Dalton State College welcomed nine new full-time faculty members this fall to support its growing student enrollment and to fill vacancies created by recent retirements.
Dalton State started classes on August 11, and early enrollment numbers show Dalton State will serve more than 5,500 students this fall—marking the third consecutive year of enrollment growth. The college’s enrollment has increased by more than 1,000 students since fall 2022. Official enrollment numbers will be published later this fall.
The new faculty attended the New Faculty Academy (NFA) orientation on August 4 in preparation for the start of the fall semester. NFA is a program designed to welcome, prepare and support new faculty in creating an engaging and effective learning environment for students.
The nine new faculty members are Dracey Adams, lecturer in nursing; Grace Adams, lecturer in communication; Courtney Baker, assistant professor of respiratory therapy; Nancy Cope, assistant professor of nursing; Austin Hooks, lecturer in English; Anne Loughren, assistant professor of health and wellness; Sarah McMahon, assistant professor of biology; Jeevani Sammeta, assistant professor of communication; and Kaylan Traffanstedt, lecturer in nursing.
NFA is a comprehensive year-long program built around four key elements: a full-day orientation in August, departmental mentoring, monthly professional development sessions and peer teaching observations.
“This model ensures that new faculty are not just handed a syllabus and left to navigate the classroom on their own,” said Alicia Briganti, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. “They are intentionally supported through the Academy in developing their teaching expertise and building meaningful connections during their first year at Dalton State.”
New faculty pictured on the back row from left are Kaylan Traffanstedt, lecturer in nursing; Dracey Adams, lecturer in nursing; Jeevani Sammeta, assistant professor of communication. In the middle row from left are Courtney Baker, assistant professor of respiratory therapy; Grace Adams, lecturer in communication; Nancy Cope, assistant professor of nursing. On the front row from left are Sarah McMahon, assistant professor of biology; Austin Hooks, lecturer in English; Anne Loughren, assistant professor of health and wellness.
