Five inducted into College of Education & Health Professions Hall of Fame

March 18, 2025

Columbus State University’s College of Education & Health Professions inducted five new honorees into its Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Feb. 19. The inductees—educators and nursing professionals—-are all graduates of the college.

“Our newest inductees demonstrate the power our graduates and partners have in shaping the quality of life in their communities,” said Dr. Margie Yates, the college’s dean. “When people evaluate a community’s quality of life, they often do so based on the quality of its education and healthcare infrastructure—two important indices to which our honorees directly contribute.”

This year's honorees included:

JERRY “POPS” BARNES ’01
Nursing, Columbus, Georgia

At 57, Barnes graduated from Columbus State in 2001 with a bachelor of science in nursing after a distinguished 20-year Army career. He used his degree as a community wellness health educator and champion for the area’s underserved. He successfully campaigned for a city councilor position in 2006, and for nearly two decades after, he maintained a passion for improving the community’s health, recreational and public safety services. He also advocated for the nursing profession and expanding nurses’ ability to serve their patients. As a Columbus State graduate and Alumni Association board member, he mentored nursing students and sought opportunities to bring the university to the community’s forefront—for which the association honored him in 2023. He continued his service on the Columbus City Council until his passing in 2024. (posthumous inductee)

MARIANNE JORDAN ’06, ’10
Education, Columbus, Georgia

A two-time graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education from Columbus State, Jordan is credited with successfully implementing positive changes at Rigdon Road Elementary School. There, her leadership includes serving her students and colleagues as the school’s lead special education teacher and a mentor teacher—and past recognition as the school’s teacher of the year. Advocacy for her students has included modeling how to adapt teaching methods to her students’ differing and unique learning styles and needs, as well as securing resources like a new inclusive playground for her school. She demonstrates best practices in special education and provides professional development for her fellow teachers, as she pursues additional education in special education—including a doctorate she expects to complete later this year.

DR. KIMBERLY SHEPHERD LESTER ’15
Education, Columbus, Georgia

During her 25-year education career, Lester has taught students in virtually every elementary grade from kindergarten through the fifth grade. Throughout that journey—which includes a doctoral degree from Columbus State—her former professors, current school colleagues and the highest levels of the Muscogee County School District consistently recognize her for her commitment to sharing her knowledge with her students, peers, and college students she taught who were aspiring to be or were deepening their understanding as K-12 teachers. Her days as a current fifth-grade teacher at Wynnton Arts Academy often go past the school bell as she advises student organizations, plans school events, mentors fellow teachers, and presents at conferences and joint events with Columbus State. She’s added to the accolades she received as a member of the college’s first class of doctoral graduates two school-based teacher of the year honors—which led to the system’s 2013 Teacher of the Year Award and as a 2016 Top Ten Georgia Teacher of the Year finalist.

KATHERINE GEMES LOPEZ ’92
Education, Columbus, Georgia

For more than 30 years, Lopez has carried on the family teaching tradition her grandmother began, and both her parents perpetuated. Her distinguished career has spanned teaching middle school science and school and district leadership roles—including her current duties as St. Luke Early Learning Center’s director. Throughout those transitions, and now as she’s teaching the children of former students, she’s known for her servant leader’s approach to building trust with students, parents, colleagues and stakeholders alike. Her knowledge and experience have led to her developing teaching models, practices, and professional development, which she would impart to her colleagues and from which their students would benefit.

DR. GWENDOLYN MILLER ’06
Nursing, Columbus, Georgia

As a practitioner and educator, Miller brings her experience to the classroom and her lifelong learning into her professional practice. The 2006 Columbus State BSN alumna has served nursing both in practitioner and educator capacities: first, as an emergency room nurse, and since 2013, as a member of the School of Nursing faculty. Through the latter, she shares her pediatric, emergency and urgent care expertise as an associate professor, FNP preceptor and Family Nurse Practitioner program coordinator. She leads through various industry association roles, which provide her students with entrée to professional activities and advocacy with local and statewide elected officials. She also devotes time to helping youth in various organizations explore their interests in healthcare professions.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE’S HALL OF FAME

To date, the college has inducted nearly 70 education, nursing and health professions graduates into its Hall of Fame. It was established originally in 2005 to honor Columbus State’s education graduates. It expanded in 2018 to include health professions graduates with the merger of education, nursing, kinesiology and related disciplines into the College of Education & Health Professions. This year’s class presents 2024 inductees, since the November 2024 ceremony was postponed until 2025.

Honorees must have earned a CSU degree or certification endorsement; have been active in their career field for a minimum of 15 years; and have made extraordinary contributions to their profession as demonstrated by their nomination packet. Awards can be bestowed on honorees posthumously.

The nomination process is open throughout the year. Nominations can be submitted online. A committee of current and former college faculty and community leaders reviews them.

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Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, executive director of strategic communication + marketing, Columbus State University, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu 

 

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES, 2005 to present

• Dr. Susan Andrews, 2007 (Education)
• Jerry “Pops” Barnes, 2024 (Health Professions)
• Matt Bell, 2017 (Education)
• Jeff Branham, 2015 (Education)
• Jessica Burnett, 2019 (Education)
• Stacey M. Carlisle, 2021 (Education)
• Pamela Carter, 2013 (Education)
• Kim Cason, 2013 (Education)
• Rebecca Claiborne, 2011 (Education)
• Lt. Col. Brandy Clayton, RN, Ph.D., 2022 (Health Professions)
• Ronie Collins, 2010 (Education)
• Dr. Dorothy Lee Coverson, 2020 (Health Professions)
• Emory Christopher Cox, 2015 (Education)
• Dr. Marvin J. Crumbs Sr., 2019 (Education)
• Beverly M. Davis, 2009 (Education)
• Lucy Davis, 2009 (Education)
• Owen Ditchfield, 2008 (Education)
• Dr. Susan Elder, 2022 (Education)
• Dr. Michael Edmondson, 2013
• Dr. Justin Finney, 2023 (Education)
• Craig Jackson Fitts, 2017 (Education)
• Dr. Jacqueline Flakes, 2022 (Education)
• Dr. Spencer Garrard, 2012 (Education)
• Coy Richard Green, 2020 (Education)
• Dr. Deirdre C. Greer, 2014 (Education)
• Dr. Paul T. Hackett, 2006 (Education)
• Aleta Cochrane Henderson, 2018 (Health Professions)
• Elizabeth Holmes, 2007 (Education)
• Christine Hull, 2022 (Education)
• Peggy Jan Hyatt, 2006 (Education)
• Carla Ingalls Hubbard, 2016 (Education)
• Dr. Terry Irvin, 2012 (Education)
• Marianne Jordan, 2024 (Education)
• Jessie Dawn Jenkins, 2017 (Education)
• Dr. Wendi Jenkins, 2021 (Education)
• Tina Jones, 2010 (Education)
• Margaret Beusse Koger, 2015 (Education)
• Dr. Tommy Lee, 2012 (Education)
• Dr. Kimberly Shepherd Lester, 2024 (Education)
• Adele Lindsey, 2014 (Education)
• Katherine Gemes Lopes, 2024 (Education)
• Ann R. McDuffie, 2008 (Education)
• Dr. Dell W. McMullen, 2005 (Education)
• Tom Meltzer, 2009 (Education)
• Dr. Gwendolyn Miller, 2024 (Health Professions)
• Dr. Dell Miller, DNP, RN, FNP, EMTP, CEN, 2022 (Health Professions)
• Nancy E. Mims, 2020 (Education)
• Sheri Reynolds Noviello, 2019 (Health Professions)
• Hope E. Phillips, 2020 (Education)
• Mike Regnier, 2011 (Education)
• Marty Richburg, 2021 (Education)
• Leslie Robertson, 2006 (Education)
• Victoria Roebuck, MSN, WHNP-BC, 2023 (Health Professions)
• Dr. Carole Rutland, 2011 (Education)
• Dr. Kimberly M. Scott, 2019 (Education)
• Keith M. Seifert, 2016 (Education)
• Stanley Shivley, 2023 (Education)
• Deana Singletary, 2021 (Health Professions)
• Dr. Cheryl Mixon Smith, 2020 (Health Professions)
• Raymechia Smith, 2005 (Education)
• Dr. James Sparrow, 2018 (Education)
• J. Mike Stephens, 2016 (Education)
• Penny L. Thornton, 2014 (Education)
• Louise Tolbert, 2007 (Education)
• Dan Trotter, 2008 (Education)
• Dr. Aimee Vael, DNP, ANCC (Health Professions)
• Dr. Carol VanderGheynst, 2010 (Education)
• Debby Whatley, 2018 (Education)
• James Wilson, 2018 (Education)