School of Business and Public Management

Dr. James “Jim” E. Benton is currently an Associate Professor of Accounting at the College of Coastal Georgia. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Finance and Masters of Art in Economics from Old Dominion University, a Juris Doctor, Masters of Taxation and Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning from Georgia State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Northern Illinois University. His professional credentials include active Bar member in the state of Georgia, CPA/PFS, and CFP. Jim has worked in various law and accounting practices as well as operating his own financial planning/tax planning practices. He has taught various personal financial planning courses at a number of certified financial planning programs including Georgia State University, Western Carolina University, Duke University, Old Dominion University, and Shippensburg University. He is also the founder of The Financial Literacy Academy, LLC, a corporate training company specializing in financial literacy training and is a 28-year US Army combat veteran who retired from the US Army/Army Reserves as a LTC in the Judge Advocate General Corp.

Dr. Wanda DeLeo is a Professor of Accounting in the School of Business and Public Management. Dr. DeLeo came to the college in 2015 after retiring from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) where she was most recently the Deputy Director of the Division of Conservatorship where she lead all activities associated with the Agency’s conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Before taking that role in 2013, Dr. DeLeo held multiple positions at FHFA, including Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Deputy Director of the Division of Examination Programs and Support, Acting Deputy Director of the Division of Housing Mission and Goals and Chief Accountant. Before becoming Chief Accountant at FHFA in 2008, she was Examination Manager for Accounting and later Chief Accountant for the former Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO), one of FHFA’s predecessor agencies.

Prior to joining OFHEO in 2002, Dr. DeLeo enjoyed a 20-year academic career teaching and conducting research in financial accounting at Winthrop University, Christian Brothers University, University of Houston – Downtown, Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University.

Dr. DeLeo holds a Doctorate in accounting from Georgia State University, a Master’s degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida, and a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Georgia. She is also a licensed CPA in the state of Georgia, and a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Dr. DeLeo has over 50 articles and presentations. She has presentations at regional and national conferences including the American Accounting Association, the American Academy of Accounting and Finance, and the Mortgage Bankers Association Journal, in which she has published include Management Accounting, Journal of Accounting and Finance and the Journal of Education for Business. She has also received a number of outstanding achievement and teaching awards including FHFA’s Director’s Award for her role in defining and managing relationships with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac throughout the Conservatorship, Winthrop University’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Charter Advisor for Beta Alpha Psi, and Winthrop University’s Beta Gamma Sigma Excellence in Teaching Award.

Heather Farley is Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Public Policy & Management in the School of Business and Public Management at the College of Coastal Georgia. Dr. Farley has been teaching at the College for more than 10 years in the areas of policy, public management, and sustainability. She also serves as the Director of the College’s Honors program. In addition to her teaching role, Dr. Farley has served as the Sustainability Coordinator at the Sea Island Company, has held roles in advising and admissions at The College of Coastal Georgia, and was the Sustainability Coordinator at Northern Arizona University.

Dr. Farley earned her Ph.D. in Political Science (Environmental Policy), her M.A. in Public Policy, and a graduate certificate in Public Management from Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ). During her graduate studies, she also served as the full time Sustainability Coordinator for the University and helped develop the institution’s 2020 carbon neutrality strategic plan and goal. She also has a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the College of Charleston (Charleston, SC); it was this course of study that sparked her passion for sustainability, the environment, and policy. In 2020, Dr. Farley published a second edition of her co-authored book titled Sustainability: If it’s Everything is it Nothing? She has presented her research and work at both national and regional conferences including: Western Political Science Association, American Society for Public Administration, Southern Political Science Association, Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences, and the Dimensions of Political Ecology conference.

In addition to her professional positions, Dr. Farley is active in her community through organizations such as the Green Scene of Coastal Georgia and other community organizations.

Bill Garlen is a seasoned management and leadership professional with diverse credentials that combine tactical leadership, corporate executive management, marketing, communications and human resources expertise. Garlen spent years as a business entrepreneur and has a background of achieving success in television, media, music, consulting, corporate, and proprietary business environments. His teaching background includes over 20 years experience in diverse adult education. Additionally, he spent several years in corporate training consulting where he designed, developed and taught courses online and in the classroom. Corporate courses developed include topics in business, management, leadership, marketing, mechanical engineering, real estate, appraisal, adult continuing education, occupational skills, safety and a wide range of computerized applications.

Garlen worked his way from the entry level up to executive management in large corporations, trained as a military officer, owned successful businesses and led a number of volunteer organizations. He served on the Boards of Directors of publicly traded companies. As a board member he served as a lead director, and as chairman of both the audit and compensation committees. He still serves on community boards with Rayonier and the Federal Correctional Institute in Jesup. His knowledge in balancing state, federal and institutional requirements with the practical needs of academic, business and industrial organizations provides him with a unique insight into business, management, and leadership with a unique ability to communicate real world knowledge to his students.

Garlen is a member of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, International Leadership Association, Learning and Development Center of Excellence and Education Technology and eLearning Professionals. At the College of Coastal Georgia he assists in administering and overseeing programs in the School of Business and Public Affairs, supports the development and coordination of the various curriculums in the School, coordinates the use of part-time faculty (recruitment, text selection, and orientation) and assists in assessment activities of the various programs within the school. In addition Garlen serves on the College of Coastal Georgia Curriculum Committee, the Web Oversight Committee, and on numerous faculty and staff search committees.

Dr. William S. Mounts, Jr. is the Dean of the School of Business and Public Management at Coastal Georgia, as well as a professor of Economics. Dr. Mounts came to the College in 2011 after 33 years at Mercer University in Macon, GA. He received the Ph.D., M.A., and BBA degrees in economics from the University of Georgia. Dr. Mounts has over 50 academic articles, books, and presentations. His presentations have been at national and international conferences, including the Southern Economics Association, the Western Economics Conference, and the central bank of Switzerland. Journals in which he has published include the “Economics of Governance,” “Journal of Macroeconomics,” “Southern Economic Review,” “Public Choice,” “Journal of Sports Economics,” “Journal of Money, Banking and Credit,” and the “Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics.” Dr. Mounts also has an active consulting practice specializing in economic valuation and interest rate forecasting. On several occasions, he has received the Distinguished Faculty Award for excellence in the classroom and for his research.

T. David Reese is an Associate Professor of Finance & Economics in the School of Business & Public Management at the College of Coastal Georgia.

“Dr. T.” David Reese also serves as a consultant to governmental agencies and for-profit and non-profit organizations on matters related to Economic Development, Community Development and Business Development. Dr. Reese’s past consulting clients include: the U.S. Department of the Treasury; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”); and the City of Montgomery (AL). Over the past 20 years, Dr. Reese has held management positions with a range of public, private and community financial institutions. Prior to his career in academia, he spent more than 10 years on Wall Street, working as an Investment Analyst with Metropolitan Life and as a Vice President of Citicorp Investment Bank. During 1980’s, while working on Wall Street, Dr. Reese acquired the nickname “Dr. T.” During this period, Dr. T. worked with a number of major corporations, investor groups and entrepreneurs to structure and finance leveraged buyouts. He has been active in community economic development throughout his career. He worked with two municipally-sponsored non-profits in New York City which served small businesses owned by women and people of color. Dr. Reese also served as the youngest board member of 100 Black Men of New York, a group of business and community leaders dedicated to the political and economic empowerment of African-Americans. Dr. T is a former Director of the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF), a multi-million dollar community development venture capital fund that finances small businesses and creates jobs for low-income persons. LEAF, headquartered in Boston, finances transactions throughout the country.

Dr. Reese earned his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and his master’s degree and doctorate at Southern New Hampshire University. Dr. Reese engages in research in three areas: Small Business Finance, African-American Entrepreneurship, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Ultimately, a desire to identify and understand those factors that impact access to capital for various marginalized communities motivates all of Dr. Reese’s research interests.

Mr. Stephen Shehan-Nichols is the Academic Services Coordinator for the School of Business and Public Management, and is responsible for coordinating the administrative, academic, and support functions of the school. He joined Coastal Georgia in the fall of 2018 and served as the Freshmen Academic Advisor for the School of Business and Public Management prior to being named Academic Services Coordinator.

Mr. Shehan-Nichols is a seasoned academic professional experienced in serving diverse student populations in various settings in higher education. With over a decade of experience, he has worked in various professional roles in admissions, academic advising, financial aid advising, and career services advising at both Chamberlain University and National University.

He has a passion for mentoring students and supporting academic success. He is an intrinsically motivated individual, who strives to attain personal and team goals with enthusiasm and integrity. He believes that in order for academic services to be effective they must be both purposeful and holistic. He is known to be a student advocate and helps students achieve their education goals, teaching them about the nature of higher education, and provoking them toward greater levels of self-awareness and responsibility.

Mr. Shehan-Nichols received both his M.Ed in Adult Education and B.S. in Organizational Management from Tusculum College. He obtained his certification as a Certified Life Coach in 2020.

Prior to a career in higher education, Mr. Shehan-Nichols worked in varying managerial roles in business in the telemarketing, banking, and shipping industries. He worked his way from entry level manager to executive management and served as an Executive Director of Customer Service and Training in the shipping and packaging industry. His unique and comprehensive experience in training, mentoring, team building, leadership, customer service, and relationship management has given him a dynamic and unique ability to connect and develop strong connections with students.

Mr. Shehan-Nichols serves on various committees at the College of Coastal Georgia, including the Honors Program Advisory Council, Presidential Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, and staff search committees. He also serves as co-advisor for the Health Informatics Association.

Dr. Stephens is the Program Director for the Workforce Management and Leadership program. He has over 19 years of administrative and teaching experience in the higher education and K-12 environments. He has developed and taught courses at Georgia Southern University within the doctoral education program, and has taught business courses with Liberty University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Baker College, and Darton College. While at Altamaha Technical College, (now Coastal Pines Technical College), he was the department head of the Marketing and Management programs. He has formed and facilitated over 15 business courses for online delivery methods.

Educationally, he possesses a Master’s degree in Business Administration, a Master’s degree in Education, coupled with a Doctorate in Education Administration. He is a graduate of the Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute, has a certificate in Online Learning Administration, Online Learning and Teaching Management, and is a Certified Customer Service Trainer and Advancement Officer.

He brings in practical business work experience in wholesale, retail and in banking. He is a previous owner of a small business that employed 27 employees with four locations. He is a member of various professional organizations including the North American Council for Online Learning, the Georgia Association of Career and Technical Education, the Academy of Legal Studies in Business, and the American Association of Community Colleges. He is a former president of the Georgia Southern University Alumni Association. In his hometown of Jesup, GA, he is past president of the Jesup Rotary Club and the Jaycees, and served on the Board of Directors for the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.

Scott Williamson is Professor of Practice, Marketing and Communications at the College of Coastal Georgia.

Williamson retired from Coca-Cola North America in 2017 as Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, and brings a wealth of “real world” experience to the classroom. During his 25-year career, he directed communications initiatives for the Company’s brands, sports and entertainment properties, and multimillion dollar investments and acquisitions.

Originally from Brunswick, Ga., Scott is a graduate of Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies, and of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications, where he earned a Master of Mass Communications degree.

Ms. Atwood has served as a full-time faculty member researching, developing, and teaching courses in Criminal Justice since 2014.

Prior to joining the faculty at the College of Coastal Georgia, Ms. Atwood completed a distinguished 30-year career retiring as an Assistant Director (AD) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC).As a career member of the Senior Executive Service, Ms. Atwood provided executive leadership and oversight for both training and administrative functions at the FLETC, including all training and training support functions across the FLETC’s four domestic locations in Glynco, GA; Charleston, SC; Artesia, NM; and Cheltenham, MD; training delivered at the International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAs) around the world; and state, local, tribal, and territorial training delivered across the United States. Ms. Atwood led training across the spectrum of law enforcement training areas including: Behavioral Science, Counter-Terrorism, Leadership, Legal, Firearms, Drivers, Maritime, Investigative Operations, Enforcement Techniques, Physical Techniques, Financial Fraud, and Instructional Development. She also led efforts to ensure coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement entities to develop and deliver programs to effectively prepare law enforcement officers and agents in areas such as Active Shooter and Cyber training programs across the United States.

While serving as the FLETC’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Ms. Atwood provided executive leadership and oversight for multiple complex areas including: human resources (including employee and labor relations), facilities management (including design and construction), procurement, property management, and the Critical Incident Stress Management program.

Ms. Atwood’s law enforcement and teaching experience span 31 years and include serving as a Special Agent in the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Senior Special Agent, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. General Services Administration.She conducted investigations resulting in the successful prosecution of criminal and civil matters across the eight southeastern states and the District of Columbia, including program fraud, bribery of government officials, food stamp trafficking and serious allegations of employee misconduct.

Ms. Atwood graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Police Administration from Eastern Kentucky University’s College of Law Enforcement, and earned her Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University’s College of Public and Urban Affairs. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA and the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC.

Dr. Nelbert St. Clair is an Assistant Professor of Cyber Defense and Director of the Coastal Cyber Center. He earned his Doctor of Science (Dsc) in Information Systems and Communication from Robert Morris University (Moon Township, PA), M.A. in Information Technology Management from Webster University (St. Louis, MO) and a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno (Reno, NV). He earned all his civilian education while severing (now retired) in the Army National Guard for 23 years. He currently maintains 15 active cyber/IT certifications.

Dr. St. Clair started at the College in Fall of 2019, with the task of building a Cyber Defense program from the ground up. As the Director of the Coastal Cyber Center, a non-profit center aimed to provide IT services to non-profit and small businesses, he reaches out to the local community with the help of the Cyber Defense students. He believes in giving back to the community.

Dr. St. Clair inspires students to begin a career in the field of Information Technology. He brings to the Cyber education world, 23 years of experience in leadership, security, and military knowledge (National Guard including two deployments), 14 years in the private sector and 8 years working for the federal government. Dr. St. Clair’s main focus is cybersecurity education, but he enjoys recruiting new students and partnering with local businesses, to provide cyber education and services to the community, with the help of his students.

Matthew Mosley is an Assistant Professor in the Hospitality & Tourism Management program. He holds a PhD in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University, a Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, and a Bachelor’s from South Dakota State University. Dr. Mosley has worked in the hospitality industry in both restaurants and hotels for over 20 years prior to entering academia. Dr. Mosley’s current research track examines both music and film induced tourism. Dr. Mosley currently teaches classes such as Eco-Tourism, Event Management, Hotel Management, Strategic Management, and Hospitality Finance Management.

Richard (Robby) Roberson is an associate professor teaching classes for the Hospitality Management program. He holds a PhD in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University. Additionally, he did post-doctoral work at the University of Florida, and is academically qualified in both Marketing and Management. He serves as the program director for the Culinary Arts program at the College of Coastal Georgia. His research interest is film-induced tourism. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Roberson worked extensively in the hospitality industry. He has worked as a chef for many restaurants, resorts in Georgia, Arizona, Wyoming, and Montana, in both grand Teton and Glacier National Parks. He has also owned his own business.

Dr. Warner is Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Hospitality & Tourism Management. She is internationally known as an expert in liability and crisis preparedness issues that affect hospitality, tourism, meetings, and events.

Dr. Warner earned her B.S., Business Administration from Georgetown University and her M.A., Tourism Administration, from The George Washington University. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Georgia State University and her Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration from Oklahoma State University. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Convention & Event Tourism. She is actively involved with the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, Meeting Professionals International, and the Events Industry Council.

During her career, Dr. Warner has been a professor, an attorney, a meeting and event planner, a catering manager, a convention and visitor’s bureau sales manager, and an association executive. She is one of only two people in the world who has a Ph.D. in Hospitality, is a practicing attorney, and is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).