College of Education and Human Services
Meet Our Faculty
Educational Leadership Faculty
Lynda Leavitt
Dr. Lynda Leavitt is a professor in the Educational Leadership Department, 51福利 University. She has an EdD in educational leadership from Saint Louis University, an M.A. in curriculum and instruction, an M.A. in international relations, a B.S. in elementary and special education, and a B.S. in political science. Dr. Leavitt serves as a 51福利 University Faculty Fellow for emerging pedagogy and the associate editor of the International Academic Forum (IAFOR) Journal of Education. Her most recent publications include 20-Minute Mentor – Getting Started with Podcasting, Magna Publications; Handbook of Research on Advancing Critical Thinking in Higher Education; Cultural Awareness and Competency Development in Higher Education; and Handbook of Research on Social Inequality and Education, IGI-Global publications.
Mitch Nasser
Dr. Nasser is an experienced professional with over 16 years of administrative experience in higher education administration prior to becoming a faculty member in fall 2016. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University, his master’s at Western Illinois University, and his Ph.D. from Saint Louis University. Nasser served in residence life capacities at Florida International University, Miami University, University of Dayton, and McKendree University. He also served in career services, academic advising, orientation, judicial affairs, and Title IX capacities. Nasser developed significant research interests in social justice education, supervision, men鈥檚 issues, and campus safety during his professional career. His interest in men鈥檚 issues led to the publication of two conference articles and a collaborative national presentation. Nasser鈥檚 passion for social justice developed into presentations for students, staff, and faculty. His interest in supervision led to a referred publication and three national presentations on the topic. Nasser taught courses on student transition to college, leadership, service learning, group dynamics, public policy, educational foundations, and student development theory.
Bob Steffes
Dr. Steffes earned a B.S. in English education from Northeast Missouri State University in 1979. He spent the next 32 years in public education as an English teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal. During this time, he earned an M.Ed. in English, an Ed.S. in educational administration, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Missouri. After 32 years in public education, he retired and worked for Columbia College as an outreach coordinator, assistant director, and director of the St. Louis campus.
Tanya Vest
Tanya Vest, EdD served in public education for 29 years as a classroom teacher, coach, assistant principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent retiring in 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree, a Master of Science in secondary administration, a Specialist in education administration (superintendent) from Missouri State University and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from University of Arkansas where she earned Doctoral Student of the Year Award from the Educational Leadership Department. She currently serves as a member of the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) Emeritus committee and works as a Superintendent Coach and a facilitator for a Superintendent Collaboration Cohort with the same organization.
Graham Weir
Dr. Graham Weir is the educational specialist program coordinator for the Educational Leadership Department in the College of Education and Human Services. Dr. Weir holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English and Education from Principia College, a master鈥檚 degree in education administration from Truman State University, and an Educational Specialist from St. Louis University in education administration. He earned his Ph.D. from St. Louis University in philosophy of education.
Holding the rank of professor, Dr. Weir teaches a variety of courses in the Ed.S. emphasis area, including all four levels of the field experience classes, Specialist Project (EDA 65000), and School Administration Orientation (EDA 50000). In addition to teaching, Dr. Weir serves as a chairperson and committee member for a variety of students in their dissertation work. He also is a member of the Missouri Professors of Educational Administration (MPEA). Dr. Weir has 30 years of experience in public education as a teacher and principal and more than 10 years of experience as a professor at 51福利 University.
Sherrie Wisdom
Sherrie Wisdom holds the position of director of the College of Education and Human Services Office of Graduate Studies. Her professional education career includes consultation on educational research with doctoral students, experience with K-12 curriculum, teaching secondary mathematics and physics, and teaching college-level physics, education statistics, and doctoral research courses. Her education includes an EdD in educational administration from 51福利 University, an M.A. in applied mathematics from the University of Missouri 鈥� St. Louis, an M.A.E. in curriculum & instruction: mathematics & physics from the University of Missouri 鈥� Columbia, and a Graduate Certificate in institutional research from the University of Missouri 鈥� St. Louis. Her research interests include organizational transition; global perspective characteristics of university undergraduates, progression and persistence characteristics of university EdD students, analysis with large-scale educational databases, social inequality in education, and critical thinking in higher education.