Education Faculty

Miranda Brand is the dean and vice president of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and School of Aviation at Purdue Global. Brand's areas of expertise are in leadership development, industry partnerships, faculty mentoring and new program development. As dean, Brand oversees more than 700 faculty members across 45 academic programs and five academic departments. She also cultivates the more than 1,000 college-industry partnerships that the college maintains. Brand’s experience in education allows her to focus on student success while serving almost 11,000 students who are pursuing degrees at the doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, associate and certificate levels.

Since 2011, Brand has served as the associate dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In this role, she facilitated the development and launch of twelve degree programs in the college, served on numerous university cross-functional action teams to promote institutional improvements and worked with then Dean Sander for over a decade to create and implement a strong college-industry partnership program for students and employer partners. Additionally, she has served in faculty and department chair positions within the college since joining the University in 2006. Prior professional experience includes 20 years of public education service in various roles including teacher, curriculum coordinator, district staff development presenter, and school administrator.

Education: EdD, Nova Southeastern University;  MA, Educational Leadership, Fayetteville State University; BS, Education, Methodist University

For many years, Lynn Massenzio's focus has been administrative, including strategic planning, accreditation, state approvals, and new program development. She previously served the University as an adjunct faculty member and assistant dean of faculty. Prior to entering the education field, Massenzio built on her experience as a former college athlete to start a small business as a fitness consultant and personal trainer. She earned her teaching certification through an alternative certification route at Oglethorpe University. After teaching high school science, she transitioned to higher education where she was a clinical instructor at Georgia State University and an assistant professor at LaGrange College. Both institutions, as well as Purdue Global, have enabled her to work with career changers entering the field of education through both traditional and alternative routes to certification.

Education: PhD, Georgia State University; MS, Georgia Institute of Technology; BA, Rutgers University

Tessa Holst currently serves as the assistant dean of students within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences where she oversees and generates initiatives to develop student engagement and improve student retention. She is also responsible for problem identification and resolution for second-level student complaints and conflicts. Prior to her current role, Holst served as the graduation director and event planner within the Provost Office. She was responsible for bi-annual graduation event ceremonies, celebrations, and faculty retreats. She has worked in higher education for over 25 years and recently completed her second term as school board member for her local school district, having served for 4 years as president. 

Education: MS, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global)

Honors and Achievements: 2017 Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Non-Academic Support Team Award (Kaplan University), 2005 Hero Award (Kaplan University), 2003 Extra Mile Award (Kaplan Higher Education)

April Hrabar has been with Purdue Global since 2020 as an instructor with the School of Nursing. Before joining the Purdue Global team, Hrabar was the administrator of an online undergraduate health sciences program and the senior leader of a multi-leveled nursing department. In her 15 years’ experience in higher education, she has focused on adult and non-traditional learners, online instruction, program development and expansion, and institutional and programmatic accreditation.

As part of her passion for connecting students with global initiatives, she was previously the founder and executive director of an organization providing aid and medical care for Indigenous people of the Amazon Rainforest. Through this foundation, she has immersed students and faculty in life-changing cultural experiences to make a positive impact in these fragile communities. She continues to pursue community outreach in promotion of global health and wellness.

Education: EdD in Educational Leadership, Liberty University; MSN in Nursing Education, Liberty University; BS in Nursing, University of Maryland

Honors and Achievements: Nurse Leadership Institution Fellow (2010); Corporation for National Service National Service Award (2002)  

Research Interests: Professional behaviors, writing skills, faculty and student engagement in online environments

A full-time faculty member in the School of Education, Kelvin Beckett currently teaches graduate theory and research courses. He is also course lead for the history and philosophy of education course, and serves on several University committees. Prior to joining Purdue Global, he taught at the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati. Beckett has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. His areas of expertise include philosophy of education and urban education. He also presents each year at University symposiums and at an external conference, based on continuing research in the area of online teaching and learning.

Education: PhD, University of London; MA, University of British Columbia

Honors and Achievements: 2016 College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Professor Award (Kaplan University), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship

Rhonda Figueroa is an early childhood adjunct professor, teaching a myriad of undergraduate courses for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In addition, she is a portfolio/course evaluator, a course lead, and an education facilitator for the Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney's Community Services Program. Figueroa’s professional experience includes teaching emotionally challenged/learning-disabled students in the public school system, serving as school principal for a Long Island UPK program, as well as owning a large Montessori Day School and EC Center. Her NYS credentials include permanent/dual certification in general education (EC–Grade 6) and special education (birth–21 years). Additionally, she is certified to teach gifted and talented students, is a licensed public school principal, a licensed mental health practitioner, and a creative arts therapist (L-CAT). Figueroa is fully Montessori trained.

Education: MS, Adelphi University; BS, Dowling College; Graduate Certificate in Addictions (in progress), Purdue Global

Carol Laman is a full-time adjunct instructor and teaches a variety of early childhood education courses including early childhood development, child nutrition, and current issues in administration. She has experience as a director of an early childhood facility, teaching in the early childhood and elementary school age environment as well as working with children and young adults with autism. Laman holds teaching certification in the state of Texas for general edcuation as well as special education. 

Education: MA, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global); MS, University of North Dakota

Carolyn McKeon has been teaching in higher education for 11 years, at Purdue Global she teaches Early Childhood Education classes and has been with Purdue Global since 2007. McKeon has presented professional for KU Village as well as other educational organizations. She has also been a subject matter expert and written several courses for two different colleges. McKeon founded and ran a small, non-public school in Pennsylvania in 2009.

McKeon has served on the faculty senate and been a course lead. She is a course life-long learning course evaluator and faculty advisor. She also holds two Master's degrees, two Bachelor's degrees, and is finishing her sixth degree in Criminology.

Education:  PhD in K-12 Teaching and Learning, Capella University

Publications: "The 6 R’s of a Positive Facilitator" in the Journal of eLearning and Online Teaching.

Research Interests:  Alternative education with a strong emphasis in autodidactic learning

Julia Nyberg is a professor at Purdue Global in the Department of Education. Nyberg was a K-6 classroom teacher and professional development expert in the US and Asia before entering higher education. Nyberg’s research focuses on curriculum and instructional design, artificial intelligence pedagogies, gifted and talented students, and curriculum strategies to value, integrate, and culturally sustain populations who have been marginalized in education. Nyberg speaks at state and national conferences and provides demonstration lessons for school districts related to her expertise in curriculum design, artificial intelligence pedagogies, and differentiated instruction. Nyberg served as the lead for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Curriculum Guide and the Artificial Intelligence Curriculum Guide for Purdue Global. She is the co-developer of the Home and Community Connections Model, an instructional strategy that integrates the student’s family and community into the curriculum. In addition, Nyberg serves on numerous professional organizations.   

Manzone, J. A., & Nyberg, J. L. (2022). Creating Culturally Sustainable Literacy Experiences Through Home and Community Connections. In L. Haas, & J. Tussey (Ed.), Disciplinary Literacy as a Support for Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning (pp. 15-40). IGI Global.

Kaplan, S.N., Manzone, J., & Nyberg, J. (2022). Professional learning standards. In S. Johnsen, D. Dailey, & A. Cotabish (Eds.). NAGC Pre-K-through-Grade 12 Gifted Education Programming Standards: A Guide to Planning and Implementing Quality Services for Gifted Students. (pp. 214-229). Routledge: New York.

Nyberg, J. L., & Manzone, J. A. (2022). The Home and Community Connections Model: Shifting the Power From Teacher Differentiation to Learner Personalization. In Handbook of Research on Challenging Deficit Thinking for Exceptional Education Improvement (pp. 436-455). IGI Global.

Memberships: California Association for the Gifted; National Association for the Gifted; National Black Student Achievement Association

Research Interests: Curriculum and instructional design, artificial intelligence pedagogies, gifted and talented students, and curriculum strategies to value, integrate, and culturally sustain populations who have been marginalized in education

Lisa Wright has worked at Purdue Global for 10 years, where she is a professor in early childhood and teaches a wide variety of undergraduate courses in early childhood, with a special emphasis on assessment and autism spectrum disorders. She has designed and revised curriculum in numerous early childhood courses. She began her academic career in the physical therapy department at the University of Missouri, where she was a full-time clinical assistant professor. Wright has experience working in early intervention, rehabilitation hospitals, public schools, and the home environment. She is a licensed physical therapist and volunteer Guardian Ad Litem for the state of Florida, and is certified to teach K-12 children with exceptionalities.

Education: PhD, University of Missouri; MA, University of Missouri; BS, University of Missouri; Post-Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global)

Publications: Research on interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders; reviews several professional organizations and journals

Honors and Achievements: Regular international conference presentations