Each year Leadership Studies doctoral program offers graduate assistantships for full time students. Graduate assistants are assigned various responsibilities ranging from undergraduate instruction, program administration, and assistance to individual faculty members in research, teaching, and publishing activities. For further information on an assistantship with Leadership Studies, please contact the Dr. Judy Jackson May (judyjac@bgsu.edu) or click on assistantship application form (pdf).

Bios of Graduate Assistants, 2011-2012

Shay Bankston
Graduate Assistant
sbankst@bgsu.edu

Research Interests:
Organizational Leadership and Development
Servant and Transformational Leadership
Cultural Diversity and Awareness

Shay Bankston attended The University of Toledo, receiving a Bachelor of Social Work in 2004 and a Master of Social Work from Eastern Michigan University in 2006.  Shay was employed as a home-based therapist for a community mental health agency, providing services to individuals diagnosed with mental health and chemical dependency disorders.  During this time, Shay facilitated anger management, sexual offender treatment and domestic violence groups.  In 2008 Shay graduated from Spring Arbor University, receiving a Master of Art in Organizational Management.  Upon graduation, Shay began serving in the role of Habilitation Coordinator for The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.  Shay was instrumental in developing skill enhancing programs based on a cognitive behavioral approach.  

Tim Gaddie
Graduate Assistant
tgaddie@bgsu.edu

Research Interests :
Educational & Leadership Philosophy
Organization & Systems Change with a focus on Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory

Tim Gaddie received his Bachelor of Art degree in English literature and secondary education from Washington University in St. Louis. He received his Master of Science in experiential education from Minnesota State University in Mankato, and he is currently in his second year of classes in the Leadership Studies program at BGSU. Tim began his work in the education field as a wilderness instructor at a United Way summer camp in the Ozark Mountains during his undergraduate summers. He continued to practice adventure education as a facilitator at challenge courses in North Carolina and Minnesota. Tim continues to do contract team building and leadership programs as time allows. Six years ago, Tim began working with museum education and administration, and continues this work today. Tim works as a research assistant with the department, and upon receiving his doctorate, he hopes to teach at a university as full-time or adjunct faculty while remaining active with non-profit education consulting.

Matt Givens
Graduate Assistant
106 Education Building
mgivens@bgsu.edu

Research Interests:
Organizational Change and Development
Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture
Quality Improvement Practices
Leadership Philosophy
Employee Motivation and Retention

Matt Givens earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology. Matt obtained a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Saint Francis, a Masters of Science in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a Masters of Science in Counselor Education with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Indiana University. Most recently Matt has practiced as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist while working as an Employee Assistance Specialist at a regional hospital. Prior to this experience, he held a position as an outpatient mental health therapist where he worked with high risk youth in multiple school settings along with facilitating intensive home based family intervention services. Matt is pursuing a career in academia and or consulting.      

Mohammed Issah
Graduate Assistant
missah@bgsu.edu

Research Interests:
Organizational development and policy
Leadership development and accountability
Social policy

Mohammed Issah obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture (Crop science option) in 1997 and a Master of Philosophy in Agricultural Extension in 2001, both from the University of Ghana, Legon. Mohammed worked with Social Enterprise Development Foundation of W/A now SEND-Ghana ( a non-governmental organization) as a public policy advocacy officer. His position also involved grassroots mobilization through training and capacity building in resource poor communities across Ghana. In August 2008, Mohammed became a full time student in BGSU in order to pursue a Master’s in Cross-cultural and International Education, and in August 2009 became a full time student in the doctoral program in Leadership studies. As a graduate assistant Mohammed assist professors in research and outreach activities. Mohammed aspires to take up a position in higher education/ not-for- profit organization, and or consulting.

Gereon Methner
Graduate Assistant
methngv@bgsu.edu

Research Interests:
Increasing opportunity for rural students
Comparative Education

Gereon Methner earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree (2003) from Central Michigan University with teaching endorsements in French (K-12) and Industrial Arts (7-12).  After graduation, he worked for a year teaching English in a high school in Martinique, France then taught Industrial Arts for one year in Coleman, Michigan.  He then earned a Master of Arts in French (2006) at Bowling Green State University where he was a teaching assistant.  Gereon then worked for three years as a 7-12 French teacher and head coach (Middle School Football, Track and Field) in Shawano, Wisconsin. He is pursuing a career in K-12 Administration.  

Jason Ratliff
Graduate Assistant
rjason@bgsu.edu

Research Interests:
International Student Success
Internationalization of US higher education.

Jason Ratliff hails from the Empire State of New York. He has worked in higher education for the last five years of his professional life. Before starting the doctoral program in Leadership Studies at BGSU, Jason worked as an advisor in Career Services at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Jason received his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Social Studies Education from Brigham Young University- Idaho (Rexburg, ID). He then received his Masters of Arts in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. Jason is a Win Stone Scholar at BGSU. Upon completion of the Leadership Studies doctoral program, Jason will pursue an administrative position in higher education. Jason is married and has four children. 

Marsha Sarver
Graduate Assistant
sarverm@bgsu.edu

Research Interests:
Early Literacy
Educational Practices
Professional Development
School Leadership and Policy

Marsha obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Early and Middle Childhood Education from The Ohio State University in 1987, with certification to teach kindergarten through eighth grades. She taught (grades K, 1 and 3) in Dublin city Schools in central Ohio for over 16 years before relocating to northwest Ohio. She earned a Master of Education degree from Ashland University in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught kindergarten at a private school in northwest Ohio and assisted them in gaining state charter. She has had experience as a presenter and has done some freelance work with educational publishers. She has worked with homeschooling families and as a school improvement consultant for public and private schools. After completing her doctorate, Marsha would like to pursue a career in higher education or educational administration with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instructional Improvement.