ADA, Okla. – East Central University proudly announces seven new faculty members for the 2026-27 academic year. Classes for the Fall 2026 semester begin Monday, August 17.

New faculty for the 2026-27 academic year includes:

Dr. Assad Abbas; Assistant Professor

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Abbas earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan; his Master of Computer Science from the University of Arid Agriculture in Rawalpindi, Pakistan; his Master of Science in Informatics from the University of Skövde in Sweden; and his Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering from North Dakota State University, USA. Before joining East Central University, he served as a Tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at COMSATS University Islamabad, where he also worked as the In-Charge of Graduate Programs. His research interests include fog computing, cloud computing, big data analytics, recommendation systems, software engineering, software processes, and machine learning. Abbas has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and conference publications, co-edited books on fog computing and large-scale distributed computing in smart healthcare, contributed multiple book chapters, and served as a principal investigator and collaborator on funded research projects. He has also served on several institutional- and national-level committees, including the Advisory Committee that developed Pakistan’s first national cloud policy. Throughout his academic career, he has supervised numerous graduate theses and undergraduate projects.

Dr. Kelly Berry; Assistant Professor

Native American Studies

Berry (Plains Apache, Kiowa, Choctaw) earned his Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma, his Master of Public Health in Preparedness and Terrorism Response from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Kansas State University. His most recent academic appointment includes serving as a NAS Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Native American Studies at the OU. He holds a 5-12 Social Studies Oklahoma State Department of Education teaching certificate having taught at Riverside Indian School, the Bureau of Indian Education’s oldest off-reservation Indian boarding school. He also holds elementary and high school principal certifications in the state of Oklahoma as well as lecturer status at University of Kansas in the Indigenous Studies Program and at Wichita State University in the Department of Philosophy and served as adjunct faculty at the University of Washinton-Tacoma, Bacone College, Cameron University, Upper Iowa University, Kansas State University, and Comanche Nation College. His professional interests include Indian education, tribal sovereignty, Indigenous methodologies, Indian boarding school histories, Indigenous educational leadership and the intersection of Indigenous communities with emerging technologies such as eSports and video games. Berry has delivered numerous lectures, workshops and presentations nationally and internationally, and has contributed to Indigenous education leadership programs and curriculum development. He serves in leadership and services roles with organizations including the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies, the Oklahoma Council for Indian Education, and is an editorial board member for the peer-reviewed journal, Dine (Navajo) College Press.

 

Rhyley Brewer; Instructor

School of Nursing

Brewer is a Registered Nurse with more than six years of experience in maternal-child care, obstetrics, newborn care and patient education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Central University and a Master of Science in Nursing Education at Oklahoma City University. Brewer has served as a Registered Nurse at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, providing education and maintained care of patients antepartum, during labor and delivery, and postpartum as well as newborn care while educating patients and families on maternal and infant health. She previously worked as a Registered Nurse in the operating room at McAlester Regional Health Center and began her healthcare career as a Nurse Technician at Chickasaw Nation Medical Center. Brewer holds unrestricted multistate Registered Nurse licensure and certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and STABLE. She is a member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

Marcy Carnes; Clinical Instructor

School of Nursing

Carnes earned her Associate in Science degree from Seminole State College and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Central University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Northeastern State University. Carnes brings extensive clinical experience in emergency care, critical care and nursing leadership, with more than a decade of experience serving diverse patient populations. She has held roles as an ICU Staff Registered Nurse, ICU Charge Nurse, House Supervisor, Hospice Nurse, School Nurse and Emergency Department Registered Nursing. Currently serving at Mercy Hospital Ada, Carnes provides compassionate, evidence-based care while supporting clinical excellence and patient advocacy. She holds certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and is committed to advancing nursing education and preparing future healthcare professionals through clinical experience, mentorship and lifelong learning.

Haley Gibson; Assistant Professor

Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business

Gibson earned her Bachelor of Science in English and Master of Science in Post-Secondary Education in Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) from Troy University and her Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. She recently served as Chief of Staff and Board Liaison at East Central University, where she supported university leadership, strategic initiatives and institutional operations and led the President’s Leadership Class, teaching courses focused on business communication, leadership development and student success. Recently, Gibson also served as an adjunct instructor in the Stonecipher School of Business. Her previous experience includes faculty development, curriculum design, ESL instruction, academic affairs and Title IX compliance. Her professional interests include inclusive pedagogy, student engagement, instructional innovation and preparing students for success in diverse academic and professional environments.

Jacye Jamar; Assistant Professor

Department of Education

Jamar earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master’s degrees in Public School Administration and School Counseling from East Central University, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas. She brings more than two decades of experience in EC-12 education, higher education and instructional leadership, with expertise in professional learning, curriculum development and building educator capacity. Jamar currently serves as an adjunct professor at East Central University, teaching and facilitating learning experiences for education, psychology and business students. She has held leadership roles as a principal, assistant principal, curriculum coordinator and classroom teacher, leading school improvement efforts focused on professional learning communities, response to intervention, data-driven instruction and student achievement. A recognized instructional leader, Jamar has presented nationally on educational leadership and has supported educators through coaching, mentoring and collaborative learning experiences. Her work centers on creating equitable, high-performing learning environments where educators and students thrive.

Abigail Nixon; Assistant Professor of Counseling

Professional Programs in Human Services

Nixon earned her Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies with a Social Issues emphasis and her Master of Human Relations in Counseling from the University of Oklahoma before earning her Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling from Liberty University. She most recently served as an Adjunct Professor at Davenport University, where she taught graduate-level counseling courses in addictions and clinical mental health counseling, developed curriculum, and provided clinical supervision and mentorship for counseling students. In addition to her academic role, Nixon owns a private counseling practice in Norman, Oklahoma, where she provides therapy service, supervises counseling interns and early-career counselors, and delivers continuing education training for mental health professionals. Her professional interests include counselor education, clinical mental health counseling, addiction treatment, clinical supervision and professional ethics. Nixon is a Licensed Professional Counselor, an Oklahoma state-approved supervisor and continuing education provider, and a member of the American Counseling Association and Oklahoma Counseling Association.

Melisa Smith; Instructor

Department of Education

Smith earned her Master of Education from East Central University, her Master of Arts in English Studies from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at East Central University. She brings more than 20 years of experience across PK—12 and higher education settings, with expertise in instructional leadership, curriculum development, literacy development and data-driven school improvement. As Principal of Dickson Lower Elementary, Smith led instructional systems, teacher development and student achievement initiatives within a rural Title 1 setting. She has also served as an instructional coach, curriculum leader and adjunct instructor, designing professional learning, online college courses and standards-aligned curriculum. Her work focuses on strengthening educator capacity through coaching, collaboration and evidence-based practices that support diverse learners and improve educational outcomes.

Jeannie Thomas; Visiting Professor and Simulation Consultant

School of Nursing

Thomas earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Central University, her Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and her Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Nurse Leader focus and Education Certificate from Samford University. She most recently served as a Nursing Instructor and Simulation Coordinator at Murray State College and has also served as an Allied Health/Nursing Instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. With more than 30 years of nursing experience, Thomas has held roles in nursing education, simulation, surgical nursing and clinical practice. Her professional interests include nursing education, student success, simulation-based learning, patient safety and preparing future nurses through evidence-based practice and student-centered instruction. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Oklahoma Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society and other academic honor organizations.

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