School of General Studies
Faculty and Staff

Dr. Darius E. Beechaum graduated from the Petersburg Public School System in 1990. He furthered his education at several schools Indiana Tech, Richard Bland College, Richmond Virginia Seminary and Higher Learning Bible Institute and Seminary receiving a BA in Theology, Masters of Divinity Degree and a Doctorate of Religious Studies and Christian Education. He was licensed into the ministry in 1994. Dr. Beechaum has served his country in the United States Army National Guard as an infantry soldier for seven years. He also served his country as an Assistant Chaplain in the Field Artillery for three years. As the Executive Director of the Peter Paul Development Center, Dr. Beechaum established new programs like the Y.E.A.P. (Youth Empowering to Achieve Progress) and is Vice President of the Infinity Bible Seminary. Dr. Beechaum is currently the Coordinator of the Freshman Institute in the School of General Studies at Virginia Union University, primarily advising freshman students.
Dr. Gaulin completed her first M.A in English Literature and Civilization at Reunion University (1999). She also extensively studied at the University of Western Australia, Perth, Oxford University, England, and University of South Carolina. Her graduate work was published in a French literary magazine, Alizés (2000). Dr. Gaulin completed her second M.A in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) and Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Foreign Languages and Multiculturalism at West Virginia University (2002; 2006). Dr. Gaulin served as director and coordinator of adult continuing education centers, and as French and ESL instructor. She has worked with literacy-at-risk adults and has volunteered as a chaperone for international student exchange programs. Dr. Gaulin is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa International, NEA, NAME, and Three Rivers TESOL.
Linda Jackson, ABD holds a M.Ed. and B.A. from Antioch University and has earned certification in Elementary and Secondary Counseling Education; as well she is certified as an Education Specialist and Developmental Education Specialist. Mrs. Jackson has completed additional course work in Administration, Management, Leadership and Grant writing at Drexel University, LaSalle University, Villanova University, Appalachian State University, and Harvard University. Mrs. Jackson holds membership with the National Association for Female Executives, the American Management Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and is a Gamma Beta Phi Society 2007 Member. Mrs. Jackson is presently a fall 2007 doctoral candidate at Oral Roberts University. Her doctoral degree will be in educational leadership in higher education. Mrs. Jackson is the Director of the Academic Empowerment Center in the School of General Studies.
 
 
 
 
   
Mrs. Brown, is currently the Director of the Center for the Advancement of Academic Excellence (CAAE) in the School of General Studies. As such, she is directly responsible for the campus-wide tutorials, disability services, and additional academic workshops and supplemental instruction. She is also an Assistant Professor of English. Mrs. Brown obtained her MA in English Education at Albany State University and is pursuing her doctoral work in Curriculum and Instruction at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.. Mrs. Brown is a member of the National Association of Developmental Education (NADE), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the National Council of Humanities (NCH), the Georgia Council of International Reading Association.
Mrs. Alaysia Hackett received her Masters’ Degree in Public Affairs and Administration from Western Carolina University in 2002. Her educational background is in Human Resource Development, Sociology, Ethnic and Gender Relations. She was the Upward Bound Math and Science Program Coordinator at Cullowhee, North Carolina from May 1997 to May 2001. She completed her Graduate Internship at the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Mrs. Hackett served as Director of Recruitment and Student Activities at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in 2002-2003. She has been involved in counseling, advising, and monitoring students and is currently Coordinator of the Sophomore Experience in the School of General Studies. Mrs. Hackett was also ordained Reverend and consecrated pastor in 2004. She and her husband serve in the fast-growing City of Refuge (C.O.R.E) in Richmond, VA.
Debra E. Young joined Virginia Union University in November 1998, as Secretary for the Office of Financial Aid. In April 2000, she became the Administrative Assistant to the Undergraduate Office of Admissions. She joined the Academic Empowerment Center in March 2007. She currently holds the position of Program Assistant in the School of General Studies. Ms. Young will receive her BS in Business Administration from Strayer University in Spring 2008 and pursue graduate work in Fall 2008.

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Robert James served at Georgia Institute of Technology for 34 years. His career at Tech started in 1974 as a recruiter and special assistant to the registrar .He was responsible for the recruitment of freshman and transfer students, as well working with the registrar to ensure the academic eligibility of student athletes. In 1976, Robert was promoted to assistant director in the Office of Cooperative Education. In 1986, he was promoted to associate director responsible for the management of cooperative education staff members and increasing enrollment of African American and women students. Robert later became the Director of Graduate Co-op and Undergraduate Internships. Robert graduated from Paine College, Augusta, GA and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1969. He continued his studies attending Georgia State University and received his Masters of Education in Counseling for Clark Atlanta University in 1987. At VUU, he will be responsible for developing an academic success program for VUU’s athletes.