Oxford College Faculty
Oxford College offers an innovative liberal arts curriculum in a small college setting. Professors are committed to the art of teaching and reaching students, and students benefit from our many opportunities to develop their leadership skills.
Faculty who major in you
Sure, Oxford faculty write books and win prizes. But what they like to do most—and what they do best—is teach. Oxford faculty are nationally recognized for their commitment to teaching, and they lead faculty at other institutions in exploring best practices in college classrooms.
LaTonia Taliaferro-Smith
Associate teaching professor of biology and director of undergraduate laboratories LaTonia Taliaferro-Smith is inspiring young researchers to solve puzzles in cancer research and curious artifacts.
Read about what motivates LaTonia's work
Salmon Shomade
Political scientist Salmon Shomade teaches his students the research skills needed for a job in academia or any job that requires gathering information, experimenting, and making informed decisions—all translatable skills.
Read about Shomade's journey to undergraduate teaching
Florian Pohl
Associate Professor of Religion Florian Pohl was instrumental in the implementation of Oxford’s Ways of Inquiry program, which requires students to take courses that explore how different disciplines view the world.
Read why Pohl enjoys exploring ideas with his Oxford studentsOxford Faculty In The News
In addition to being world-class teachers and committed mentors to our students, Oxford’s faculty are at the top of their professions—renowned experts in their fields, tireless researchers working to improve our understanding of the world, and leaders in their communities. We’re proud that outside institutions consistently recognize our faculty members for their knowledge and research achievements.
NBC News | September 28, 2022
Tameka Cage Conley, an assistant professor of English and creative writing, always had a love and an appreciation for Tyler Perry. So it only seemed natural for her to create a class about his impact on entertainment.
PLoS One | September 13, 2022
Natalia Bayona Vasquez, assistant professor of biology, published in PLoS One to discuss species the genetic variation between rare and common congeners of Dipodomys and how this effects their population size.
National Catholic Reporter | September 10, 2022
David B. Gowler is the Pierce Chair of Religion at Oxford College of Emory University and senior faculty fellow, Center for Ethics, Emory University. In this article, Gowler discusses the painting "Christ and the Sinner" by Max Beckmann.
Apple Podcasts | September 2, 2022
Sarah Fankhauser, associate professor of biology, joins this episode of the Science Pawdcast for the “Ask An Expert” segment.
Biorxiv | August 29, 2022
In this pre-print, Emily McLean, assistant professor of biology, engages the ‘animal model’ to estimate both environmental and genetic sources of variance and covariance in grooming behavior in the well-studied Amboseli baboon population in Kenya.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | August 22, 2022
Michael Martin, Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology, was profiled in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for his YouTube show, Nature Time, which helps children begin to understand and connect with nature.
Medical News Today | August 17, 2022
Rick Thompson, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, and his wife, Aubrey Kelly, a psychology professor on the Atlanta campus, co-authored a study that was covered by Medical News Today: “Testosterone may promote 'cuddling', not just violence, animal study finds”.
Composition Forum | August 12, 2022
Gwendolynne Reid, director of the writing program and assistant professor of English, joins the Composition Forum to discuss the use of the “tool-based interview” (TBI) method by describing its use in the development of journaling.
Theory in Action | July 31, 2022
Deric Shannon, associate professor of sociology, published in Theory in Action discusses radical ideas in political sociology and social movement studies.
Judicature | July 14, 2022
Salmon A. Shomade is associate professor of political science at Emory University and the author of Colonial Legacies and the Rule of Law in Africa (Routledge, 2021), which documents how the legacy of colonialism in five British-colonized nations undermines those nations’ adherence to the rule of law.
Southern Cultures | July 1, 2022
Molly McGehee, Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Director of the Oxford Center for Teaching and Scholarship, and Associate Professor of English and American Studies, interviewed Atlanta artist Dawn Williams Boyd in a piece called "A Place to Sigh" for a recent edition of Southern Cultures.
WHYY NPR PBS | May 20, 2022
Interim Dean and Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology Ken Carter was interviewed on NPR’s The Pulse podcast: “Inside the Minds of Thrill Seekers”.
ABC News | February 11, 2021
Pearle Dowe, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Political Science and African American Studies, speaks on how Democrats in three states are challenging the play-it-safe primary strategy.
ABC News | February 11, 2021
Pearle Dowe, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Political Science and African American Studies, speaks on how Democrats in three states are challenging the play-it-safe primary strategy.
The Scientist | January 5, 2021
Emily McLean, assistant professor of biology, weighs in on a study using data from more than 80,000 couples that finds evidence of indirect genetic effects on traits ranging from smoking habits to mental health.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | December 1, 2020
Oxford College Dean Douglas A. Hicks has surveyed Georgia’s political landscape and finds himself in the enviable place where he sees a lot of purple.
The Academic Minute | November 20, 2020
Symbols send a powerful message in American society. Oxford College Dean Douglas A. Hicks examines how politicians use these symbols to convey their own messages.
The Academic Minute | November 19, 2020
Salmon Shomade, associate professor of political science at Oxford College, discusses how colonial legal structures still hamper African citizens to this day and why the rule of law doesn’t work for those it’s supposed to benefit.
The Academic Minute | November 18, 2020
David Resha, Oxford's associate professor of film studies, explores the beginnings of handheld filmmaking and why this style has become the norm in today's society.
The Academic Minute | November 17, 2020
Artists have been commenting on the laws of the land for centuries. Sarah Higinbotham, assistant professor of English, looks back at one time period that parallels today.
The Academic Minute | November 16, 2020
Friends are not just nice to have; rather, they are developmentally fundamental, says Catherine Bagwell, professor of psychology.
The New York Times | May 12, 2020
Zach Binney, epidemiologist and incoming fall 2020 assistant professor of quantitative theory and methods, is quoted in a New York Times article. Binney also appeared on an issue of the podcast The Full 48 with Howard Beck of Bleacher Report to discuss the return of professional sporting events and specifically the NBA games.
Adam Ragusea's YouTube Channel | April 22, 2020
Deric Shannon, associate professor of sociology, appeared on You Tuber Adam Ragusea's series. Shannon was interviewed on Oxford's Organic Farm.
The Conversation | April 22, 2020
The typical changes that come with adolescence and the developmental tasks that confront adolescents help explain why they’re having a particularly hard time with social distancing, says Catherine Bagwell, professor of psychology.
India Today | April 10, 2020
Oxford College Dean Douglas A. Hicks explains why we must keep our eyes on the importance of strengthening India-US educational ties, even in the midst of COVID-19.
The Chronicle of Higher Education | April 10, 2020
Pearl Dowe, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Political Science and African American Studies, is the author of an opinion piece published as part of the larger article "How Will the Pandemic Change Higher Education?".
Observer Magazine | April 8, 2020
Ken Carter, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology, was interviewed for a Q&A Personality Plus Plus Plus appearing in the April issue of Observer Magazine, a publication of the Association for Psychological Science (APS).
Parents | April 6, 2020
Should you wear a mask to prevent the transmission of COVID-19? Sarah Fankhauser, assistant professor of biology and infectious disease expert at Oxford College, offers her expertise in this article.
Quarantine Writing Hour | April 1, 2020
Ken Carter, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology, appeared on the April 1 Quarantine Writing Hour hosted by Amy Cuddy on her social media accounts.
Inside Higher Ed | March 26, 2020
Oxford College Dean Douglas A. Hicks wrote an op-ed piece about how liberal arts college faculty now face the challenge of teaching via modes and methods that they have largely spurned.
Healthline | February 5, 2020
Sarah Fankhauser, assistant professor of biology, was interviewed and heavily quoted for an article by Leah Campbell discussing Campbell's 4-year-old daughter's autoimmune condition and vaccines.
San Francisco Book Review | January 29, 2020
Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology Ken Carter's book "Buzz!: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies" is reviewed by San Francisco Book Review.
The Conversation | January 15, 2020
Pearl Dowe, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Political Science and African American Studies, co-authored an article that originally ran in The Conversation and was picked up and appeared in the Beaumont Enterprise, EconoTimes, The Hour, Patch, Salon, Raw Story Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and Wall Street Window.