University Awards Intersession Grants

Fourteen faculty members at The University of Scranton received faculty development intersession grants for 2026.

Joe Brague, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, received a grant to research “From Bench to Manuscript: Critical Period Loss of Gonadal Hormones Differentially Regulates Dopamine-1 and Dopamine-2 Spiny Projections neuron Dendritic Spine Morphology and Motor Behavior Via Regulation of neurotrophic Mechanisms.” Dr. Brague received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton and a doctoral degree from Lehigh University. He joined the Scranton faculty in 2022.

Michael Catalano, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, received a grant to research “Court Curbing and Judicial Review: State Supreme Courts with Mandatory Jurisdiction.” Dr. Catalano received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and both a master’s and doctoral degree from Binghamton University. Catalano joined the Scranton faculty in 2024.

Vincent Farallo, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, received a grant to research “Physiological Costs of Poison Sequestration by Dendrobatid Frogs.” Dr. Farallo received a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University, a master’s degree from Texas State University-San Marco and a doctoral degree from Ohio University. He joined the Scranton faculty in 2020.

Beatriz Fontoura, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, received a grant to research “Beyond Earth’s soil: assessing crip nutrients and toxic metals in off-world agriculture.” Dr. Fontoura received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Federal University of Viçosa and a doctoral degree from Federal University of São Carlos. She joined the Scranton faculty in 2025.

Christopher Hauser, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy, received a grant to research “Is Significant Free Will Compatible with Moral Perfection?” Dr. Hauser received a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a doctoral degree from Rutgers University. He joined the Scranton faculty in 2020.

Christopher Haw, Ph.D., associate professor of theology and religious studies, received a grant to research “Curricular Improvements in Orientation Sessions for Newly Matriculated Incarcerated Students at SCI Dallas.” Dr. Haw received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern University, a master’s degree from Villanova University and a doctoral degree from the University of Notre Dame. Haw joined the Scranton faculty in 2018.

Megan Heeder, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and religious studies, received a grant to research “Initiating Communities of Generosity: A Christian response to Food and Social Inequality” for submission to Villanova’s Journal of Catholic Social Thought. Dr. Heeder received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from University of Notre Dame and a doctoral degree from Marquette University. Heeder joined the Scranton faculty in 2024.

Michael Jenkins, Ph.D., professor and chair of criminal justice, cybersecurity and sociology, received a grant to research “Police and Society: An Applied and Evidence-Based Approach.” Dr. Jenkins received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton and both a master’s and doctoral degree from Rutgers University. Jenkins joined the Scranton faculty in 2013.

Vanessa Jensen, Ed.D., associate professor of counseling and human services, received a grant to research “Development of Research Environments in the Applied Behavior Analysis Curriculum to Meet Accreditation Standards.” Dr. Jensen received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from The University of Scranton and a doctoral degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She joined the Scranton faculty in 2005. 

Bibi Rafeiza Khan, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, received a grant to research “Cytoskeletal Mutations and Plant Stress Resilience: A Follow-up to Recent Discoveries in Arabidopsis thaliana.” Dr. Khan received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guyana, a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas and a doctoral degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She joined the Scranton faculty in 2021.

Yibai Li, Ph.D., associate professor of operations and analytics, received a grant to research “Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) with Large Language Models for Mining Large-Scale Blockchain Literature.” Dr. Li received a bachelor’s degree from Jilin University, a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University and a doctoral degree from Washington State University. Li joined the Scranton faculty in 2013.

Rose Sebastianelli, Ph.D., professor of operations and analytics, received a grant to research “The Role of Corporate Governance in Value Chain Carbon Management.” Dr. Sebastianelli received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a doctoral degree from Pennsylvania State University. She joined the Scranton faculty in 2003.

Mehmet Yetim, Ph.D., assistant professor of management and marketing, received a grant to research “The Simulated C-Suite: Methodological And Ethical Implications Of Using Artificial Intelligence To Impersonate Top Managers In Qualitative Studies.” Dr. Yetim received a bachelor’s degree from Celal Bayar University, a master’s degree from New York University and a doctoral degree from Louisiana State University. He joined the Scranton faculty in 2024.

Xinyu Zhou, Ph.D., assistant professor of management and marketing, received a grant to research “Balancing Empathy and Exploitation: The role of FLE Effort Narratives in Shaping Consumer Judgements.” Dr. Zhou received a bachelor’s degree from China University of Geosciences, a master’s degree from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and a doctoral degree from New Mexico State University. Zhou joined the Scranton faculty in 2024.