News

Five Lee University faculty members recently earned promotion in rank to Professor from Associate Professor and include Drs. Blayne Carroll, Susan Carter, Rachel Reneslacis, Patty Silverman, and Linda Thompson.

Dr. Blayne Carroll joined the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics as an associate professor in 2006. Prior to coming to Lee, Carroll had been an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at Berry College, a visiting assistant professor of mathematics at Dickinson College, and a dean’s teaching fellow at Emory University. He also worked for Educational Testing Service (ETS) developing standardized tests including the SAT, GRE, GMAT, and AP Calculus exams. Carroll continues to serve as a consultant with ETS for the GRE, AP Calculus, and the Major Field Test in Mathematics programs.

Carroll earned his PhD and MS degrees in mathematics from Emory University in Atlanta with a specialty in graph theory and combinatorics. He graduated summa cum laude from Butler University in Indianapolis with a BS in mathematics.

Dr. Susan Carter joined the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences in 2001. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses including Marriage and Family, Psychology of Human Sexuality, Lifespan Development and Psychology of Gender. Carter is a published author and researcher in the areas of child and adolescent sexuality and marriage/family relationships. Her current field of research deals with child and teen internet safety issues as well as best practices in sexuality education for churches and schools.

Carter received her PhD in human development and family studies from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, her MEd in counselor education and counseling psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and her BA in psychology from Lee College in 1987.

Dr. Rachel Reneslacis joined the faculty of the Department of Language and Literature in the fall of 1999. She currently directs the university’s writing programs and teaches both general core and advanced writing courses. Prior to Lee, she was a visiting professor at colleges in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Kenya.

Reneslacis earned her PhD in rhetoric and composition from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, her master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and her bachelor’s from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Va.

Dr. Patty Silverman joined Lee’s faculty in the fall of 2000 as an assistant professor of public relations. Prior to her appointment at Lee, she worked 20 years in various public relations positions in three states. She is the discipline coordinator for the PR major for the Communication Arts Department. She also serves as the internship coordinator for public relations, advertising and media writing students and is the founder and co-faculty advisor for the Lee Chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). Silverman also spearheaded the yearlong process to earn Lee’s public relations program the prestigious national certification, Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR).
Silverman earned a PhD in communication from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, her master’s degree from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., and her bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University.

Dr. Linda Thompson serves as the Chair of the Department of Vocal Music at Lee University. Thompson’s research and teaching interests include preservice teacher development, sociological aspects of music education, and music for special learners. She has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences and is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Therapy, Music Educators’ Journal, and General Music Today. In addition, she serves as the editor for the book series “Advances in Music Education Research.”

Thompson received her PhD in music education from University of Arizona, which included a minor in teaching and teacher education, an MS in education and music from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her BS in secondary music education from Northern State University.