2025-26: Meet Our New CEHD Faculty

We are excited to welcome 21 exceptional faculty members to the College of Education and Human Development. Learn about the research, expertise and passion they bring to impact lives across Texas and beyond.

Educational Administration and Human Resource Development

Lisa Brown
Assistant Professor

Dr. Lisa R. Brown joins the faculty in our Workforce and Adult Lifelong Education (WALE) program. Her scholarship focuses on adult training and development using Spiral Dynamic Theory, a framework for understanding how individuals, cultures and societies evolve through different stages of thinking and valuing. Her research addresses critical contemporary issues in adult education in several domains, including workplace learning, adult development, affective uses of social media in adult learning, entrepreneurship and innovative public/private partnerships. Brown previously served at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Chih-Pu Dai
Assistant Professor

Dr. Chih-Pu Dai’s research focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education, Extended Reality, and other advanced learning technologies. He designs and evaluates innovative technology-enhanced learning environments to support human learning and performance. As part of his commitment to bridging research and teaching, Dai developed a graduate-level course titled Artificial Intelligence for Human Learning. He is excited to contribute to the growth of our new Learning Technologies and Performance Systems (LTPS) program and its emerging initiatives.

Yeonji Jung
Assistant Professor

Dr. Yeonji Jung brings her expertise in learning sciences, learning analytics and human-centered design. Her research explores how AI and analytics can support more actionable, data-informed decision-making in education. She focuses on analyzing collaborative discourse in technology-enhanced learning environments, designing tools that foster meaningful dialogue and studying the real-world impact of these innovations. Jung previously served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis. At Texas A&M, she is excited to collaborate with colleagues, students and community partners to explore innovative, human-centered uses of AI in education that prepare learners for a rapidly changing future.

Sumi Lee
Clinical Assistant Professor

With 25 years of experience at Kia Corporation, Dr. Sumi Lee served as an HRD Practitioner, Human Resource Management (HRM) Manager and internal professor, managing and implementing numerous learning projects, programs, and HRD systems. She has worked with a diverse range of learners, from new employees to executive-level leaders, always prioritizing professional growth and organizational development. Lee’s research focuses on artificial intelligence, sustainability, organizational learning and women’s leadership, with a particular emphasis on empowering migrants, retirees, women, and students. At Texas A&M, Lee is committed to helping students grow into HRD leaders. Drawing on her coaching certification and extensive experience, she aims to support students’ personal growth, help them set goals and prepare them to be future leaders in the HRD field.

Hanwen Li
Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Hanwen Li, also known as Ethan, focuses his research on how advanced technologies, particularly AI, can enhance human resource development practices and educational outcomes. With a background in computer science, instructional design, and quantitative research, Li has worked across IT, sales and education sectors, bringing a multidisciplinary lens to his teaching and scholarship. He previously served as a full-time Lecturer at the University of Minnesota. At Texas A&M, Li is excited to collaborate across disciplines, mentor students and contribute to curriculum development that prepares future professionals for a technology-driven workplace.

Humberto Santos
Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Humberto Santos’s research explores adult learning, digital ethics and the human dimensions of organizational development. He is particularly interested in how technology and AI are reshaping professional learning and ethical decision-making in the workplace. Before entering academia, Santos held human resource and organizational development roles across Latin America with multinational companies in the energy and service sectors. His recent work includes research on ethics in highly corrupt environments and AI’s impact on the future of work. At Texas A&M, he hopes his diverse experiences will contribute to students’ academic, professional, and ethical growth.

Ginger Vaughn
Professor of the Practice

Ginger Vaughn is originally from North Carolina and, after living in Japan on and off for 20 years, brings a bicultural, bilingual lens to Human Resource Development (HRD). Before academia, Vaughn spent 15+ years in industry-leading strategic communication. Today, she engages students in mentoring, entrepreneurship and the ethical, practical use of AI to design learning programs with real-world impact. Her research and teaching focuses on mentoring and entrepreneurship within accelerators, program design and evaluation and responsible AI in learning and development.

Tekeisha Zimmerman
Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Tekeisha Zimmerman brings a blend of corporate expertise and academic insight to her role at Texas A&M. With over 15 years of experience in talent development, she specializes in leadership development, facilitation, instructional design and talent management. Her research interests focus on leadership wellness, career transitions and the connection between cultural influences and leadership style. Zimmerman is passionate about helping students navigate the complexities of today’s workforce by blending practical application with scholarly insight. Her work has been presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) and the Association for Talent Development (ATD).

Educational Psychology

Jennifer Becnel
Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Jennifer Becnel joins our new Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) program after serving at the University of Arkansas for the last nine years. Her teaching philosophy focuses on connecting with and mentoring students through applied experiences within the community. Her research covers adolescent and emerging adult risks, resilience and physical health, with a specific focus on substance use and sexual behavior among youths experiencing excess weight.

Megan Golson
Assistant Professor

Dr. Megan Golson joins our School Psychology program with research interests in neurodiverse conditions such as Autism and ADHD. Her work focuses on improving assessment practices and training for psychologists and school personnel to better support neurodiverse youth and their families. Golson recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Dell Children’s Medical Center, specializing in neurodevelopmental assessment and parenting interventions. At Texas A&M, she looks forward to academic and practical collaborations within our college and larger community.

Kinesiology and Sport Management

Jin Woo Ahn
Assistant Professor

Dr. Jin Woo Ahn brings expertise in sport consumer behavior and behavioral economics. His research examines how consumer decision-making and spectatorship are influenced by advanced technologies, often revealing deviations from traditional economic predictions. Ahn earned his Ph.D. in Sport Management from the University of Florida, where he also worked as a consumer behavior analyst at the Sports Marketing Research Lab. He previously served as an Assistant Professor at Utah Tech University. His work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Sport Management and Sport Marketing Quarterly. Ahn looks forward to collaborating with scholars and students at what he considers his dream institution.

Bryan Crutcher
Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Bryan Crutcher’s early research focused on concussion and sleep quality in collegiate athletes. His current work examines physiological health and performance outcomes resulting from varying training methods, while continuing to explore the impact of concussion and sleep on athletic performance. Drawing from the fields of Strength and Conditioning and Exercise Physiology, Crutcher investigates key factors that influence athlete development and well-being. He is passionate about translating these research insights into the classroom, where he engages students in evidence-based practices and prepares them to become skilled practitioners. Crutcher is committed to igniting a passion for learning in his students and fostering their growth as future leaders in the field.

Yue Du
Assistant Professor

Dr. Yue Du holds a background in mathematics and kinesiology and served as a Research Associate at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research investigates the cognitive and computational principles of motor behavior, including action control, sequence learning, timing perception and habit formation. At Texas A&M, he leads The Habit, Intelligence and Computation in Motor Skill (THINCMO) Lab, which aims to advance understanding of mind–movement interactions, with the goal of improving motor rehabilitation and enhancing human performance in domains such as sports, education, and human augmentation.

Jeff Graham
Associate Professor

Dr. Jeffrey A. Graham’s research focuses on the work–life interface in sport organizations, environmental sustainability in sport, and the organizational behavior of coaches and administrators. His work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Sport Management and European Sport Management Quarterly, and he is a Research Fellow with the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). An award-winning educator, Graham teaches courses in sport marketing, finance, strategic management and facility design. He also mentors graduate students preparing for leadership roles in the sport industry.

Patrick Neff ‘17, ‘24
Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Patrick Neff ’17, ‘24 brings a background in public education and a passion for emerging sports. He taught middle and high school before earning his Ph.D. from Texas A&M, where he also earned his master’s degree. Neff’s research centers on esports, competitive video gaming, within high school and collegiate settings. His work takes an institutional lens to understand the growth and impact of this rapidly evolving industry. A proud Aggie, Neff serves as faculty advisor for the Texas A&M Esports Club and is committed to preparing students for life beyond college.

Bo Sandoval
Professor of the Practice

Bo Sandoval is a nationally recognized leader in strength and conditioning. He previously served as Assistant Athletics Director for Strength & Conditioning at Texas A&M and Director of Strength & Conditioning at the UFC Performance Institute, overseeing global operations in Las Vegas, Shanghai and Mexico City. Sandoval’s career spans roles with the University of Michigan, U.S. Olympic Committee and Belhaven College, coaching elite athletes across more than 20 sports. He is a frequent keynote speaker internationally and holds certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCSA) and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa).

Matthew Scott
Assistant Professor

Dr. Matthew Scott’s research focuses on the interplay between action and perception in motor learning. His work explores how imagining movement and observing others can support skill acquisition and behavioral adaptation. By bridging the gap between neurophysiology and behavior, Scott aims to optimize mental practice techniques for rehabilitation and performance. His applied research spans diverse populations, including children with developmental coordination disorders and adults recovering from stroke. He earned his Ph.D. from Teesside University in the United Kingdom and held postdoctoral positions at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Teaching, Learning and Culture

Neil Shanks
Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Neil Shanks joins us after seven years at Baylor University, where he coordinated middle and secondary certification and taught across multiple formats. A proud educator, Shanks is passionate about preparing future teachers to meet today’s challenges through meaningful, creative work. His research focuses on economics education, drawing from his classroom experience and doctoral work at The University of Texas at Austin. His scholarship has been published in leading journals and edited volumes, exploring social applications and teacher perceptions. Shanks’s current projects examine geography’s role in economics, care in economic relationships, and inquiry-based teaching methods.

Hannah Thompson
Assistant Professor

Dr. Hannah R. Thompson’s research focuses on the early care and education workforce, emphasizing public systems of support that build sustainable early care structures. A mixed methods researcher, Thompson works closely with rural educators, children and communities, drawing from her eight years of experience as an early childhood practitioner. Her work also explores trauma-informed practices, social-emotional learning and early childhood STEM education. Thompson is committed to supporting educator well-being and advancing community-based approaches to early childhood development.

Carlos Valiente
Professor & Department Head

Dr. Carlos Valiente has over 20 years of experience in higher education, including as a professor, department head and leader of multiple research projects. He has served at Oklahoma State University and his alma mater, Arizona State University. His research endeavors, funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, include developing community partnerships aimed at improving the educational and social experiences of students. He has also received honors from the American Psychological Association and the Association of College and University Educators.

Xiaohan Zhu
Assistant Professor

Dr. Xiaohan Zhu focuses her research on early childhood development, intergenerational caregiving and immigrant family engagement, particularly within Asian/Chinese American communities. Her work draws from socioecological theories and employs community-informed methodologies. Zhu earned her Ph.D. in Contemporary Learning and Interdisciplinary Research from Fordham University and previously worked with the Straus Center for Young Children & Families at Bank Street College of Education. At Texas A&M, she looks forward to building a research lab that serves as a hub for community-grounded, intergenerational scholarship benefiting children and families.

For media inquiries, contact Ruben Hidalgo.