Melissa Scott Kozak
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Principal Lecturer & Undergraduate Program Coordinator
119 Dawson Hall
305 Sanford Dr.
Athens, GA 30602
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