Robert Feenstra, Ph.D., the C. Bryan Cameron Distinguished Chair in International Economics at University of California (UC), Davis, presented The University of Scranton’s 37th Henry George Lecture in November on campus. Dr. Feenstra presented “The ‘China Shock’ After 22 Years,” detailing his assessment of the economic impact trade with China over the past few decades.
Considered the preeminent public lecture series on economics in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Henry George Lecture Series is presented by the University’s Department of Economics, Finance and International Business and the campus chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international honor society for economics. Among the distinguished list of speakers who have spoken at previous lectures are eleven winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics: David Card (2021) Paul Romer (2018), Robert Shiller (2013), Tom Sargent (2011), Peter Diamond (2010), Paul Krugman (2008), Joseph Stiglitz (2001), George Akerlof (2001), Amartya Sen (1998), Robert Lucas (1995) and Robert Solow (1987). The lecture series is named in honor of the 19th century American economist and social reformer and is supported financially by a grant from the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation.
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Economist Robert Feenstra, Ph.D., presented The University of Scranton’s 37th Henry George Lecture.
Sheila Mignolet
Rahma Baklouti
Naoko Omori 
Joshua Hartmann 
Héloïse Vérissi
Yun (Lily) Chiang
Holly Avella, Ph.D. cand., was appointed as a visiting assistant professor in the Communication and Media Department. She most recently worked in the Department of Communication and Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers University and has worked at Manhattanville College, Marist College and Dutchess Community College. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology at State University of New York at New Paltz and her Master of Science in education/mental health counseling psychology at Long Island University. She is a Ph.D. candidate in communication, information and media studies at Rutgers University. She has published and presented extensively, most recently in the realms of mental health and social media.
Patrick Beldio, Ph.D., was appointed as a visiting lecturer in the Theology/Religious Studies Department. He most recently was a professional lecturer in the Religion Department at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and an adjunct professor in the Theology and Religious Studies Department at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in studio art and philosophy and Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture at the University of Notre Dame, his Master of Arts in systematic theology at The Washington Theological Union, his Master of Fine Arts in sculpture at The George Washington University, and his Ph.D. in religion and culture at The Catholic University of America. His first book on a contemporary Indian tradition called the “Integral Yoga of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo” is due out in 2024 with Lexington Press. He has operated personal businesses as a sacred visual artist and has a wide-ranging list of solo art projects, performances, exhibitions, peer-reviewed publications and academic presentations. He has been commissioned to create several artistic pieces for private collections and educational institutions.
Melanie Caughey, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Education Department. She most recently taught at Cleveland State University as a visiting assistant professor and coordinator of the Gifted and Talented Learners program and previously taught at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has also worked with Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth and the Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development at the University of Connecticut. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and education at Bucknell University, a Master of Science in education at Duquesne University, and a Ph.D. in gifted education at the University of Virginia. She has published and presented numerous times on specialized topics involving gifted education.
Laura Chapman, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Health and Human Performance Department. She was most recently an assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Appalachian State University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in music and her Bachelor of Arts in communicative sciences and disorders at Michigan State University and her Master of Arts in speech-language pathology and Ph.D. in speech-language science at Ohio University. She has a lengthy publishing history and has presented both nationally and internationally. She resides in Clarks Summit.
Michael Crowell, PT, D.Sc., was appointed as an associate professor in the Physical Therapy Department. He was most recently the program director for the Baylor University - Keller Amy Community Hospital Division 1 Sports Physical Therapy Fellowship at the United States Military Academy at West Point and an associate professor at Baylor University. He earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry and life sciences at the United States Military Academy and his Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Science in orthopaedic physical therapy at Baylor University. He is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy and sports physical therapy and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. 
Kristeen Elrod, Ph.D., was appointed as a lecturer in the Counseling and Human Services Department. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapy supervisor. She was most recently a term faculty member at Oregon State University and worked in private telehealth practice for Ginger & Pixie LLC in California. She earned her Master of Arts in professional counseling at Texas State University and her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at Oregon State University. She is pursuing a medical trauma counseling certificate.
Mark Fenner, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Computing Sciences Department. A data and research scientist, developer and educator, Dr. Fenner, who operates Fenner Training and Consulting LLC in Forty Fort, earned his Bachelor of Science in computer science and psychology at Allegheny College. He earned his Master of Arts in mathematics and Master of Science and Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Pittsburgh. He has taught at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Norwich University in Vermont and the University of Pittsburgh. 
Kelly Filchner, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Nursing Department. She was most recently director of clinical operations at Fox Chase Cancer Center Partners in Rockledge. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at East Stroudsburg University, her Master of Science in nursing at DeSales University and her Ph.D. in nursing at Duquesne University. Dr. Filchner is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, and has researched and published on several cancer-related topics. 
Carrie Griffiths, OTD, was appointed as a faculty specialist in the Occupational Therapy Department. She was most recently the Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Lackawanna College. She earned her Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy at Mount Aloysius College, a Master of Science in occupational therapy at The University of Scranton and a doctorate in occupational therapy at Gannon University. Dr. Griffiths has clinical experience in a variety of practice areas, including acute care, in-patient rehabilitation, outpatient, behavioral health, hospice, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. In addition, she is employed by Jukebox Health where she conducts home safety assessments.
Anna Grippi was named a lecturer in the Nursing Department. She was previously a part-time faculty member in The University of Scranton Nursing Department, and prior to that appointment she worked as health coordinator for the Scranton Lackawanna Human Development Agency. She has been a clinical navigator, nurse reviewer for Federal Hearings and Appeals, a team nurse in mental health for the Scranton Counseling Center and a registered nurse on the neurological/trauma floor for Geisinger Community Medical Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Marywood University and her Master of Science in nursing at Aspen University with a specialization in nursing education. She resides in Dunmore. 
Michael Hague, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Biology Department. He was most recently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montana. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology and environmental studies at Whitman College, his Master of Science in ecology, evolution and conservation biology at San Francisco State University and his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Virginia. He has been a distinguished teaching fellow at the University of Virginia and an adjunct instructor at Everest College in Utah.
Matthew Hale, Ph.D., was appointed as a visiting assistant professor in the Theology/Religious Studies Department. He was most recently an adjunct professor at Abilene Christian University’s Graduate School of Theology. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in biblical text at Lubbock Christian University, his Master of Arts in history and theology at Abilene Christian University and his master of philosophy and Ph.D. in historical and systematic theology at The Catholic University of America. He has been a teaching fellow at The Catholic University of America’s School of Theology and Religious Studies and has been a preacher in Texas. 
Samantha Herrick, Ph.D., was appointed as an associate professor in the Counseling & Human Services Department. She was most recently an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers University, where she received an Excellence in Teaching Award. She is also a mental health counselor with a private practice in Mahwah, New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in communications at the University of Rhode Island, her Master of Science in rehabilitation counseling and disability studies at Springfield College and her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at the Pennsylvania State University. Her research, publication and presentation history on disability and specifically Autism is extensive. She is also a 2015 inductee into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. 
Geng Liu, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Physics/Engineering Department. He was most recently an assistant professor at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. He earned his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at the University of Science and Technology of China and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. He has been a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maine at Orono and the University of Virginia, where he also was a teaching fellow and guest lecturer. He resides in Clarks Summit.
Christiane McDonald was appointed as a faculty specialist in the Health and Human Performance Department. She most recently worked as a speech-language pathologist with Presence/Ocean Springs School District, Mississippi. She was selected for specialized training in stuttering through the Palin PCI Eastern Workshop. She earned her Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and audiology at East Stroudsburg University and her Master of Science in speech-language pathology at Misericordia University.
Farshad Merrikh-Bayat, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Physics/Engineering Department. He most recently worked as a senior mechatronics engineer at ASML/Cymer in San Diego, California. He earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at K.N. Toosi University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, and his Master of Science and Ph.D. in electrical engineering-controls at Sharif University of Technology, also in Tehran. He has been an assistant and associate professor at the University of Zanjan in Zanjan, Iran, where he was a technical consultant and was chief of the electrical engineering department.
Katherine Stefanelli, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Counseling and Human Services Department. She most recently was coordinator of counseling and psychological services and a health and wellness educator at Penn State University Scranton Campus in Dunmore. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and her Master of Arts in clinical psychology, post-master’s certification in school counseling and Ph.D. in human development at Marywood University. She has been a licensed professional counselor in private practice in South Abington Township and has been an adjunct faculty member at Penn State Scranton and The University of Scranton.
Amy Szydlowski was appointed as a faculty specialist in the Health Administration and Human Resources Department. She was district executive director of the Pennsylvania Department of Health for the Northeast Region for more than a decade. She earned her Bachelor of Science in communication disorders at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and her Master of Public Administration with certification in gerontology and Master of Social Work at Marywood University. She has been an adjunct faculty member at The University of Scranton and has worked in pharmaceutical sales for Pfizer and Janssen. She resides in Moosic.
Megan Whitbeck, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Counseling and Human Services Department. She served as a psychosocial rehabilitation counselor at a community mental health outpatient program in Central Florida for clients with severe and persistent mental illness, and has expertise in counseling individuals, families, couples, and college student populations. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology at the State University of New York at Cortland, her Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Central Florida and her Ph.D. in counseling and counselor education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Katorah Williams, Ph.D., was appointed as an assistant professor in the Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology Department. She earned her Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and psychology at Temple University, Philadelphia, her Master of Science in criminal justice at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and her Ph.D. in criminal justice at Temple University. As a research assistant at Temple University, she worked on projects related to adversarial decision-making, and social engineering education and experiential learning. Her current research explores conceptualizations of privacy and engagement in lateral surveillance. She has taught online courses in white collar crime and psychology and crime, and has been a teaching assistant for courses in criminal law, criminal courts and justice, criminal behavior and ethics, crime and justice.
Elin Woods was appointed as an assistant professor in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library. She was most recently a reference and interlibrary loan/adult programming librarian at Indiana Free Library in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and before that was a student success librarian at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in history at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her Master of Science in library science at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She is a co-author and co-editor of the book “Once Upon a Time in the Academic Library: Storytelling Skills for Librarians.”
Germany holds many must-see sites of both historic significance and natural wonder. Once torn in two, Berlin has grown in many ways, Hartmann said.
Dr. Andersen, shown, said that in spring 2022, students in each class began having Zoom meetings with NASA managers before starting their project to get the information they need, and after they submit their written project to present their main findings. Currently, 20 students in his Introduction to Marketing class are grouped into seven teams that each work on a separate patent.
A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, John Wiercinski also was past Regional Pennsylvania Delegate to the American Hospital Association. Currently he serves on the boards of the St. Joseph Center Foundation, Lackawanna/Susquehanna Behavioral Health Intellectual Disabilities Early Intervention Program, and The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. He was past board chairperson for both The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and Lackawanna College. 
Wesam Alramadeen, Ph.D. cand., was named as an instructor in the Operations and Analytics Department. He joined the University faculty as a lecturer in 2021. Previously, he worked internationally for more than two decades as a business development and strategy partner, telecommunications commissioner, consultant and senior engineer, among other positions. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering-telecommunication from Mutah University in Jordan, an MBA from German Jordanian University in Jordan, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering at Binghamton University.
Ran An, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Health and Human Performance Department. She comes to Scranton from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she was a course instructor of fluency and voice disorders. Previously, she was an associate and assistant professor at Dalian Ocean University in China, where she also was director of two English undergraduate programs and vice dean of the English Department. She also was an instructor at Dongbei University of Finance and has published extensively on the subject of stuttering as well as on several linguistics topics. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and international business and her Master of Arts in foreign language studies and applied language studies at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Uzoamaka Anyiwo, Ph.D., was named associate professor in the History Department. Most recently a professor of politics and history at Curry College and before that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she is an award-winning, innovative teacher and researcher who specializes in using historical methods to explore racial and gender stereotypes. Other research specialties include contemporary, Colonial and antebellum U.S. history, film history, the history of the vampire and popular culture/film. She has an extensive presentation and paper history on the subject of vampires, pop culture and black womanhood. She earned her bachelor’s degree in American studies and politics and her Ph.D. at the University of Wales Swansea, where her dissertation analyzed the dominant stereotypes of African-American women from the 16th century to present.
Anthony Betancourt, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Psychology Department. The founder and chief executive officer of ABLE Research LLC in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Dr. Betancourt brings back to Scranton expertise in the subjects of bullying, scientific racism, learning disabilities and economic inequality. He has taught at the City College of New York and won a coveted fellowship at the City University of New York teaching undergraduate psychology. He conducted research on socio-emotional and motivational variables that influence students’ preparedness for higher education and/or the workplace. Dr. Betancourt earned his Bachelor of Science in psychology at The University of Scranton, his Master of Arts in general theoretical psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and both his Master of Philosophy and his Ph.D. in educational psychology at the City University of New York.
Michele Boland was named lecturer in the Nursing Department. She previously served on the nursing faculty for the for the Practical Nursing Program of the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County and joins the University after serving as adjunct faculty and a clinical instructor. Boland has had a lengthy hospital career, including tenures as a registered home health care and hospice nurse, home hospice nurse, charge nurse in intensive care, clinical resource manager and nursing supervisor. Boland earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Delaware and Master of Science degree in nursing education at the University of Phoenix. She is certified as a CPR instructor and in oncology/chemotherapy.
Joe Brague, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Biology Department. An accomplished researcher, writer and lecturer, he most recently studied dopamine-mediated synaptic plasticity in the context of Parkinson’s disease and has published prolific research on how hormones influence behavior in the Syrian hamster. He is currently pursuing how biological sex contributes to Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Brague was most recently a post-doctoral scholar and adjunct professor in neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience and biology at The University of Scranton and his Ph.D. in integrative biology: neuroscience track, at Lehigh University.
Laura Skoronski Chavez, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Nursing Department. Dr. Chavez brings to the University clinical expertise in emergency nursing and nurse education and educational expertise in nurse educator preparation, curriculum development, educational administration, simulation development, preparation and administration, nursing research and online course preparation. She was formerly on the nursing faculty at Wilkes University and an adjunct faculty member at the University. Chavez earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at The University of Scranton, her master’s degree in nursing education at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and her Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Kate Cummings was named assistant professor and research and instruction librarian for the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library. She was previously library director and an electronic resources librarian at Luzerne County Community College. She has held two elected positions on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Library Association and is a member of the American Library Association. She is an accomplished presenter whose topics have included diversity, equity and inclusion in libraries, and outcomes and assessment. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration (accounting) at the University of Maine, a Master of Business Administration at Wilkes University and a Master of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina. 
Stephanie DeNaples was named faculty specialist in the Occupational Therapy Department. She currently works with Neighborworks NEPA and previously served as an occupational therapist at Lehigh Valley Health Network and has been an adjunct instructor in occupational therapy at the University. She also served as an occupational therapist for Coordinated Health, Therapy Unlimited, the Geisinger Health System and St. Luke’s University Health System. She is the founder of We Ride NEPA, an organization that promotes occupational independence in leisure by modifying motorized ride-on vehicles for children. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in health sciences and Master of Science in occupational therapy at The University of Scranton. She is completing a post-professional clinical doctorate at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah.
Kenneth Dudeck was named visiting assistant professor in the Physics and Engineering Department. He was previously an associate professor at Pennsylvania State University in Hazleton and works as an electrical engineering consultant for local manufacturing industries. An accomplished researcher with a notable publication history, he also spent 10 years as a consultant for the Naval Air Warfare Center at Patuxent River, Maryland., and has been a research fellow at the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster. His career also included the titles of microwave and controls engineer at Damaskos Inc. in Chadds Ford, electromagnetic interference and compatibility engineer at General Electric, and electrical engineer at Gould Ocean Systems Division in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at Pennsylvania State University and his master’s degree in electrical engineering at Villanova University.
Daniel Jackowitz was named visiting assistant professor in the Computing Sciences Department. He comes to the University from SeatGeek in New York City, where he solved interesting data problems in the ticketing. Before that he was a senior software engineer for Datadog and Tumblr, both in New York City, and a software engineer for The New York Times. He has served as adjunct faculty in computing sciences at the University, where he designed and taught a graduate special topics course titled “Introduction to Big Data Platforms.” He was a teaching fellow in operating system engineering at Yale University. Jackowitz earned his Bachelor of Science in computer science and his Master of Science in software engineering at The University of Scranton and his Master of Science in computer science at Yale University.
Riddhiman Medhi, Ph.D., was named assistant professor of inorganic chemistry in the Chemistry Department. A committed teacher and researcher as well as a collaborative scientist, Dr. Medhi brings a broad background in materials chemistry and joins the University after serving as a post-doctoral associate at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he worked to develop anti-fouling surface coatings and anti-toxin fabrics. He has applied for two U.S. patents, has published and presented on numerous occasions, and is a member of the American Chemical Society. He earned both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in chemistry from Gauhati University in Guwahati, India, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Houston, where he was a graduate research assistant, and served as a teaching assistant. At Houston, his research on optical nanomaterials earned him the Graduate Student Research Award, and the prestigious Dan E. Wells Outstanding Dissertation Award.
Pedro Monteiro, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Economics/Finance Department. A chartered financial analyst (C.F.A.) since 2018, he worked in the financial sector prior to pursuing Ph.D. studies. He served in a multitude of roles, including fixed income analyst, structurer of derivatives products, and private wealth manager. Dr. Monteiro has published and working papers covering different aspects of finance, including hedge funds, corporate short-termism, international markets and entrepreneurial finance. He has taught Principles of Financial Management, Financial Institutions and Advanced Managerial Finance courses at the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University, where he received the singular 2021 Excellence in Ph.D. Student Teaching Award. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in business at Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro. He earned his Master of Science in finance and Ph.D. in finance at Florida Atlantic University.
Julie Murphy, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Nursing Department. She previously served as an assistant professor at Wilkes University and assistant professor and director of the RN to BS in Nursing Program at King’s College. She also served on the faculty of the practical nursing program at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center, where she was the lead instructor for medical surgical courses. Dr. Murphy has been a registered nurse in the local area for many years and has presented at local and national conferences on heart failure, end-of-life care and advance care planning. She earned an Associate of Applied Science in nursing at Luzerne County Community College, a Bachelor of Science in nursing at Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Science in nursing at Misericordia University, a Master of Science in nursing with nurse educator and faculty roles specialization at Drexel University, and a Ph.D. in nursing at Pennsylvania State University. She has recently received a post-master’s degree certificate as a primary mental health care nurse practitioner at Wilkes University.
Michael Nytz, Ph.D., cand., was named lecturer in the Counseling and Human Services Department. A licensed professional counselor (L.P.C.), he was most recently a certified school guidance counselor at Lower Macungie Middle School and teaching assistant at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Prior to that, he was a clinical case manager at Wordsworth Academy and a residential counselor at Woods School. Nytz also was a military officer for 13 years and served three years on active duty. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Warner Southern College in Lake Wales, Florida, a master’s degree in counseling at Trenton State College in Trenton, New Jersey., and is a Ph.D. candidate in counselor education at the University of the Cumberlands. He also earned an elementary guidance certificate at Kutztown University, a cognitive behavioral therapy certificate from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a trauma certificate of advanced graduate studies at Chestnut Hill College. He has a secondary guidance certificate from the University.
Jason Phillips was named faculty specialist in the Nursing Department. He was most recently a certified registered nurse practitioner at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia and previously worked for the Einstein Healthcare Network, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies at Wright State University in Dayton, then an Associate’s of Applied Science in nursing at Luzerne County Community College, a Bachelor of Science in nursing at Pennsylvania State University Worthington Scranton, and Master of Science in nursing in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Timothy Powers was named lecturer in the Counseling and Human Services Department. He has been an adjunct instructor of social sciences at the State University of New York at Orange and at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York. He also worked as a private-practice mental health counselor in Middletown and New York, New York, taught religious studies at Xavier High School in New York, New York., and served in assignments in the Bronx, Wilmington, Delaware, and Silver Spring, Maryland, while a Franciscan Friar. He also was director of campus ministries at John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and religious studies and Master of Science in counseling at The University of Scranton, a graduate certificate in theological studies at Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C., and a Master of Social Work at New York University.
Mojib Saei, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Physics and Engineering Department. He comes to the University from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where he was a visiting professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He also has been a faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College. He served as a researcher in the Scalable Micro Nano Manufacturing Laboratory as well as the Center for Materials Processing and Tribology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He has published several peer-reviewed journal articles about nanomaterials, multi-layer composites, 3D printing, laser processing and flexible electronics, amassing a total of 23 journal publications and filing one U.S. patent. He earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees, one in materials engineering and another one in industrial engineering, a master’s degree in materials engineering and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering-manufacturing at Purdue University.
Rebecca Sullivan, Ph.D. cand., was named lecturer in the Education Department. She was most recently adjunct faculty in philosophy at Fordham University and has been a course assistant at the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and a teaching assistant at both Barnard College and Teachers College of Columbia University. She also has been adjunct faculty at the State University of New York at New Paltz and Queens College of the City University of New York. Sullivan has numerous publication and presentation credits and worked as an academic publishing associate and editor at EdLab, Teachers College Record, at Columbia University, was a writing coach, and worked as an educational program leader for the Brox Educational Foundation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and English literature and a master’s degree in philosophy and education at the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in philosophy and education at Columbia University, where she is a Ph.D. candidate.
Elizabeth Vento, Ph.D., was named visiting assistant professor in the Psychology Department. She has provided clinical care in hospital and community-based clinics and has also provided clinical research support for SAMHSA's national epidemiology studies of psychological disorders. Before starting her Ph.D. studies, she was a public-school teacher in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Vento earned a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in literature and creative writing at the State University of New York, Purchase College; a Master of Arts in clinical psychology at St. John's University; a post-baccalaureate certificate in psychology at Columbia University; and a Master of Science in education at the College of New Rochelle. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at St. John’s University.
Laura Zagacki, D.H.S. cand., was named assistant professor in the Occupational Therapy Department. She was most recently therapy manager at Good Shepherd Specialty Hospital in Bethlehem, where she previously worked as a pediatric occupational therapist. She has been a pediatrics occupational therapist, an early intervention occupational therapist, and a school occupational therapist in the Hatboro-Horsham and Wissahickon school districts. She held occupational therapist positions at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia and Elkins Park and served on the Research Committee Task Force in the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Network. She has an extensive teaching, research, publications and presentation background. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral neuroscience at Lafayette College, where she was a Phi Beta Kappa Society member, and a Master of Science in occupational therapy at Thomas Jefferson University. She is a candidate for a Doctorate of Health Sciences in rehabilitation sciences at Drexel University.
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