Berea College

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Berea College Announces Winners of “Appalachian Narratives for Our Time” Awards

BEREA, Ky. – The Berea College Education Studies Department has added two new members to its staff in advance of the 2023-24 academic year.

Dr. Keesha Greer-Effs has joined Berea College as a visiting assistant professor of special education in the Education Studies Department.

In her 17 years as a classroom practitioner, Dr. Greer-Effs has served students and in-service educators in a variety of K-12 settings. She has worked as a high school history teacher, instructional resource specialist, health educator and exceptional children department chair. Dr. Greer-Effs is a Teach for America, Memphis alumna. In addition to her work as an educator, she has served as behavioral health curriculum consultant and child rights advocate with Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, a capacity in which she served as a children’s rights activist at the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the Jamaican Government.

A graduate of The University of the West Indies and Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Greer-Effs advocates for mindful and responsive approaches in the teaching of diverse learners. Her academic interests include educational equity, positive behavior interventions and supports, exclusionary disciplinary practices, restorative justice, socio-emotional learning, school culture and collaboration among general and special educators in working with families of diverse learners.

&nbsp;Dr. Greer-Effs has a particular enthusiasm for working with pre-service teachers to reimagine disability, foster meaningful connections and belonging and build inclusive school communities supportive of all learners. She is deeply rooted in the conviction that every child can learn, and every child deserves equitable access to high quality, culturally responsive education, resources and services.

When she is not in the classroom, she travels and shares culturally rich experiences with her amazing life partner.

Shaniqua Robinson, a lifelong learner and educator, has joined Berea College as field placement coordinator in Education Studies.

Robinson spent her career working to establish inclusive learning environments that cater to students from all backgrounds, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Originally from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Robinson has deep roots in central Kentucky and draws inspiration from the rural communities that shape the region.

Robinson spent seven years as an elementary teacher in Fayette and Montgomery counties within the K-12 education system. Prior to that, Robinson served Berea College as a sabbatical substitute for Dr. Maggie Robillard in Education Studies.

As field placement coordinator, Robinson will serve as a resource for regional K-12 schools, fostering community engagement and creating diverse learning experiences for pre-service students. Additionally, she will provide support to Education Studies students and faculty, ensuring that field experiences are meaningful and impactful.

Robinson is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the University of the Cumberlands. She also has an Educational Specialist designation along with a K-12 principal certification, emphasizing her dedication to professional growth and leadership in the field of education.

Robinson and her husband live in Madison County with their two sons and dog.