Division of Social Science Faculty

Psychology

Dr. Marsha Mead

Degrees Held:

Bio

Dr. Mead began teaching classes at Bluefield College as an adjunct instructor. She became a full-time faculty member in 2008 after a long career as a mental health counselor. Dr. Mead is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist. In her current position as Assistant Professor of Psychology she teaches classes such as: Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, Group Dynamics, Marriage and the Family, Theories of Personality, Counseling and Psychotherapy, Tests and Measurements and Health Psychology.

Contact:

Email:

Phone: (276) 326-4277

Dr. Robert K. (Bob) Boozer

Degrees Held:

Bio

Dr. Robert K. (Bob) Boozer is a full time member of the faculty and teaches the introductory courses as well as courses in social psychology, history and systems of psychology, research methods, social psychology, and learning and cognition, and leadership. He holds a Ph.D. from Georgia State University in Educational Psychology with a minor in Management and a MS in Forestry with a minor in Economics as well as a BS in Mechanical Engineering from NC State University. He was employed as a manager with the Procter and Gamble Co. for ten years before entering higher education as a professor and sometimes administrator for the past twenty-two years. Presently he is the Chair of the College’s InSpire degree completion program in behavioral science. He is also a licensed local pastor in The United Methodist Church and frequently serves as a strategic planning and institutional effectiveness consultant for educational, private, and not-for-profit organizations.

Contact:

Email:

Phone: (276) 326-4605

History

Thomas A. Kinney

Associate Professor of History

Degrees Held:

Bio:

Dr. Kinney came to Bluefield College in 2004 and since that time has taught survey and upper-level courses in U.S. history, Virginia history, and historical methods. A New England native, he completed his undergraduate education at the University of Maine, going on to earn advanced degrees in history at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. During his graduate years he contributed to The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History and American National Biography and researched the histories of hundreds of Cleveland businesses. He also served as a curatorial research assistant and museum consultant specializing in historic gastrointestinal endoscopic instrumentation. After leaving graduate school Dr. Kinney adjuncted at several northeast Ohio colleges and published a history of the U.S. wagon and carriage industry, The Carriage Trade: Making Horse-Drawn Vehicles in America (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004), which received the Hagley Prize in Business History in 2005. During that time he continued his research on industry and manufacturing while editing a reprint of Knight’s American Mechanical Dictionary, a landmark nineteenth-century reference work. Besides teaching a full slate of classes, advising students, and serving on faculty committees, Dr. Kinney is a popular speaker at Bluefield College functions and has provided historical commentary on the local evening news. He continues to write for the scholarly and popular historical markets and is currently researching the history of the Brewster carriage making firms of New York. Dr. Kinney lives with his family and dogs in North Tazewell, Virginia.

Contact:

Email:

Phone: (276) 326-4542

Wendy Beavers

Assistant Professor of History

Degrees Held:

Bio

Wendy S. Beavers teaches World Civilizations survey and upper level courses in European history. She holds a M.A. in history from Virginia Tech and a B.A. in history and B.S. in mathematics from Bluefield College. Her research interests include pre-modern military and ancient history. She has participated in workshops and seminars focusing on the ancient Greek world. She frequently team teaches courses in conjunction with the Department of English, several of which have included overseas trips. She has traveled to England, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Italy, Greece, Ireland, and Scotland and has worked in conjunction with International Programs to promote student travel experiences. In addition she works with Freshman Seminar and E-racer on campus.

Contact:

Email:

Phone: (276) 326-4228

Criminal Justice

Dr. Kimberly Farmer

Bio:

Dr. Farmer is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Prelaw Advisor to prospective law school students. She teaches all law related courses, criminal justice systems courses, and criminology courses to traditional and degree-completion students. She currently serves as the department chair for traditional CRJ and Interim Division Chair for CRJ degree-completion. Dr. Farmer received her Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from West Virginia University College of Law and served as a law clerk prior to joining the faculty. She is active in the Christian Prelaw Advisors Society, the Southern Association of Prelaw Advisors, and the Virginia Association of Criminal Justice Educators. She received her B.A. in Psychology from West Virginia University and an Associate degree in Psychology from Bluefield College.

Contact:

Email:

Phone: (276) 326-4224

Dr. Kelly Walls

Bio:

My name is Dr. Kelly Walls, and I am an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Bluefield College. I became a local police officer in West Virginia at age 20, while a college student. During a 24-year career, I was involved in patrol, investigations, K-9, and special operations, including supervision of detectives, D.A.R.E., hostage negotiation, firearms training, and all internal investigations, including all allegations of misconduct, as well as officer-involved-shootings. While a police officer, I was able to finish my degree in Criminal Justice, and attend graduate school, earning a doctorate in 1996. I am also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 142nd session, 1995. I was also trained and worked as a Special Deputy United States Marshal for 9 years.

I have either investigated personally, or supervised the investigation of any kind of case imaginable, from petty theft to 1st degree homicide. I have personally investigated allegations of police misconduct ranging from misfeasance/malfeasance of duty to improper use of police weaponry resulting in death.

I say the above not to boast, but to underscore the fact that when I talk about the police, I am able to speak from experience.

Contact:

Email:

Phone: (276) 326-4232