Faculty Members Receive 2020 Intersession Grants

The University of Scranton awarded faculty development intersession grants for 2020 to seven faculty members.

Debra Fetherman, Ph.D., associate professor of exercise science and sport, will receive a grant to research a “Minor in Health Promotion.” Dr. Fetherman received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, her master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas and her doctoral degree from Marywood University. She has worked for the University since 2005.

Nathan Lefler, Ph.D., associate professor of theology/religious studies, will receive a grant to study “Can Satan Cast Out Satan? Flannery O’Connor’s ‘The Displaced Person.’” Dr. Lefler received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, his master’s degree from Yale Divinity School and his doctoral degree from Catholic University of America. He has worked for the University since 2008.

Aiala Levy, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, will receive a grant to research a “Sao Paulo’s Celso Garcia Hall and the Creation of a Laboring Public.” Dr. Levy received her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago. She has worked for the University since 2016.

Mohammad Maktoomi, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics/electrical engineering, will receive a grant to research “High Sensitivity Fully Linear Resistive Transducer Bridge Amplifier.” Dr. Maktoomi received his bachelor’s degree from Aligarh Muslim University and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology. He began working for the University in 2018.

Sufyan Mohammed, Ph.D., associate professor of communication, will receive a grant for to study “Crisis Communication 2.0: Evaluating Corporate Crisis Communication strategies and Media Choices in the Digital Age.” Dr. Mohammed received his bachelor’s degree from Jai Hind College, his master’s degrees from Rizvi Institute of Management Studies and Research and Rochester Institute of Technology and his doctorate from Texas Tech University. He has worked for the University since 2008.

Susan Poulson, Ph.D., professor of history, will receive a grant to research a “Murder, Gender and the Insanity Defense after the Civil War.” Dr. Poulson received her bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Georgetown University. She has worked for the University since 1990.

Ana Ugarte, Ph.D., instructor for world languages and cultures, will receive a grant to research a “Island Laboratories: Literary Monsters, Disease and Pharmacopeias in the Hispanic Caribbean.” Dr. Ugarte received her bachelor’s degree from Universate Stendhal Grenoble III, a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and her doctoral degree from Duke University. She has worked for the University since 2018.