Sam Rhodes

 Education

• 2019, William & Mary, Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Curriculum & Educational Leadership
• 2009, William & Mary, Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction - Secondary Education, Mathematics 
• 2008, William & Mary, Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies & Mathematics

 What is your current job?

 Assistant professor of elementary mathematics education at Georgia Southern University.

What are your research interests?

My research centers on supporting k-12 students becoming proficient problem solvers by supporting the factors that influence problem solving such as metacognition, executive function, strategic thinking, and affect. 

Why did you choose W&M?

When I was in elementary school, my family stopped to visit Colonial Williamsburg. During the visit, my Mom pointed to the Wren building and told me all about the university. I was immediately enamored and remember spending the rest of my visit trying to spot a William & Mary student. After the visit, it became my dream to go to William & Mary and so I spent the rest of my K-12 tenure working to realize that dream. 

What is your favorite thing about the program?

What I loved the most about the program was that all of the professors treated each of us like family. From keeping their office doors open to ensure they were accessible, to actively seeking opportunities to mentor me and create meaningful learning experiences for me both in and outside of the classroom, every professor constantly made me feel like part of William & Mary's vibrant community of learning. 

How has attending W&M impacted your career to date?

William & Mary is the reason that I am a professor. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate programs, professors constantly invested in me. They invited me into research studies, allowed me to work alongside them in authoring and managing grants, and taught me how to write scholarly articles. The knowledge, skills, and dispositions that I learned at William & Mary not only helped me secure my current position, but are also ones that I use every day in my career.