Center for Student Advancement

Robert Con Davis-Undiano is Executive Director of World Literature Today organization and is also the director of the Latinx Studies Program at OU. He is dedicated to innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and is a mentor and role model to Chicano and other minority students and faculty. Students credit him with changing their thinking, their attitudes, and their lives. 

Sherad Cravens brings more than 20 years of front-line brand management experience to Price College. He received his MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of North Texas His areas of expertise include innovation, marketing communications, consumer insights, and strategic partnerships. He has taught graduate and undergraduate level courses at New York University and The Fashion Institute of Technology.

Laura Daly is an instructor of digital marketing and social media marketing at the University of Oklahoma, bringing over 20 years of marketing experience spanning event marketing, project management, and digital strategy. She holds a Master's degree in Marketing with an emphasis in Public Relations and Marketing Communications from the University of Denver.   

A native of the great state of Oklahoma, Sidney T. Ellington returned to his home state bringing almost four decades of experience in military, education, and nonprofit service to the Department of Political Science.  He currently serves as a Professor of Practice in the field of nonprofit management.  His research and teaching interests span the fields of counterinsurgency, small wars, military policy, leadership, education policy, and nonprofit management.   

Dr. Kim Gaddie is a Lecturer for the Marketing & Supply Chain Division in the Price College of Business.  Her teaching focus is in Digital Marketing & Social Media Marketing.  Dr. Gaddie has been as long-time advocate for students with autism and autism spectrum disorders (i.e., Aspergers Syndrome) not only in her classroom but also in her role as an executive board member of the Oklahoma Autism Foundation. 

Dr. Hill has been an Assistant Professor of Sociology since August 16, 2013. He currently teaches Criminology, The System of Criminal Justice, and Juvenile Justice. For 11 years prior to his appointment at the University of Oklahoma, he served in several research and administrative positions in all three branches of state government

Dr. Brittany Hott is an associate director of the Institute for Community and Society Transformation (ICAST), director of the RISE Research Group, and professor of special education at the University of Oklahoma. She is a board certified behavior analyst with doctoral distinction (BCBA-D). Her work focuses on instructional methods for students with learning and behavioral disabilities and research methods for developing and validating school-based interventions within rural contexts.

Dr. Johnson is currently a Lecturer at the University of Oklahoma. She is originally from South Dakota where she completed her bachelor’s degree in economics and finance at Black Hills State University. After that, she moved to Washington State University where she completed her master’s degree in applied economics and her PhD in economics. She is currently researching agricultural cartels and marketing orders but also has interests in agriculture, sustainability, education, labor, and environmental issues. 

Rusty was a PhD student in the Philosophy Department from 2004-2010. He returned home in 2019 as Associate Professor of Philosophy and, beginning 2022, as chair of the department. His primary work is in classical Greek philosophy, especially in the ethics and epistemology of the fifth and fourth centuries BCE (with publications centered on the authors Plato, Xenophon, and Aristotle). He has taught at all levels (freshmen to PhD dissertations), primarily in the philosophy departments but also in the classics departments, at both Oklahoma and Harvard.

Professor Kellis is currently a lecturer at the University of Oklahoma in the Steed School of Accounting. She is originally from Arizona. She completed her Bachelor’s in Accounting here at the University of Oklahoma. After which she attended Oklahoma City University School of Law where she earned her JD. She then went on to become a licensed lawyer as well as a CPA. She has published papers over medical marijuana, cryptocurrency, accountant client privilege, stranded assets, tax issues during divorce, sustainability, and SEC case studies. Outside of teaching, she is the managing member of a law firm, has a short-term rental, and a mental wellness company. Besides work, her world revolves around her two children and two dogs. She also enjoys travel as well as home renovations. 

Jonathan earned a dual bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Oklahoma. He is a CPA and brings seven years of full-service accounting experience, five years of experience in tax preparation and two years of experience in audit and review.  During his time at OU, he worked as a tutor for algebra, business calculus, foundations of financial accounting, and foundations of managerial accounting. Prior to returning to OU, he worked in public accounting at Gray, Blodgett & Company, an alliance firm of BDO. He has a passion for theatre and contributes by teaching and directing local productions.

Dr. Kittur is an Assistant Professor in the Gallogly College of Engineering at The University of Oklahoma. He completed his Ph.D. in Engineering Education Systems and Design program from Arizona State University, 2022. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master’s in Power Systems from India in 2011 and 2014 respectively.

Elizabeth Nelson earned a Clinical Master's degree in Counseling and is a practicing LPC supervisor for candidates.  She is currently a full-time faculty member of the Psychology Department and with 15 years of experience in the mental health field and additional training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) she helps children and families process their trauma for overall wellness. Professor Nelson serves on the Board of Directors for South Central CASA of Oklahoma and has been Governor-appointed to serve on the State Advisory Board for PARB and serves at the county level as well.  Helping undergrads discover their next steps post-graduation has become her passion and goal for many years to come.

Brent Norwood attended Texas A&M for his Bachelor of Science in Economics, the University of Delaware for his Master of Economics & Entrepreneurship, and the University of Oklahoma for his PhD in Economics. He began at OU in 2021 as a teaching specialist. His research in applied public policy focuses on areas that impact low- and middle-income families around education, housing and sports economics. Brent is the faculty advisor for three fraternities and various clubs. He serves as the Assessment Liaison for the Economic Department, University Relations Board member for Norman NEXT, and is apart of the 2024-2025 Leadership Norman cohort.

Dr. Anne Pate is the Director of the Public and Community Health Programs at the University of Oklahoma. Originally from Michigan, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Taylor University in Indiana, and her master’s in public health from Yale University before moving to Oklahoma in 2004 and obtaining her PhD in Environmental Epidemiology from OU. Before working in higher education, Dr. Pate spent over a decade as an epidemiologist for the Oklahoma State Department of Health. She is currently the faculty sponsor for 4 different student organizations focused on public health issues and teaches Environmental Health and Introduction to Epidemiology.

Gracie Pearcy is a two-time graduate of the University of Oklahoma, holding a master's in public health with an emphasis on health promotion, and currently serves as an instructor in the Public Health Community Health program. Her passions lie in effective health communication, the science of hope, and advancing health equity to create meaningful community impact. In her free time, she enjoys adventures with her puppy Tripp, traveling to visit family, and cheering on the Sooners.

Corey Peltier is an associate professor of special education in the department of educational psychology at the University of Oklahoma. Peltier's research interests include (1) identifying effective interventions and assessment procedures to improve the mathematical outcomes for identified or at-risk for disabilities, (2) methodological considerations when using single-case research designs (see #ScrdChat on Twitter), and (3) the use of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to inform the fields' understanding of effective interventions under specific contexts.

Matthew Reyes is an associate professor in the Christopher Gibbs College of Architecture.  He holds a Master's in Construction Science as well as a PhD in Educational Psychology.  His research interests include Construction Safety Management and Safety, The Latino Workforce in the Construction Industry, and Gaming and Other Novel Instructional Interventions.