University of Scranton Appoints New Faculty Members

The University of Scranton has appointed 22 new full-time faculty members for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Michael Catalano, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Political Science Department. He was most recently a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Binghamton University, where he also had been a pre-law advising associate, pre-law advisor and an instructor of record. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and environmental studies at Gettysburg College and a master's degree and Ph.D. in political science at Binghamton University (SUNY). He has an extensive publication history that includes peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, working papers, book reviews and conference presentations.

Kristina Dorkoski, DPT, was named a faculty specialist in the Physical Therapy Department. She is a board-certified neurologic clinical specialist (NCS) and a certified exercise expert for aging adults (CEEAA). She served as the senior physical therapist on the neurologic team at Allied Services. She earned a bachelor's degree in health science and master's degree in physical therapy at Misericordia University and a doctorate in physical therapy at Temple University, Philadelphia. She also earned an Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist certificate at the University of Pittsburgh. She has been a panelist, speaker, facilitator and guest author in numerous community forums on topics ranging from Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis to fall prevention and post-stroke recovery.

Krisy Elrod, Ph.D., previously a University of Scranton lecturer, was named an assistant professor in the Counseling and Human Services Department. A licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapist-supervisor, Dr. Elrod has been an adjunct professor, a clinician in private practice, a subject matter expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, a clinical supervisor, an advocate, a CACREP site visitor, a Red Cross disaster mental health counselor, and a psychiatric social worker. She earned a master's degree in professional counseling at Texas State University and a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at Oregon State University. She has a certificate in medical trauma counseling from Xavier University and a certificate in mindful self-awareness.

Anna Grippi, previously a University of Scranton lecturer, was named a faculty specialist in the Nursing Department. Prior to joining the University, 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 a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Marywood University and her Master of Science in nursing at Aspen University with a specialization in nursing education.

Megan Heeder, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Theology/Religious Studies Department. She earned her bachelor's degree from the Program of Liberal Studies and her master's degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Theological Studies degree from Boston College, and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Ethics/Systematics, from Marquette University. She also earned a certificate in Ignatian pedagogy at Marquette. She has a seven-plus-year publication and presentation history and has taught since 2015. She is fluent in Spanish and can read French, German, and Latin.

Anna Jaskiewicz, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Economics, Finance and International Business Department. She most recently served as a teaching assistant and teaching associate at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She earned her bachelor's degree in economics at New York University in Shanghai and her master's and Ph.D. in economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her fields of interest are applied microeconomics, demography and health and crime economics. Her research projects include work on anti-Black hate crimes and health outcomes, gunshot noise and birth outcomes, and the effect of leaderboards on student study plans.

Julieann Kane, DNP, was named an instructor in the Nursing Department. She was most recently a certified registered nurse practitioner in gastroenterology at Commonwealth Health Physician Network in Plains Township and had been a CRNP in endocrinology at Intermountain Medical Group, Kingston, a registered nurse in the Infectious Disease Clinic at the Wright Center for Primary Care in Scranton, and a cardiac intensive care nurse for the Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown. She also has worked in home health and hospice. She previously taught at Wilkes University. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing at the University of Scranton and her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Wilkes University. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in nursing at Barry University.

Elyse Kay, OTD, was named a faculty specialist in the Occupational Therapy Department. She most recently taught at Binghamton University, prior to which she completed clinical details at Residential Home Health and Fox Rehabilitation. She earned her bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science at DeSales University, her master's degree in occupational therapy at Philadelphia University, and her doctorate in occupational therapy at Gannon University, where she was named Outstanding Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student. She has made numerous academic presentations and served as a reviewer for several conference proposals.

Margaret Lakomy, Ph.D., was named a visiting assistant professor in the Chemistry Department. She most recently taught chemistry at Pennsylvania State University, where she earned the Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award, and where she conducted research in the Giri Group on novel functionalization methods of organic compounds. Her notable community service record includes STEM programs for young women as well as raising and training future guide dogs for the blind. She earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry at Ohio State University and her doctoral degree in chemistry at Pennsylvania State University.

Courtney Lancia, OTD, was named a faculty specialist in the Occupational Therapy Department, for which she had been an academic fieldwork coordinator since 2014 and an adjunct faculty member since 2012. She was employed for 10 years as a staff occupational therapist at Clarks Summit State Hospital. She also served as Capstone advisor in occupational therapy at Gannon University and as an adjunct faculty member in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Lackawanna College. She earned her bachelor's degree in health sciences and master's degree in occupational therapy at the University of Scranton and her post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate at Gannon University.

Chi Hou Lei, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Physics and Engineering Department. He joined the faculty in January 2024, prior to which he had been an assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at St. Louis University. He also had been a post-doctoral research associate and instructor at the University of Washington in Seattle. He earned Excellence in Teaching Awards at both institutions. He earned bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and mathematics at National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan, a master's degree in mathematics at Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Washington.

Jinqing Liu, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Education Department. She was most recently a postdoctoral scholar in the School of Education for the University of California, Irvine, and a postdoctoral fellow for the University of New Hampshire. She previously was an instructor of record for The University of New Hampshire and The University of Indiana and had been a K-12 math teacher in China and Indiana. She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics at Zhanjiang Normal University in China, her master's degree in higher education at the Tsinghua University in China, and her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at the University of Indiana, Bloomington.

David Mahalak, D.Eng., a faculty specialist for three years, was named an assistant professor in the Operations and Analytics Department. He previously had been a visiting assistant and adjunct professor at Wilkes University and an adjunct professor at Penn State University, Hazleton. He worked as a strategic business management consultant at Applied Logistics Integration Consulting LLC in Dallas and as a logistics analyst at Alion Science and Technology in Fort Lee, Va. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics at Wilkes University, a master's in operations research at Northeastern University in Boston, and a Doctor of Engineering in engineering management at The George Washington University. He has a master's certificate in supply chain management from Michigan State University and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certificate from Villanova University.

Ehsan Mahyari, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Operations & Analytics Department. He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering at Sharif University of Technology, Golpayegan, Isfahan, a master's degree in industrial engineering in logistics and supply chain at Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, and a doctorate in operations management at the University of Alabama, where he was honored as Outstanding Operations Management Ph.D. student and defended his dissertation on electric vehicle fleet charging management. As an intern at bp pulse, formerly AMPLY Power, his key project was Electric Vehicle Fleet Charge Scheduling Optimization. He is certified in International Hospital Management by the SDA Bocconi School of Management, Tehran, Iran.

William Miller, Ph.D., previously a graduate and undergraduate faculty specialist for nine years, was named an assistant professor in the Health Administration and Human Resources Department. He earned a bachelor's degree in health science at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, a master's in health administration at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and a doctorate in human development-health promotion at Marywood University. He had previously been employed as a clinical assistant professor of family medicine at the Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, a distance education compliance officer and graduate program coordinator in the School of Nursing at Wilkes University, and a graduate assistant in the School of Social Work and Administrative Studies at Marywood University.

Hiva Samadian, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Computing Sciences Department. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Amir Kabir University, Tehran, Iran, an MSc in information technology from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Puerto Rico. He was previously an assistant professor at King's College, a visiting assistant professor at Colgate University, a lecturer, lab instructor and research assistant at the University of Puerto Rico and a teaching assistant at Ohio State University, Columbus, and the University of Puerto Rico. He also had been a teacher and mentor at Amir Kabir University and a research assistant at Tarbiat Modares University.

Mary Tabit, Psy.D., was named Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Scranton. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Tabit served as the director of clinical training and assistant professor in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Immaculata University. Dr. Tabit has also taught at The Pennsylvania State University in Abington and James Madison University. Throughout her career, Dr. Tabit has worked to improve public health outcomes through diverse research and evaluation projects as a senior project director at Public Health Management Corporation in Philadelphia, and appointments at the Treatment Research Institute and Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology at Saint Joseph's University, a Master of Science in Clinical Health and Counseling Psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, a post-baccalaureate certificate in marketing from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical and School Psychology at James Madison University.

Paul Tierney, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Counseling and Human Services Department. He earned a Master of Education in school counseling at the University of Montevallo and a Ph.D. in counselor education at Auburn University, both in Alabama. He was previously an adjunct instructor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a graduate teaching assistant at Auburn University. He worked in children's health in Birmingham and for the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation as a counselor and clinical director for the substance abuse program. He is a licensed professional counselor and licensed professional counselor-supervisor.

Jennifer Whittaker, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Occupational Therapy Department. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in occupational therapy at The University of Scranton and her master's degree in health studies and her Ph.D. in occupational therapy at Texas Woman's University. She previously was an adjunct faculty member at The University of Scranton and a teaching fellow at Texas Woman's University. She serves as an occupational therapist at Allied Services Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Scranton and as a school-based occupational therapist for the Luzerne Intermediate Educational Unit.

Mehmet Ali Yetim, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department. He earned a bachelor's degree in public administration at Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey, where he was valedictorian; a master's degree in management and systems at New York University and a doctorate in management at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, where he was where he was awarded the Bedeian Award for Excellence in Research and t an instructor of record in the E.J. Ourso College of Business and was awarded the James Reddoch Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Xinyu Zhou, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing at China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, China, a master's in marketing at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China, and a doctorate in marketing at New Mexico State University. She has been an adjunct professor at Wuhan Vocational College of Software and Engineering and a graduate assistant and course instructor at New Mexico State University.

Aaron Ziegler, Ph.D., was named an assistant professor in the Health and Human Performance Department. He holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). He has taught part time at the University of Scranton since August 2023 and is an academic support volunteer at the University of Ghana. Previously, he was an adjunct assistant professor at Pacific University and a clinical assistant professor at Portland State University. Dr. Ziegler also had been a postdoctoral fellow and speech-language pathologist at Oregon Health and Science University, a tenure-track acting assistant professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College in Chicago. He earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish (Latin American Studies) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance with an acting emphasis at the University of Michigan, a master's degree in speech-language pathology at Northwestern University, and a doctorate in communication science and disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. He has professional voice and speech training and is the founder and president of Bjorn This Way, a Portland, Oregon, nonprofit; and the co-founder and co-owner of PhoRTE® Voice Therapy. He has been an assistant professor and speech-language pathologist at Oregon Health and Science University, an expert consultant in speech-language pathology at Tripler Army Medical Center, a speech-language pathologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a clinical fellow in speech-language pathology at Emory University and a performing arts, singing and creative movement teacher in Hong Kong.

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