The University of Scranton Appoints New Faculty Members

The University of Scranton has appointed 16 new full-time faculty members for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Wesam Alramadeen, was named lecturer in the Operations and Analytics Department. Previously, he has worked internationally for more than two decades as a business development and strategy advisor, consultant and senior engineer, among other positions. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering-telecommunication from Mutah University in Jordan, a MBA from German Jordanian University in Jordan, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering at Binghamton University.

Hossein Banitabaei, Ph.D., Vancouver, was named assistant professor in the Physics and Engineering Department. Dr. Banitabaei’s research expertise is in fluid dynamics and interfacial phenomena utilizing experimental techniques and numerical simulation methods. He has published several articles in reputable journals including a Featured Article in Physics of Fluids. Dr. Banitabaei earned his bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and industrial engineering (systems analysis and planning), as well as a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in Iran. He received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from York University in Toronto. Dr. Banitabaei was awarded a joint postdoctoral fellowship with BC Research Inc. in Vancouver and the University of British Columbia through which he worked on a project to develop a gel used for oil containment in large oil spill incidents. 

Dana Brookover, Ph.D., NCC, Scranton, was named assistant professor in the Counseling and Human Services Department. A licensed school counselor and national certified counselor, Dr. Brookover worked as a professional school counselor in Virginia. She was an instructor at DePaul University, Villanova University and Virginia Commonwealth University prior to beginning at The University of Scranton. She has published over a dozen articles in refereed academic journals on topics that include the social health needs of college students and factors that influence the preparedness of first-generation college students. Dr. Brookover earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Christopher Newport University and her master’s degree in school counseling from the College of William and Mary. She graduated with her doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision from the Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2020. 

Gerard Dumancas, Ph.D., Iloilo City, Philippines, was named associate professor in the Chemistry Department. Previously, he served as an associate professor of chemistry at Louisiana State University at Alexandria. His core research interests involve the development of novel spectroscopic and computational tools with a wide array of applications in edible oils, food science and biomedical research. During his career, Dr. Dumancas has generated more than $2 million in external research grants and has published more than a dozen articles in peer-reviewed academic journals. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of the Philippines and his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Oklahoma State University.

Rachel Frissell, Spring Brook Township, was named faculty specialist in the Physics and Engineering Department. She worked as a process engineer at SRI International in Princeton, New Jersey, serving as the primary engineer on physical vapor deposition tools. She also worked in the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She studied geomagnetic field observations from Antarctica and presented her work at various conferences. Professor Frissell earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from the Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania; her master’s degree in materials science and engineering from Virginia Tech; and her master’s in applied physics from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Dana Gadaire, Psy.D., Gainesville, Florida, was named visiting assistant professor in the psychology department. Last academic year, she taught in Scranton’s Counseling and Human Services Department. She is a licensed psychologist, social worker and board-certified behavior analyst who has established community-based clinical services in local primary care clinics where she works with physicians and nurses to promote access to behavioral health screening and treatment among underserved populations in our area. Dr. Gadaire has published extensively on empirically-supported practices to promote pediatric behavioral health including functional assessment, token-based interventions and activity schedules. She is particularly interested in the dissemination of community-based supports to address behavioral health disparities among underserved populations. Dr. Gadaire earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida, her master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia, her master’s degree in clinical and community psychology from Georgia State University and her Doctor of Psychology in school psychology from the University of Southern Maine.

Natalie Gilboy, Clarks Summit, was named faculty specialist in the Nursing Department. She currently serves as a nurse practitioner with Pediatric Associates in Kingston. She earned certification in Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist through the Pediatric Nursing Board in 2018. Gilboy is also active in her community through participation with the Abington Heights High School Student Aid fund and the PTA and as a volunteer coach for school and sports teams. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and her Family Nurse Practitioner master’s degree in nursing from The University of Scranton.

Alicia Hatcher, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the English and Theatre Department. Dr. Hatcher has served as an instructor and adjunct instructor at Fayetteville Technical Community College in North Carolina, and as an adjunct instructor at North Carolina Central University and Campbell University, also in North Carolina. Dr. Hatcher serves as a mentor for The Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition’s online mentoring program (2021-2022) and as co-editor of The Journal of Multimodal Rhetorics – Comics/Visual Rhetorics, Decoloniality, and Liberatory Futures special issue, which is slated for publication in the spring of 2022. Her research focuses on embodied, spatial and cultural rhetorics, specifically the ways bodies and spaces are used as rhetorical and symbolic tools in the fight against systemic oppression.

Dr. Hatcher earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her master’s degree in English from North Carolina Central University and her Ph.D. in rhetoric, writing and professional communication from East Carolina University.

Nicole Hoskins, Ph.D., Chicago, Illinois, was named assistant professor in the Theology and Religious Studies Department. Dr. Hoskins received the Charlette W. Newcombe Fellowship, Louisville Institute Fellowship, and the Forum for Theological Education Fellowship to support her graduate research. She is also a member of the Society for the Study of Black Religion. Her current research project examines the religious and ecological practices of black women in Chicago’s Altgeld Gardens, an area sociologists identify as one of the most egregious cases of environmental racism in the U.S. Dr. Hoskins earned her bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Spelman College, her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and her Ph.D. in religion and society from Drew University.

John Kaufman, Lehigh Valley, was named faculty specialist in the Computing Science Department. Professor Kaufman worked at IBM for 41 years in Endicott, Glendale, Fishkill and Poughkeepsie, New York as an advisory engineer on Unix Operating Systems and Networking. During his career at IBM, he received multiple recognition and leadership awards. Professor Kaufman earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from The University of Scranton and his master’s degree in telecommunication from Syracuse University. He is also an SAP Advisory Architect, trained by SAP America, and a graduate of LongRidge Writers Group.

Bibi Khan, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Biology Department. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and served as a lecturer at the University of Guyana. Dr. Khan’s research interests include plant molecular biology, plant cell biology, plant biotechnology and plant genetics. She has authored or co-authored nearly a dozen research studies that have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. In 2004, she received a Fulbright scholarship to pursue graduate studies in the United States. Dr. Khan earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Guyana. She earned her master’s degree in molecular plant pathology from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and her Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Neelam Lahankar, Ph.D., Brooklyn, New York, was named faculty specialist in the Chemistry Department. She was an adjunct professor at CUNY New York City, Bergen County Community College in New Jersey and at New Jersey City University. She taught chemistry to 11^th and 12th-grade students in Pune and Mumbai India. She is also certified in effective college instruction and teaching online. Dr. Lahankar earned her bachelor’s degree in science and mathematics from Pune University in India and her Ph.D. in chemistry from Seton Hall University, where she was awarded the Robert De Simone Graduate Fellowship.

David Mahalak, D.Eng., Dallas, was named faculty specialist in the Operations and Analytics Department. He has worked as a strategic business management consultant at Applied Logistics Integration Consulting, LLC. He was an adjunct professor at Wilkes University and Penn State University – Hazleton. Dr. Mahalak earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Wilkes University, his master’s degree in operations research from Northeastern University and his Doctorate of Engineering in engineering management from George Washington University. He also completed a master certificate program in supply chain management and operations at Michigan State University and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certificate at Villanova University.

Joseph Morrissey, Ph.D., was named lecturer in the Psychology Department. He was an instructor at Binghamton University for more than 15 years, and was also a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts in Boston and at Boston University. He served as an adjunct professor at Boston College and Regis College, as well as at several other colleges. He has developed pedagogical resources in his field. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in brain, behavior and cognition from Boston University.

Ashley Stampone, A.B.D., Old Forge, was named assistant professor in the Accounting Department. She joined the faculty at Scranton as a faculty specialist in 2016 and has received University and national accolades for her work. She was twice named Kania School of Management Professor of the Year. In 2019, she was honored with the Faculty Leadership Award from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and in 2021 received IMA’s Ursel K. Albers IMA Campus Advocate of the Year Award. She also received the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Young Leaders Award for 2021. Professor Stampone earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting and her MBA from The University of Scranton. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Scranton.

Ash Zareian, Ph.D., was named faculty specialist in the Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department. He was a lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he also worked as a data analyst. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Texas Pan American and his MBA and Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.