Teaching Mentors

Carmelita L. Dotson

Dr. Carmelita L. Dotson is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at MTSU, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate students. With over 37 years of professional experience, she is a Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker and an accomplished educator committed to inclusive teaching, student success, and community engagement. She applies high-impact, equity-centered practices in her teaching and mentorship. 

Dr. Dotson’s honors include the 2025 John Pleas Honoree and Career Influencer, 2023–2024 Council on Social Work Education Program Director’s Academy Fellow, 2023 Tempest Award Honoree, 2022 NASW Middle TN Social Work Educator of the Year, 2021–2022 LT&ITC Faculty Fellow, 2020 Honorary Mace Bearer, and Influential Faculty Member (2010–present). Her contributions continue to shape student learning, academic innovation, and community impact.

Dr. Dotson holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Tennessee State University (TSU).

Rebekka King

Dr. Rebekka King is a Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at MTSU. She also serves as Resident Faculty in the Honors College. Her teaching centers on method and theory in the study of religion, ethnographic approaches to lived religion, and the role of religion in public life.

Rebekka is deeply engaged in mentoring students and faculty, especially around accessibility, universal design for learning, and supporting students who encounter structural barriers in higher education. Her commitment to relationship-rich and inclusive teaching has been recognized with the MTSU Outstanding Teaching Award (2017), the Outstanding EXL Faculty Award (2017), and the Outstanding Honors Faculty Award (2022).

Beyond her classroom teaching, Rebekka is actively involved in faculty development. She served as facilitator for MTSU’s Community Engaged Pedagogy Faculty Working Group (2023–2024) and has been invited to facilitate workshops on course design, experiential learning, and identity in the classroom at institutions and professional gatherings in the U.S. and Canada. She has also participated in multi-institutional teaching initiatives supported by the Wabash Center and the American Academy of Religion.

Rebekka holds a PhD in the Study of Religion from the University of Toronto and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University.

Scott McDaniel

Dr. McDaniel has taught mathematics and statistics at MTSU since 1995 and is currently a professor in the University Studies Department. He teaches foundational mathematics for underprepared students as well as undergraduate and graduate statistics in the Professional Studies programs, with an emphasis on high-impact, student-centered instruction in both on-ground and online formats.

His recent work focuses on innovative course design, online pedagogy, and open educational resources. He has received multiple Tier 1 Online Course Redevelopment Grants for PRST 4600 (Statistics for Professionals) and PRST 6600 (Statistical Analysis) and is currently leading the development of a customized zero-cost OER for MATH 1000: Essentials of Mathematics. His courses emphasize authentic assessment, scaffolded projects, extensive instructional video support, and real-world application of statistical reasoning.

Dr. McDaniel has received the Outstanding Online Faculty Award and the Outstanding Faculty Award (Tenured/Tenure-Track) from University College, along with multiple “Person Who Makes a Difference” honors from MTSU Student Affairs, and has been named an influential faculty member by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. His scholarly interests include student belonging and engagement in online learning, assessment, and effective strategies for teaching statistics to non-traditional and professional students.

Rebecca Seipelt-Thiemann

Rebecca (Becky) Seipelt-Thiemann, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biology at Middle Tennessee State University, recognized for her leadership in evidence-based teaching practices and faculty development. She designs and implements high-impact, research-driven learning experiences, including flipped classrooms, spaced practice, and backward design. Her courses also integrate Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), where students conduct authentic research projects culminating in public presentations. These approaches emphasize problem-solving, scientific communication, and data literacy, aligning with national learning frameworks.

Dr. Seipelt-Thiemann also mentors faculty nationwide through NSF-funded initiatives such as the CASE Mentoring Network and Microbiology Open Education Resource (MOER) projects, training educators in case-based learning and open educational resource development. At MTSU, she has trained instructors in CURE pedagogy and serves as a departmental teaching mentor. Her commitment to evidence-based strategies extends to professional development, where she leads workshops on active learning, assessment, and open science practices.