Our Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) is an essential part of our center, as it provides important insight and feedback regarding faculty experiences and needs, thereby playing a critical role in informing our planning of programs and services. Board members share their expertise, provide honest advice, and often lend a hand with faculty development events. Membership is a two-year commitment. This committee includes broad representation from throughout the university, including faculty who are full-time, adjuncts, from various centers, and those teaching in a variety of modalities.
Elisabeth Aiken, Ph.D.
Elisabeth Aiken is an Associate Professor of English and the Associate Director of the Honors Program at Saint Leo. She has a Master of Arts in English from Western Carolina University, a PhD in Literature and Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Social Work from Saint Leo University. She enjoys teaching classes that encourage interdisciplinary and creative thinking, often using texts as foundational entry points to discussion, and has presented on the use of technology in composition classes, cultural studies and stereotypes, and Southern literature.
Steven Alt, D.Sc.
Steven Alt has spent his entire professional career in Information Technology Operations and Database Administration. He retired in 2021 as a Departmental Vice President leading Global Information Technology Incident Management for Prudential Financial in New Jersey. During his tenure at Prudential, he led major initiatives including a data center consolidation project in Japan and a partnership with a service provider in India to improve staff efficiency and productivity. Steven holds a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from Kean University of New Jersey, where he was recruited in 2001 as an adjunct professor for both graduate and undergraduate courses.
Kelly Atkins, Ph.D.
Dr. Kelly Atkins is an Assistant Professor of Management and has been at Saint Leo for fourteen years. She holds a doctorate in Project Management and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Dr. Atkins brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, covering a wide range of management topics including project planning, strategic leadership, and how organizations function. Dr. Atkins is passionate about giving students a solid understanding of management principles to help them succeed in their careers.
Abigail Burrows
Abigail is an instructor in the Mathematics department in CARDS. She is entering her second year with Saint Leo University. She received her B.S. from The University of Tampa and her M.A. from The University of South Florida, both in Mathematics. She teaches both on-ground and online courses at SLU. Her interests outside of the classroom include finding new ways to improve as an instructor and implementing fresh ideas into her classes.
Keith Burton, Ph. D.
Keith Burton is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Associate Chair in the Department of Social Sciences. His teaching and research interests focus on methodology, emotion, motivation, and positive psychology. He teaches entirely online for Saint Leo.
Pam Painter DeCius, M.L.A.
Pam DeCius has been teaching Humanities courses for Saint Leo University for the past thirteen years, and has also served as the General Education Committee Chair and currently serves as the Associate Chair of Language Studies & The Arts. She received her Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of South Florida in 2008, with concentrations in the Humanities and Women’s Studies.
Kenny Embry, Ph.D.
Kenny Embry is an Associate Communication Professor at Saint Leo. He specializes in online communication and teaches several courses including podcasting and digital literacy. His main areas of focus are both the production and theory behind how people create and consume online content.
Kathleen Garnett, MSN, RN
My name is Katy Garnett, a nurse practitioner specializing in emergency medicine and a newly appointed nursing professor. I have clinical experience at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, and I previously taught at Morgan State University, where I discovered my passion for educating and mentoring future nurses. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, I recently relocated to Florida and remain a proud Baltimore Ravens fan. Outside of work, I enjoy time with my pup and two daughters. In this role, I look forward to drawing on my clinical experience to help students build the critical thinking, confidence, and clinical judgment needed to excel in nursing.
Antonio Laverghetta, Ph.D.
I have been a full-time faculty member here at Saint Leo University since August 2013. I was born in Tampa, Florida and I currently live with my family in Spring Hill, Florida. I enjoy reading and going to the movies. In particular, I love science fiction films. My favorite film of all time is the original Star Wars from 1977. I enjoy spending time with my wife and three sons. Life has taught me that persistence pays off in the end. Slow and steady wins the race!
Allyson Marino, Ph.D.
Allyson Marino is an Associate Professor of English in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Saint Leo University. She earned her MA in English from SUNY College at Buffalo and her PhD in Literature and Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her teaching and research interests focus on the intersection of medicine, women’s literature, and ecojustice. She teaches courses for the Honors Program and for both the English and Medical Humanities majors.
Tonya Mazur, DBA
Tonya Mazur began working at Saint Leo in 2008 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Management in the Donald R. Tapia College of Business. She is a Saint Leo double alum and earned her DBA with California Southern University. Research interests include leadership styles and their impact on turnover intention and job satisfaction.
Steven Okey, Ph. D.
Stephen Okey is Associate Professor of Theology and Director of the ThD program at Saint Leo University, where he teaches Catholic theology and ethics. He holds a master’s in theology from the University of Chicago Divinity School and a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston College. He is the author of A Theology of Conversation: An Introduction to David Tracy (Liturgical Press Academic, 2018) and has published in Political Theology, Communicazioni Sociali, and the International Journal of Public Theology. His research focuses on public theology, Catholic social teaching, and technology.
Renee Sedlack, Ph. D.
Dr. Renee Sedlack earned a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a master’s in Early Childhood Education from Queens College, CUNY, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of South Florida. She brings 41 years of public education experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and human resources director, and has received multiple state and district awards for leadership and service. An active mentor and community volunteer, Dr. Sedlack supports new principals and serves on School Advisory Councils in Pasco and Hernando Counties.
Daniel Tschopp, Ph. D.
Dr. Tschopp is Professor of Accounting and Chair of the Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Sport Business Department at Saint Leo University. A CPA, he previously taught at Daemen College and worked as a Senior Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Buffalo, NY. He holds an MBA in Accounting and a Doctorate in International Business & World Trade from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His research centers on Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting, with over twenty published articles, and he has received multiple awards for teaching and scholarship, including State of Florida Outstanding Educator of the Year and the Saint Leo University Faculty Research Award.
Tammy Zacchilli Ph. D.
Tammy Zacchilli is a Professor of Psychology in the Social Sciences Department. She enjoys course development and received a degree in Instructional Design from Saint Leo University in 2016. Tammy teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate psychology courses. Her research interests include close relationships, social media use, the teaching of psychology, and bullying.1
