University Announces Faculty Promotions

The University of Scranton granted promotions and/or tenure to 20 faculty members effective at the start of the 2020-21 academic year.

Eleven faculty members have been promoted to professor: George Aulisio, library; Sean Brennan, Ph.D., history; Will Cohen, Ph.D., theology and religious studies; Paul Datti, Ph.D., counseling and human services; Michael Knies, library; Nathan Lefler, Ph.D., theology and religious studies; Sufyan Mohammed, Ph.D., communication; Jessica Nolan, Ph.D., psychology; Iordanis Petsas, Ph.D., economics and finance; Donna Witek, library; and Habib Zanzana, Ph.D., world languages and cultures.

Howard Fisher, Ph.D., communication, and Wendy Manetti, Ph.D., nursing, were named associate professors.

Six faculty members were named associate professor and granted tenure: Jinghan Cai, Ph.D., economics and finance; Ozgur Isil, Ph.D., operations and information management; Jo Ann Nicoteri, Ph.D., nursing; Patrick Orr, Ph.D., psychology; Juan Serna, Ph.D., physics and electrical engineering; and Nicholas Sizemore, Ph.D., chemistry.

Ahmed Gomaa, Ph.D., operations and information management, was granted tenure.

Prof. Aulisio, chair of the library, received his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University and his master’s degrees from Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked for the University since 2009.

Dr. Brennan received his bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst University, his master’s degree from the Villanova University and his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. He has worked for the University since 2009.

Dr. Cai received his bachelor’s degree from Renmin University of China, his doctorate degrees from the City University of Hong Kong and Boston College. He has worked for the University since 2014.

Dr. Cohen received his bachelor’s degree from Brown University, his master’s degree from St. Vladmir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and his doctorate from the Catholic University of America. He has worked for the University since 2009.

Dr. Datti received his bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University, his master’s degree from The University of Scranton and his doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University. He has worked for the University since 2009.

Dr. Fisher, chair of the Department of Communication and Media, received his bachelor’s degree from the Minnisota State University, his master’s degree from Texas Tech University and his doctorate from Ohio University. He has worked for the University since 2009.

Dr. Gomaa received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Alexandria in Egypt, and a MBA and doctorate from Rutgers University. He has worked for the University since 2016.

Dr. Isil received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, Austin, and his MBA and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. He has worked for the University since 2009.

Prof. Knies received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Pennsylvania State University and his master’s degree from Rutgers University. He has worked for the University since 1996.

Dr. Lefler received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, his master’s degree from Yale Divinity School and his doctorate from the Catholic University of America. He has worked for the University since 2008.

Dr. Manetti, received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Scranton and her doctorate from the Widener University. She has worked for the University since 2011.

Dr. Mohammed received his bachelor’s degree from Jai Hind College, his MBA degrees from Rizvi Institute of Management Studies and Research and the Rochester Institute of Technology, and his doctorate from Texas Tech University. He has worked for the University since 2008.

Dr. Nicoteri received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, her master’s degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton and her doctorate from the University of Maryland. She has worked for the University since 1985.

Dr. Nolan received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, her master’s degree from California State University and her doctorate from the University of Arkansas. She has worked for the University since 2008.

Dr. Orr received his bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton, and his master’s degrees and his doctorate from Yale University. He has worked for the University since 2015.

Dr. Petsas, chair of the Economics and Finance Department, received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Thessaloniki and his MBA degree and his doctorate from Indiana University. He has worked for the University since 2002.

Dr. Serna received his bachelor’s degree from Universidad de Antioquia and his master’s degree and his doctorate from the University of Arkansas. He has worked for the University since 2015.

Dr. Sizemore received his bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve University and his doctorate from the University of California. He has worked for the University since 2015.

Prof. Witek received her bachelor’s degree from the Tisch School of the Arts and her master’s degree from Long Island University. She has worked for the University since 2008.

Dr. Zanzana received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and his doctorate from Indiana University. He has worked for the University since 1995.