CETL Fellows

Dr. Tibebe A. Assefa, College of Business 

Tibebe A. Assefa, PhD. is an Associate Professor of Finance. He has PhD in Business Administration concentration in Finance from the University of Texas – Pan American in 2012. Dr. Assefa joined Bowie State University in August 2016. Prior joining BSU Dr. Assefa worked as an assistant professor of finance at Kentucky State University. Currently he teaches:  Commercial Banking, Principal of Finance, Small Business Finance, and Personal Finance among other. His research interests are in International Finance, Financial and Economic Development, Behavioral Finance, and Financial Market and Institutions. He has published in several peer-reviewed journals such as: Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions, and Money; Journal of Economics and Finance; Energy Economics; Global Business and Finance Review; Journal of African Business; Review of Accounting and Finance; and Journal Financial and Economic Practice.

Dr. Melissa Duchene-Kelly, College of Professional Studies

Dr. Melissa Duchene-Kelly is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Bowie State University.  She obtained her PhD in Human Development from the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Duchene-Kelly is trained in Learning Online, Teaching with Technology Online (LOTTO I and LOTTO II) and has her certificates in Blackboard, Quality Matters, and High Impact Teaching Strategies (HIT). She has served in a number of positions in the field of early childhood development including researcher, practitioner, and teacher. She has co-authored publications regarding children and families and has presented at several professional conferences.  Dr. Duchene-Kelly has facilitated programs at an early childhood center to increase family engagement from those families whose children have a diagnosed disability and/or who are at developmental and/or environmental risk. In addition, she has led workshops designed to educate practitioners on the importance of quality care, theories of development, and curriculum design when working with children in early childhood. Her research focuses on parent experiences raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from underrepresented communities.  

Dr. Masica Jordan Alston, College of Education

Professor Kathryn Kawecki, College of Arts and Sciences

Kathryn Kawecki is an associate professor in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, which she joined in 2016; she now also serves as the Academic Program Coordinator for Theatre Arts. In 2023, she received the CAS Outstanding Creative Work Award. Professionally, she is a Mid-Atlantic based theatre artist working at several DC/Baltimore area theaters including 1^st Stage, where she is an artistic associate. She serves as co-chair on USITT’s Set Design Commission Distinguished Achievement Awards Committee and has been a judge for the Helen Hayes Awards (DC). Recent Mid-Atlantic projects include set designs for CSC’s 2023-24 season (As You Like It, The Oresteia, and Romeo & Juliet) and Shutter Sisters, The Phlebotomist and How the Light Gets In at 1st Stage Theatre as well as costume designs for Othello/Desdemona at InSeries and for Bob Bartlett's Love and Vinyl, for which she also wrote the article “‘Love and Vinyl’ to mix it up at KACHUNK! Records in Annapolis.” Additional honors for include awards from USITT and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and nominations for Helen Hayes (DC), Henry (CO), NY Innovative Theatre (NYC), IRNE (New England), and Broadway World (DC/Baltimore) Awards. To see examples of her design work, visit kaweckidesign.com.

Dr. Supriyo Ray, College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Supriyo Ray joined the Natural Sciences department at Bowie State University in the fall of 2019. He introduced High Impact Teaching (HIT) practices, CUREs in Genetic Engineering (BIOL 424) and Applied Biotechnology (BIOL 423) and introduced Problem Based Learning (PBL) in Biochemistry (CHEM 309). Dr. Ray was introduced to experiential learning by Dr. Ken Teter and Dr. Suren Tatulian at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Fl, where he worked with high school students and undergraduates. He was formally trained in HIT at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) while associated with the BUILD (NIH) grant geared towards increasing the representation of underrepresented groups in research. His lab studies transcriptomics in plants, engages in establishing novel drug targets and drug discovery for infectious diseases and finding solutions to sustainability through the use of green technology. Prior to joining Bowie State, Dr. Ray has also worked at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, CA, University of California San Diego, CA, and National Institute of Malaria Research, India. He holds a doctoral degree in Biomedical Sciences and a master’s degree in Microbiology & Molecular Biology from UCF, and a master’s degree in Biotechnology from India.  

Dr. Sheneese S. Thompson, CETL Fellow for Adobe

Dr. Sheneese Thompson was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Through her participation in the Philadelphia Freedom Schools program, she was introduced to Africana Studies and decided to pursue the critical study of the African Diaspora’s cultural and intellectual contributions. She earned a B.A. in Afro-American Studies from Howard University, her M.A. in African American Studies from Boston University, and Ph.D. in African American and African Studies from The Ohio State University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Language, Literature & Cultural Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowie State University and Course Coordinator for Africana Literatures. Her research areas of interest include Black Popular Culture, African American literature, Comparative Diaspora Studies, Afro-Atlantic Religion, and most notably Lucumi’s cultural impact in the United States.  

About CETL Fellows:

CETL Fellows are faculty members that represent their respective colleges and work with CETL to support the professional development of faculty at all phases of their career. The CETL Fellows develop and facilitate professional development events, such as the Faculty Institutes and several 3-Part Professional Development Series workshops, which are peer mediated and support Bowie State University intent to be as a place where all faculty are equipped to achieve, support, and contribute to the institutions top three priorities: academic excellence, student success, and the long-term viability of the university.