Auburn’s College of Education welcomes dynamic new faculty for fall semester

Auburn University’s College of Education is preparing for a vibrant semester with a slate of new faculty starting this fall with an aim to elevate research, teaching and student engagement.

From integrated behavioral health to vascular physiology and neuroscience-informed exercise psychology, the new cohort will bring fresh perspectives and a shared commitment to advancing the college’s mission of building a better future for all.

New faculty for the fall in each of the college’s four units are as follows:

Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling

 

Lucas Perez is from Alexandria, Virginia, and earned his undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Studies at Old Dominion University. He continued his studies there to obtain his master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Perez then attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned his doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision. Throughout his studies, Perez worked as part of integrated behavioral health teams in both inpatient behavioral health units in northern Virginia and community mental health clinics in Norfolk, Virginia. He has also worked within the public school system, private practice, and an Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Program serving a range of clients. 

Perez is a researcher dedicated to promoting wellness, particularly in rural communities. His research also encompasses developing writing skills among counselor educators, promoting wellness among individuals with intellectual disabilities, and other topics focused on marginalized communities. Perez has taught courses on wellness, counseling skills, the counseling field and counseling through a multicultural lens.

“I am most excited about connecting with students and collaborating with colleagues to further advance the field of counselor education and supervision,” he said.  

School of Kinesiology

  

Casey G. Turner joins Auburn as a tenure-track faculty member with robust expertise in molecular and physiological mechanisms linked to cardiovascular health.

A former postdoctoral scholar with the DuPont Laboratory, Turner investigates arterial stiffness and vessel function using translational models in both mice and humans.

Her work explores therapeutic targets for vascular aging, with a particular emphasis on physical activity-based lifestyle interventions to mitigate cardiovascular disease—especially among aging women.

C.J. Brush joins Auburn as a tenure-track faculty member after serving as a tenure-track assistant professor in Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences at the University of Idaho. Brush earned his doctorate in Kinesiology & Applied Physiology from Rutgers University and completed postdoctoral training in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience at Florida State University. Brush’s interdisciplinary research examines how health behaviors intersect with cognitive and emotional vulnerability factors linked to depression across the lifespan. His work spans adolescence through older adulthood and is published in leading journals, including Psychological Medicine, Translational Psychiatry, and Clinical Psychological Science. He actively contributes to professional societies such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR).

“I am ecstatic to join the School of Kinesiology and College of Education to work alongside colleagues who are not only leaders in their field, but also genuinely kind individuals with a shared vision of making society a better place through research, teaching, and mentorship,” Brush said.

 

 

Amanda Fields serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the School of Kinesiology. Fields received her Bachelor of Science in Fitness and Health Promotion from Samford University in 2010. She then received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2013, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Health Administration and Education from William Carey University in 2025. Fields' primary area of clinical practice has been in acute care with an emphasis on the early mobilization of medically complex and critically ill patients. She holds board certification as a Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist (CCS) from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).

“I am excited about the opportunity to work alongside a team who refuses to settle for ‘good enough’—who are committed to mentoring future physical therapists ready to innovate, advocate, and make a lasting impact on the communities they serve.” 

 

 

Blair Saale is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Auburn University.  She is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy and a Parkinson’s Foundation PT Faculty Fellow.  She has worked in entry-level DPT education since 2014 and has practiced clinically in acute care, inpatient, and outpatient settings.

Her primary area of practice focuses on adults with neuromuscular impairments.  She has a passion for education with a focus on intentional, collaborative, and evidence-based physical therapy practice.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the new Auburn Doctor of Physical Therapy program,” Saale said. “It is an exciting time to join the faculty and to see this program flourish.”

Kelly Thatcher serves as Assistant Clinical Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the School of Kinesiology. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on exercise science at the University of Georgia and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University. She further attended a neurologic residency with Thomas Jefferson University and became a board-certified specialist in neurologic physical therapy. Her clinical practice has focused on treating neurologic injuries in the inpatient rehab setting at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

During her time at the Shepherd Center, Thatcher worked in the Hulse Spinal Cord Injury Research Lab where she investigated noninvasive and accessible interventions to promote mobility in people with spinal cord injury. Most recently, she served on research projects investigating noninvasive spinal stimulation as a neuromodulation intervention. Her biggest passion continues to be research translation from the lab to clinical practice, ensuring patients are receiving high-quality and evidence-based care. 

“What I am looking forward to most about teaching at Auburn is fostering student growth – both academically and personally – while sharing my enthusiasm for our profession,” Thatcher said. “There is a large gap in neurologic physical therapy services here in Auburn, and I am committed to help train the next generation of clinicians to be compassionate and dynamic providers for their community.” 

Curriculum and Teaching

 

Temperance Landrum joins the Department of Curriculum and Teaching as a clinical lecturer in elementary mathematics education. Prior to coming to Auburn, Landrum’s 11-year career in education included teaching first, second, fourth and fifth grades in Alabama districts, as well as a stint as an education coordinator for a Head Start program serving migrant and seasonal farmworker families. While serving as a classroom teacher, she also served as a fourth-grade science trainer for AMSTI. Landrum holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from The University of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as a master’s in mathematics education from the University of Missouri. Currently, she is working toward a doctorate degree in learning, teaching, and curriculum from the University of Missouri.

“I’m looking forward to having a small part in helping improve math instruction in the state of Alabama for our youngest students,” she said.

 

 

Melissa Claiborne will join the College of Education this fall as a lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. A 2017 graduate of Auburn’s Ph.D. program in Career and Technical Education, Claiborne brings 18 years of experience in secondary education, where she has taught a wide range of subjects including business, entrepreneurship, marketing, computer applications, and graphic communications. Her leadership roles have included serving as a CTAE department head, a member of her school’s leadership team, and district marketing team leader. She has mentored both students and educators across several Georgia high schools, preparing students to earn industry-recognized certifications.

“I’m passionate about equipping students with practical, real-world skills that prepare them for success beyond the classroom,” Claiborne said.

Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology

Bailing Lyu joins Auburn University’s College of Education as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology. She earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and most recently served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Utah. Lyu’s research focuses on learning from multiple resources, artificial intelligence in education, STEM education—particularly mathematics and statistics—and learning analytics. Her work has been published in journals such as Learning and Individual Differences, Computer & Education, and Contemporary Educational Psychology. She has contributed to several funded research projects involving AI-augmented learning.