Faculty by Academic Interest: All
Dr. Holiday Adair
Professor
Dr. Adair completed an internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Institute. She has published in More
Dr. Aref M. Al-Khattar
Professor
Dr. Al-Khattar is a retired law enforcement officer (lieutenant colonel, General More
Dr. David G. Argent
Professor
Dr. Argent was born in England and emigrated to Pittsburgh with his family in the late More
Dr. Connie J. Armitage
Assistant Professor
Before joining the Cal U faculty, Dr. Armitage worked for about 10 years as a public school More
Dr. Summer Arrigo-Nelson
Associate Professor
Dr. Arrigo-Nelson studies the effects of habitat disturbance on forest regeneration and More
Dr. M.G. Aune
Associate Professor and Honors Director
Dr. Aune's interest in English began as an undergraduate, when his mentor suggested that he More
Dencil Backus
Assistant Professor
Backus began his teaching career in two secondary school systems in West Virginia. After 11 More
Dr. Bruce Barnhart
Professor
Barnhart graduated from California High School in 1979 and was first employed as instructor More
Justin Barroner
Assistant Professor
Mr. Barroner came to California University in 2005 to help develop and grow the More
Larry Bassi
Professor Bassi has taught in the criminal justice field for more than 41 years. After More
Dr. Ralph Belsterling
Associate Professor
Dr. Belsterling specializes in assessment, aural rehabilitation, amplification and hearing More
Dr. William B. Biddington
Professor
Dr. William Biddington has been employed at California University of Pennsylvania since More
Dr. Carol Biddington
Associate Professor
Dr. Biddington is the recipient of the 2009 C.B. Wilson Distinguished Faculty Award at Cal More
Vilija Bishop
Instructor
Vilija Bishop is an athletic training instructor and an assistant athletic trainer for men's More
Dr. Angela Bloomquist
Associate Professor
Dr. Bloomquist was certified as a school psychologist in 1997 and began working in the field of More
Dr. Melanie J. Blumberg
Blumberg is professor of Political Science and campus director of the American Democracy More
Dr. Carol Bocetti
Associate Professor
Worked for 10 years at USDI Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 1994-2004 More
Dr. David Boehm
Professor
Dr. Boehm and his students study how bacteria, like Escherichia coli, cause disease by More
Dr. Barbara Bonfanti
Professor
Dr. Bonfanti came to the Department of Communication Disorders after a 25-year career as a More
James B. Bove
Assistant Professor
Jim Bové attended West Chester University in Pennsylvania where he earned his B.F.A in 1993. More
Sheri Boyle
Assistant Professor
Boyle has been an aide to Rep. Nancy Pelosi and a clinical social worker at Children's More
Dr. Silvia Braidic
Professor
Dr. Braidic previously served as an assistant professor and coordinator of graduate and More
Dr. Mark E. Bronakowski
Professor
Dr. Bronakowski has been a faculty member at Cal U since 1982. During this time, he has been More
Lisa Burkart-Uva
Instructor
Burkart-Uva has been an adjunct professor at Cal U for nine years. She has worked for the More
Dr. Bryan Burnstein
Adjunct Professor
Originally from Michigan, Burnstein became the head athletic trainer/strength and More
James Burton
Interim Associate Dean of College of Education and Human Services and Associate Professor
Dr. Paula Caffrey
Assistant Professor
Dr. Caffrey's Ph.D. project involved studying trace elements in aquatic animals (daphnia). More
Dr. Nancy Carlino
Assistant Professor
Carlino spent the first 12 years of her career as a speech-language pathologist. She worked More
Dr. Anthony Carlisle
Assistant Professor
Carlisle is married to Amy Alexander (alumna) and has two children, Arielle and Amya. Prior More
James Carter
Carter moved to Pennsylvania in 1990 to teach at Cal U. Prior to that move, he taught at the More
Dr. John R. Cencich
Professor and Director of the Pennsylvania Institute of Criminological and Forensic Sciences
A senior member of the Department of Justice, Law & Society appointed in 2002, Dr. John Cencich is More
Andrea Cencich
Instructor
Andrea Cencich's academic background is in the areas of the relationship between second More
Dr. Adnan Chawdhry
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Adnan Chawdhry received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from More
Dr. Margaret (Peg) Christopher
Associate Professor
Before coming to California University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Christopher served as Social Work More
Joan Clites
Associate Professor
Dr. Clites, Ed.D., RN, C, has 24 years' experience in higher education. She is currently More
Dr. John Confer
Associate Professor
Dr. Confer's general area of interest includes parks and recreation, including More
Dr. Clarissa W. Confer
Associate Professor
Dr. Confer teaches and researches in the fields of the Civil War and Native American and More
Dr. Joni L. Cramer Roh
Professor
Dr. Joni Roh is a Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies at More
Dr. Paul Crawford
Associate Professor
Dr. Crawford is a specialist in the history of the crusades and of the military-religious More
Dr. Rick Cumings
Associate Professor
Dr. Cumings taught at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Penn State-University Park, More
Laura DeFazio
Professor
DeFazio came to Cal U in 1997. She is a Pittsburgh-based artist who primarily sculpts and More
Christopher "C.J." DeJuliis
Instructional Technology Manager
Mr. Christopher John "C.J." DeJuliis joined the California University of Pennsylvania team in 2001 More
Dr. Gary J. DeLorenzo
Associate Professor in CIS, Director of Leadership Studies
Dr. DeLorenzo has 15 years' experience teaching at the university level. He also has more More
Dr. Shelly Fetchen DiCesaro
Assistant Professor and Athletic Trainer for Cal U Women’s Basketball
Dr. Holly L. Diehl
Assistant Professor
Dr. Diehl was an elementary teacher and principal for 18 years. She now supervises student More
Dr. William E. Dieterle
Associate Professor
Dr. Dieterle's background includes more than 30 years in the academic, industrial and More
Dr. Sarah Downey
Associate Professor
Dr. Downey specializes in Old English, medieval Latin and the history of the English More
Dr. Jodi Dusi
Associate Professor
Dr. Jodi Dusi is an Associate Professor and the Director of the CAPTE accredited Physical More
Dr. Daniel E. Engstrom
Associate Provost/Associate Vice President for Student Retention.
Dr. Engstrom is the Associate Provost/Associate VIce President for Student Retention at Cal More
Diane Eperthener
Instructor
Eperthener's love for dance was shown through her academic pursuits. Her thesis was titled More
Dr. Sylvia Foil
Professor
Dr. Foil has taught two years at Northwestern University. She also taught at Loyola More
Dr. Craig Fox
Associate Professor and Associate Director of the University Honors Program
Dr. Fox began studying philosophy accidentally in college, and he's been doing it ever More
Dr. Kyle C. Fredrick
Associate Professor
Dr. Fredrick's expertise is in groundwater hydrology and groundwater modeling. He has More
Odeese Khalil
Instructor and Program Coordinator
A native of Syria, Khalil joined the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures in the More
Laura A. Giachetti
Instructor
As a native of Fayette County, Giachetti has a personal interest in the region. She has More
Kevin Govern, J.D.
Govern began his legal career as an Army judge advocate, serving 20 years at every echelon More
Dr. Mark A. Gross
In addition to being an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Secondary Education and More
Dr. Elizabeth Gruber
Professor
Dr. Gruber is a professor in the Department of Counselor Education. She has worked at Cal U More
Dr. Chadwick Hanna
Assistant Professor
Dr. Hanna recently finished his Ph.D. At Cal U, he teaches various animal anatomy and More
Dr. Scott Hargraves
Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Clinical Education-PTA Program
Dr. Hargraves is a board-certified specialist in geriatric physical therapy. More
Mary A. Hart
Assistant Professor
Hart came to California University in 1982 to develop a service/lab component for the newly More
Melissa Hatton
Adjunct Professor
Melissa Hatton lives in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with her husband and two children. More
Catherine Hayden
Mrs. Hayden has worked for a local school district for 37 years as an elementary teacher. More
Dr. Nancy Herd Hepting
Associate Professor
Dr. Hepting's interests involve the changing role of the speech-language pathologist in More
Dr. Rebecca A. Hess
Professor
Dr. Hess is the recipient of the 2009 Presidential Faculty Award for Teaching at Cal U. More
Dr. Cheryl Hettman
Associate Professor
Dr. Hettman has taught nursing for more than 20 years at both the bachelor's and master's More
Dr. Glenn Hider
Professor
Dr. Hider is a published expert in the areas of curriculum development, teacher in-service More
Dr. Karen Hjerpe
Associate Professor
Dr. Hjerpe is the associate athletic director at Cal U. She originally joined the Vulcan More
Dr. Marcia Hoover
Assistant Professor
Prior to joining the Cal U teaching faculty, Dr. Hoover was an assistant professor at West More
Dr. Raymond J. Hsieh
Associate Professor
Dr. Hsieh joined Cal U in 2005. He teaches courses on Cyber Crime Investigation, Cyber More
Dr. J. William Hug
Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Excellence in Elementary Science and Math Education
Dr. Hug's academic work focuses on elementary science teacher education, environmental More
Dr. Michael Hummel
Current positions: Associate professor of Leadership and Security Studies, Department of Justice, More
Dr. Yugo Ikach
Associate Professor and Director of University Choir
Dr. Ikach, a native of McKeesport, Pa., is a frequent recitalist as well as stage performer More
Dr. Susan Jasko
Associate Professor
Dr. Jasko taught at several institutions, including Ohio University, Nassau Community More
Patricia Johnson
Assistant Professor
Johnson is the Director of the Tutoring Center and the Director of the Reading Center here at More
Dr. Denise Joseph
Assistant Professor
Dr. Joseph lives in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pa., with her husband. They have three More
Sharon B. Juli
Part-time Professor
Ms. Juli is an expert in gerontology. She coordinated the department's efforts to enrich More
Dr. John R. Kallis
Interim Dean - Eberly College of Science and Technology and Professor
Dr. John Kallis is currently the interim dean of the Eberly College of Science and More
Dr. Todd E. Keruskin
Dr. Todd E. Keruskin is the assistant superintendent of the Elizabeth Forward School District. More
Brian Kohlhepp
Instructor
Brian Kohlhepp is a native of the Pittsburgh area, where he still lives with his family. He More
Dr. Stanley A. Komacek
Professor and Interim Associate Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
Prior to coming to Cal U, Dr. Komacek was an adjunct associate professor at West Virginia More
Dr. Lisa Kovalchick
Assistant Professor
Expertise in computer networking Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) inst More
Dr. Mary Kreis
Associate Professor
Dr. Kreis was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army's Medical Service Corps More
Dr. Cassandra L. Kuba
Assistant Professor and Chief Forensic Anthropologist
Dr. Cassandra Kuba is a biological anthropologist, specializing in forensic anthropology More
Dr. Richard LaRosa
Department Chair
Dr. Richard LaRosa has extensive experience in the academic and corporate world. Since 2007, he More
Dr. Elizabeth A. Larsen
Associate Professor
Dr. Larsen has brought the Cal U sociology program in line with the Commission on Applied More
Dr. Nan Li
Associate Professor
Before pursuing her doctoral degree, Dr. Li worked at various positions in the financial More
Dr. Min Li
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Physics, More
Dr. J. Kevin Lordon
Associate Professor
About Lordon is married with three children. His professional career began as a physics More
Dr. Vanessa MacKinnon
Assistant Professor
Vanessa MacKinnon is originally from Prince Edward Island, Canada, but now calls southwest More
Dr. Jeffrey Magers
During his law enforcement career, Dr. Magers was a member of the Jefferson County Police More
Dr. Margaret A. Marcinek
Professor
Upon completing her bachelor's degree, Dr. Marcinek worked as a critical-care nurse in the More
Dr. Elizabeth Mason
Professor
Dr. Mason is an expert in educational psychology, psychological statistics, graduate school More
Dr. James K. Matta Sr.
Professional Counselor
For the past year, Dr. Matta has been working as a professional counselor at the Counseling More
Dr. Marta S. McClintock-Comeaux
Assistant Professor and Director of the Office of Women's Studies
Dr. McClintock-Comeaux began her tenure at Cal U in fall 2007. Under her leadership, the More
Dr. Helen K. McCracken
Superintendent, Canon-McMillan School District; Instructor
Dr. McCracken is the superintendent of the Canon-McMillan School District, 20 miles south More
Dr. Barry E. McGlumphy
Professor
Dr. McGlumphy was an assistant professor for nine years at Duquesne University in More
Dr. Drew McGukin
Associate Professor
Previous teaching experiences include Auburn University at Montgomery, Miami University of More
Dr. Sarah Meiss
Associate Professor
Dr. Meiss grew up in Harrisburg, Pa., and went to college at nearby Bloomsburg University. More
Janey Mellinger
Instructor
Mellinger has 35 years' experience in elementary education as a classroom teacher for More
Dr. Patricia Milford
Professor
Dr. Milford has a diverse professional background both in academic and non-academic. She More
Dr. Katherine Mitchem
Professor
Dr. Mitchem is the inaugural recipient of the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust Endowed Chair More
Dr. Dawn Moeller
Clinical Psychologist/Associate Professor
Dr. Moeller is a non-teaching faculty member who works in the Counseling Center at Cal U. More
Dr. Connie Monroe
Department Chair
Dr. Monroe has experience in teaching high school French, English and English as a Second More
Dr. William Morgan
Morgan has taught distance learning since 2007 at Wilmington University in New Castle, Del. More
Dr. John P. Nass Jr.
Professor
Dr. Nass has been at Cal U for 20 years. His major focus is eastern North American More
Alan Natali
Assistant Professor
Natali has earned 36 credits toward his doctor of arts in creative writing from Carnegie More
Dr. Charles P. Nemeth
Dr. Nemeth has spent the vast majority of his professional life in the study and practice More
Dr. Diane H. Nettles
Professor
Dr. Nettles is the department chairperson of the Early, Middle, and Special Education department More
Dr. Louise Nicholson
Assistant Professor
After completing her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom, Dr. More
Dr. Krystia Nora
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nora has been teaching college writing classes since spring 2001 at various state and More
George D. Novak
Associate Professor
Novak graduated from California State Teachers College and began a teaching career at the More
Dr. Mark L. Nowak
Professor
Dr. Nowak teaches undergraduate and graduate-level lecture and laboratory courses for More
Dianna Noyes
Adjunct Faculty
Dianna L. Noyes, RP, M.S. graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor More
Dr. Mary O'Connor
Professor and Coordinator of Cal U’s BSN Program at CCAC South
Dr. O'Connor has over 10 years' experience in nursing administration experience as director More
Dr. Christine A. Patti
Professor
Dr. Patti is a professor in the Administrative Program for Principals. She has worked in More
Brian Paulson
Professor
Dr. Paulson was born and raised in the upper Midwest. He came to Cal U in 1989. His areas More
Dr. Mariana Pensa
Assistant Professor
Dr. Mariana Pensa completed her undergraduate degree at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, in More
Dr. Gwendolyn Perry-Burney
Associate Professor
Dr. Perry-Burney served on the faculty at the University of Akron before coming to Cal U More
Cindy Persinger
Cindy Persinger's research focuses on the development of the discipline of art history in the More
Dr. Christine Peterson
Associate Professor and Online Program Coordinator
Dr. Peterson has 20 years of experience as an educator, including as a public school More
Dr. Linda Pina
Assistant Professor
Dr. Pina is a registered nurse. She teaches courses in the Cal U RN to BSN program and the More
Todd Pinkham
Associate Professor
Pinkham was the art director of Dargate Auction Galleries in Pittsburgh, Pa., from More
Dr. Linda Platt Meyer
Professor
Dr. Linda Platt Meyer, a full professor at California University of Pennsylvania, teaches a More
Mary Popovich
Instructor
Popovich began her career in emergency medical service in 1973 as a volunteer first-aider, More
Dr. Joel Press
Associate Professor
Dr. Press' primary research interests include the philosophy of science and the philosophy More
Loring A. Prest
Professor
Prest grew up in New Hampshire, home of the world's oldest free, tax-supported public More
John Radzilowicz
Adjunct Faculty
John G. Radzilowicz is director of science education at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, More
Margarita Ribar
Associate Professor
Professor Ribar is a native of Colombia, South America, where she did her undergraduate More
Dr. Anthony Rodi
Rodi is the director of the National Center for Robotics Engineering Technology Education More
Christine Romani-Ruby
Associate Professor
Romani-Ruby has been a licensed physical therapist and certified athletic trainer for 17 More
Dr. Susan Ryan
Professor
Dr. Ryan has been at Cal U since 2002. She oversees the Bachelor of Arts in geography: More
Dr. Mary Ann Salotti
Professor and Counseling Center Psychologist
Dr. Salotti is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania. She has worked in the mental health More
Joseph G. Schickel
AET Chair and Assistant Professor
Joseph Schickel is the chair of the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology. Mr. More
Joann Schmitt
Instructor
Schmitt has worked with the Pittsburgh Public Schools assisting Gayle Griffin, the Fort More
Dr. Lisa M. Schwerdt
Professor
Dr. Schwerdt was born in the Florida Keys and raised in the Miami, Fla., area. She taught More
Dr. Joseph J. Schwerha
Associate Professor
Dr. Schwerha has the unique experience of having served in both the private and public More
Bryan Scyphers
Bryan Scyphers received a bachelor's degree in education from Virginia Tech and a master's More
Dr. Nancy J. Shaffer
Associate Professor
Dr. Nancy Shaffer has been a professor of philosophy at California University of More
Dr. Marty Sharer
Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Bands
Dr. Sharer is a versatile music performer, educator, conductor, clinician and adjudicator in More
Dr. Caryl Sheffield
Professor
Dr. Sheffield is an expert in teacher education and multicultural education. She is a 2001 More
Ryan L. Sittler
Assistant Professor and Instructional Technology/Information Literacy Librarian
Ryan Sittler provides leadership, coordination and assessment for the library information More
Dr. Craig A. Smith
Associate Professor
Dr. Smith is the author of "Failing Justice: Charles Evans Whittaker on the Supreme Court" More
David Smith, J.D.
Instructor
Attorney Smith maintains a private practice of law in Adams County, Pa. He is a member of the More
Dr. Melissa Sovak
Assistant Professor
Dr. Melissa Sovak is a former market research analyst. She earned a Master of Science and her More
Dr. Greg Spicer
Associate Professor
Prior to teaching at Cal U, Dr. Spicer taught at the University of Pittsburgh. He has More
Jeffrey S. Sumey
Associate Professor
Mr. Sumey specializes in computer network design, implementation and programming; operating More
Dr. Emily M. Sweitzer
Professor and Chair of the Department of Justice, Law and Society
Dr. Sweitzer is a nationally certified school psychologist and is certified as a K-12 principal More
Dr. Gregory Taranto
Dr. Taranto is a recipient of the 2012 Pennsylvania Middle Level Principal of the Year and the More
Dr. Robert G. Taylor
Associate Professor
Dr. Taylor developed the Master of Science in sport management studies program in More
Dr. Mark Tebbitt
Assistant Professor
Since fall 2007, Dr. Tebbitt has been an assistant professor at California University of More
Dr. Norma Thomas
Associate Professor
Dr. Thomas began as the MSW program director and associate professor at California More
Dr. Taunya M. Tinsley
Associate Professor
Dr. Tinsley is a counselor educator as well as a practitioner in private practice in areas More
Dr. Christina A. Toras
Assistant Professor
Dr. Toras has 25 years of experience as a licensed practicing attorney, having served a More
Dr. Laura Tuennerman
Professor
Dr. Tuennerman serves on the advisory board for the women's studies program. She is an More
Dr. Pamela C. Twiss
Professor
Dr. Twiss' expertise is in research, program evaluation and community practice. She has More
Susan E. Urbine
Assistant Professor
Urbine is the program coordinator for the graphic communications and multimedia program at Cal U. More
Julie Warnick
Assistant Professor
Professor Warnick's prior practictioner experience includes a variety of legal positions with a More
Dr. Thomas F. West
Professor
Dr. West, Ph.D., ATC, is in his sixth year as a professor in the Department of Health Science at More
Dr. Ellen J. West
Associate Professor
West has taught a variety of the web-based and on-campus courses. These include courses in the More
Dr. Stephen Whitehead
Associate Professor
Whitehead almost 15 years' experience in the print industry. More
Dr. Robert S. Whyte
Associate Professor
Dr. Whyte is a specialist in the field of plant ecology and studies invasive plants, More
Margo Wilson
Associate Professor and English Department Chair
After 20 years as a newspaper and magazine reporter and editor at publications ranging from the More
Dr. Clover Wright
Assistant Professor and Online Program Coordinator
Dr. Wright was born and raised in rural West Virginia. She is the daughter and granddaughter of More
Dr. Richard Wyman
Dr. Wyman was born and raised in Boston. He taught elementary school in Cambridge, Mass., More
Dr. Mohamed Yamba
Professor
Yamba was born in Old Tafo, Ghana, where he attended a Roman Catholic elementary school. He More
Dr. Roy E. Yarbrough
Professor
Dr. Yarbrough has been actively involved in sport management since 1986, when he co-developed the More
Dr. George Yochum
Associate Professor
Dr. Yochum taught at Allegheny College and DePauw University before joining the faculty at More
Dr. Martin Zaworski
Instructor
Dr. Zaworski is currently a solution director in the Justice, Public Safety and Homeland Security More
Dr. Ed Zuchelkowski
Professor
Dr. Zuchelkowski completed his Ph.D. work at West Virginia University, where his doctoral More
Jane Zupancic
Instructor
Zupancic is a licensed social worker with nearly 16 years of experience in the field of More
