PROS Faculty

Meet the faculty of our online Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (PROS) program and learn more about their academic background and experience they bring.

Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies

Human Resource Management

Dr. Tiffany Shelton

Education & Credentials

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL), Concentration in Organizational Behavior from Liberty University
Master of Public Administration, Concentration in Human Resources from North Carolina State University
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)

Concentration Area: Human Resource Management

Dr. Tiffany Shelton brings over twenty years of experience in human resource management, organizational development, and leadership. As the Deputy Director of People & Culture, she guides enterprise-wide strategies designed to attract, retain, develop and reward a large workforce. Her work focuses on aligning people practices with strategic priorities and using data to inform executive decision-making.

Her professional journey also includes extensive experience curating engaging learning experiences for individual and group transformation. Her research interests include organizational behavior, workforce analytics, social psychology, and organizational culture.

Dr. Shelton holds multiple certifications in HR management, talent development, emotional intelligence, and various personality assessments. She has completed executive-level training through the Center for Creative Leadership. She is passionate about preparing students to lead with both competence and character in today’s evolving workplace. In her personal time, she enjoys getting lost in a good book, staying active, traveling to new places, and expressing creativity through cooking.

Human Resource Management

Michelle Elam

Education & Credentials

M.A. in Human Resource Management from Webster University
B.S. in Computer and Information Science from the University of Maryland

Concentration Area: Human Resource Management

Michelle Elam, MHRM, has over twenty years of experience working in human resource management across the Southeast supporting both federal and local government, healthcare, and banking. Her most recent position was as a Senior Director of Human Resources at Lowe’s, where she led an HR team for Lowe’s supply chain branch, supporting over 2,000 employees. In this role, Michelle oversaw leadership development, performance management, and change management initiatives while interfacing with senior executives to define their businesses’ strategic direction.

In addition, Michelle has held roles as an HR Advisor, Total Rewards Leader, and Senior Compensation Consultant across various sectors.

Beyond her work experience in this field, Michelle has served as an adjunct instructor at Brenau University for over sixteen years, with a focus on adult learners and real-world applications of business theory in both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Michelle spends her downtime reading, interior decorating, and walking.

Leadership Essentials

Dr. Bryan Patterson

Education & Credentials

Ph.D. in Agricultural Leadership from the University of Florida
M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from James Madison University

Concentration Area: Leadership Essentials

Dr. Bryan Patterson brings twenty years of transformative leadership across multiple higher education institutions, with specialized expertise in leadership and management education for adult learners. He has been an influential champion of online and hybrid learning innovation, successfully expanding access and engagement for undergraduate and graduate students. His early work at the University of Florida centered on strategically advancing student workforce readiness and career preparation.

As a founding faculty member who helped to establish UNC Charlotte’s Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies program, Dr. Patterson strategically harnesses students’ diverse life experiences to cultivate high-impact competencies in leadership, communication, and organizational management.

Learning & Development

Heather Mathis

Education & Credentials

Current doctoral candidate: Ed.D. in Instructional Technology from American College of Education
Graduate Certificate in Learning, Design and Technology (LDT) from UNC Charlotte
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education
B.S.Ed. in Chemistry Education from Western Carolina University
Certified Google Trainer
Certified Quality Matters Peer Reviewer
Google Career Certificate in Project Management

Concentration Area: Learning & Development

Heather Mathis brings a wealth of knowledge and multi-sector experience in instructional design and L&D, spanning both higher education institutions and corporate environments. Her expertise centers on driving digital transformation, managing complex learning projects, and designing high-impact training solutions that align educational outcomes with organizational strategy. Notably recognized as one of the first Certified Google Trainers in North Carolina and holding a Google Career Certificate in Project Management, Mrs. Mathis focuses on using innovative digital tools to design effective learning experiences for adults.

Her professional practice and doctoral research are deeply rooted in advanced instructional design frameworks, digital accessibility compliance, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). In her instructional roles, Mrs. Mathis utilizes empathetic, relationship-driven design and rigorous Quality Matters (QM) standards to build resilient, engaging hybrid and online learning environments. She is dedicated to equipping the next generation of instructional designers and L&D professionals with the strategic, technical, and practical skills needed to scale modern training initiatives.

Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Mrs. Mathis enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and relaxing by the lake with her family and friends. A resident of the Charlotte area, she loves taking weekend day trips with her husband and two daughters, which frequently include a stop at Carowinds for a few roller coaster rides on the way home.

Project Management

Dr. Dani Beckman

Education & Credentials

Ed.D. in Education (Post-Secondary and Adult Education) from Capella University
M.S. in Project Management from Northeastern University
Project Management Professional (PMP) via the Project Management Institute
Scaled Scrum Master Certified (SSMC)

Concentration Area: Project Management

Dr. Dani Beckman possesses over two decades of experience in project management, primarily in the banking and financial services industries within the Charlotte Metro area. Her areas of interest include operational planning, leadership development, and compliance and governance, and she is both a Project Management Professional (PMP)® through the Project Management Institute and a Scaled Agile® Scrum Master (SSM).

For her doctoral program, Dr. Beckman focused her research on the education of adult learners; she is one of the original faculty members who helped to establish the Professional Studies Bachelor of Science degree at UNC Charlotte, and she has also served as an instructor of project management coursework at the University of Southern California.

Project Management

Braylin Jones

Education & Credentials

M.B.A. in Business Administration and Management from Fitchburg State University
B.S. in Game Design and Programming Simulation from DeVry University
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® via the Project Management Institute

Concentration Area: Project Management

Braylin Jones, MBA, has worked in high-level project management roles at both Lowe’s and AvidXchange, where he has focused on training internal project management staff alongside the oversight of competing stakeholder interests.

As a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® through the Project Management Institute, Braylin is passionate about mentorship for those similarly seeking to earn industry-standard project management credentials.

Outside of work, Braylin is an avid piano student with a love for jazz and hip-hop, and he enjoys exploring new productivity systems, discovering new travel destinations, and relaxing with a good video game. Above all, he is passionate about helping others integrate creativity and technology into their daily lives.

Project Management

Dr. Tarina Pettiway

Education & Credentials

Ph.D. in Management (Designing Sustainable Systems) from Case Western University
M.S. in Software Development and Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology
Project Management Professional (PMP) via the Project Management Institute
Six Sigma Certified Black Belt

Concentration Area: Project Management

Dr. Tarina Pettiway has worked for over twenty-five years in banking and consulting, and she has spent the most recent fifteen years at Bank of America and Wells Fargo, where she now serves as the Head of Commercial Banking Quality Assurance. Her role involves project management at the highest organizational level, including managing a team of process engineers and ensuring ethics and risk frameworks are considered.

Her doctoral research and conference presentations have focused on IT projects and organizational learning, and she has formerly served as an adjunct lecturer at Queens University, where she taught hybrid and online graduate-level coursework in team-based organizational communication, social entrepreneurship, and communication ethics.

Dr. Pettiway also possesses the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification from the Project Management Institute, which is the preeminent credential in the field. She is eager to guide students in tying project management concepts to real-world application, especially in IT and banking, where Dr. Pettiway has extensive, first-hand experience.

Project Management

Dr. Anu Raina

Education & Credentials

Doctorate in Business Administration from UNC Charlotte
Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Guelph

Concentration Area: Project Management

Dr. Anu Raina is part-time faculty in both the School of Professional Studies and the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte. Her research interests include organizational dynamics, entrepreneurship, and gender paradigms in the workplace, with a particular focus on personality dimensions across diverse organizational contexts.

Dr. Raina brings more than two decades of progressive leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry to the classroom, with expertise in leadership, operations management, and project management in both local and global environments. Her pedagogical approach emphasizes collaborative learning, mentorship, and academic excellence, fostering critical thinking and practical skill development through cutting-edge educational resources.

Her industry background spans pharmaceutical quality and manufacturing operations, supply chain, project management, and information technology. She has successfully led cross-functional teams, driven continuous improvement initiatives, and delivered results in culturally diverse environments.

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