Faculty & Staff

Dr. Alissa A. Lange

Alissa A. Lange, Ph.D., is Director of the Center of Excellence in STEM Education, an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, and Director of the Early Childhood STEM Lab at East Tennessee State University. Her line of research focuses on professional learning, pre-service teacher preparation, and program and curriculum development and evaluation in early childhood science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teaching and learning. She and colleagues have secured funding of over $3M in grants and contracts to support this work, including support from the National Science Foundation and foundations. Lange has published 10 journal articles, 8 practitioner articles, and 79 other publications and presentations that include 16 invited engagements nationally and internationally, and a book published by Teachers College Press. She has been an expert advisor, including for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 2020, the national STEMIE Center, and an invited member of the Family Math Practice Network.  Prior to joining ETSU, Alissa was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Bogotá, Colombia, a U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow at SUNY Buffalo, and an Assistant Research Professor at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University.

You may contact Dr. Lange at langea@etsu.edu or (423)439-7589 

Dr. Robert M. Price

Robert Price is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). He received his BS and MS degrees in Mathematics from Youngstown State University, his MS degree in Statistics from The Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. degree in Statistics from the University of Wyoming. Robert’s undergraduate instructional experience is at a primarily undergraduate institution, and includes 1) Probability and Statistics – Noncalculus, 2) Mathematical Statistics I and II. In addition, he has offered graduate courses in statistics. He has chaired many MS projects. His research interests are in applied statistics and meta-analysis. He has experience in Latex, Minitab, Matlab, R, and SAS. 

Dr. Price may be contacted at (423)439-5359 or pricejr@etsu. 

Amanda Blackburn

Amanda has been an educator at Dobyns-Bennett High school since 2012. She was Kingsport City Schools 2022 teacher of year for grades 6-12.

Amanda may be contacted at ablackburn@k12k.com 

Evie LaFollette

Evie is a biology educator at Dobyns-Bennett High school in Kingsport City Schools.  She has a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience from ETSU and her doctorate is from Milligan College.  Evie has thirteen years of teaching experience.

Evie may be contacted at elafollette@k12k.com 

Angela T. Haga

Angela serves as the Assistant Director for the Tennessee Governor's School in Integration of Biological & Statistical Sciences, the Executive Secretary for the Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education and the Public Relations Coordinator for the ETSU Northeast Tennessee STEM Innovative Hub.

She is a native of the Southwest Virginia area, and currently resides with her two daughters in Bristol, TN. Angela is a graduate of Honaker High School in Honaker, VA and brings many skills to her position. She has a wide array of work experience, including: office manager, executive secretary, executive administrative assistant, administrative assistant, rental car manager, substitute teacher, finance specialist, customer sales associate.

Her hobbies include: crafting, interior decorating, gardening, reading, cooking, and tennis.

Angela may be contacted at (423)439-7592 or haga@etsu.edu 

Dr. Gary D. Henson

Dr. Henson has been involved in astronomy research and education for over 25 years. As a research astronomer, he has studied Variable Stars using observatories in New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, and at ETSU. As an educator he has taught not only at the university level, but has contributed much to public outreach programs throughout his career. He currently serves as the director of both the ETSU Harry D. Powell Observatory and ETSU Planetarium and received the 2004 Distinguished Faculty Award for Service at ETSU. Dr. Henson is the Assistant Professor, ETSU Faculty since 1989, B.S. - University of Central Arkansas, M.S. - University of New Mexico, Ph.D. - University of Oregon (1989). Professional Interests: Visible & infrared photometry and polarimetry of variable stars. He may be contacted at 423-439-6906 or hensong@etsu.edu .

Dr. Thomas J. Jones

Dr. Jones is currently working in the biological sciences department  at East Tennessee State University and specialized in Behavioral Ecology, Neuroethology, and Science Education. In 1990 Dr. Jones received his B.S. in Biology from the Cleveland State University, and in 1993, he received his M.S. in Biology. In 2000, Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. in Evolution, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology from the Ohio State University. Dr. Jones has a broad-based research program in the areas of animal behavior, ecology, population genetics, and neuroethology. Specifically, he is interested in the evolution of cooperation, sociality and dispersal strategies. He may be contacted at 423-439-6930 or jonestc@etsu.edu . 

Jennifer Bauer

Mrs. Bauer was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She relocated to beautiful East Tennessee not long after graduating from high school. She soon became immersed in the beauty and the biology of the S. Appalachian Mountains and found herself wanting to learn all she could about this very diverse environment. East Tennessee State University is her alma mater, three times over, completing a Bachelors Degree in Biology and Art, followed by an MS in Science Education, and an MA in Teaching. Writing soon became a passion and she has now authored 4 books; A Naturalists' Teaching Manual; Roan Mountain: A Passage of Time 1st and 2nd Editions; and Wildlife, Wildflowers, and Wild Activities-Exploring S. Appalachia. Jennifer is also a frequent contributor to the Tennessee Conservationist magazine. She is employed as a Park Manager at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton, beginning her career in the role of Park Interpretive Specialist at Roan Mountain State Park for 21 years prior to promotion. Of the utmost importance to her in her professional and personal life, is becoming a good environmental and cultural educator, coupled to a strong belief in the importance of conservation and preservation. She is in her 4th year of serving on the board of directors of the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce. The first weekend of May, each year, she directs and organizes the Roan Mountain Spring Naturalists Rally, 2009 being its 51st year. In her "spare" time, she finds herself weaving, learning the banjo, watercolor painting, clogging, and being outdoors as much as possible. Most importantly, she loves to spend as much time as possible with her two daughters, a 2 year old granddaughter, and her husband.  She may be contacted at 423-543-5808 or jennifer.bauer@state.tn.us 

John J. Carley

John is responsible for managing the Snap-on Tools in Elizabethton, TN manufacturing facility with 400+ employees. Primary products produced are wrenches, ratchets, pry bars, punches, and chisels.  Processes include hot forging, machining, heat treating, chrome plating, and assembly. He has worked for Snap-on Tools since September 2005. His former positions include, HNI Corporation, the HON Company and Hearth and Home Technologies.

Jon is a graduate of Lindenwood University in 1991 with an MBA in Management and from Western Illinois University in 1989. He is a board member of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and President of the Elizabethton/Carter County Association for Business & Industry. He enjoys gold, racquetball, traveling and investing.  He may be contacted at 423-543-5771 or 423-895-0835 or Jon.J.Carley@snapon.com 

Bob Culler

Mr. Culler is the Senior Naturalist at Bays Mountain State Park in Kingsport, TN. He was responsible for arranging our tour and scheduling the viewing of t the wolves and raptors habitats, he also arranged for the GS students to attend the Nature Program and viewing the area fauna and flora. He may be contacted at 423-229-9447 or bobculler@kingsporttn.gov 

Mary Jane Greene

Mary Jane Greene has been employed by Aerojet- Rocketdyne for 25 years. Over the course of her employment with Aerojet- Rocketdyne she has worked in many areas including Manufacturing, Quality, and Process Engineering; however, she has found her passion in working with people within the Human Resource Department. She currently holds the position of Human Resource Manager for the Tennessee facility. Mary Jane attended Northeast State Community College to complete general core classes and then transferred to Milligan College where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in December of 2002.  She may be contacted at 423-753-1200 or MaryJane.Greene@Rocket.com 

Sherry Morelock

Mrs. Morelock is the contact person for the Eastman Chemical Company-Eastman Laboratories in Kingsport, TN.  She is the Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist and Global Community Affairs-Education.  She had a vital role in arranging our field trip to the Eastman Laboratories.  Sherry scheduled our visit to the Biotech Lab, the Polymer Synthesis Lab, and the Physical Testing Lab.  She also arranged the bridge building contest, and lunch at the Eastman visitor center.  She may be contacted at 423-229-5353 or sherryj@eastman.com 

Dr. Mitchell Robinson

Dr. Robinson is the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. He is currently Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine. He is a native of western North Carolina and holds a B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. from Wake Forest University. As Associate Dean, he oversees admissions, curriculum and all academic activities in the M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs in the College of Medicine. Dr. Robinson is active in teaching a variety of subjects in both the graduate and medical curriculum including intermediary metabolism, lipid metabolism, biochemistry and scientific ethics. He currently serves as the course director for the Medical Biochemistry course taught to all first year medical students.  He may be contacted at 423-439-2028 or robinson@etsu.edu .