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Faculty

Ashley Long, PhD, LAT, ATC, CBIS

Program Director

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• PhD, Exercise Science, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi
• MS, Athletic Training, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• BS, Athletic Training, Wingate University, Wingate, North Carolina

Dr. Ashley Long brings more than two decades of experience as a certified athletic trainer, clinician, and educator to her role as Program Director of the Doctor of Science (DSc) in Health Sciences at �鶹����. She has specialized training in brain injury and continues to treat patients suffering from sport-related concussion.

Ashley’s scholarly work examines the intersection of concussion and mental health, depression screening during baseline concussion testing, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in athletes, and organizational structures that contribute to athlete abuse. 

She is deeply interested and invested in healthcare entrepreneurship, rural healthcare access, and innovative interprofessional models that advance health equity. She established a rural concussion clinic and community outreach program by securing grant funding and state appropriations, expanding access to specialized care for underserved populations.

In addition to her clinical and academic leadership, Ashley co-chairs the North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association (NCATA) Committee on Practice Advancement and is the founder and co-chair of the NCATA Leadership Institute. In recognition of her sustained contributions to the profession, she was inducted into the NCATA Hall of Fame in 2025.

Adjunct Faculty

April Tallant, Ph.D., M.H.S., R.D.N., L.D.N.

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• PhD, Community Health �鶹����, University of Tennessee
• MHS (Master of Health Sciences), Nutrition concentration, Western Carolina University
• BS, Home Economics, Western Carolina University

Credentials: 

• Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN)
• Licensed Nutritionist Dietitian (LDN) in NC

Full-time Position: Director, Coulter Faculty Commons, Western Carolina University

April Tallant, PhD, RDN, LDN, is a scholar‑educator dedicated to advancing the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and strengthening evidence‑based pedagogy in higher education. With more than two decades of experience in university teaching, faculty development, and academic leadership, she focuses on enhancing student engagement, promoting pedagogical wellness, and supporting faculty in designing high‑impact learning experiences.

Her SoTL‑aligned research includes student skill development through co‑curricular programs and high impact teaching practices that support first‑year student success and well‑being. She has been recognized for her contributions to teaching and SoTL through institutional awards for pedagogical innovation and excellence.

Dr. Tallant brings to �鶹���� a deep commitment to mentoring scholar‑practitioners and preparing future faculty to teach and lead with intentionality, creativity, and a strong grounding in evidence‑based practice. Dr. Tallant will teach DSHS 710: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Health Sciences in the DSc program. 

William “Bill” Pitney, EdD, FNATA

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• EdD, Adult Continuing �鶹����, Northern Illinois University
• MS, Physical �鶹����, Eastern Michigan University
• BS, Physical �鶹����—Athletic Training Specialization, Indiana State University

A dedicated educator with over 30 years of experience in higher education, William “Bill” Pitney has was formerly a certified athletic trainer with experience in the secondary school, collegiate, and clinical settings. He built a successful career as a faculty member teaching, conducting research, and engaging in professional service. He was awarded the Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator award in 2016, the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award for 2015, and awarded “Athletic Training Fellow” status in 2010 by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He was inducted into the Illinois Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2019. Bill’s research has focused on athletic training work environments, specifically professional socialization, work life balance, and navigating organizational conflict. Having published over 80 peer reviewed articles and several textbooks, Pitney is a leading scholar in qualitative and mixed methods research and is a passionate educator who believes sincerely in the power of continued learning. Dr. Pitney teaches DSHS 815: Mixed Methods Approaches to Research in the DSc program.

Deb Halliday, PhD, RN

Faculty and Simulation Center Director

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• PhD, Nursing Science, Widener University, Chester, PA
• MS, Nurse Educator, �鶹����, Bethlehem, PA
• BS, RN/BSN, �鶹����, Bethlehem, PA
• Register Nurse, Diploma Program, St. Luke’s School of Nursing, Bethlehem, PA

Dr. Deb Halliday brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to her role at �鶹����. Her clinical background includes critical care nursing, medical-surgical nursing, and vascular nursing, along with extensive experience in nursing education. Since joining �鶹���� in 2014, Dr. Halliday has been dedicated to preparing future healthcare professionals through innovative and evidence-based teaching practices.

Dr. Halliday has cultivated a deep commitment to evidence-based simulation over the past twelve years. As Director of the Simulation Center since its inception in 2017, she leads the development and implementation of immersive, high-quality simulation experiences. Under her leadership, the Simulation Center supports and prepares students across all health sciences programs at �鶹����, fostering interprofessional collaboration and clinical Readiness.

Her scholarship focuses on evaluation practices in healthcare education, particularly the preparation of evaluators to ensure equitable and consistent student performance assessments. She also studies the impact of stress on student performance in simulation environments. Most recently, she completed a mixed-methods study examining both physiological and self-reported stress levels among sophomore students during their first simulation experience. Dr. Halliday is an active member of Sigma International Nursing Honor Society, the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), contributing to ongoing advancements in simulation-based education and healthcare training. Dr. Halliday teaches DSHS 723: Simulation �鶹���� in Healthcare Professions in the DSc program. 

David Castaneda, EdD

Director of Online �鶹���� & Special Projects

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• EdD, �鶹����al Leadership and Management - Creativity and Innovation, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• MA, Theological Studies, Drew University, Madison, NJ
• BA, Sociology, Eastern University, St Davids, PA

Dr. Castañeda is a highly experienced leader and producer in online education. He specializes in educational project management, systems design, and the creation of engaging, innovative, and award-winning learning content. With over 15 years of experience, he has successfully led online learning projects that have reached a global audience. He has extensive experience working with private corporations, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and in higher education.

He earned an EdD in �鶹����al Leadership and Management with a focus on creativity and innovation from Drexel University. His research explores how digital and networked living impacts identity formation and community development, and on leveraging these insights to enhance teaching, learning, and creative practices. Dr. Castañeda is the Director of Online �鶹���� & Special Projects at �鶹����. Dr. Castañeda teaches DSHS 821: Methods in Online Teaching & Instructional Design Technology within the DSc program.

LinkedIn Profile:

Jamie Chapman, DMSc, PA-C 

Assistant Clinical Professor of Health Sciences

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• BS in Biology, Moravian (College) University
• MS in Physician Assistant Studies, DeSales University
• DMSc, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Chapman is a doctorally-prepared physician assistant (PA) with more than two decades of clinical experience. Her areas of practice included trauma/general surgery, college health, and hematology/oncology. In 2011, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University presented her with the Surgical Physician Assistant of the Year for her excellence in clinical practice and resident education. She completed her Doctor of Medical Science at the University of Pittsburgh with a research focus on creating a foundation for interprofessional learning in the undergraduate health sciences setting.  

Dr. Chapman provides mentorship to �鶹���� undergraduate students interested in pursuing the physician assistant profession. Additionally, she represents her profession’s national organization, the American Academy of Physician Associates (Assistants), as an appointed member of the Commission on the Health of the Public.

Dr. Chapman has experience educating future health professionals at both the undergraduate and graduate program levels. At �鶹����, she teaches Introduction to Health Professions and Research Methods in the undergraduate Health Sciences Program. She is developing a new course entitled Understanding the Human Body: Wellness and Health Promotion. Prior to her arrival at �鶹����, she taught for the Bay Path University and Westfield State University Physician Assistant Programs. Her student centric teaching philosophy focuses on mutual respect and collaboration to foster an inclusive environment that empowers students to successfully self direct their learning.  Dr. Chapmas teaches DSHS 724: Design and Implementation of Interprofessional �鶹���� & Practice within the DSc program.

Klaire Brumbaugh, EdD, ClinScD, CCC-SLP

Program Director, Speech-Language Pathology Doctorate 

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• EdD, High Impact Instruction, Fontbonne University, St. Louis, Missouri
• Clinical Doctorate, Speech-Language Pathology, Rocky Mountain University, Provo, Utah
• MS, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
• BS, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas

Klaire's primary research focuses on pediatrics with speech sound disorders. She is currently collaborating with practicing SLPs to measure therapeutic motivation in students with speech sound disorders. In addition to this topic, she engages in applied research practices through single-subject research design to better understand how our current therapeutic practices benefit young children with speech sound disorders.

In addition, she is interested in professional issues such as clinical supervision, ethics, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Klaire has a number of peer-reviewed publications and frequently presents at state and national conferences. Dr. Brumbaugh teaches DSHS 820: Innovative Teaching Strategies & Theories in Health Professions within the DSc program. 

James Scifers, DScPT, PT, SCS, LAT, ATC, FNAP 

Provost & Chief Academic Officer

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• DScPT, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• MPT, Emory University, Physical Therapy
• BS, East Stroudsburg University, Physical �鶹����/Athletic Training

James Scifers serves as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at �鶹����.  Across Scifers' 30+ year academic career, he has served in progressively larger leadership roles across a number of higher education institutions.  These roles have previously included Program Director, Department Chair, School Director, College Associate Dean, College Dean, and Associate Provost across five different higher education institutions.  This diversity of leadership roles provides Dr. Scifers with a unique view of the higher education landscape.  His scholarship has also included more than 40 published articles and more than 400 professional presentations in athletic training and physical therapy. Dr. Scifers has been recognized for teaching excellence by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (winner of the Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award in 2018) and the North Carolina Athletic Trainers' Association (winner of the Athletic Training Educator of the Year in 2014).  Dr. Scifers teaches DSHS 720: Landscape of Higher �鶹����  in the DSc curriculum.