Faculty Awarded Summer Development Grants

The University of Scranton awarded eight professors 2020 Faculty Development Summer Grants, which are intended to promote scholarship and curriculum development efforts by faculty members.

Michael Azar, Ph.D., associate professor of theology and religious studies, will research “The Role of Scripture in Jewish-Christian Dialogue: An Orthodox Perspective.” A faculty member at Scranton since 2013, Dr. Azar earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado Christian University, a master’s degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Fordham University.

John Deák, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, will research “Measuring Reorganization Within and Organized Molecular Interface Using Microscopic Volume Changes.” He joined the faculty at the University in 2002. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo, a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester and completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Illinois, Champaign.

Josephine Dunn, Ph.D., professor of art history, will research “Hidden Histories: Women Making History in Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Dr. Dunn joined the faculty at Scranton in 1988. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Colleen Farry, assistant professor and digital services librarian, will research “Iterative Experimentation with Crowdsourcing Technologies.” She joined the University community in 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Marywood University, and master’s degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Matthew Meyer, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, director of the pre-law advisory program and faculty director of the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities, will research “Nietzsche’s ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra.’” He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas, a master’s degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Boston University. He joined the University faculty in 2010.

Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication and media, will research “Leading Change in Higher Education.” A faculty member at Scranton since 2009, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Wilkes University, a master’s degree from Ithaca College and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University.

Patricia Moyle Wright, Ph.D., professor of nursing, will research “Older Parent’s Experiences of Losing an Adult Child.” Dr. Wright received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from College Misericordia. She earned her Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago. She joined the faculty at Scranton in 2007.

Habib Zanzana, Ph.D., professor of world languages and cultures, will research “The Representation of Disability in World Literature and Cinema: A Socio-economic and Healthcare Perspective.” Dr. Zanzana joined the faculty at Scranton in 1995. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Indiana University.