Faculty & Staff
See all Program Directors listed by school and program name.
Deanna Keith, Ed.D.
Vice Provost of Institutional Effectiveness and Research Dean of The Graduate School Professor of Education
Education
- Ed.D. in Administration and Supervision, University of Virginia
- Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision, University of Virginia
- M.Ed. in Special Education, University of Lynchburg
- B.A. in Psychology, University of Lynchburg
Biography
Dr. Deanna Keith is a longtime servant and leader in the field of education. Prior to joining the Liberty University family, Dr. Keith served in numerous roles in public and private educational settings as a special education teacher and administrator in the elementary, middle, high and alternative school settings. Upon joining Liberty University in 2008, Dr. Keith taught special education and leadership courses and served in numerous leadership roles, including the Online Dean for the School of Education. She is grateful to enthusiastically serve within the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research on their collective mission to honor God through excellence in service to the University.
Kurt Michael, Ph.D
Associate Dean
Education
- Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- M.A., Technology Education, East Carolina University
- B.S., Industrial Technology, East Carolina University
- Officer Basic Course, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Biography
Dr. Kurt Michael has been an educator and leader at Liberty University since 2012. With a strong background in curriculum development, he has served in key administrative roles, including Assistant Dean of Doctoral Programs and Research and Administrative Chair of Doctoral Programs. Dr. Michael has extensive experience in both residential and online education, teaching advanced courses in quantitative statistics and research methods. He has chaired numerous doctoral dissertations and published scholarly works in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Michael is dedicated to supporting The Graduate School’s mission by enhancing academic programs, fostering research initiatives, and mentoring the next generation of scholars.
Terry Conner, M.A.
Associate Dean of Operations
Education
- M.A. in Human Services, Business Administration, Liberty University
- B.S. in Psychology, Liberty University
Biography
Professor Conner has worked in the management field in various capacities for over 15 years – most recently as a Department Chair in the School of Business for Liberty University Online. Prior to that, as the Director of Academic Operations, it was Professor Conner’s role to supervise an organization of 50+ employees and spearhead multiple policies and procedural changes to help maintain a viable support structure for the university’s online programs.
Aaron J. Malbuff, M.Div.
Director of Graduate Assistantships & Research Grants graduateassistantship@liberty.edu
Education
- Th.M. in Theology: Biblical Studies (in progress)
- M.Div. in Discipleship & Church Ministries, Liberty University
- B.S. in Religion: Biblical Studies, Liberty University
Biography
Before becoming the Director of Graduate Assistantships program at Liberty University, Aaron Malbuff served in the School of Divinity for four years as a graduate assistant. During those years, he worked with multiple deans and department chairs as he taught various subjects in Biblical Studies and Theology, while also overseeing multiple GSA departments for the School of Divinity. He has a love and passion for teaching and equipping the graduate assistants across the University in the effort to further their academic, professional, social, and spiritual development.
Grace M. Baker, Ph.D., CIP
Administrative Chair of Institutional Research irb@liberty.edu | (434) 592-5530
Education
- Ph.D. in Higher Ed Administration, Liberty University
- M.A. in English, West Texas A&M
- B.A. in English, West Texas A&M
Biography
Grace Baker taught English as a part-time instructor at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas before coming to Liberty to work as the institutional review board (IRB) coordinator. She was then promoted to administrative chair of institutional research. Her role now includes oversight of the Research Ethics office.
Connor Bryant, M.P.H., M.B.A., CHES, CPIA
Administrative Chair for Animal & Biosafety Research iacuc@liberty.edu | ibc@liberty.edu | (434) 582-2827
Education
- M.B.A., Liberty University
- M.P.H. in Health Education & Infectious Disease, Virginia Tech
- B.S. in Biotechnology: Fermentation & Microbiology, University of California at Davis
Biography
Connor Bryant shares a passion for education and seeks to encourage others to pursue their academic interests through research and teaching. Prior to coming to Liberty, he worked as a research assistant for a biomedical company, gaining invaluable experience working with patients, researchers, and physicians. He now serves as Administrative Chair for Animal & Biosafety Research, managing various administrative aspects of Liberty’s research ethics committees, particularly the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
James Wood, D.Min.
Research Coordinator irb@liberty.edu | (434) 592-5530
Education
- Doctorate of Ministries, Liberty University
- M.Div. in Church Ministries, Liberty University
- B.S. in Business Management, Rochester Institute of Technology
Biography
Yinong Fang
Administrative Graduate Assistant irb@liberty.edu | (434) 592-5530
Education
- M.S. in Developmental Psychology, Liberty University
- B.S. in Psychology: Family and Child Development, Liberty University
Biography
During her time as a student at Liberty University, Yinong served on a research team that focused on examining substance abuse, community intervention, and mental health. She also had the opportunity to conduct primary research for her master’s thesis. While research is a highlight of her degree, Yinong also worked with nonprofits to counsel families on effective behavioral strategies and taught students at pre-K and collegiate levels. She is now eager to utilize her research skills and education to help Liberty University’s Institutional Review Board review all the research applications.