Ryan Ambuter
Assistant Professor
Ryan is an Assistant Professor of Secondary Education. He earned a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and School Improvement and an M.Ed. in Social Justice Education from UMass Amherst. He has extensive experience teaching English Language Arts at the secondary level in Western Massachusetts. Ryan approaches teaching about both the system and practice of education through equity-based frameworks.
Ericka Blais, M.Ed.
Adjunct Professor of Education
Ericka Blais is the technology teacher at Stefanik School, Chicopee. She teaches our technology courses.
Shannon Dillard, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Dillard’s career as an educator began in middle schools where she taught a variety of subjects. Her primary interest is in the teaching of mathematics, at all levels. She has extensive experience as a curriculum developer, mentor to student teachers, and faculty member in Western Massachusetts teacher preparation programs.
Melinda Gowdey, M.Ed.
Adjunct Professor of Education
Melinda Gowdey is an elementary teacher in Hinsdale, with an expertise in educational technology. She teaches the technology and multicultural children’s literature courses at our Pittsfield site.
Dr. Tyra Good
Founding Executive Director, Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE); Associate Professor of Education, Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Equity
Dr. Tyra Good has more than 10 years of experience teaching education and is the founding executive director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE). Good is the founder and chief academic consultant for GOOD Knowledge Connections and the founder of the Black Educators Network (BEN) of Greater Pittsburgh. The BEN is a strategic team of K-12, Higher Education, and community educators working across school district and community lines to help ensure the academic and personal success of African-American youth from underserved communities. For her dedication and commitment to diversifying the teaching pipeline and preparing pre-service teachers to work in urban settings, Good has received a myriad of award recognitions. Dr. Tyra Good was appointed Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Equity in 2025 with responsibility to coordinate the Black Experience Summit, to chair the cross-campus Institutional Diversity Committee, and to serve as the point person on the Cabinet for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Good received her bachelor’s in business management from Howard University, a master of arts in teaching from Chatham University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and evaluation from Duquesne University.
Kelly Hawkins
Practicum Director, Adjunct Professor of Education
Kelly Hawkins, M.A.T., has worked in various roles in education for over twenty-five years, primarily as a high school English teacher. In addition to her position as Practicum Director, she teaches the Pre-practicum Seminar and the Professional Seminar in Education.
Dr. Andrea Hickson-Martin
Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, Chair of Education, Associate Professor
Dr. Hickson-Martin brings to the role of Chair of the Education Division, over a decade of expertise as Director of Graduate Elementary and Early Childhood Education Licensure programs at Bay Path University. She holds a doctorate in Education Leadership and Supervision from American International College. With a background as an assistant principal in the Springfield, MA public school system and more than 15 years of teaching experience across the Holyoke and Chicopee Public School Districts she possesses a wealth of educational insight. Her professional passions lie in promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Dr. Hickson-Martin is a vocal advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and facilitates anti-racist and anti-bias workshops.
Yeukai Imeh, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Yeukai Imeh, Ph.D., MBA, has joined the college as an assistant professor of education. Imeh earned her doctorate at Simmons College in Boston, her MBA at Southern Connecticut State University; and holds a master of math adolescent education from Pace University in New York. She has been an adjunct professor at several local colleges, including Elms, and she also supervised Elms student teachers last spring. She is an experienced teacher in mathematics at the middle/high-school levels and in urban settings. Imeh will also advise middle/secondary licensure candidates.
Jane McCarry, M.Ed.
Director of Operations in the Sr. Kathleen Kirley ’66 School of Continuing Education, Academic Program Coordinator, Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree Program in Early Care and Education at BCC; Adjunct Faculty for Education
Jane McCarry, M.Ed. 2012, has worked in the Kirley School of Continuing Education since its inception, formerly known as the School of Graduate and Professional Studies/Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. Jane has worked at Elms College since 2008. Students interested in pursuing a credit for prior learning portfolio review should meet with Jane for guidance in the process.
Laura Porter, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Porter is a former early childhood and special education public school educator. Over the course of her career, she has had wide-ranging experiences in P-12 and higher education settings. Her professional interests focus on encouraging adult learners in gaining an understanding and developing strategies to engage with individuals who have exceptionalities as well as their families.
Patricia Regan, M.Ed.
Adjunct Professor of Education
Patricia Regan, M.Ed., CAGS, is a certified Reading Recovery instructor and a reading teacher in Wilbraham, Mass. She teaches the multicultural children’s literature course at our main campus.
Suzanne Rene, MAT
Lecturer of Education
Suzanne Rene has taught preschool, special education, and most recently was an elementary Instructional Leadership Specialist for the Springfield Public Schools. Her area of expertise is Literacy. Professor Rene is the Director of the Reading Specialist Master of Arts in Teaching Program, and of its Summer Reading Clinic.
Sarah Sawyer, M.Ed.
Adjunct Professor of Education
Sarah Sawyer, M.Ed., is a pre-kindergarten teacher in Springfield, Mass. She has extensive experience with children with special needs and teaches the early childhood curriculum and instruction courses at our main campus.
Jeanne Tippett
Administrative Assistant
Earned Masters in Communication and Information Management in March, 2024. Bachelor degree in Business Studies at Umass – Amherst UWW May, 2010. Resident of Chicopee for life. Engage in community service on various committees, which include Hampden County 4-H / Youth Fair, Camp Howe in Goshen, MA., Massachusetts 4-H Foundation Board.
Tara Witte, MAT
Adjunct Professor of Education, Assistant Director of the Elms College Summer Reading Clinic
Tara Witte, MAT, has been an elementary teacher for the last ten years, teaching both third and fourth grades. She is a licensed reading specialist, and serves as the assistant director of the Elms College Summer Reading Clinic.
Emily Wood, M.Ed.
Adjunct Professor of Education
Emily Wood, M.Ed., is a preschool teacher for an integrated classroom in Dalton, Mass. She teaches the ECE assessment and methods courses at our off-campus site in Pittsfield, Mass.