Research Development Academy

 

Dr. Ashley P. Voggt is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the College of Education and Human Development. She joined Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2020 as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Sciences. Dr. Voggt’s research focuses on evidence-based practices in special education, inclusive instructional strategies, behavioral interventions, and teacher preparation.
 
Her scholarly work includes peer-reviewed publications and collaborative, funded projects that support student engagement, transition outcomes, and professional development for educators. Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Voggt contributes to innovative, grant-funded initiatives aimed at strengthening the pipeline of special education teachers and expanding interdisciplinary approaches to behavior support across classrooms statewide.

KC Mayer, Ph.D.
College of Education and Human Development

Kertesha Riley, Ph.D.

Jamie Ho, Ph.D.
College of Education and Human Development

Lichuan Ren, Ph.D.
College of Engineering and Computer Science

Heather DeGrande, Ph.D.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Dr. Heather DeGrande earned her Ph.D. in Nursing Science from Texas Woman’s University and holds both MSN and BSN degrees from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Her research focuses on helping nurses and caregivers thrive—whether they’re just entering the profession or balancing graduate school with clinical work. She’s explored everything from coping and self-care in new nurses to empathy-building through large-scale simulation. A cardiovascular ICU nurse by background, she now brings that experience into the classroom, where she’s known for integrating emerging technologies like AI to prepare students for the future of healthcare.

Shuhong Luo, Ph.D.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Dr. Shuhong Luo earned her Bachelor of Medicine in Nursing from Peking University Health Science Center (formerly Beijing Medical University), one of China’s most prestigious medical institutions. She completed all of her advanced degrees in the United States, obtaining an MSN in Nursing Informatics from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, an MBA from SUNY Oswego, and an Ed.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She also holds a U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) license and a Quality Matters (QM) certification, underscoring her commitment to excellence in both practice and education.

Arkadz Kirshtein, Ph.D.
College of Science

Dr. Arkadz Kirshtein is an Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and a researcher working at the interface of analysis, computation, and applications. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Penn State and held the Norbert Wiener Assistant Professorship at Tufts University. His research focuses on variational modeling and numerical methods for complex fluids and poroelastic media, phase-field and sintering models, and mathematical models of cancer progression and opinion dynamics. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in differential equations, calculus, and data analytics, and maintains active collaborations across applied mathematics, materials science, and mathematical biology.

Nataly Gutierrez Isaza, Ph.D.
Harte Research Institute

Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership. With a background as a teacher and administrator in the Houston area, Dr. Brown is committed to ensuring all students, regardless of background, have access to quality education across the learning pipeline. Her research focuses on shaping educational policy, improving practices, and addressing systematic barriers to enhance student learning outcomes and support school improvement. A fun fact about Dr. Brown is that her first major was actually Broadcast Journalism! 

Dr. Cepeda (she/her/ella/siya) is an Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership. Her research employs qualitative methodologies and diverse theoretical frameworks to examine community college environments and amplify the experiences of underrepresented groups within higher education. She loves to read and go on walks by the water with her partner and her dog, Musubi!

Dr. Guggilam is an Assistant Professor of Data Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Computational and Data-enabled Science and Engineering from the University of Buffalo, SUNY. Her research centers on developing innovative probabilistic and fully non-parametric models for time series and spatiotemporal data, with a strong focus on real-time anomaly detection. Fun Fact: Dr. Guggilam has been trying to use Chat-GPT to create her own AI generated research minions! 

Dr. Leeth is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology. He has a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Texas at San Antonio. His two main research interests include perfectionism and gaming. He is interested in how perfectionism  affects relationships, relational systems, and wellness. He is also interested in the beneficial mental health aspects of gaming and E-sports, as well as the etiology, assessment, and treatment of problematic gaming behavior. He is an avid horror fan and is currently reading through all of Stephen King’s books. 

Dr. McVay is an Assistant Professor of Professional Counseling. She has a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas with specialized experience in trauma and crisis counseling. Her research focuses on community engagement, the leadership and advocacy efforts of counseling students, ethical considerations in different contexts, and the professional development of counselors. Fun fact: Dr. McVay loves to read and had a goal of reading 250 books in 2024.

Dr. Melaram is an Assistant Professor of Public Health. He received his doctorate in Public Health from Walden University and his master's degree in Biology from the University of South Florida. His current research focuses on pollen exposures and childhood allergic diseases. Other research interests of his include microcystin epidemiology and toxicology and the potential health risks of using harmful algal blooms for agricultural irrigation. Fun fact: He earned his Ph.D., got married, and traveled to Europe for the first time right before the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020. 

Doug Milbauer is the Director of the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center (CBBIC). He brings 35 years of entrepreneurship, sales, marketing and management experience, corporate executive experience across a broad spectrum of industries and most recently academic development and faculty experience to his role. As a first-generation non-traditional student, he has a deep understanding and appreciation for the TAMU-CC student body. His vision for the CBBIC is to encourage and foster entrepreneurship and venture creation in three areas – TAMU-CC students, TAMU-CC faculty, and the Coastal Bend communities. Fun fact: He was in college at the same time as his four daughters!

Dr. Powell is an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology and a Certified Family Life Educator. She joined TAMU-CC in the fall of 2024. Her research predominately focuses on transitions in close relationships, with emphases in parenthood and romantic interactions. Dr. Powell also has a secondary area of interest related to supporting the professional development of professors. In her free time, Dr. Powell and her family enjoy going to the beach and trying new restaurants.

Dr. Powers is an Assistant Research Scientist working with the Harte Research Institute Coastal Ecosystem Processes Lab. Dr. Powers completed her Ph.D. at TAMU-CC, where her research focused on water quality and the sources, drivers, and impacts of fecal pollution in the marine environment. In her current role, she is responsible for developing the Texas Coast Ecosystem Health Report Cards, which involves identifying trends concerning changes in water quality, biodiversity, and habitat coverage throughout the coast. In her free time, Dr. Powers is an avid quilter and enjoys creating applique artwork that merges her interest in sewing with her love for marine life.

Dr. Reinhardt is an Associate Professor of Teaching and Teacher Education. Her research explores critical conversations in teacher residency, video feedback as a high-leverage practice, and connecting inquiry and Universal Design for Learning to teacher candidate practices. Her expertise extends to curriculum development. She is a strong advocate for utilizing technology to enhance learning experiences and has been recognized as a Digital Innovator of the Year for her contributions in this area. Fun fact: She has a motorcycle license!

Dr. Wang is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration. Her research interests include science and technology policy, higher education policy, urban policy, human resources management, and nonprofit management. She has a particular interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) personnel work behaviors and career outcomes. As a teacher and mentor, she believes education empowers learners to discover their potential, develop critical thinking skills, and contribute meaningfully to society. She stresses a student-centered learning approach to teaching. In her free time, Dr. Wang likes hiking and yoga.

Dr. Yun is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois Chicago and a master's in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on supporting system-level decision-making to facilitate the energy transition towards carbon neutrality. He employs a range of engineering methodologies, including stochastic modeling, operations research, and machine learning, to address challenges in complex systems such as manufacturing, energy, and supply chains. Outside of academia, Dr. Yun enjoys stargazing, hiking, and camping.