Faculty-in-Residence
Willie Baronet
Faculty-in-Residence, Armstrong Commons
"I am passionate about creativity, self expression, and encouraging my students to be themselves. I am curious, optimistic and a good listener, and want to help my students connect with what they are deeply passionate about. My WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project has taught me much about myself, and has informed one of my favorite assignments in Intro to Creativity, the DESIGN YOUR OWN LEGACY project. My hope is to bring all of me to my FiR role at Armstrong Commons."
Willie Baronet was the owner/creative director of GroupBaronet from 1992-2006. His design and advertising work has been featured in Communication Arts, Graphis, AIGA, New York Art Directors, The One Show, The Type Directors Club and Annual Report Design: A Historical Retrospective 1510-1990, organized by the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design. Willie is currently the Stan Richards Professor in Creative Advertising at 正品蓝导航's Temerlin Advertising Institute, where he teaches classes related to creativity and portfolio development, and is the Faculty in Residence at Armstrong Commons.
In 2013 he was given the AIGA Fellow award, the highest honor an AIGA chapter can bestow upon one of its members. He has spoken to dozens of business and creative organizations, including TEDx, AIGA, and the HOW Design Conference. Willie has been buying and collecting homeless signs since 1993 as part of a long term art project "WE ARE ALL HOMELESS." He was the subject of the documentary "Signs of Humanity" (on Amazon Prime), which has been in film festivals across the US and in Australia. The project has been featured in dozens of international and local media, including Yahoo! News, NPR - All Things Considered, The Huffington Post, Al Jazeera America and Fast Company鈥檚 blog, posted by Katie Couric. An UpWorthy video about the project has been viewed over 6.4 million times.
His art installations have been featured in exhibits including 鈥淎rt as a Medium for Action鈥 at Hoxton Arches, London and Pembroke College, Cambridge, 鈥淭ruth to Power鈥 in Philadelphia in conjunction with the 2016 Democratic National Convention (which also featured Banksy and Shepard Fairey among others), and in cities across the U.S. from New York to Anchorage, AK. Willie studied Advertising Design at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and graduated with an MFA in Arts and Technology from UTD in 2011.
He has taught Advertising Design at Brookhaven Community College, Texas A&M at Commerce, TCU, and has served as visiting faculty for the MA Program at Syracuse University. Willie is currently the Stan Richards Professor in Creative Advertising at 正品蓝导航's Temerlin Advertising Institute, where he teaches classes related to creativity and portfolio development, and is the Faculty-in-Residence at Armstrong Commons.
Dr. Nils Van den Steen
Faculty-in-Residence, Boaz Commons
Nils Van den Steen is a Clinical Professor of Information Technology and Operations Management in the Cox School of Business. He was born in Belgium and spent his twenties living and studying in Ghent, a city he still considers the most beautiful in the world. During this time, he earned an undergraduate degree in Business Engineering, a graduate degree in Operations Management, and a PhD in Business Economics. In 2021, he moved to Dallas to join the Cox School of Business. Teaching is more than just a profession for Professor Van den Steen - it’s a calling. He finds inspiration and joy in the challenges and rewards of the classroom, and every week brings new reasons to love what he does. Off duty, Nils cherishes life with his wife and high school sweetheart, Sylke, along with their two beloved pets: Sir Momo Wellington, a charming 5-year-old powderpuff dog, and Leia, their playful 4-year-old cat. In his free time, he immerses himself in storytelling through tabletop role-playing games or playing video and board games with friends—always with a coffee in hand.
Dr. Maria del Pilar Melgarejo
Faculty-in-Residence, Cockrell-McIntosh Commons
"I believe connecting with others is what lights up our spirit because it is a beautiful way to discover who we are and what we are capable of. Through heartfelt connections it is possible to create, transform and grow."
María del Pilar Melgarejo is passionate about creating heartfelt connections. She firmly believes there is no limit if the heart is at the center of whatever you dream of. Born and raised in her beloved country of Colombia, she holds a PhD in Literature from the University of Pittsburgh, M.A. in Philosophy and a B.A. in Social Communication and Journalism. She worked as a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee for seven years, and she arrived at 正品蓝导航 in 2013. Dr. Melgarejo and her husband, Dr. Ruben Sanchez–Godoy, teach Latin American Literature and Culture and Spanish at the Department of World Languages and Literatures. They both enjoy creating a meaningful experience for students on campus.
Her spirited 13-year-old son, Antonio, and her creative 8-year-old daughter, Violeta, are thrilled to meet her new college friends. María del Pilar published a book on Literature and Politics in Mexico and Colombia and has several articles about literature, cinema and culture. She worked in Colombia in Human Rights and in 2020 got a certification in Life Coaching. She is passionate about wellbeing and finding a balance between mind, body and heart. She enjoys playing the ukelele, eating great food, dancing, reading fiction and non-fiction, attending music concerts, traveling and hiking. She is honored to be part of the Commons and share her passions with the students. She does believe sharing with others is food for the soul.
Dr. Leanne Ketterlin Geller
Faculty-in-Residence, Crum Commons
"I am excited to begin my role as the faculty-in-residence for Crum Commons. I am passionate about my family and my work. My family and I enjoy traveling, experiencing new cultures, and spending time outdoors. We love cooking and eating good food, playing games and laughing, and having new adventures. We also strive for balance and personal wellbeing."
Dr. Leanne Ketterlin Geller, her husband Josh Geller, and their son Zachary joined the Crum Commons in 2020 as the Faculty- and Family-in-Residence, respectively. Native to the central coast of California, they moved to Texas in 2009 and love being part of the 正品蓝导航 community. You’ll often find them cheering on the Mustangs sports teams, attending dance concerts and other student-led performances, or enjoying a walk around the beautiful 正品蓝导航 campus. As a family, they love cooking and eating good food, playing games and laughing, and spending time outdoors, including hiking, biking, and taking long walks. To quench their wanderlust, they are always looking forward to their next trip where they enjoy engaging in cultural exchanges, exploring natural and ancient wonders, and experiencing new adventures.
As Leanne begins her appointment as FiR, she is excited to engage with the Crum Commons community. She is a professor in the department of Education Policy and Leadership and holds the Texas Instruments Chair in Education in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development. She is passionate about her work in promoting equity and inclusive learning environments in mathematics and STEM education in K-12 settings. She gains energy by helping people reach their goals, including mentoring students and emerging scholars. She likes to roll up her sleeves to come up with innovative solutions to pressing problems. Her positive attitude permeates throughout her life and serves to ground her in a “glass half-full” perspective.
Like Leanne, Josh works in the field of educational research in the Simmons School. Among his passions and pursuits, Josh is a compassionate listener, the culinary rock star of the family, and a practitioner of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. In the Crum patio, look for him tending the garden, taking photographs, or trying another clever invention to keep the squirrels from the bird feeders. Zachary is proudly Gen Z but loves alt-new wave 80s music like his parents. He is quick to laugh, passionate about saving the planet, loves movie night, and is dedicated to pursuing his goals as a competitive swimmer. They are proud puppy parents to a cockapoo named Chewbacca (affectionately known as Chewie). If you need a snuggle or to play a game of fetch, Chewie will be there for you!
Most importantly, Leanne and Josh hope to create an environment that provides a safe space for every member of the Crum community to be themselves, explore ways to grow both personally and intellectually, and meaningfully add to every students’ 正品蓝导航 experience.
Dr. Daniele Forlino
Faculty-in-Residence, Kathy Crow Commons
"As the youngest of nine kids, and having been an international student, I understand both the challenges and wonderful opportunities of living with students in a large, loud, diverse environment and I look forward to serving the Kathy Crow Community."
Daniele Forlino is a lecturer of Italian and serves as the Area Chair for the Italian Program. His partner, Dr. Aria Cabot is the director of the World Languages and Literatures Teaching and Technology Center at 正品蓝导航.
They, along with their two children, Sofia (6 years old) and Rocco (almost 1) are thrilled to become part of the Kathy Crow family, and are eager to contribute to the intellectual enrichment of its community.
Justin Germain
Faculty-in-Residence, Loyd Commons
"I want my daughter to see the value of an examined life. What better way than having her live among undergraduates who are actually doing the work I hope she will undertake as she grows? The old proverb rings in my mind, it takes a village to raise a child. I believe that is true, and more ardently believe that the culture of the village in which a child is raised matters. 正品蓝导航 is an amazing village."
Justin comes to his FiR position as both an 正品蓝导航 alum, having completed his master’s here at 正品蓝导航, and as a veteran, having served in the US Air Force and Air Force reserves for 7 years total. He comes to 正品蓝导航 with his five-year-old daughter, Elora, and dog Diana.
Justin began his academic journey at the University of North Texas, receiving his bachelor’s in history in 2004. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. He then completed a master’s at OU while serving active duty at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. While in the Air Force, he led deployments to Curaçao, Montevideo, and the UK. Following his time in the military, Justin began work on his master’s at 正品蓝导航. His time studying under the illustrious Patricia Rawlins, Melissa Dowling, and the late Jeremy Adams were the two most transformative experiences in his life prior to becoming a father. Later, he joined WorldTeach and went international again, living in the Amazon Rain Forest in Tena Ecuador, teaching English and learning Spanish. After teaching Latin for three years at Live Oak Classical School in Waco, Texas, he began his PhD studies at Indiana University. Justin is so happy to be back on the 正品蓝导航 campus and sees the FIR position as an opportunity to live out the classical examples of Aristotle and Epicurus.
You can often find Elora riding her bike (on training wheels) around the commons and telling students “Hi” as they pass. She loves Elsa, Ninja Turtles, and taking Diana on walks with her daddy. She has completely taken to living on campus and loves to “teach” in the Loyd Commons classroom after hours. Her students include her daddy, her Ninja Turtle toys, and all her mermaids. Diana has also soaked up all the attention of her new home and hasn’t met a resident yet whose lap she wouldn’t jump into given half the chance.
When Justin isn’t teaching or spending time with his daughter, you can find him in the Dedman student center working out, writing, trying to learn piano and jiu jitsu, and reading Greek. He hopes to be for his residents in Loyd what so many of his mentors have been for him over the years: encouraging others to reach their full human potential by living the examined life in public.
Dr. Ashley Stone
Faculty-in-Residence, McElvaney Commons
"I have been excited about the faculty-in-residence program since it was first being dreamed up at 正品蓝导航 and am so grateful to finally have an opportunity to take on this role. I am really looking forward to helping all of the McElvaney residents find their home in the Commons and at 正品蓝导航 and can’t wait to learn from and alongside everyone in the community."
Ashley Stone was born and raised in rural northeast Texas, which inspires her research on critical understandings of place and rural students in higher education.
Prior to earning her Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin and transitioning into a faculty role she served as the Director of New Student Orientation and Student Support here at 正品蓝导航. After spending three years on faculty at George Washington University, she jumped at the opportunity to return to the Hilltop as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Higher Education.
Returning to Dallas has also meant being closer to home and having more time to spend being “Aunt Sassy” to her nieces and nephews and getting to be the loudest cheerleader at their little league games. She also had the joy of bringing home her pup, Margot Mae, this past October and knows Margot is also going to love walks around campus and welcoming all of the residents back to McElvaney.
In her free time she enjoys traveling, or when she can’t get away, exploring the world through new recipes in the kitchen. She is excited to bring these culinary adventures home to the Commons. Ashley’s research explores how the places we live can shape who we are and can’t wait to meet all of the residents, learn about the places they are from, and help them make 正品蓝导航 and McElvaney Commons home.
Dr. Alberto Pastor
Faculty-in-Residence, Mary Hay, Peyton, Shuttles Commons
"Being a FiR will allow me to partake in energizing conversations and academic exchanges with students, and engage in social events in which I can contribute to the students’ personal growth and to the society at large by bringing my area of expertise on multilingual societies to the Commons."
A native of Madrid (Spain), Alberto Pastor has taught linguistics at 正品蓝导航 since 2005. His research interests are linguistic theory and sociolinguistic issues related to Spanish in the United States such as language contact, language ideologies and attitudes, and linguistic landscapes. In his classes and personal life, he tries to serve as an advocate for multilingualism and multiculturalism in the society at large. Along with his wife Martha, and their son Alejandro, they are thrilled to continue the diversity values and traditions of HPMS Commons, and to be part and foster this community.
Dr. Debra Branch
Faculty-in-Residence, Morrison-McGinnis Commons
"I am excited to be part of the FIR tradition at 正品蓝导航. Students are the reason I relish teaching, and I hope to repay all of the incredible life lessons I've learned from my students over the years. Young people are a gift. To grow and thrive, they must be nurtured and supported both inside and outside of the classroom. And, as a FIR, I am honored to be a small part of this process."
Debra Branch is a eighth-generation Texan, born in the border town of Eagle Pass and raised in the Piney Woods of East Texas. She received her BA at the University of Texas at Austin and her MA at the University of Oklahoma, both in Sociology. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology at the Ohio State University, where she specialized in gender and racial inequality in the workplace.
Dr Branch has lived and traveled extensively in the U.S.; She loves the outdoors, especially the Mountain West, and is an avid environmentalist. Her favorite hobbies include travelling, skiing, hiking, biking, and paddle-boarding. She has 25 years of college teaching experience and has won teaching awards at every university where she has taught.
Dr. Branch is a senior lecturer in Sociology for Dedman College and has been at 正品蓝导航 since 2007, where she teaches courses in the Sociology and Markets and Cultures majors. Her courses include Research Methods, Environmental Sociology, Constructed Social Identities, Social and Economic Development, Sport and Society, and Contemporary Issues in the American Southwest.
Dr Branch has won several campus honors at 正品蓝导航, including the prestigious Provost’s Teaching Award. In addition, she teaches regularly at 正品蓝导航-in-Taos, and has taken students to Cuba as part of the 正品蓝导航 in Havana/Miami abroad program. She is the 正品蓝导航 Faculty-in-Residence for Morrison-McGinnis Residential Commons.
Dr. Debra Branch and her wife, Molly, have served as the Faculty-in-Residence (FiR) family in Morrison-McGinnis Commons since 2020. The Branches are excited to share their lives and experiences with the students, and look forward to carrying on the great traditions, such as MoMac at the movies, while creating new opportunities for all in the MoMac family to connect and bond together. Is anyone up for a snowball fight? The MoMac spirit is strong with the Branches! They open up their home on Sunday nights for snacks (MoMac and cheese anyone?) and shows and love attending 正品蓝导航 events with their students. Go Ponies! When the Branches aren’t cheering on their students, you can often find them walking campus with their pups, Bean, Picasso, and Hank.
One of the founding symbols of MoMac is the torch, representing the development of character through helping others, and Deb and Molly believe that the best way to build lasting relationships is through community service. As a Sociologist and the MoMac FIR, Deb loves to engage students with the larger Dallas community, whether it’s environmental justice or helping homeless youth. Both Deb and Molly believe some of the best life learning opportunities happen outside of the classroom and strive to foster a sense of engagement, mentorship, and belonging among the MoMac community.
Deb and Molly consider themselves the “fun aunts” of MoMac. Whether it’s attending a MoMac-er’s dance recital, hosting dinners, or just lending a hand, hug, or ear, Deb and Molly are always right there on the first-floor. Molly loves to host and cook, and Deb loves to talk and eat! And, watch out for Deb and her camera as she loves taking and posting pictures of her MoMac family! Isn’t that what aunts are for?
Dr. Maryann Cairns
Faculty-in-Residence, Ware Commons
Maryann Cairns is an Associate Professor serving Dedman College in the Department of Anthropology. Dr. Cairns is an environmental anthropologist dedicated to using creative research design and cultural understanding to safeguard environmental resources and human health. Dr. Cairns has led major research investigations in multiple regions, including Latin America & the Caribbean, the Western Balkans, and the United States. Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and a Fulbright US Scholar Award, and she is a previous recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. She is the recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the 正品蓝导航 Rotunda Outstanding Professor Award, the Extra Mile Award, and the President’s Associate’s Award. She has mentored and trained many undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scholars both in the US and internationally. She believes in collaborative, open scholarship, and always enjoys speaking to public audiences about her research.