Education Faculty & Staff

Nanette Clatterbuck, M.Ed.
Associate Provost
Phone: (616) 632-2973
E-mail: clattnan@aquinas.edu

Nanette Clatterbuck, M.Ed., Associate Provost of Graduate and Professional Studies, has been with Aquinas College since 1997. Prior to this position, she served as the Dean of the School of Education and was the program leader for the learning disabilities endorsement program. In 1986 she started and served as the executive director of Lake Michigan Academy, a private day school designed for students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders. Nanette continues to conduct workshops with students on various aspects of social/emotional development as well as behavioral needs of individuals including those with learning disabilities, ADHD, and Tourette's Syndrome. Throughout her time at Aquinas College she has been awarded the Faculty of the Month award twice by the Student Senate, as well as Faculty Member of the Year and Faculty Most Admired by Students. Most recently, Nanette was recognized at the YWCA Tribute Awards as the Dickinson Wright, PLLC Women of Achievement recipient. Currently, Nanette serves as the Vice President on the Board of Directors for Lake Michigan Academy.

Elizabeth Flores, B.S.I.B.
Certification Officer & MAT Advisor
Phone: (616) 632-2436
E-mail: floreeli@aquinas.edu

Elizabeth works on an array of education tasks while advising both undergraduate and graduate students. As the certification Officer for the Aquinas College, she also assists students with obtaining and renewing their Michigan teaching certification.

Lisa Swinehart

Assistant Director of Field Placement

Phone: (616) 632-2443

E-mail: lms002@aquinas.edu

Lisa Swinehart assists Dan Diedrich with the Introduction to Education and Directed Student Teaching field placement process.

Nkechy Ezeh, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Phone: (616) 632-2431
E-mail: nkechy.ezeh@aquinas.edu

Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, an international scholar, is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education Program at Aquinas College.  As Dr. Ezeh prepares new teachers for Early Care & Education, she is able to draw upon perspectives gained through her direct involvement in the community. As a former Early Care & Education teacher she spent many days in the classroom, specifically with vulnerable children, gaining valuable insight on the practical implementation of educational theory. 

Dr. Ezeh has served as an Adult and Parent Educator, not only teaching parents but listening and learning from those who can best describe what life is like for low income families. Finally, she has assisted several non-profit agencies as an Early Childhood Education Consultant, providing curriculum and evaluation expertise at a level that many would not normally have been able to access. In addition, for the past 15 years, Dr. Ezeh has conducted Professional Development and Parent Education workshops throughout the United States of America, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Nigeria and Zambia.

Dr. Ezeh completed her M.Ed. at Grand Valley State University, and Ed.D in Child and Youth Studies with specialization in Curriculum Development and Systemic Change from Nova Southeastern University. She was one of the US delegates to Reggio Emilia, Italy and a panelist on the Oxford University Early Literacy Round Table. Dr. Ezeh conducts training on Early Childhood related topics and on integrating the Reggio Emilia principles into a staff development and teacher preparation programs – the focus of her doctoral dissertation. Her true passion is bringing quality care and education to vulnerable children and promoting parental engagement through education, modeling and coaching.

In 2010, Dr. Ezeh was approached by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to conduct a current reality research on children living in the core city of Grand Rapids, Michigan and in 2011 to lead a collaborative process to establish an Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) for the purpose of planning and designing an intentional preschool service system aimed at providing, expanding and sustaining the capacity of high quality early care and education programs in the vulnerable neighborhoods of Grand Rapids.  Her research and recommendations resulted in a $5 Million grant award to ELNC in 2012.

Dr. Ezeh joined Aquinas College in 1998 Dr. Ezeh and her husband Pius have five children: Onyinye MK, Obinna, Akuezumkpa, Nnenna and Niki.

Gina Garner, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Education

Phone: (616) 632-2432

E-mail: gina.garner@aquinas.edu

Gina Garner, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education and serves as the Learning Disabilities Program Coordinator. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy from Michigan State University in 2009. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (1991) and a Master's of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (1992) from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Dr. Garner worked in the public schools in suburban Chicago and St. Louis for nearly ten years before coming to Michigan to begin graduate work. Her research interests include examining and evaluating technology targeted for students with special educational needs, adapting curriculum for student access, administrator perspectives on special education policy, and research methodology in education. Additional interests include science, nature, and the intersection of pop culture with scholarly research. When not in the classroom or in front of a computer, she can be found working in her garden, reading a good book, or playing music.

Rui Niu-Cooper, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Phone: (616) 632-2428
E-mail: rui.niu-cooper@aquinas.edu

Rui Niu-Cooper, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Education (English As Second Language) at Aquinas College. She is also coordinating both ESL and Bilingual Programs at the college. She has a B.A. in English Language and Literature from Sichuan University, China, an M. Ed. in School and Teaching Improvement from Acadia University in Canada, and a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Engaging Diverse Learners/ESL from Michigan State University. She has worked as a classroom teacher, adjunct faculty,assistant professor in Pennsylvania and as a researcher. She has written and co-written articles on how to improve environments and teaching practices for English language learners from various backgrounds, and has done extensive literacy consulting in the Eastern part of Michigan and Pennsylvania. She loves children and has strong feelings for English Language Learners. She also loves reading (professional, personal, and young adult and children’s books), traveling, comparing different cultures, and spending time with her husband, Garth Cooper, and their daughter, Alexandra.

Julia Reynolds, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Education

Phone: (616) 632-2055

E-mail:julia.reynolds@aquinas.edu

Julia Reynolds, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Education (Literacy Studies) at Aquinas College (2006-2008, 2010-present).  She is also the Director of School Improvement Services in Northview Public Schools, where she previously served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. She has a B.A. in Criminology and Law Studies from Marquette University, a B.A. in English and Reading and an M.A.T. from Aquinas College, and an Ed.S. in Educational Administration and a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Literacy from Michigan State University.  She has worked as a classroom teacher in Wyoming Public Schools and Forest Hills Public Schools, worked in curriculum development in Grand Rapids Public Schools, worked as an adjunct instructor at Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Calvin College, and San Diego State University, served as president of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English and the Michigan Reading Association, written or co-written articles and book chapters on best practices in literacy instruction, and done extensive literacy consulting in the region. In her “spare” time, she loves reading (professional, personal, and young adult and children’s books) and spending time with her husband, Billy, and their son, Liam.

Carol A. Winkle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Phone: (616) 632-2434
E-mail: winklcar@aquinas.edu

Carol A. Winkle, Ph.D. earned her B.A. from Michigan State University in 1969. She taught in public schools in grades 1-4 and 6-8 over a period of 12 years. During three years of that time, she served as a Title I Director. She earned her M.A. in educational psychology with specialization in child and adolescent growth and development in 1973 from Michigan State University. In 1983, she earned her Ph.D. in social-philosophical foundations from Michigan State University.   While working on her doctorate at MSU, she also served as a teaching assistant in the area of educational psychology.