Education Faculty

Jeffrey Bailie is a full-time faculty member with the School of Education. His areas of specialization include web-based instructional design, evaluation and assessment, and online faculty training, mentoring, and supervision. He serves as the lead faculty member for the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology. Bailie has taught in a variety of learning environments, from middle school through doctoral level, on-ground and online, domestic and international. Over the past two decades, he has taught hundreds of online courses through a variety of institutions. Fulfilling his dedication to service, Dr. Bailie serves as a consultant evaluator for The Higher Learning Commission. He also serves on the University’s Institutional Research Board.

Education: EdD, Instructional Technology and Distance Education; MEd, Curriculum and Instruction; BSEd, Secondary Education

Publications: Published in the areas of validation of online instructional competencies, the effect of instructional immediacy and engagement on online student motivation and persistence, and the influence of learner expectations in the online environment; peer reviewer for a variety of professional journals

Honors and Achievements: 2017 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award (Kaplan University), 2014 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award (Kaplan University)

A full-time faculty member in the School of Education, Kelvin Beckett currently teaches graduate theory and research courses. He is also course lead for the history and philosophy of education course, and serves on several University committees. Prior to joining Purdue Global, he taught at the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati. Beckett has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. His areas of expertise include philosophy of education and urban education. He also presents each year at University symposiums and at an external conference, based on continuing research in the area of online teaching and learning.

Education: PhD, University of London; MA, University of British Columbia

Honors and Achievements: 2016 College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Professor Award (Kaplan University), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship

Rhonda Figueroa is an early childhood adjunct professor, teaching a myriad of undergraduate courses for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In addition, she is a portfolio/course evaluator, a course lead, and an education facilitator for the Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney's Community Services Program. Figueroa’s professional experience includes teaching emotionally challenged/learning-disabled students in the public school system, serving as school principal for a Long Island UPK program, as well as owning a large Montessori Day School and EC Center. Her NYS credentials include permanent/dual certification in General Education (EC–Grade 6) and Special Education (birth–21 years). Additionally, she is certified to teach gifted and talented students, is a licensed Public School Principal, a licensed Mental Health Practitioner, and a Creative Arts Therapist (L-CAT). Figueroa is fully Montessori trained.

Education: MS, Adelphi University; BS, Dowling College; Graduate Certificate in Addictions (in progress), Purdue University Global

Misty LaCour has been an educator to every grade level from kindergarten through graduate school. At Purdue Global, she teaches various graduate courses in the School of Education and is also a course lead. In addition, she assists in accreditation efforts and the administration of the assessment management system, and serves as chair of the School of Education Assessment Committee. LaCour began her academic career as a K-6 teacher before moving to higher education where she held various positions including department chair of teacher education. LaCour maintains recency of experience by regularly substitute teaching in K-12 classrooms. Her research has been cited for her expertise in providing literacy best practices as well as meeting the needs of at-risk, diverse learners. Other leadership positions include the executive director of the Arkansas Association of Teacher Educators, member of the Audit Team for NAEYC Higher Education for CAEP Accreditation, and editor of the ArATE Electronic Journal.

Education: EdD, Liberty University

Honors and Achievements: ASCD National Emerging Leader Award, additional teaching, research, and service honors

Carol Laman is a full-time adjunct instructor and teaches a variety of early childhood education courses including early childhood development, child nutrition, and current issues in administration. She has experience as a director of an early childhood facility, teaching in the early childhood and elementary school age environment as well as working with children and young adults with autism. Laman holds teaching certification in the state of Texas for general edcuation as well as special education. 

Education: MA, Kaplan University (now Purdue University Global); MS, University of North Dakota

Carolyn McKeon has been teaching in higher education for 11 years, at Purdue University Global she teaches Early Childhood Education classes and has been with Purdue University Global since 2007. McKeon has presented professional for KU Village as well as other educational organizations. She has also been a subject matter expert and written several courses for two different colleges. McKeon founded and ran a small, non-public school in Pennsylvania in 2009.

McKeon has served on the faculty senate and been a course lead. She is a course life-long learning course evaluator and faculty advisor. She also holds two Master's degrees, two Bachelor's degrees, and is finishing her sixth degree in Criminology.

Education:  PhD in K-12 Teaching and Learning, Capella University

Publications: "The 6 R’s of a Positive Facilitator" in the Journal of eLearning and Online Teaching.

Research Interests:  Alternative education with a strong emphasis in autodidactic learning

Julia Nyberg teaches graduate courses in the Department of Education and Communication, with an emphasis on diversity, equitable access, differentiation, and curriculum design. Nyberg is the chair of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Committee, a member of the Purdue University Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, a member of the Faculty Curriculum Committee, and has served on the Faculty Senate. Nyberg is a leading K-12 curriculum development expert with professional experience in North America and Asia. Nyberg is a board member of the California Association for the Gifted and serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the National Association for Gifted Children. She frequently speaks at state and national conferences and provides demonstration lessons for school districts related to her expertise in curriculum design and differentiated instruction.

Education: EdD, Teacher Education in Multicultural Societies, University of Southern California

Publications:  Professional Learning Standards. In NAGC Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Education Programming Standards; Instruction expanded: Culturally-mediated talent development and inclusive access; Instruction-expanded virtual education model: Shaping cognitive enrichment, engagement, and access; Constructing culturally-authentic access points using the content imperatives. Creating equitable services for the gifted: Protocols for identification, implementation, and evaluation.

Honors and Achievements: Champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award; Accomplished Learners award; Champion for Change award; Outstanding Faculty award; Curriculum Revision award; Outstanding New Faculty award.

Research Interests: Differentiated instructional practices for gifted and advanced students; curriculum development and instructional strategies to provide equitable access for diverse student populations. 

Lisa Wright has worked at Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) for 10 years, where she is a professor in early childhood and teaches a wide variety of undergraduate courses in early childhood, with a special emphasis on assessment and autism spectrum disorders. She has designed and revised curriculum in numerous early childhood courses. She began her academic career in the physical therapy department at the University of Missouri, where she was a full-time clinical assistant professor. Wright has experience working in early intervention, rehabilitation hospitals, public schools, and the home environment. She is a licensed physical therapist and volunteer Guardian Ad Litem for the state of Florida, and is certified to teach K-12 children with exceptionalities.

Education: PhD, University of Missouri; MA, University of Missouri; BS, University of Missouri; Post-Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, Kaplan University (now Purdue University Global)

Publications: Research on interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders; reviews several professional organizations and journals

Honors and Achievements: Regular international conference presentations