Dr. Dixie F. Abernathy is Associate Professor of Education at Queens University of Charlotte, serving as the Department Chair of Cato Programs and the Director of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program in the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. School of Education. With over twenty peer-reviewed academic articles and books, and over thirty-five academic presentations, Dr. Abernathy is recognized nationally and globally for her research interests, which include school violence prevention, religious pluralism in the preparation of educators, effective online course design, and student engagement in online learning.
A 40-year veteran educator, Dr. Abernathy has served as a classroom teacher, a principal, and as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Secondary Schools for the ninth largest school district in North Carolina. During her time teaching, Dr. Abernathy was recognized as the North Carolina Teacher of the Year, and in 2019, she received the Queens University of Charlotte Educational Leadership Award. Dr. Abernathy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Wake Forest University, a Master of Arts in School Administration from Winthrop University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University.