Penn State Beaver
Faculty Experts and Resources
(1) Topics are listed alphabetically. Under each topic is a list of faculty members who are qualified and able to address the topic and related issues.
(2) At the end of the topics section, please find detailed information about each faculty member's academic and/or professional degrees as well as areas of research and/or special interest(s).
To obtain information from or about a faculty member, please contact Amy M. Krebs, director of campus and community relations, 724-773-3815.
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Administration of Justice
Dr. Mari Pierce
African Diaspora
Dr. Juliette Storr
Art
Dr. Robin Bower
Dr. Carol Schafer
Biology
Dr. Cassandra Miller-Butterworth
Business / Marketing / Management
Ms. Karen C. Barr
Dr. Talha Harcar
Mr. Fred Kellinger
Mr. Dan Smith
Caribbean Media
Dr. Juliette Storr
Chemistry
Dr. Michael Hay
Communications Studies / Speech Communications
Ms. Teresa Baumgardner
Dr. John Chapin
Dr. Juliette Storr
Computers / Information Sciences and Technology
Ms. Neelam Dwivedi
Dr. David Paoletti
Dr. Kay Wijekumar
Conservation (Wildlife) Genetics
Dr. Cassandra Miller-Butterworth
Criminology
Dr. Mari Pierce
Cross-Gender Communication
Dr. JoAnn Chirico
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Matthew Grunstra
Engineering
Mr. James Hendrickson, P.E.
English
Dr. Kristen L. Olson
Entrepreneurship
Mr. Fred Kellinger
Finance
Ms. Karen Barr
Globalization
Dr. JoAnn Chirico
History (Soviet Era, Holocaust, Cold War, World War II, Diplomatic History, Modern Eastern Europe)
Dr. Robert Szymczak
International and Intercultural Communication
Dr. Juliette Storr
Language and Linguistics
Dr. Kristen Olson
Literature and Poetry
Dr. Kristen Olson
Mathematics
Dr. Zhongyuan Che
Dr. Angela Fishman
Dr. Chris Wu
Medieval History, Culture, Art, and Architecture
Dr. Robin Bower
Multicultural and Diversity Issues
Dr. Irene A. Wolf
Philosophy
Dr. Irene A. Wolf
Physics
Dr. Peter Deutsch
Mr. Leo Takahashi
Psychology
Mr. Kevin L. Bennett
Dr. Clare Conry-Murray
Public Relations
Dr. Juliette Storr
Reading Comprehension
Ms. Carleen Dinello
Religious Issues / Religions of the World
Dr. Robin Bower
Shakespeare
Dr. Kristen Olson
Sociology / Sociology Issues and Problems
Dr. JoAnn Chirico
Spanish
Dr. Robin Bower
Theatre
Dr. Carol Schafer
Women's Studies
Dr. JoAnn Chirico
Dr. Carol Schafer
Dr. Irene A. Wolf
Women's Issues and Concerns
Dr. JoAnn Chirico
Dr. Irene A. Wolf
Academic and Professional Titles / Areas of Research and Interest
Ms. Karen Barr
Senior Instructor in Business
Master's degree in business administration, California State University
Bachelor's degree in nursing, Ohio State University
• Finance and taxes
• Teaching at Penn State
Ms. Teresa Baumgardner
Instructor in Communications, Arts, and Sciences
Post-graduate work in English literature, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Master's degree in general speech / ancient and political rhetoric; minor in English, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bachelor’s degree in English education, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Speech organization and research
• Speechwriting and delivery
• Interpersonal communication
• Communication theory (interpersonal, group/organizational, public, and mass levels)
• Rhetoric (visual rhetoric, including film; political rhetoric, including recent issues and themes)
• Journalistic style (AP conventions, grammar, and punctuation)
Mr. Kevin L. Bennett
Senior Instructor in Psychology
Master’s degree in psychology, University of New Mexico
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Michigan
• Jealousy
• Guilt
• Male-Female Friendships
Dr. Robin Bower
Associate Professor of Spanish
Ph.D. in Medieval Iberian and comparative literature, Columbia University
Master’s degree in Latin American literature, Columbia University
Master’s degree in Medieval and Golden Age, Columbia University
Bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and comparative literature, West Chester University
• Church / religious history
• Spanish and Latin American history, politics, and culture
• Identity construction / identity politics
• Popular religion / devotional forms
• Medieval history, culture, art, and architecture
• History of religious conflict in Medieval Europe
• Medieval interactions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
Dr. Cassandra Miller-Butterworth
Assistant Professor of Biology
Post-doctoral research, Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Maryland
Post-doctoral research, Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D. and bachelor's degree in zoology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
• Biology
• Conservation (Wildlife) Genetics
Dr. John Chapin
Professor of Communications
Ph.D. in communication, information and library studies, Rutgers University
Master’s degree in communication studies and mass media, Shippensburg University
Bachelor’s degree in education, Bloomsburg University
• Mass communication (radio, television, film, journalism, etc.)
• Research in health communication, safe sex campaigns
• Domestic violence prevention education
• Violence and sex in television, film, video games
Dr. Zhongyuan Che
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D. in mathematics, Wesleyan University
Master’s degree in computer science, Wesleyan University
Master’s degree in mathematics, Shandong University, China
Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Shandong University, China
• Graph theory and combinatorics
• Probabilistic method
Dr. JoAnn Chirico
Senior Instructor in Sociology
Ph.D. in sociology and education, University of Pittsburgh
Master’s degree in elementary education, University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor’s degree in English / biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Social problems
• Globalization, political struggles, intrasocietal violent conflict
• Irregular warfare
• Global and domestic inequality
• General culture and lifestyle issues
• Cross gender communication
Dr. Peter Deutsch
Associate Professor of Physics
Ph.D. in physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master’s degree in physics, University of Illinois
Bachelor’s degree in physics, University of Michigan
• Physics and astronomy
• Electronic voting machines (DRE - direct-recording electronic voting systems)
Ms. Neelam Dwivedi
Instructor in Information Sciences and Technology
Master's degree in information technology, Carnegie Mellon University
Master's degree in engineering (computer science), Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India
Bachelor's degree in technology (computer science), Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow, India
• Information Technology Project/Program Management
• Information Technology Services
• Information Technology Global Sourcing
• Enterprise Information Technology Applications Management
Ms. Carleen Dinello
Assistant Director of Academic Affairs
Senior Instructor in Reading and English
Master's degree in education, Slippery Rock University
Bachelor's degree in English and social studies, Geneva College
Reading specialist, Slippery Rock University
• Writing skills
• Basic essay development
• Reading skills
• Steps to improve text comprehension
• Study skills and time management
• Learning styles
• Memory skills
• Note taking skills
• Strategies for successful test-taking
Dr. Matthew Grunstra
Assistant Professor of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Ph.D. in environmental science and engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio
Master's degree in environmental science, University of Texas at San Antonio
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Grove City College
- Air
- Water
- Climate
- Energy
- Geology
- Ecology
Dr. Angela Fishman
Instructor in Mathematics
Ph.D. in engineering, Wichita State University
Master’s degree, Wichita State University
Bachelor’s degree, Wichita State University
• Data Envelopment Analysis
• Site location problems
• Reliability
Dr. Talha Harcar
Associate Professor of Business
Ph.D. in business administration, Istanbul University, Turkey
Master’s degree in marketing research, Istanbul University, Turkey
M.B.A., University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Istanbul University, Turkey
• Marketing Research
• Database Marketing
• International Business
• Any topics on Turkey, Turkish culture and life
Dr. Michael Hay
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D. in chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master’s degree in chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Bowling Green State University
• Chemical spills
• Environmental issues
• Chemistry or biochemistry in the news
Mr. James Hendrickson, P.E.
Instructor in Engineering
Post-master's studies, University of Pittsburgh
Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Penn State University
Mr. Fred Kellinger
Lecturer in Business
Master’s degree in business administration, University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Princeton University
• Assistive technology
• Cognitive rehabilitation
• Starting / owning a small business
• Start-up business
• Entrepreneurship
Dr. Clare Conry-Murray
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Ph.D. in human development and education, University of California at Berkeley
Master's degree in secondary education in urban schools: English, Boston College
Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies in humanities, The Evergreen State College
• Gender development
• Moral development
Dr. Kristen Olson
Associate Professor of English
Ph.D. in English and American Literature and language, Case Western Reserve University
Master's degree in English and American literature and language, Harvard University
Master’s degree in English and American Literature and language, Case Western Reserve University
Bachelor’s degree in English, Colby College
• Shakespeare
• English literature
• Poetry
• Children’s literature
• Fiction
• Literary / Critical Theory
• 16th and 17th century history and culture of England
• Anglo-Saxon and Medieval through modern British history
• Anglo-Saxon folklore
• Queen Elizabeth I (research specialty)
• Classical or modern theatre
• Language and linguistics
• Cultural linguistics
• Cognitive science pertaining to language
• Relation of language and the visual arts
Dr. David Paoletti
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D. in computer science, Wright State University
Master's degree in computer science, Michigan State University
Bachelor's degree in computer science, Michigan Technological University
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Michigan Technological University
Dr. Mari Pierce
Assistant Professor of Administration of Justice
Ph.D. in criminology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Master's degree in criminal justice, New Mexico State University
Bachelor's degree in sociology, Whitman College
Dr. Carol Schafer
Associate Professor of Theatre, Integrative Arts, and Women’s Studies
Ph.D. in aesthetic studies, University of Texas at Dallas
Master’s degree in theatre, University of South Carolina
Bachelor’s degree in theatre, Western Carolina University
• Contemporary American theatre
• Women and art
Mr. Dan Smith
Instructor in Business
Master’s degree in management and policy analysis, Carnegie Mellon University
Bachelor’s degree in public policy and management and German, Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Juliette Storr
Associate Professor of Communications
Ph.D. in mass communication, Ohio University
Certification, Contemporary History, Contemporary History Institute, Ohio University
Master’s degree in radio-television-film production, Wayne State University
Bachelor’s degree in mass communication, University of Windsor, Canada
• International communication
• Intercultural communication
• Caribbean media systems (broadcasting, journalism, media structures and policies)
• African Diaspora relationships
• Public relations
• Corporate communication
Dr. Robert Szymczak
Associate Professor of History
Doctorate of Arts in history, Carnegie Mellon University
Master’s degree in history, West Virginia University
Master’s degree in liberal studies, Duquesne University
Certificate of Study, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Bachelor’s degree in history / education, West Virginia University
• Modern Eastern Europe
• United States ethnic history
• United States diplomatic history
• World War II
• Cold War
• Holocaust
• Soviet Era
Mr. Leo Takahashi
Assistant Professor of Physics
Master’s degree in physics, Southern Illinois University
Bachelor’s degree in physics, William Jewell College
• Teaching science
• Physics education
Dr. Kausalai (Kay) Wijekumar
Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology
Ph.D. in instructional systems, Penn State University
Master’s degree in computer science, University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering, Franklin University
• Computer programming
• Intelligent Tutoring System
Dr. Irene A. Wolf
Senior Instructor in Philosophy
Ph.D. in philosophy, Duquesne University
Master’s degree in philosophy, Duquesne University
Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and psychology, College of St. Benedict
• Diversity, culture, and advocacy
• Importance of altruism
• The art of happiness in life
• The good life and tolerance and patience in life
• Women’s issues
• Value of reflection and meditation in life
Dr. Chuntao (Chris) Wu
Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D. in applied mathematics, University of Arizona
Master’s degree in mathematical sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Guizhou University, China
• Mathematics
.