Program Overview

Research Development Academy

The Division of Research and Innovation launched the Research Development Academy in Fall 2024. The Academy is designed to help research staff and faculty develop their research and creative activity programs. Through the Academy, Fellows participate in an intensive 9-month program that will prepare them to confidently begin their innovative scholarship in alignment with Islander Impact: 2030 Strategic Plan.

The 2025 Cohort

The 2025 cohort of the Research Development Academy includes:

• Laura Cardona-Berrio, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education in the College of Education and Human Development
• Ashley Voggt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education in the College of Education and Human Development
• KC Mayer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sport Management in the College of Education and Human Development
• Ivanna Colon-Alverio, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Higher Education in the College of Education and Human Development
• Kertesha Riley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology in the College of Education and Human Development
• Jamie Ho, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
• Lichuan Ren, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Heather DeGrande, Ph.D., faculty member in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Shuhong Luo, Ph.D., faculty member in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Arkadz Kirshtein, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
• Hisham Abdelrahman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Marine Biology in the College of Science
• Nataly Guit廨rez Isaza, Ph.D., researcher at the Harte Research Institute
• Seth McKnight, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Music Education in the School of Arts, Media, & Communication
• John Darbonne, M.A., Assistant Professor of Media Production in the School of Arts, Media, & Communication

The 2024 Cohort

The 2024 cohort of the Research Development Academy includes:

• Kelly Brown, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
• Rebecca Cepeda, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership
• Sreelekha Guggilam, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Data Science
• Chris Leeth, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology
• Katherine McVay, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Professional Counseling
• Rajesh Melaram, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Health
• Doug Milbauer, Director of the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center
• Darcey Powell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology
• Nicole Powers, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist working with the Harte Research Institute Coastal Ecosystem Processes Lab
• Kimberly Reinhardt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Teaching and Teacher Education
• Qingqing Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Administration
• Lingxiang Yun, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering

Research Areas

The Research Development Academy supports a wide range of research areas, including:

• Education
• Special Education
• Sport Management
• Higher Education
• Counseling and Educational Psychology
• Industrial Engineering
• Nursing and Health Sciences
• Applied Mathematics
• Marine Biology
• Music Education
• Media Production
• Data Science
• Public Health
• Developmental Psychology
• Teaching and Teacher Education
• Public Administration

Program Details

The Research Development Academy is a 9-month program designed to help research staff and faculty develop their research and creative activity programs. The program is aligned with the Islander Impact: 2030 Strategic Plan and provides participants with the skills and knowledge needed to confidently begin their innovative scholarship.