Rate My Professor Melissa Dawn Gatlin

Melissa Dawn Gatlin serves as Assistant Professor of Education in the Department of Teaching & Learning within the School of Teaching and Learning at Sam Houston State University. Her academic credentials include a PhD from Capella University, where her dissertation examined how under-represented students understand their early college high school experience; an MEd from Stephen F. Austin State University; an MBA from the University of St. Thomas; and a BBA from Stephen F. Austin State University. These qualifications underpin her expertise in teacher preparation and educational innovation.

Gatlin's research centers on artificial intelligence in education (AIED), particularly pre-service teachers' readiness for integrating AI into PreK-12 classrooms. Her 2023 peer-reviewed article, 'Assessing Pre-service Teachers’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Using Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom,' published in Texas Educator Preparation (Volume 7, Issue 2, pages 1–8), investigates three key areas: pre-service teachers' knowledge and self-efficacy with AI, their beliefs about employing AI in future teaching, and the importance of incorporating AI education into teacher preparation programs. The study highlights AIED's potential to transform teaching while emphasizing the need for targeted training amid rapid technological advancements. In her role, Gatlin teaches early childhood education courses, including ECHE 3302, and pioneered the university's first Academic Community Engagement (ACE) course. This initiative paired her early childhood education students with Journey Home, a Montgomery County non-profit maternity home, enabling hands-on service learning. Students delivered educational sessions on prenatal care, child nutrition, and early childhood development to pregnant women facing homelessness and their young children, fostering real-world application of pedagogical skills and community impact. Gatlin's work contributes to preparing educators for contemporary challenges in teaching and learning environments.