College of Education, Human Performance, and Health Faculty
At the University of South Carolina Upstate, we take pride in our dedicated faculty members, recognized as some of the best in the region. Our faculty, experts in their fields, represent all academic areas and are committed to academic excellence.
Our faculty are focused on helping students succeed and grow in their chosen fields of study. With a combination of real-world experience and academic rigor, they provide hands-on learning opportunities, preparing students for successful careers.
Explore our faculty below and discover how their expertise and dedication make the University of South Carolina Upstate a leader in higher education across the Upstate South Carolina region.
Dr. Tonia Bauer | Assistant Professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Dr. Tonia Bauer | TFBAUER@uscupstate.edu
Assistant Professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
864-503-5513
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC), 3012
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Reading comprehension
- Reading motivation
- Explicit vocabulary instruction
- Educational technology integration
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Stephen Bismarck | Interim Associate Dean, Professor of Middle/Secondary Mathematics Education
Dr. Stephen Bismarck | SBISMAR@uscupstate.edu
Interim Associate Dean, Professor of Middle/Secondary Mathematics Education
864-503-7407
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC), 3040
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
Dr. Bismarck’s research interests center on the development of conceptual understanding in pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers and the integration of technology in the 6-12 mathematics classroom. His research has been published in leading mathematics education journals (Mathematics Teacher, Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, and the Journal for Research on Technology in Education), Education Sciences, Educational Research Quarterly, the MathMate (South Carolina Math Teacher Journal), and in two book chapters.
Resume (PDF)
Matthew Brisebois | Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science
Matthew Brisebois | BRISEBOM@USCUPSTATE.EDU
Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science
864-503-5866
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC), 3018
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- High-Intensity Functional Training and CrossFit-like exercise
- Patterns of aerobic and resistance training on cardiovascular health
- Dietary supplements for health and performance
- Technology and AI to promote physical training
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Stacy Burr | Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education
Dr. Stacy Burr | burrs@uscupstate.edu
Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education
864-552-4236
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC), 3021
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Early Childhood
- Teacher Retention
- AI in the Classroom
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Kara Davis | Assistant Professor
Dr. Kara Davis | FERGUS42@uscupstate.edu
Assistant Professor of Community Health
864-503-7366
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3023
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Search and Rescue Public Health Emergency Management & Preparedness
- Medical-Legal Partnerships
- Public Health Program Evaluation
Resume (PDF)
Greta Freeman | Professor
Greta Freeman | FREEMANG@uscupstate.edu
Professor
864-503-5524
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3007
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Early Childhood and Elementary Education
- Children’s Literature
- Literacy
- Nomophobia
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Brooke Hardin | Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Coordinator of Teaching Fellows
Dr. Brooke Lee Hardin | bhardin2@uscupstate.edu
Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Coordinator of Teaching Fellows
864-503-5521
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3014
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Literacy Education
- Writing Instruction
- Teacher Education
- Children’s Literature
- Content Area Literacy
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Tina Herzberg | Professor and Coordinator of the Visual Impairment Education Program
Dr. Tina Herzberg | herzberg@uscupstate.edu
Professor and Coordinator of the Visual Impairment Education Program
864-503-5572
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3039
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest: Dr.
Herzberg’s research interests include STEM education for students who are blind
or have low vision, braille literacy, assessment of students who are blind or
have low vision, tactile graphics, and efficacy of continuing professional
development for professionals who serve students who are blind or have low
vision. Her research has been primarily published in the premier journal in her
field, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blind. In 2024, she was honored to
receive the Corinne Kirchner Research Award from the American Foundation for
the Blind. This award honors individuals whose timely and innovative research
advances understanding and champions impactful policies and practices for and
by people who are blind or have low vision.
Resume (PDF)
Dr. James Kamla | Chair for Human Performance and Health and Professor for Physical Education
Dr. James Kamla | KAMIA@uscupstate.edu
Chair for Human Performance and Health and Professor for Physical Education
864-503-5851
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3013
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Physical Education
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Rebecca Mueller | Associate Professor of Social Studies Education
Dr. Rebecca Mueller | rmuelle2@uscupstate.edu
Associate Professor of Social Studies Education
864-503-5532
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3011
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Social Studies Education
- Inquiry
- Questioning
- Teacher Education
- Standards Implementation
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Holly Pae | Professor
Dr. Holly Pae | PAE@uscupstate.edu
Professor
864-503-5556
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3007
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- School Reform
- Student Advocacy
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Patrick Saracino | Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science
Dr. Patrick Saracino, CSCS, CISSN | SARACINP@uscupstate.edu
Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Science
864-503-7752
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3017
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Exercise and nutrition strategies to optimize health and human performance in healthy (sport and tactical athletes) and clinical populations
- Protein feeding strategies for optimizing exercise recovery, metabolism, health, and performance
- Sports nutrition and dietary supplements
- Hormonal impact on health and performance
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Sharda Jackson Smith | Interim Dean / Associate Professor of Elementary Education
Dr. Sharda Jackson Smith | shardajs@uscupstate.edu
Interim Dean / Associate Professor of Elementary Education
864-503-5570
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3004
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Educational Policy
- Education Finance
- Teacher Advocacy
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Refika Turgut | Assistant Professor of Literacy and Language Education
Dr. Refika Turgut | rturgut@uscupstate.edu
Assistant Professor of Literacy and Language Education
864-503-5520
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3015
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Translanguaging
- Teacher Preparation
- Language Education
- Multilingualism
Resume (PDF)
Brandon Watkins | Instructor of Education Foundations
Brandon J. Watkins | bjw10@uscupstate.edu
Instructor of Education Foundations
864-503-5456
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3033
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Social Media Literacy
- ELA Curriculum Development & Instructional Planning
- Children’s & Young Adult Literature
Resume (PDF)
Dr. Ugena Whitlock | Professor of Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Ugena Whitlock, Ph.D. | RETAW@uscupstate.edu
Professor of Curriculum & Instruction
864-503-5733
College: College of Education, Human Performance, and Health (COEHPH)
Building and Room Number: Health Education Complex (HEC) 3016
Research/Scholarship/Area of Interest:
- Curriculum Theory
- Curriculum Studies of Place
- Currere and autobiography research methodologies
- Narrative inquiry
- Place in contexts of race, class, gender, and religion
Resume (PDF)