Professional Staff

Tim Odegard, Ph.D.

Tim.Odegard@mtsu.edu
Chairholder, Murfree Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies
Professor of Psychology

Tim Odegard, Professor of Psychology and Chairholder of the Katherine Davis Murfree Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies at Middle Tennessee State University, is a renowned expert in dyslexia research. With a background in developmental cognitive psychology, Dr. Odegard’s pioneering work centers on reading difficulties and dyslexia. His research spans the identification of struggling readers, effective intervention methods, and comprehensive teacher training. Notably, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Dyslexia and has made significant contributions to improving literacy services for all learners in including individuals with dyslexia . Recognized for his outstanding dedication, Dr. Odegard has received prestigious awards, including the Luke Waites ALTA Award of Service and the IMSLEC Innovator Award for his impactful work in the field.

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Karen Kehoe, Ph.D.

Karen.Kehoe@mtsu.edu
Director

Karen Flynn Kehoe is the Director of Dyslexia Services at the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at Middle Tennessee State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and French from the University of Notre Dame in 1999, master’s degree in education, with a language and literacy concentration, from Harvard University Graduate School of Education in 2003, and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Virginia in 2022. Dr. Kehoe’s research interests include risk and protective factors impacting the reading development of elementary students with or at risk for reading difficulties and disability, including dyslexia. She is also interested in studying socioemotional and behavioral influences on reading, especially among vulnerable student populations. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Karen worked in public and private school settings as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and instructional coach. She also served in leadership roles in the local government and non-profit sectors, where she directed various education and community initiatives. Karen is passionate about working to ensure all children have access to high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction and intervention.

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Melinda Hirschmann, Ed.D., CALT

Melinda.Hirschmann@mtsu.edu
Assistant Director for Educational Services and School Outreach

As Assistant Director for Educational Services and School Outreach at the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia, Melinda collaborates with schools to support professional learning regarding literacy instruction and intervention for educators and their students in grades K-12. She also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses as an adjunct professor for the College of Education at Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her Master of Education degree in Special Education from Tennessee State University and her Doctor of Education degree from Lipscomb University. She had the pleasure and challenge of working with adolescent students as a middle school special education reading interventionist for 10 years. Melinda is a Certified Academic Language Therapist and has tutored elementary children using intensive structured literacy instruction. She also administers and supervises student assessments for characteristics of dyslexia. Melinda serves on the board of the Tennessee branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

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Erin Alexander, Ed.S., NCSP, CALT

Erin.Alexander@mtsu.edu
Assistant Director for Clinical Services

Erin Alexander is the Assistant Director for Clinical Services at the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at Middle Tennessee State University. She trains and supervises graduate students who conduct assessments at the center, consults with parents and school personnel regarding how to best identify and support students with reading difficulties, provides workshops for parents, and delivers professional development to school personnel. She earned her B.S. in psychology, M.A. in school psychology, and Ed.S. in curriculum and instruction/school psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. She is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and a licensed school psychologist through the TN Department of Education. Her previous experience includes serving on the board of the Tennessee branch of the International Dyslexia Association and working in the public schools in Tennessee as a school psychologist. Erin is also a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) who has provided intervention to students with characteristics of dyslexia. She is an ex-officio member of the Tennessee Dyslexia Advisory Council, which was established in 2016 to advise the Tennessee Department of Education on matters related to dyslexia.

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Jennifer Stewart, Ph.D.

Jennifer.Stewart@mtsu.edu
Assistant Director for Research Initiatives

Jennifer Stewart received her Ph.D. in Education from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. During her program, she was a scholar with the National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention (NCLII), funded by the Office of Special Education Programs. Through this program, Jennifer participated in research directly related to her interests, including reading and behavioral interventions for students with intensive learning needs, special education teacher training, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and special education policy. Dr. Stewart continued her research as an Institute of Education Sciences (I.E.S.) Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Virginia, where she supported research and outreach conducted through the Virginia Literacy Partnerships office. Jennifer’s current research focuses on observations of literacy instruction for students at-risk for reading difficulties and disability and administrator perceptions of providing MTSS (focusing on their campus-wide support of data-based decision making and delivery of intensive interventions). Before beginning her Ph.D., she spent time as both a special education teacher and instructional specialist in Dallas and London, England. 

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Support Staff

Kim Haag

Kimberly.Haag@mtsu.edu
Executive Assistant, Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies

Kimberly Haag is the Executive Assistant at the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at Middle Tennessee State University. She has over fifteen years of experience in professional executive assistant positions. As Executive Assistant, she provides support to the Dyslexia Center’s team members, ensures the smooth operation with her efficient handling of the parent/educator inquiries, plus assists with the coordination of the budget, conferences, and educator workshops. In her free time, Kimberly likes to hike, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, and spend time with her family.

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Graduate Assistants Pursuing a PhD in Literacy Studies

Katy Kloberdanz, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI

Katy Kloberdanz is a first year Ph.D. student in the Literacy Studies program and a Literacy Fellow within the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia. She is a Certified Academic Language Therapist – Qualified Instructor (CALT-QI) and Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT) in the state of Texas. She most recently served as an Education Consultant for Dyslexia and Related Disorders at Education Service Center – Region 20 in San Antonio, Texas, where she provided technical assistance and training for 91 districts and charter schools in 19 counties of central and south Texas. Her direct feedback was incorporated into the Texas Dyslexia Handbook, 2021 Update, helping shape the state’s dyslexia guidance document. Having taught in both private and public school settings, Katy has worked with diverse student populations and served in a variety of roles. She has worked as a classroom teacher, instructional specialist, data analyst, and dyslexia specialist, and she served as the dyslexia coordinator of a large urban district. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of North Texas and an M.Ed. in educational administration from Lamar University. Her research interests center around early dyslexia screening and identification, particularly for English learners and twice exceptional students.

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Heather Joslin, M.A., BCBA

Heather Joslin is a first-year graduate student in the Ph.D. literacy program at MTSU. She currently works as a behavior coach for Murfreesboro City Schools providing support for four elementary schools within the district.  Ms. Joslin has a master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Analysis.  She has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2001 and became a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Tennessee in 2015.  Her research interests center around how literacy skills influence social interactions and behavior in education.

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Ifeoluwa Popoola, M.Ed.

Ifeoluwaluwa Ayokunmi Popoola is a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Literacy Studies program. She has a bachelor’s degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, ile- Ife, Nigeria and an M.Ed. from University of Lagos in physics education. Her research interest is identifying students with reading difficulties among races where these traits are undermined and proffering both short- and long-term remedies. 

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Pamela Shewalter, M.A.

Pamela Shewalter is a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Literacy Studies program. She has worked as a special education teacher in a K-8 school where she served as a reading interventionist and case manager.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from MTSU in 2011 and a M.A. from Ball State University in autism and applied behavior analysis in 2016.  Her research interests are testing validity in struggling readers, best practices for interventions, generalization of intervention methods, and the use of appropriate accommodations. 

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Graduate Assistants Pursuing Degrees in Psychology

Michaela Cormier, M.A.

Michaela Cormier is a second year student in the school psychology graduate program. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in psychology with minors in Spanish, addiction studies, and honors interdisciplinary studies. She earned her master’s degree in school psychology at MTSU and is currently pursuing a specialist in education (Ed.S.) degree. She plans to become a school psychologist for a public school district in the elementary setting.

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Anna Robison, B.S.

Anna Robison is a first-year student in the M.A. Experimental Psychology program and currently serves as the Lab Coordinator in our research laboratory at the Center. She holds an associate’s degree in psychology from Motlow State Community College and subsequently completed her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology at Middle Tennessee State University. Anna’s research interests primarily revolve around the social and behavioral determinants of aging, and she aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in social gerontology, focusing on various social aspects of aging.

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Emma Kassebaum, B.S.

Emma Kassebaum is pursuing her master’s degree in the School Psychology program at Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from MTSU in psychology with minors in mental health services and sociology. She plans on becoming a school psychologist in the elementary school setting.