University Announces Faculty Promotions

Twenty-five faculty members at The University of Scranton received promotions heading into the 2025-26 academic year.

Four faculty members were elevated to professor: Duane Armitage, Ph.D. ’05, philosophy; John Deak, Ph.D., chemistry; Joan Grossman, Ph.D., health and human performance; and Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D., English and theatre.

Ten faculty members were advanced to associate professor: Mehmet Bastug, Ph.D., criminal justice, cybersecurity and sociology; Vincent Farallo, Ph.D., biology; Spencer Galen, Ph.D., biology; Madeline Gangnes, Ph.D., English and theatre; Emily Gerstle, Ph.D., health and human performance; Christopher Hauser, Ph.D., philosophy; Joseph Klobusicky, Ph.D., mathematics; Sylvia Orner, library; Amelia Randich, Ph.D., biology; and Paul Sampson, Ph.D., history.

Four faculty members were named associate professor and granted tenure: Ovidiu Cocieru, Ph.D., management and marketing; Rita DiLeo, D.Sc. ’11, health administration and human resources; Cara Krieg, Ph.D., biology; and Murong Xu, Ph.D., mathematics.

Seven professors were granted tenure: Sinchul Back, Ph.D., criminal justice, cybersecurity and sociology; Marleen Cloutier G’22, library; Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., physics and engineering; Emily Hopkins, Ph.D., psychology; Amanda Marcy, Ph.D. ’10, G’11, PHD’20, accounting; Ian O’Hara ’05, library; and Mary Troy, Ph.D. ’95, G’00 counseling and human services.

Dr. Armitage, who has worked at the University since 2015, received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton, a master’s degree from Boston College and a Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research.

Dr. Back, who has worked at the University since 2019, received a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University, master’s degrees from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Bridgewater State University and a Ph.D. from Florida International University.

Dr. Bastug, who has worked at the University since 2020, received bachelor’s degrees from Turkish National Police University and Akdeniz University and master’s and doctoral degrees from Rutgers University.

Prof. Cloutier, who has worked at the University since 2016, received a bachelor’s degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and master’s degrees from The University of Scranton and Drexel University.

Dr. Cocieru, who has worked at the University since 2019, received a bachelor’s degree from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Dr. Deak, who has worked at the University since 2002, received a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester.

Dr. DiLeo, who has worked at the University since 2007, received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton, a master’s degree from Marywood University and a doctoral degree from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Farallo, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University, a master’s degree from Texas State University-San Marcos and a Ph.D. from Ohio University.

Dr. Frissell, who has worked at the University since 2019, received a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University and master’s and doctoral degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Dr. Galen, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree from the University of New Mexico and a Ph.D. from Richard Gilder Graduate School.

Dr. Gangnes, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from University of Puget Sound, a master’s degree from University of Dundee and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

Dr. Gerstle, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from Denison University and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

Dr. Grossman, who has worked at the University since 2010, received a bachelor’s degree from King’s College, a master’s degree from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from Marywood University.

Dr. Hauser, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University.

Dr. Hopkins, who has worked at the University since 2018, received a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Klobusicky, who has worked at the University since 2020, received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and master’s and doctoral degrees from Brown University.

Dr. Krieg, who has worked at the University since 2018, received a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

Dr. Marcy, who has worked at the University since 2015, received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from The University of Scranton.

Prof. O’Hara, a faculty member at the University since 2019, received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton and a master’s degree from Clarion University.

Prof. Orner, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and master’s degrees from Syracuse University and The University of Scranton.

Dr. Randich, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Sampson, who has worked at the University since 2020, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dallas, a master’s degree from Marquette University and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University.

Dr. Troy, who has worked at the University since 2018, received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Scranton and a Ph.D. from Regent University.

Dr. Willenbrink, who has worked at the University since 2009, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Dr. Xu, who has worked at the University since 2020, received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Jinan University and a doctoral degree from West Virginia University.