Meet the Beyond the Defense Podcast Team

Hello! It is nice to meet you. The Beyond the Defense Podcast team consists of two doctoral candidates from Old Dominion University (ODU) in the Higher Education program. Both Melissa and Kim have a passion for higher education and scholarly research, and have anticipated 2022 graduation dates.

Ms. Melissa Scott

Melissa serves as the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Eastern Virginia Medical School and has over 15 years of professional experience in higher education, working in residence life, student conduct, and graduate education. She is currently a full-time doctoral student. Her research interests include the experiences of student affairs professionals with psychosocial safety climate and work stress, student mistreatment in the learning environment, and first amendment rights on college campuses.

Education

PhD, Higher Education from Old Dominion University, anticipated Summer 2022.

MEd, Post Secondary Education from Salisbury University, 2006

BA, History from Kutztown University, 2003

Visit Melissa's LinkedIn

Ms. Kimberley Cossey

Kimberley Cossey is a Ph.D. candidate in the Higher Education program at Old Dominion University. Her current community college research projects are on virtual international education programs, the discourse of strategic planning and budgeting, and the role of intermediary research and grant-making organizations in strategic planning. She is currently the Graduate Assistant in the office of Visa and Immigration and Services Advising. Kimberley has over a decade of experience in international student advising, previously working as an International Student Advisor at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond VA, and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. She is the past president of Virginia International Educators and currently serves on the NAFSA Region VIII Team.

Education

PhD, Higher Education from Old Dominion University, anticipated Spring 2022.

MA, International Education from Lesley University, 2010

BA, Russian Studies from the College of William & Mary, 2004