Dr. Amany Saleh
Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Comparative Education
Arkansas State University
Dr. Amany Saleh is Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Comparative Education at the Center of Excellence in Education at Arkansas State University. Dr. Saleh is an Oxford Fellow Scholar. She is the founder of the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education (JISE). Saleh also serves on the editorial boards of nine national and global journals. She has over sixty peer-reviewed articles and ten book chapters published. In 2023, she co-edited a volume titled, “Online teaching and learning in Asian Higher Education: Pedagogical approaches to classroom practices” published by Palgrave MacMillan. Additionally, she co-edited “The French Education Handbook” published by STARSCOLARS Press in 2024. Her research interests include curriculum modeling, reflective practices, online teaching methods, and comparative education policies.
Dr. Ashley Brandon
Assistant Director for the Canyon Center for Character Education
Grand Canyon University
Dr. Ashley Brandon is the Assistant Director for the Canyon Center for Character Education at Grand Canyon University, where she supports leaders, educators, and students in fostering a flourishing society through virtue formation and practical wisdom. She earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction and holds multiple degrees, including a Master’s in Leadership and Teaching English as a Second Language, and a second Master’s in Character Education from the University of Birmingham. With years of experience teaching K-6 and higher education, Ashley is deeply passionate about transforming lives through education.
Cristy Guleserian
Executive Director of Leadership and Character
Wake Forest University
Cristy Guleserian is the Executive Director of Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University. A distinguished leader in the field of character education, she most recently served as the Executive Director of Principled Innovation at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, where she helped to foster a focus on character and principled innovation across one of the country’s largest public universities. Prior to her success at ASU, Guleserian worked as Director of Social Emotional Learning and Character Development Programs at Casa Center for Positive Social Change. Guleserian graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science degree in interpersonal communication. She earned a Master of Science in Management from New England College and a Master of Arts in Character Education from the University of Birmingham.
Dr. Kara Chism
Associate Professor, Director of the Master of Science in Instructional Leadership program, and Educational Leadership Department Chair
Samford University
Dr. Kara Chism is an Associate Professor, Director of the Master of Science in Instructional Leadership program, and Educational Leadership Department Chair for Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education, and a consultant for the character education non-profit, The Hope Institute. She spent 21 years in public education as a teacher and administrator at the elementary, middle school, high school, and district office levels prior to her current position. Her professional interests include character development in schools, preparing future administrators and supporting schools in their character education work.
Dr. Kiana Smith
Vice President, Seed
Charter School Growth Fund
Dr. Kiana Smith is a vice president on the Seed team. In this role, she works to identify and support school leaders in the early stages of creating, expanding, or replicating high-performing public charter schools. Prior to joining the team, Kiana served as an executive director of a PK-8 charter school with a mission to provide rigorous academics, arts infusion, and character development. She spent the previous six years as a middle school principal, and before that, she served as a Teach For America social studies and reading teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has a BA from Savannah State University, an M.Ed, and an Ed.D from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Melodie Wyttenbach
Executive Director, Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development
Boston College
Dr. Melodie Wyttenbach is a faculty member for the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. Prior to coming to Boston College, Melodie served as an assistant professor and academic director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program for the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame. She has served as president of Nativity Jesuit Academy in Milwaukee, WI and director of mission effectiveness for the Nativity Miguel Network of Schools in Washington, DC. Melodie’s current research and scholarship focuses on urban Catholic education, system-level leadership, effective governance practices, character formation across networks of schools, and the intersection of immigration and education. Melodie has a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and master’s degrees in educational administration from Marquette University and education from Mount Mary College.
Dr. Ruben Chiza
Community Manager
Dr. Ruben Chiza, Community Manager of Advancing Character Across Education, serves as your primary point of contact for all things ACAE. Have questions about upcoming events, community activities, how to get involved, or need assistance navigating our resources? Reach out to Ruben at [email protected]. He’s here to help you connect, engage, and make the most of your Advancing Character Across Education experience.