Institute Founder

Scott W. Greenberger, EdD 

Scott W. Greenberger, EdD, is the Assistant Vice President of Research and Grants at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. He serves as the Executive Editor for the Journal of Scholarly Engagement, and he founded the Institute for Reflective Practice. His research focuses on reflective practice and faculty motivation.

Institute Chair

Dr. Tara Chavez is a social scientist and champion for access to quality higher education. Tara’s areas of expertise include end-of-course survey design and analysis, reflective practice as method, reflective practice in operational excellence, women in higher education, and qualitative methodology. Tara earned her master’s in education with an emphasis in higher and post-secondary education from Arizona State University and her doctorate in organizational leadership in higher education from Grand Canyon University. Her postdoc work included serving as lab manager for the Reflective Practice Lab in the Center for Innovation in Research on Teaching. 

Visiting Scholar

Amy Anderson, EdD

RP in Higher Ed Committee Chair 

Amy M. Anderson, EdD, teaches communication studies courses at Spokane Community College, Gonzaga University, Whitworth University, and Grand Canyon University. She earned her doctorate in teaching and learning from Grand Canyon University and her master’s degree in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University. Amy enjoys researching, writing, and presenting on topics relating to communication, higher education, leadership, teaching, and reflective practice. She is also passionate about improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in and out of higher education institutions.

Visiting Scholar

D'iri Katie Archer Olson Boriken Guainia Taino daka (I am Katie Archer Olson from the Boriken Taino of the Guainia Tribe). Katie serves as an Associate Professor of Education at Alaska Pacific University. Her doctoral research focused on a qualitative portraiture study bridging the strengths of Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to support Indigenous Alaska Native first-generation college students. She is passionate about respectful decolonization research to recalibrate the power and voice of marginalized communities. Katie has published several articles on various aspects of cross-cultural learning to increase cultural competence and instructional technology skills. Currently, she serves as the guest editor for The Journal of Scholarly Engagement and a member of the Institute for Reflective Practice

Visiting Scholar

                              AI in RP Committee Chair

Kelly Maguire, EdD

Kelly R. Maguire, EdD, instructs and prepares pre-service teachers in their initial teacher training coursework at Grand Canyon University. She earned her doctorate in teaching and learning from Grand Canyon University, a master's degree in English, and a master's degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University. Her bachelor's degree in elementary education was earned at the University of Arizona. Kelly's research interests include reflective practice, qualitative methodology, pre-service teachers, teacher preparation, microteaching, content knowledge, andragogy, and pedagogy.  

Cheryl Martin, EdD, NBCT an award-winning National Board-Certified Educator with over 20 years of experience in special education and educational leadership. She currently serves as an ESS specialist in the Dysart Unified School District, managing over 20 teachers and support staff in two different K-12 programs. In addition, she is an adjunct professor of education at Grand Canyon University and a consultant for the National Education Association. Throughout her career, Dr. Martin has been recognized for her expertise and contributions to the field of education. She has been published numerous times for her work in reflective practice, technological, pedagogical, and content area research, as well as for her work in refugee simulations and teaching practices. Her presentations on special education practices, reflective practice, refugee simulations, and reflective writing workshops have been well-received by educators across the country. Dr. Martin is dedicated to improving the lives of students and teachers through her leadership roles and her commitment to ongoing professional development. Her expertise in special education and leadership has helped shape the education landscape, and her contributions to the field continue to inspire and inform educators throughout the nation.

Cindy Seminoff, PhD is passionate about educating the next generation of health and wellness professionals. She has been teaching exercise science, health, and wellness classes as a full-time ground faculty member at Grand Canyon University for over 26 years. She was the Program Director for the Athletic Training Education Program at Grand Canyon University for over 15 years where she initiated the first CAAHEP accredited Athletic Training Education Program and is currently the Department Chair of the Exercise, Sport, and Nutritional Sciences Department at Grand Canyon University. Dr. Seminoff is a Board of Certification Certified Athletic Trainer and a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and incorporates this knowledge into her coursework. Dr. Seminoff earned her Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis is Sports Medicine from the University of South Alabama, a Master of Science degree in Health and Wellness from Arizona State University and a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. Her dissertation titled “A Stroll Down Memory Lane:  College Students’ Motivation for Physical Activity” centered around motivation for healthy behaviors in college students. Her research interests lie in sports performance measures, health and wellness education, and incorporation of reflective practice and other active learning strategies in the education of university level students. Dr. Seminoff is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, has served as the Secretary of the Arizona Athletic Trainer’s Association, and has served on many committees including Program Standards and Evaluation Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, and Sunshine Committee. Dr. Seminoff focuses her attention on improving active learning in the university setting through curriculum design and development. She has designed over 20 university courses in the area of athletic training, exercise science, and wellness and has an interest in teaching reflective practice to her students as a means for improving higher education and learning. Dr. Seminoff implements what she teaches in her classes into her personal life by enjoying an active lifestyle of triathlons, half-marathons, hiking, biking, tennis, and pickleball with family and friends.

Visiting Scholar

Dr. Dalia Sherif is one of Houston Business Journal (HBJ) 2019 honorees as a “Woman Who Means Business” and a “Woman to Watch.” The journal honored her long career in higher education, integrated marketing communication, media, business development, behavior change, and educational leadership. She currently serves as the Executive Dean of the Baccalaureate Programs and Partnerships at Lone Star College (LSC). She has launched and tripled the enrollment for four bachelor’s degrees at LSC. She was also the Lead Faculty at Lone Star College before she stepped into the Executive Dean’s position. Dr. Sherif has served as the Assistant Director of the MBA program at the University of Houston-Downtown. She has spearheaded growing UHD MBA from the smallest program in Houston to the largest in Texas. HBJ also honored her long service with the US Departments of Commerce and State during which she facilitated multimillion-dollar international business success stories. Dr. Sherif holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational psychology, an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, and a graduate certificate in Leadership from Harvard Business School Online. She has been awarded several Superior Honor Awards and Meritorious Honor Awards from the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce as well as 4 teaching awards. She is also a published scholar with hundreds of citations and gives back to the community through her foundation board service with the Asian Chamber of Commerce, Community College Baccalaureate Association, Women Professionals in Government, East End Chamber of Commerce  Journal of Reflective Practice Editorial Board and by volunteering through Leadership Houston, Katy Rotary Club, Psi Chi Honor Society, Alpha Chi, Future Business Leaders of America, Young Girls Empowered, and Global Goodwill Ambassadors.

Dr. Cornel D. Stemley is a faculty member in the Justice Studies department at Grand Canyon University. With a rich career spanning law enforcement, criminal intelligence, and crime analysis, he brings invaluable expertise to the Institute for Reflective Practice. Holding a PhD in Performance Psychology from Grand Canyon University, his dissertation titled "Crowd Behavior Management: Perceptions of the US Police Chiefs and Commanders" reflects his profound research interest in the intersection of psychology and law enforcement. He also holds a Master's in Industrial Organizational Psychology, a Master’s in Security Management, a Master’s in Instructional Technology, and a Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Homeland Security, along with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice Administration, making him a multidisciplinary scholar. Stemley's research focuses on various critical areas including Behavior Management, Crowd Science, Community Engagement, Social Identity, Emotional Contagion, and Human Factors. He actively contributes to the academic community through presentations at prestigious gatherings such as the Pacific Sociological Association and The Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Additionally, he is a respected member of renowned professional organizations such as the International Crime Analyst Association and the Arizona Crime Analyst Association.

Dr. Tonya Strozier has a proven track record in school turnaround, transformation, and improvement. Her educational leadership experience includes magnet, charter, traditional public and virtual schools. Dr. Tonya is currently the principal of Holladay Fine Arts Magnet Elementary School. Dr. Tonya obtained her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from the University of Arizona and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. She also earned a Ph.D. in psychology, technology and learning from Grand Canyon University. As an educational consultant and edu-preneur, Dr. Tonya has successfully written and launched multiple charter school networks. Through her innovative approach to education, she has garnered multiple federal, state and local grants for school systems and community organizations. She continues to innovate and disrupt the norm as the founder of No More Failing Schools, a 501c4 organization committed to transforming school leadership and the way in which students learn. In the community, Dr. Tonya launched the Tucson Alliance of Black School Educators, is a member of the Mayor’s Racial Equity and Justice Advisory Board, is a peer reviewer and presenter for American Educational Research Association (AERA) and is an invited scholar at Grand Canyon University’s Reflective Practice Institute. Dr. Strozier is also a member of the African American Advisory Board for the Arizona Department of Education and Senior Fellow of School Leadership and Innovation with A for Arizona. Recently, Dr. Tonya was named a 50CAN 2023 National Voices Fellow. 

Dr. Stephanie West, Ed.D., is a Reading Adjunct Professor at Mesa Community College and an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University within the College of Education. Prior to moving into higher education, Dr. West spent 20+ years in the K-12 grade levels. She taught kindergarten, 4th and 5th grades, and High School English before moving into administrative roles. For seven years, Dr. West served as the Curriculum and Federal Programs Director for the Show Low Unified School District. She ended her K-12 career as an Assistant Principal for the Higley School District. Dr. West’s research interests have been focused on improving the self-efficacy of new teachers, improving online engagement strategies, along with overcoming student apathy that resulted from the pandemic closures. She is currently engaged in the Lopes for Literacy committee at Grand Canyon University and a member of the Institute for Reflective Practice, also through Grand Canyon University. Dr. West is the author of the following articles: Differences of Student Teaching Lengths on New Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Scores, Leadership Effects on Teacher Morale, and Transitioning from Face-to-Face Instruction to Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Platforms: Lessons from Covid-19. She is also the author of the following books: A Mother’s Journey, A Family Changed, Revisited, Seeking Your Legacy, both of which can be found on Amazon.