Meet Our New ETSU Faculty – Part 1

Leendert Craig

Lecturer

Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, Surveying, and Interior Architecture
College of Business and Technology

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

I am looking forward to learning all I can from my fellow faculty members and working with the students. I think it is fun to watch them grow as they learn.

Where were you most recently working?

Last year I was working as an adjunct at ETSU.

What are your favorite hobbies?

My favorite hobby is learning. I love taking things apart to learn their secrets and finding ways to make them better. I also love being in the outdoors…hiking in the mountains and playing on the lakes.

Dr. Deneen Evans

Associate Professor

Department of Social Work
College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

I am looking forward to being a member of a progressive faculty that is making an impact in the area of health disparities.  

Where were you most recently working?

After 16 years, I recently retired from Radford University’s School of Social Work as a tenured associate professor.

What are your favorite hobbies?

I love to travel internationally with students, spend time in the Caribbean with my family and friends, and watch college basketball and tennis with my husband.

Dr. Kim Hudson-Gallogly

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department of Graduate Programs
College of Nursing

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

Being a part of an organization that has an extraordinary reputation in health care – in educating our future nurses and nurse practitioners and in providing quality health care for the people of Tennessee.

Where were you most recently working?

Georgia Southern University.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Biking and lover of the movies.

Jacob Gillenwater

Lecturer

Department of Computing
College of Business and Technology

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

Working with students who are excited to learn and helping them break through to that next level of proficiency. 

Where were you most recently working?

I was most recently working as a substitute teacher for Sullivan County, typically teaching math and social studies classes at Sullivan Heights Middle School.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Playing music has been a huge part of my life since I was old enough to hold a guitar, and more recently electronic keyboards. My plan is to keep developing my woodworking skills and start creating my own instruments in the near future.

Dr. Tao Huang

Chair and Professor

Department of Art and Design
College of Arts and Sciences

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the campus to build strong programs to serve our community.

Where were you most recently working?

I was most recently an associate professor and head of Undergraduate Studies at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Before we moved here, we owned a small permaculture farm, where we practiced a lot of sustainable growing methods. I'd like to pick up gardening again after we settle down.

Dr. Justin Ledogar

Assistant Professor

Department of Health Sciences
College of Public Health

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

I'm most looking forward to getting ETSU students involved in my research both in the lab and out in the field. My lab-based work involves 3D simulations of feeding biomechanics, while at my field site in Suriname, South America, I study feeding behavior in a range of primate species, so hopefully there will be some student interest!

Where were you most recently working?

Most recently I was working at Duke University as an assistant research professor of evolutionary anthropology. There I was teaching courses on human physiology, primate comparative anatomy, and the human fossil record.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Hiking and being out in nature, skiing, and playing guitar.

Dr. Saurabh Mehta

Associate Professor

Department of Rehabilitative Sciences
College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

I am most excited about expanding and growing research to improve quality of life and functioning of individuals living with osteoarthritis of hip and knee in my position at ETSU. I see tremendous potential to develop highly productive research enterprise considering the existing partnerships ETSU has with the largest health care providers in Northeastern Tennessee.

Where were you most recently working?

I am currently working as a faculty member in the School of Physical Therapy at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. I also hold status-only cross-appointment as an associate professor with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Marshall University School of Medicine. 

What are your favorite hobbies?

My wife and I love to travel and explore many different parts of the world. When we are not traveling, we are usually hiking in nearby parks or checking out different cuisines (as long as they have some vegetarian options). 

Dr. Lauren Ramey

Associate Director of Choral Activities and Director of Music Education

Department of Music
College of Arts and Sciences

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

I am most looking forward to the collaborative spirit at ETSU as well as being part of the incredible tradition of excellence for both students and faculty. 

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

I recently completed my Ph.D. at Florida State University in choral conducting and music education. During my time at FSU, I served as a graduate assistant for choirs and music education classes. Before pursuing my doctorate, I taught choir at Ravenwood High School in Brentwood and was the assistant conductor of the Nashville Symphony Chorus.

What are your favorite hobbies?

When I'm not making music, I love spending time with my husband and our 7-year-old daughter, Jensen. I also enjoy reading, swimming, and traveling. 

Dr. Jessica Turner

Assistant Professor/Director of Behavioral Health

Department of OB/GYN
Quillen College of Medicine

What are you looking forward to the most about being an ETSU faculty member?

Having earned four degrees myself at ETSU, joining as faculty feels like coming home. I am looking forward to growing the behavioral health workforce in the Appalachian Highlands and supporting students across disciplines as they grow into professionals.

Where were you most recently working?

Prior to coming to ETSU, I worked at the James H. Quillen VAMC for eight years, first as a staff psychologist in Primary Care-Mental Health Integration then as a supervisory psychologist in the residential rehabilitation programs.

What are your favorite hobbies?

One of my favorite hobbies is baking, most recently trying to perfect macarons. I also enjoy running and have completed two full marathons and several half marathons.