Meet Our Team
Faculty & Staff
Dr. David Walker
Principal Investigator
Dr. Walker is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies where he teaches graduate courses in Advanced Educational Psychology and Moral and Character Education. He is also director of the Center for the Study of Ethical Development. Dr. Walker's research focuses on moral and character development and education.
diwalker.people.ua.edu/
Dr. Yvette P. Bynum
Co-Investigator
Dr. Bynum is an associate professor in the Educational Leadership, Policy, and Technology Studies Department where she serves as the program coordinator for the Masters and Education Specialist certification programs in Instructional Leadership. Her experiences in education span more than 20 years with 8 years in higher education and 12 years in PK-12 education in Montgomery County Public Schools (AL), including 6 years in administration. Dr. Bynum's current research interest includes mentoring, leadership development, and virtue ethical leaders as well as serving on several national and state committees within the field of educational leadership and program improvement. She currently serves as the Editor of the Alabama Association of Professors of Educational Leadership (AAPEL) journal and on the Executive Board of the Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration (SRCEA).
https://education.ua.edu/programs/ael/
Dr. Brenda Mendiola
Co-Investigator
Dr. Mendiola is a clinical professor at The University of Alabama where she serves as the Director of the University of Alabama Superintendents’ Academy. Prior to her work at UA, Dr. Mendiola served as a K-12 educator, first in New Mexico and then in Texas. Her background includes experience as a teacher, high school principal, curriculum director, and superintendent. In addition to her work with the Superintendents’ Academy, Dr. Mendiola teaches leadership courses, conducts research, write grants and works with others to promote leadership development across the state. Dr. Mendiola is a co-pi on the virtue-ethics character education leadership project funded by the Kern Family Foundation. As a co-pi project, Dr. Mendiola will be working with principals and superintendents to introduce character-based professional development.
Superintendent's Academy
Ashaunte T. Gaillard
Project Coordinator
Ashaunte is the program coordinator for the Character for Education and Superintendents Academy. Her experience with education spans from teaching high school to higher education as an adjunct instructor in the past. Her current role as program coordinator is split between two departments acting in a support role for both the Leadership for Character initiative and the Superintendent's Academy.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Walker is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies where he teaches graduate courses in Advanced Educational Psychology and Moral and Character Education. He is also director of the Center for the Study of Ethical Development. Dr. Walker's research focuses on moral and character development and education.
diwalker.people.ua.edu/
Dr. Yvette P. Bynum
Co-Investigator
Dr. Bynum is an associate professor in the Educational Leadership, Policy, and Technology Studies Department where she serves as the program coordinator for the Masters and Education Specialist certification programs in Instructional Leadership. Her experiences in education span more than 20 years with 8 years in higher education and 12 years in PK-12 education in Montgomery County Public Schools (AL), including 6 years in administration. Dr. Bynum's current research interest includes mentoring, leadership development, and virtue ethical leaders as well as serving on several national and state committees within the field of educational leadership and program improvement. She currently serves as the Editor of the Alabama Association of Professors of Educational Leadership (AAPEL) journal and on the Executive Board of the Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration (SRCEA).
https://education.ua.edu/programs/ael/
Dr. Brenda Mendiola
Co-Investigator
Dr. Mendiola is a clinical professor at The University of Alabama where she serves as the Director of the University of Alabama Superintendents’ Academy. Prior to her work at UA, Dr. Mendiola served as a K-12 educator, first in New Mexico and then in Texas. Her background includes experience as a teacher, high school principal, curriculum director, and superintendent. In addition to her work with the Superintendents’ Academy, Dr. Mendiola teaches leadership courses, conducts research, write grants and works with others to promote leadership development across the state. Dr. Mendiola is a co-pi on the virtue-ethics character education leadership project funded by the Kern Family Foundation. As a co-pi project, Dr. Mendiola will be working with principals and superintendents to introduce character-based professional development.
Superintendent's Academy
Ashaunte T. Gaillard
Project Coordinator
Ashaunte is the program coordinator for the Character for Education and Superintendents Academy. Her experience with education spans from teaching high school to higher education as an adjunct instructor in the past. Her current role as program coordinator is split between two departments acting in a support role for both the Leadership for Character initiative and the Superintendent's Academy.
Ph.D. Students
Jennifer Crawford
Jennifer is a Ph.D. student in the department of educational leadership with a concentration in social and cultural studies. She is also pursuing a qualitative certificate in the educational research program. Her tenure as an educator has included being an English/Language Arts teacher, a special education teacher, and an administrative intern. She is a research assistant with the Leadership for Character project.
Casey Lee Dykes
Casey is a doctoral student. Dykes has spent her career in education as a teacher, coach, and administrator. She joins the team as a research assistant with the Leadership For Character project.
Jennifer is a Ph.D. student in the department of educational leadership with a concentration in social and cultural studies. She is also pursuing a qualitative certificate in the educational research program. Her tenure as an educator has included being an English/Language Arts teacher, a special education teacher, and an administrative intern. She is a research assistant with the Leadership for Character project.
Casey Lee Dykes
Casey is a doctoral student. Dykes has spent her career in education as a teacher, coach, and administrator. She joins the team as a research assistant with the Leadership For Character project.