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College of Education

Overview

The College of Education is consistently ranked as one of the most effective educator preparation programs in the state of Tennessee and the nation.  Whether you are at the undergraduate or graduate level, if you feel called to make an impact on the next generation, then you can pursue a career as a teacher, school counselor or educational leader who inspires and changes the lives of students.  You can pursue required knowledge, skills and credentials in teaching, administration, special education, literacy, English language learning, school counseling, gifted education, curriculum, instructional coaching, applied behavior analysis or higher education.

Ready to make an impact on the next generation? Join one of Lipscomb College of Education’s academic programs and become a leader who inspires students and changes our world. Learn how to become a teacher or view our undergraduate degree offerings to start your journey.

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Undergraduate Programs

PK-12 teachers are expected to have mastery of content and pedagogy necessary to meet the needs of students. The College of Education partners with other academic departments to achieve needed skill for a lifelong career in education.

View Undergraduate Programs
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Graduate Programs

Our graduate programs — certificates, master’s, education specialist and doctorate — develop leaders in the classroom and in the field of education. Ranked as one of the most effective teacher preparation programs in the state, Lipscomb’s College of Education will prepare you to confidently lead with excellence and integrity from day one.

View Graduate Programs
60K+

students taught by Lipscomb-trained teachers daily

A teacher in a classroom

Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation

The Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation was established as a partnership between the Ayers Foundation and Lipscomb University’s College of Education. We serve as a bridge between policy and practice, as well as between educators in PK-12 and higher education. Our mission is to support teachers and leaders in improving student outcomes through proven professional learning and to incubate innovative instructional ideas and resources.

About Ayers Institute
Pionero Grads

Pionero Scholars Program

Creating a local pipeline of teacher candidates who plan to teach in Davidson county communities. By providing scholarships to a number of these students who are passionate about teaching, our program prepares graduates to return to teach in their local communities and provide quality education to the next generation.

About Pionero Scholars
#1

Secondary teacher prep by NCTQ

10

Years as Teach for America’s licensing partner

People

Meet the key people that make up the College of Education.

  • Leslie Cowell headshot

    Leslie Cowell

    Dean, College of Education

    Dr. Leslie Cowell serves as the Dean and Professor for the College of Education at Lipscomb University . She has a doctorate in Elementary Education from Auburn University, a master's...

    Meet Leslie Cowell
  • Trace Hebert headshot

    Trace Hebert

    Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies

    Trace Hebert serves as Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies. He has been at Lipscomb University since 2010 as the Director of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Program and...

    Meet Trace Hebert
  • Megan Parker Peters headshot

    Megan Parker Peters

    Associate Dean, College of Education

    Dr. Megan Parker Peters is the Interim Associate Dean, an Associate Professor, and the Director of Accreditation, Assessment, and Research at Lipscomb University. She is a licensed psychologist and licensed...

    Meet Megan Parker Peters
  • Rachael Milligan headshot

    Rachael Milligan

    Associate Professor

    Rachael was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. She met her husband, Matt, when they were both undergraduates at Harding University, where Rachael studied History and Political Science. Rachael and...

    Meet Rachael Milligan
  • Kristin Blankenship headshot

    Kristin Blankenship

    Senior Director of Graduate Enrollment

    Kristin is the Director of Graduate Enrollment for the College of Education. She came to Lipscomb in 2008 and has served in various roles across campus working with the undergraduate...

    Meet Kristin Blankenship
  • Deborah Boyd headshot

    Deborah Boyd

    Dean Emerita, Professor, College of Education

    Deborah Myers Boyd's experience in education includes teaching and leadership spanning prekindergarten through doctoral levels. Currently dean emerita of the Lipscomb University College of Education, she served as dean of...

    Meet Deborah Boyd
  • Kristin Baese headshot

    Kristin Baese

    Associate Professor

    Dr. Kristin Baese is a third generation Lipscomb alum and a third generation educator. She met her husband, Jon, while they were both undergraduate students serving on a spring break...

    Meet Kristin Baese
  • Robin Cayce headshot

    Robin Cayce

    Assistant Professor

    Dr. Robin is an Assistant Professor with Lipscomb University in the Educational Leadership Program. In addition, she serves as the Chattanooga Teach for America Lipscomb University Liaison, working to support...

    Meet Robin Cayce
  • Lisa Davies headshot

    Lisa Davies

    Assistant Professor

    Lisa Davies is a graduate of Lipscomb University (1985). She received her M.S. in School Counseling from Tennessee State University (1991), and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis...

    Meet Lisa Davies
  • Sarah Duncan headshot

    Sarah Duncan

    ed TPA Coordinator and Associate Professor

    Sarah Duncan was a language arts teacher and intervention coach in Mississippi before coming to Lipscomb. A former National Board Certified Teacher, she currently teaches literacy and clinical practice courses...

    Meet Sarah Duncan
  • Jeanne Fain headshot

    Jeanne Fain

    Program Director of ELL

    Jeanne Gilliam Fain is a professor in the College of Education at Lipscomb University and she is the Director of MLL/ELL program. Her scholarship agenda includes a focus on Literacy,...

    Meet Jeanne Fain
  • Lance Forman headshot

    Lance Forman

    Associate Professor

    Lance Forman served for 13 years in the Metro Nashville School District as an elementary teacher, assistant principal, and executive principal prior to joining the College of Education in 2017....

    Meet Lance Forman
  • Vanessa Garcia headshot

    Vanessa Garcia

    Senior Program Director

    Dr. Vanessa Garcia is an experienced educator who has held various leadership positions in her 20-year career. That career has seen her serve as a middle and high school teacher,...

    Meet Vanessa Garcia
  • Suze Gilbert headshot

    Suze Gilbert

    Associate Professor, Program Director - Christian Education Program

    Suze Gilbert holds a B.S. degree in elementary education from Freed-Hardeman University, the M.Ed. and Ed.S. degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Middle Tennessee State University, and the Ed.D. in...

    Meet Suze Gilbert
  • Tia Pryor Graves headshot

    Tia Pryor-graves

    Assistant Professor

    Dr. Matia Pryor Graves is an experienced educator who has held a wide range of leadership and teaching positions during her 15 years of experience in the field of education....

    Meet Tia Pryor-graves
  • Katelyn Hadder headshot

    Katelyn Hadder

    Assistant Professor

    Katelyn was born in Memphis, TN and has lived in Tampa, FL, Virginia Beach, VA, and Knoxville, TN before residing here in Nashville. She attended the University of Tennessee where...

    Meet Katelyn Hadder
  • Robbie Hampton headshot

    Robbie Hampton

    Associate Professor

    Robbie was born in Memphis, TN and grew up in Nashville after moving here during elementary school. She attended MTSU and received a BS in Elementary and Special Education. She...

    Meet Robbie Hampton
  • Michelle Hasty headshot

    Michelle Hasty

    Associate Professor

    Michelle Hasty is a Nashville native and graduate of Metro Nashville Public Schools. She received a B.A. in English from Auburn University, an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education from Vanderbilt...

    Meet Michelle Hasty
  • Ally Hauptman headshot

    Ally Hauptman

    Associate Professor

    Ally Hauptman is the lead faculty for Instructional Practice at Lipscomb University where she teaches graduate level courses in building classroom community, planning, and elementary and middle grades literacy instruction....

    Meet Ally Hauptman
  • Casey Heard headshot

    Casey Heard

    Assistant Professor

    Meet Casey Heard
  • Debi Hoggatt headshot

    Debi Hoggatt

    Assistant Professor

    Deborah Hoggatt completed her undergraduate work in Michigan. She later earned her master's degree in Human Development at Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University....

    Meet Debi Hoggatt
  • Kara Krinks headshot

    Kara Krinks

    Associate Professor

    Dr. Kara Krinks is an assistant professor in the College of Education. She earned her undergraduate degree at Lipscomb University in Engineering Science. She later earned an M.A.T. in Secondary...

    Meet Kara Krinks
  • Annette Little headshot

    Annette Little

    Professor

    Dr. Annette Little taught special education classes in residential treatment centers, public schools, and alternative schools for 8 years before moving into higher education. She then spent 4 years directing...

    Meet Annette Little
  • Karen Marklein headshot

    Karen Marklein

    Program Director Ayer's Institute

    Dr. Karen Marklein is director of programs for the Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation and assistant professor in the College of Education. The first 20 years of Karen's professional...

    Meet Karen Marklein
  • Emily Medlock headshot

    Emily Medlock

    Program Director for Undergrad Student Teaching

    Dr. Emily Medlock is the Director of Undergraduate Programs and Student Teaching as well as an associate professor in the College of Education. She is a graduate of Lipscomb University...

    Meet Emily Medlock
  • Rachael Milligan headshot

    Rachael Milligan

    Associate Professor

    Rachael was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. She met her husband, Matt, when they were both undergraduates at Harding University, where Rachael studied History and Political Science. Rachael and...

    Meet Rachael Milligan
  • Emily Mofield headshot

    Emily Mofield

    Assistant Professor

    Emily Mofield, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor of Education serving as Lead Faculty for the Gifted and Advanced Academics Graduate Program and teaching in the Ed.D. Program for Learning Organizations...

    Meet Emily Mofield
  • Alice Nie headshot

    Alice Nie

    Assistant Professor

    Alice Nie began her career in education in New York working with English language learners. Since then, she has taught both domestically as well as internationally in countries including Saudi...

    Meet Alice Nie
  • Keith Nikolaus headshot

    Keith Nikolaus

    Adjunct Faculty

    Living most of his life in Middle Tennessee, Keith Nikolaus is an alumnus of David Lipscomb Campus School (1971) and David Lipscomb College (1975). He earned both his M.Ed. in...

    Meet Keith Nikolaus
  • Misty Parsley headshot

    Misty Parsley

    Executive Director, Office of Accessibility and Learning Support

    Dr. Misty Vetter Parsley is a professor of Education and the Executive Director of the Office of Accessibility and Learning Supports at Lipscomb University. In her role, she oversees the...

    Meet Misty Parsley
  • Andrea Pewitt headshot

    Andrea Pewitt

    Adjunct Faculty

    Andrea Pewitt joined the College of Education faculty as the Program Director for the IDEAL program during the summer of 2017 after working for 18 years in a local school...

    Meet Andrea Pewitt
  • Tessa Sanders headshot

    Tessa Sanders

    Assistant Director for Ed.D. On Campus Cohorts

    Prior to joining Lipscomb, Contessa Sanders served as an educational consultant in cities such as Detroit Mich., New Orleans La., Charlotte N.C., Fort Lauderdale Fla.. In Nashville, Tenn., she served...

    Meet Tessa Sanders
  • Pam Scretchen headshot

    Pamela Scretchen

    Instructor

    Pamela Scretchen is a licensed and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2004. She has worked with children and adults diagnosed with...

    Meet Pamela Scretchen
  • Julie Simone

    Julie Simone

    Instructor

    Ever since she was young, Julie Simone has always known she wanted to be a teacher. She earned her undergraduate and master degrees in elementary and special education from Vanderbilt...

    Meet Julie Simone
  • Kesha Walrond headshot

    Kesha Walrond

    Assistant Professor

    Dr. Kesha L. Walrond is an assistant professor in the college of education at Lipscomb University. Prior to coming to Lipscomb, she spent 20 years in Metro Nashville Public Schools...

    Meet Kesha Walrond
  • Roger Wiemers

    Roger Wiemers

    Adjunct Faculty

    Roger Wiemers has taught at the graduate level for over 15 years with a speciality in research statistics. He earned both M.Ed. and Ed.D. degrees from Tennessee State University. Wiemers...

    Meet Roger Wiemers

Undergraduate Programs


At Lipscomb, we prepare, equip, serve and inspire our students so that they master the knowledge and skills needed to become compassionate and competent educators. Be prepared academically, professionally and spiritually to make a positive impact on the next generation.

Our four core degrees are listed below, followed by degrees which include a subject area teaching offering.

Graduate Programs


Things move fast in today's classrooms and educators must be adaptable and flexible. Our certificates, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs prepare students who are passionate about doing and being more. Whether your focus is leadership, technology or behavior analysis, you’ll be trained in the latest research-based techniques and gain the field experience to put them into practice. Become the educator you feel called to be.