Education

vbarnes@lagrange.edu

706-880-8646

Randolph “Dolph” S. Hardigree is a Lecturer of Education and is excited to join the Panther Education Department as an instructor in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Hardigree holds an Ed.S. in Curriculum & Instruction as well as Tier I Leadership certification from LaGrange College. Additionally, he holds a B.S. in Operations Management and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Auburn University. 

Prior to joining the LaGrange College faculty, Hardigree spent 30 years as an educator in the Troup County School System, including 12 elementary years at Hollis Hand Elementary School and 18 secondary years in Life Sciences at LaGrange High School. Hardigree also helped establish the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at LHS, serving as IB Coordinator and teaching the IB Theory of Knowledge course for the last three years. 

In addition to his local career, Hardigree enjoys working as a coach, workshop facilitator, and study group leader for Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

Hardigree is a proud native of Birmingham, Alabama. His wife, Stacey, is a native of LaGrange and has also spent over 30 years serving the local community as a music educator.  

Dr. Livingston “Dr. D.” received his B.S. from Drexel University in Early Childhood Education, his M.Ed. from West Chester University in Elementary Education and his doctorate in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University. Dr. D. joined the LaGrange College community in 2001.

Dr. D. has served as the President of the Georgia Association of Independent College of Teacher Education (GAICTE) twice and once as President of the Georgia Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (GACTE). He has also served as the President of the Georgia Educational Research Association and was co-editor of the association’s journal, The Georgia Educational Researcher. In 2017, Dr. D. was awarded the Cindi Chance Award for lifetime achievement to teacher preparation in Georgia.

His research interests include expanding curriculum theory, teaching global engagement. In addition to teaching a wide variety of courses in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, Don along with his wife, Dr. Sharon Livingston, sponsor study away courses in Thailand, Costa Rica, Greece, and for the 2020 January Semester, a study away course in New Zealand.  

Dr. D. has served as the President of the Georgia Association of Teacher Educators, President of the Georgia Association of Independent College of Teacher Education (GAICTE) twice and once as President of the Georgia Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (GACTE).

Professor of Education

dlivingston@lagrange.edu

706-880-8017

Sharon Livingston, Ph.D. is a Professor and Assessment Coordinator for the Department of Education at LaGrange College.  Dr. Livingston received her B.S. from Drexel University, her M.S. from West Chester University, and her Ph.D. from Georgia State University.  Dr. Livingston joined the LaGrange College community in 2006.  She teaches in the areas of Research and Assessment, working with EDS and EDD graduate students. She also serves as the graduate MED and EDS academic advisor for her department. 

Dr. Livingston is currently serving as the President of LaGrange College's Faculty Assembly.  Her other leadership roles have been president of the Georgia Educational Research Association and the founding President of the Georgia Assessment Directors’ Association, a professional statewide organization for both public and independent institutions of higher education.  Her hobbies include cooking, gardening, and traveling the world, having visited 28 different countries outside the U.S.

Professor of Education

slivingston@lagrange.edu

706-880-8006

Dr. Gretta Milam is an Associate Professor of Education, Department Chair, and the Director of Graduate Studies. Dr. Milam is an alumni of LaGrange College where she earned her B.A. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education. Additionally, Dr. Milam received an Ed.S. from Troy State University in Educational Leadership and an Ed.D. from the University of West Georgia in School Improvement. Dr. Milam teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a primary focus on reading and educational leadership.

Prior to joining the college faculty in 2013, Dr. Milam worked for Troup County Schools. She taught kindergarten and 1st grade at Rosemont Elementary, served as Instructional Specialist and Principal at Whitesville Road Elementary, and as Principal at Ethel Kight Elementary.

Dr. Milam and her husband, Randy, are the proud Gigi and Popa of five sweet grand children. Dr. Milam enjoys crafts, reading, and baking in her free time.

Associate Professor of Education, Chair Department of Education and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Director of Graduate Studies

mwright@lagrange.edu

706-880-8203

Lyn Perry is the Director of Field Experiences in the Education Department.

Professor Perry is an alumna of LaGrange College where she earned her Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership. Additionally, Professor Perry received her B.S. from Auburn University in Education and M.Ed. from Jacksonville State University in Special Education. She is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teacher as an Exceptional Needs Specialist. Professor Perry supervises all field experiences and internships at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She serves as the academic advisor to the undergraduate Elementary Education candidates.

Prior to joining the college faculty in 2021, Professor Perry retired from Roanoke City Schools in Roanoke, Alabama after 27 years of service. While in Roanoke City Schools, she taught PreK-12th grade students with disabilities in a collaborative setting and served as the Director of Special Education and Gifted.

She currently serves as Secretary for the Georgia Field Directors Association.

lperry2@lagrange.edu

706-880-8202

Vicki Thrailkill Pheil joined the Education Department in June 2007. Prior, she taught sixth grade language arts and science in the Troup County School System for almost ten years. She is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards National Board Certified Teacher in the field of Early Adolescence English Language Arts. Vicki earned her B.A. in Middle Grades Education and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from LaGrange College, and an EdD at Columbus State University. Vicki is the advisor to the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society and the academic advisor to the Master of Arts in Teaching program candidates. She has been an active member of the Georgia Field Directors Association since 2008, serving in numerous roles.

Assistant Professor of Education

vpheil@lagrange.edu

706-880-8584

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Each year in March in conjunction with the Lafayette Society of Performing Arts, the campus welcomes storytellers and visitors from across the US for a weekend of storytelling festivities. For more information, please click the link below:

Azalea Storytelling Festival

This 20-day experience takes you to the international city of Bangkok before traveling into the northern regions of Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao) and Chiang Rai). Discover how art and play are universal languages when interacting with the children of Thailand. Learn about a completely different culture on the other side of the world. Activities include cultural orientation and development of art project ideas prior to departure; one week of service to hill tribe children by teaching through the arts; evenings and weekends are open for visiting temples, shopping, and exploration; zip-lining and a visit to an elephant sanctuary are planned activities.

Walk in the footsteps of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in Athens to learn how their ideas on education are still relevant today. Then travel to Peloponnese to learn about the first Olympic Games and grasp the complexities of ancient Greek societies through excursions to historical archaeological sites.

Why do some cultural groups seem to do better in societies, while others do not? Although Maoris and Polynesians are culturally similar, Maoris, a conquered indigenous people, do less well in New Zealand society than Polynesian immigrants who voluntarily settled there. What might we learn about our U.S. society through a 20-day immersion experience with Maoris, Polynesian immigrants, and the New Zealanders of British and Irish ancestry? Our course illuminates key terms such as dominant culture, involuntary minorities, and voluntary immigrants as concepts to learn how power operates through cultural identities; and what impact an oppositional identity has on academic performance, relative social status, and economic prosperity. 

Experience a full cultural and educational immersion by spending 16 days working with and for the wonderful people in the beautiful country of Costa Rica.  This Servant Leadership themed course will provide opportunities to serve while elevating Spanish language skills and working alongside the United Methodist Church and missions organizations with possible church/school programs and construction.  On weekends we will enjoy days off to travel to volcanoes, hike in the mountains and relax on the beautiful beaches. All majors are welcome.  Costa Rica is a country of great beauty and need...the perfect place to spend a January  serving and learning in a way you’ll never forget.