emphasizes gathering comprehensive feedback and data to inform evidence-based interventions and instructional strategies.
Tabb has a PhD in special education with a focus on assessment and learning from Duquesne University and is currently pursuing her Board Certified Behavior Analyst Doctoral certification.
Kaylee Wynkoop
Visiting Assistant Professor
Kaylee Wynkoop has over 20 years of experience in the education field, having worked as a substitute teacher, special education teacher, educational consultant, and university educator. Her passions center around teaching and training in-service and pre-service educators to best support students with disabilities and to help improve adult outcomes for children with disabilities.
Prior to Pitt Education, Wynkoop was an assistant professor of special education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is also the founder of Raising Expectations for Exceptional Futures (REEF) Consulting, LLC, and previously worked for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistant Network.
Wynkoop completed a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Miami University before earning her a Master of Education and PhD in special education from Pitt Education.
