FMU welcomes nine new faculty members for 2020-21 academic year

Francis Marion University welcomed nine new faculty members to campus as the 2020-21 academic year began.

The new faculty members come from universities across the country and around the globe. Credentials include advanced degrees from Clemson, Duke,  Utah State, and Rutgers.

Here’s a look at this year’s incoming faculty:

School of Business

Dr. James Wairimu, assistant professor of Management Information Studies. Bachelor of Business Information Technology from Kenya Methodist University, M.S. in agricultural sciences from Tennessee State University, and Ph.D. in business administration from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

School of Education 

Dr. Kit SaizdeLaMora, assistant professor of Early Childhood Education. B.A. in English from Dominican College, Master of Education from Adelphi University, and  Ph.D. in teacher education and teacher development from Montclair State University.

School of Health Sciences

Dr. Michele L. Norman, associate professor of Speech Language Pathology.  B.A. in speech, language, and hearing sciences from Rutgers University, M.S. in speech language pathology from the University of the District of Columbia, and Ph.D. in speech language pathology from the University of Memphis.

Dr. Tiffany Pressley, assistant professor of nursing and coordinator of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. B.A. in Spanish and international global studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the Medical University of South Carolina, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with Psychiatric (Family) Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization from the University of South Alabama.

Dr. Rebekah Wada, assistant professor of Speech Language Pathology.  B.S. in communicative disorders and deaf education, M.S. in speech language pathology, and Ph.D. of philosophy in disability disciples from Utah State University.

College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Mark Kanaparthi, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering. M.S. in physics from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research,  Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Clarkson University.

Dr. Lisa Manglass, assistant professor of Physics. B.S. in physics from the University of Georgia,  M.S. in radiological health science from Colorado State University, and  Ph.D. in environmental engineering and Earth science from Clemson University (pending).

Dr. Tesia Stephenson, assistant professor of chemistry. B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Maryland,  Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Duke University.

Dr. Stephanie Williams, assistant professor of Psychology.  B.A. in psychology from the University of Arizona, M.A. in school psychology and Ph.D. of philosophy in school psychology from the University of South Carolina.