With the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year at Rogers State University, several new faculty members have joined the Hillcat community.
Rogers State University Academic Dean Dr. Susan Willis is grateful to welcome the new faculty members to RSU and looks forward to the positive impact each will make on the university and their students.
“I am so excited to have these outstanding faculty members join RSU this year,” Willis said. “They will all contribute to their respective programs in new and exciting ways. They represent the diversity in faculty that RSU has and will provide our students with the quality instruction we are proud of at RSU.”
New faculty members and their respective departments include:
School of Nursing and Health Professions:
Dr. Alexandra (Ali) Teel
Dr. Alexandra (Ali) Teel serves as instructor of nursing. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, both from Rogers State University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa.
Her work experience includes serving as a nurse technician and later as a Registered Nurse at Saint Francis Hospital, Trauma Emergency Center (January 2018 – July 2020); clinical adjunct instructor at Rogers State University (January 2017 – January 2023); and Registered Nurse at Ascension St. John Owasso, Emergency Department (August 2022 to present). She also served as an intelligence specialist first class in the US Navy Reserve in Oklahoma City (July 2020 – July 2022).
Charlsie Smith
Charlsie Smith serves as instructor of nursing. She graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in nursing from Tulsa Community College in 2011, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2014 and is on track to earn her Master of Science in nursing education from Northeastern State University in December 2023.
She worked as a registered nurse, obstetrics and gynecology, at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa (February 2012 – March 2015); a Registered Nurse at Tulsa OBGYN Associates, Inc. (March 2015 – January 2022); and as a school nurse for Berryhill Public Schools (from January 2022).
Emily Mealin
Emily Mealin serves as instructor of nutrition and allied health. She is a graduate of Florida College (in Temple Terrace, Florida) with an associate degree in liberal studies (May 2010), Western Kentucky University (in Bowling Green, Kentucky) with a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management/dietetics (2013); and the University of Central Oklahoma with a Master of Science in nutrition and food management (in December 2015). She additionally holds a graduate certificate in technology in health promotion.
She has worked as a full-time provisional licensed dietitian at Cherokee Nation Vinita Health Center (April 2018 – January 2019), WIC specialist at Cherokee Nation WIC (January 2019 – November 2019), and public health educator for the Cherokee Nation (from November 2019).
Department of Technology and Justice Studies:
Abhilash Minukuri
Abhilash Minukuri serves as instructor of technology and justice studies. Minukuri holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science and engineering from GITAM (May 2021) and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Oklahoma State University (May 2023).
Before coming to RSU, Minukuri worked as an assistant system engineer for Tata Consulting Service (April 2021 – August 2021), a data analyst intern for the City of Enid (May 2022 – August 2022), and a graduate teaching assistant at Oklahoma State University (August 2022 – December 2022).
Dr. Nitindra Pavuluri
Dr. Nitindra Pavuluri serves as assistant professor of technology and justice studies. He earned a Bachelor of Technology in computer science from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University in India in 2015, a Master of Science in computer science from Texas State University in San Marcos in 2017, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science, also from Texas State University, in 2023.
He has served as a graduate teaching assistant at Texas State University (2018-2019), a doctoral teaching assistant at Texas State University (2020-2021), and course instructor at Texas State University (2021-2022). While at TSU, he also served as a research assistant and in systems support.
Department of Psychology and Sociology:
Dr. Donna Sharp
Dr. Donna Sharp serves as assistant professor of psychology. She holds a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Oklahoma State University (1981), a Master of Science in educational psychology with a specialization in gifted education (2009), and a doctorate in educational psychology from Oklahoma State University (2020).
Sharp joins Rogers State University with decades of professional teaching experience, including teaching social studies, U.S. history, world history, political science, and sociology at Union High School (August 1984 – May 1988); social studies, Advanced Placement psychology, and psychology at Union High School (August 1993 – May 2005); social studies, Advanced Placement psychology, psychology, and sociology at Claremore High School (August 2005 – June 2015); international literacy education at St. John’s Anglican School (Oklahoma State University literacy program); and assistant professor at Bacone College, teaching psychology, sociology, family studies, speech, and consumer health (from 2017).
Department of Fine Arts:
Clay McIntosh
Clay McIntosh serves as assistant professor of graphic design. He is a seasoned creative with professional experience in the fields of advertising, graphic design, higher education and music.
He holds a degree in advertising design from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina (1987); an Associate of Applied Science in graphic design technology from Oklahoma State University – Okmulgee (1994); a degree in commercial music from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas (2001); and Bachelor of Science in digital media arts from SUNY Empire State University in Saratoga Springs, New York (2021).
His experience in the industry includes working as creative director of North American Exhibit Company in Tulsa (1990-91); freelance creative for The Wyatt Group in Dallas, Texas (1994); art director at DDB Needham in Dallas, Texas (1994-96); senior art director at The Thomas Agency in Lubbock, Texas (1997-98); creative director at Nebe International in Lubbock, Texas (1998-2000); and creative director of Clay McIntosh Creative in Tulsa (2007-17).
He served as an instructor in the Commercial Art Program at Nossi College of Art in Goodlettsville, Tennessee (2002-03); visiting assistant professor in the Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater (2004-05); visiting assistant professor at The School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (2005-07); and adjunct professor in the Department of Fine Arts at Rogers State University (2015-16).
Rogers State University is the Tulsa metro area’s only four-year public residential university. Learn more and apply at www.rsu.edu.