Melissa Scott Kozak

College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Human Development and Family Science

Principal Lecturer & Undergraduate Program Coordinator

Education

Degree Field of Study Institution Graduation
Ph.D. Child and Family Development University of Georgia 2011
M.S. Child and Family Development University of Georgia 2009
B.S. Human Development and Family Studies The University of Texas at Austin 2006

Research

As a Principal Lecturer, I research pedagogy through a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) lens. This allows me to implement pedagogical strategies and systematically explore their effectiveness. Past research in this area includes peer review on research papers. I am actively researching the use of alternative texts in Human Sexuality across the Lifespan (novels) as well and in Family Policy (non-fiction). I am interested in also exploring the impact of internships on students' personal, professional, and civic identities. In the past, I explored family and community involvement through school gardens, looking at funds of knowledge and environmental literacy.

Teaching

Courses taught include Human Sexuality across the Lifespan, Family Policy, and Family Life Education Methodology.

As Co-Internship Coordinator, Professional Development and Internship.

Prior Professional Positions

Organization Title Years of Service
Athens Technical College Adjunct Instructor 2

Awards

Award Name Awarded By Year Awarded
Writing Fellow University of Georgia - Center for Teaching and Learning 2013
Teaching Academy Fellow University of Georgia - Teaching Academy 2013
Teacher of the Week Center for Teaching and Learning 2014
Undergraduate Mentorship Award Human Development and Family Science 2015
Special Collections Library Fellow University of Georgia 2017
Family and Consumer Sciences Faculty Ambassador College of Family and Consumer Sciences 2018
Service-Learning Fellow Office of Service-Learning 2019
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year College of Family and Consumer Sciences 2020

Service

Organization Title Year(s) Service Type
Athens Farm to School Co-director 2010-2015 Community
Athens Farmers Market Volunteer 2009-2015 Community
Athens Land Trust Community Garden Network School Garden Member 2010-2012 Community

Areas of Expertise

My areas of expertise include the scholarship of teaching and learning, family life education, professional development, and internships.


 

Books

Gonyea, J.L. & Kozak, M.S. (2018). Navigating career roadmaps: Developing your professional GPS through internships (3rd Edition). Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall-Hunt Publishing.

Job Description

As a Principal Lecturer, I teach required coursework for Family Life Education Certification.

As an Undergraduate Program Coordinator, I am responsible for student recruitment, retention, and promotion of HDFS Undergraduate Students. I also work with faculty and staff to address curriculum planning, scheduling, and revisions, as well as the annual Student Learning Outcomes Assessment.

Journal Articles

Kozak, M.S. & Schlechte, K. (Fall 2018). Disarming the teaching and learning process: Deliberating in the classroom. CFLE Network, 31.4. National Council on Family Relations.

Gonyea, J. & Kozak, M.S. (2014). Scaffolding family science student experiences to increase employment options and preparedness. Family Science Review, 19 (1).

Kozak, M.S. & McCreight, J. (2013). We Grew It!: Enrichment Through Sustainable Gardening in Elementary School. Journal of Applied Environmental Education and Communication., 12(1), 29-37.

Lee, B.Y., Kozak, M.S., Nancoo, C.P., Chen, H., Middendorf, K., & Gale, J. (In Press 2013). Exploring dominant  discourses: Creating spaces to find voice and cultural identity. Journal of Cultural Diversity: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 20 (1).

Kozak, M.S. & McCreight, J. (2010). Collaborative Inquiry: Growing to Learn, and Learning to Grow.  Childhood Education, 87(1), 66-67.

Souto-Manning, M., & Scott, M. (2008). Book Review: Childhood Bilingualism: Research on Infancy through School Age Critical Inquiry in Language Studies: An International Journal, 5(4), 265-270

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