Faculty Bios 2019
These are our faculty who joined in 2019.
Ms. Melodye F. Neal, RN, MSN, CPN
Position: Assistant Professor
Department: Department of Nursing
Ms Neal is a native Wilmington Delaware resident who currently lives in Chadds Ford, PA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Howard University in 1987. She has had many experiences in her 32-year career. She has been a surveyor with the State of Delaware working closely with The Joint Commission - 30 of her 32 years of clinical experience is in maternity and intensive care nursery. She is certified in pediatric nursing. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society, which focuses on research for evidenced based practice. Ms Neal plans on continuing her studies toward a doctoral degree. Ms. Neal is excited to share her experience with students at the first black degree conferring university in the United States.
Educational Background:
M.S.N.
Wilmington University 2018
Classes Taught:
Maternal Newborn Nursing and clinical
Maternal Newborn Clinical at Widener University
Research Interest:
Teaching critical thinking by teaching undergraduate nursing students concepts and not just testing.
Email: mneal2@lincoln.edu
Dr. Nafeesa H. Muhammad
Position: Assistant Professor
Department: History, Political Science & Philosophy
Dr. Nafeesa Muhammad is a historian who specializes in 19th and 20th century United States history with a focus on economic development. Her goal is to empower students to see history as a living concept. “I believe that, like people, history can bring us joy and pain. But, above all, history should inspire progressive change,” said Muhammad. “I enjoy designing projects that take students beyond the classroom and off campus to witness and observe history in action. Through this process, students are equipped to understand that issues from 200 years ago are also present in our current happenings.
Educational Background:
Ph.D. in History
Georgia State University, 2018
Classes Taught:
- African American Experience
- Survey of African American History I & II
- History Research Methods I & II
- History of Georgia
- Islam in the United States
- Survey of United States History I & II
- African Diaspora & the World I & II
Research Interest:
Black Nationalism and economic development.
Email: nmuhammad@lincoln.edu
Dr. Saurabh Gayen
Position: Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry & Physics
Dr. Saurabh Gayen is a passionate educator and lifelong learner. Before joining as a faculty member of the Lincoln University, Dr. Gayen taught in the Physics departments of Widener University, Drexel University in USA and Scottish Church College in India. He had also worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Technion in Israel. In addition to his vast teaching experience across continents, Dr. Gayen is conducting research work in condensed matter physics. He has strong interest in computational biology too.
Educational Background:
Ph.D. in Physics
University of Calcutta, 2001
Classes Taught:
- General Physics I & II
- Elementary Astronomy
- Physical Science
- Solid State Physics
- Waves & Acoustics
- Nuclear Physics
Research Interest:
Working on strongly correlated electronic systems in order to unravel the mysteries of high temperature superconductors. Doing research on Carbon nanotubes and nano shells. Interested in doing research work in computational Biology too.
Email: sgayen@lincoln.edu
Dr. Tedra Booker
Position: Assistant Professor
Department: Department of Chemistry and Physics
Dr. Booker received both her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Marine Estuarine Environmental Science (area of specialization: environmental chemistry). Dr. Booker is a proud alumni of Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a minor in mathematics.
Before returning to Lincoln University she followed her passion and worked for a non-profit providing STEM programming to underserved girls in Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia. She continues and expands that passion at her beloved alma mater teaching the next generation of great scientific minds.
Educational Background:
Ph.D.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 2015
Classes Taught:
- General Chemistry
- First Year Experience
- Introductory Chemistry
- Chemistry for Health Science
- Air Pollution and Control
- Honors Seminar
Research Interest:
Dr. Booker’s research interests include the use of biomarker to assess intersex characteristics of fish. She also studies the effect of endocrine disruptors or contaminates of emerging concerns on growth and hematological parameters in fish.
Email: tbooker@lincoln.edu
Ms. Tiffanie R. Smith
Position: Assistant Professor
Department: Computer Science
Professor Smith was born and raised in Richmond, VA. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. Her undergraduate research experiences encouraged her to pursue her Ph.D. in Human Centered Computing at the University of Florida; she will be completing her degree this semester (Fall 2019). Her dissertation research is in the area of culturally relevant educational technologies, with a primary focus on the education of African American students. She is excited to return to a HBCU and hopes to assist students in having the same nurturing experience she was able to have.
Educational Background:
B.S. Computer Engineering
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 2013
Classes Taught:
- Computer Applications
- Intro to Programming
Research Interest:
Developing culturally relevant as well as gesture based educational technologies to help improve the educational experience of K-12 students in the areas of STEM.
Email: tsmith1@lincoln.edu
Ugochi J. Nwachuku
Position: Reference Librarian
Department: Langston Hughes Memorial Library
My name is Ugochi J. Nwachuku. I come Imo State Nigeria in West Africa. I earned a BA.Ed. degree in 1989 from University of Maiduguri in Borno State of Nigeria. I graduated with a major in English Language and a minor in Pedagogy. I taught English Language, Literature and Social Sciences in Secondary as well as in primary schools from 1980-1997. When I immigrated to the United States of America from Nigeria in 1997, I taught preschoolers at LaPetie Academy from 1989- 2006. From September 2007- July 2019, I worked in the library as a ParaProfessional. On August 19, 2019, I was upgraded to rank of Assistant Professor/Reference Librarian.
Educational Background:
M.Ed. Lincoln University of Pennsylvania- 2010
MLS-North Carolina Central University, Surham-2015
Classes Taught:
Research Interest:
Children’s Literature-Case study: Nigeria
Email: unwachuku@lincoln.edu
Dr. Vilma Davis
Position: Assistant Professor
Department: Nursing
Dr. Vilma Davis has extensive clinical experience working with children as Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for 23 years and as a registered nurse for 40 years. During her illustrious career she has worked as Preceptor for nurse practitioner students, as a clinical instructor for a large children’s hospital as well as adjunct faculty at Wilmington University.
Dr. Davis is passionate about Obesity in children and adolescents and uses every opportunity to educate on a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Davis hopes that with her wealth of knowledge that she will be able to train nursing students to become well- grounded in the profession.
Educational Background:
Ph.D. - Nursing Hampton University 2019
Classes Taught:
- Pharmacology Nursing 310
- Sim Lab- Health Assessment
- Sim Lab - Fundamentals in nursing
Research Interest:
To identify factors affecting success of students taking the NCLEX examination.
Email: vdavis@lincoln.edu