Faculty and Staff
Meet the Faculty
Elisa Abes, Ph.D.
Elisa Abes has been teaching in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program since 2005 and had served as the Graduate Studies Director for over 10 years. She primarily teaches courses related to college student development theory. In doing so, she uses critical theoretical approaches to re-imagine student development theory to push back against systems of oppression such as ableism, racism, and heterosexism. In her research, Elisa uses critical theories to study the experiences and identities of college students with disabilities, emphasizing that it is not the disabled students who are the problems to be fixed, but instead, it is ableism in higher education that needs to be dismantled. Elisa is the co-editor (with Dr. Susan R. Jones and Dr. D-L Stewart) of Rethinking College Student Development Theory Using Critical Frameworks (Stylus, 2019); editor of Critical Perspectives on Student Development Theory (Jossey Bass, 2016); and co-author (with Dr. Susan R. Jones) of Identity Development of College Students: Advancing Frameworks for Multiple Dimensions of Identity (Jossey Bass, 2013). Prior to teaching at Miami, Elisa taught for two years at the University of South Florida. Elisa was an attorney for four years prior to starting her career as a student affairs faculty member. Student development theory explains much of her career transition. Elisa graduated from The Ohio State University with her bachelor’s degree (1992) and doctorate (2003). She received her law degree from Harvard Law School (1995). Elisa and her partner, Amber, are the mothers of two kind children, Shoshana and Benjamin, ages 14 and 11, and their dog, Billie. Elisa loves to be outside as much as possible, dog walking, running, hiking, biking, gardening, and chasing sunsets.
Erica Campbell, Ph.D.
Dr. Erica T. Campbell is a Heanon Wilkins Faculty Fellow/Visiting Assistant Professor in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program at Miami University. She earned a B.A. in Marketing with a minor in Family Relationships from Miami University, an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from The University of Alabama. She is also a former student affairs administrator in multicultural affairs and student activities. Her research centers the experiences of Black women multicultural center administrators at historically white institutions and minoritized students in higher education institutions.
Jayne Brownell, Ed.D.
Jayne Brownell is the Vice President for Student Life at Miami University. As vice president she leads campus efforts to promote students’ individual engagement and growth, as well as the development of a strong, inclusive community, within a safe learning and living environment. She is also an active participant in all aspects of institution-wide planning and policy development. Jayne has worked in a broad range of areas across student affairs, including academic advising, residential life, leadership development, orientation, student activities and peer education. Prior to coming to Miami in March 2014, she served as assistant vice president for student affairs at Hofstra University from 2006-2014. Jayne earned her undergraduate degree at Douglass College, Rutgers University, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in student affairs and higher education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Erik Sorensen, Ph.D.
Erik Sorensen has worked professionally in Higher Education for 13 years, at Miami University for 8 years, and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Residence Life at Miami University. Prior to joining Miami in 2012, he served as a Complex Director at the University of Oregon. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Oregon State University, a Master’s in Counselor Education from Georgia Southern University, and a Doctorate in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Miami University. Erik’s professional passions and research interests include suicide prevention, mental health, trauma and recovery, supervision and training, and assessment. Through his professional work, Erik prioritizes supervision and development, leaning on the Learning Partnerships Model, counseling, and communication skills to build relationships and support staff as a partner in their learning.
Vicka Bell-Robinson, Ph.D.
Vicka Bell-Robinson, using pronouns, she, her, hers, has worked professionally in Higher Education for the last 18 years, and is currently the Director of Residence Life at Miami University and an Instructor in the Student Affairs and Higher Education Program. Vicka teaches EDL 660: Current Trends in Higher Education and EDL 656G: Field Experience Exploration. Prior to joining Miami in 2007, she held positions at North Central College and Ball State University. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois, a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from Grand Valley State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from Miami University. She values developing meaningful campus partnerships and utilizing data-driven decision making in order to evolve approaches to student development and organizational management in order to be in alignment with student needs, shifting priorities, and changes in structure.
