معرفی
Dr. Mary Alice Varga serves as Department Chair of the Department of Leadership, Research, and School Improvement at the University of West Georgia's College of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Research from the University of Tennessee. Her expertise spans educational research methodology, program evaluation, and student grief dynamics. She teaches graduate courses on research design, assessment, and doctoral dissertation guidance.
Education:
- B.S., Biology, Shenandoah University (2005)
- M.Ed., College Student Personnel, Western Carolina University (2008)
- Ph.D., Educational Psychology and Research, University of Tennessee (2013)
Research focuses on grief experiences among college students, particularly gendered and racialized bereavement patterns, social media use in grief, and online faculty wellbeing. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Her work emphasizes holistic support strategies for bereaved students and improving program evaluation practices in higher education.
Teaching responsibilities include doctoral-level courses on research design (EDSI-9960), program evaluation (EDSI-9171), and dissertation supervision (EDSI-9998). She advises across the College of Education, focusing on methodological rigor in doctoral research.
Her research has explored grief measurement tools, bereavement support systems, and intersectional factors affecting mental health in academic settings. Collaborative projects address Latinx dual language learners' pre-academic skills and inclusive preschool practices.
