UMU Experts Guide

UMU Experts

1. Art

   Margo Miller Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Art Academic Degrees B.F.A., University of Akron M.F.A., Kent State University Fields of expertise: Painting, drawing, design, color theory, digital media, graphic design Spotlight

2. Biology

   Phillip LaScola Instructor of Biology Academic Degrees B.S., Exercise Science, Mount Union College M.S., Education of Exercise of Physiology, University of Akron A.B.D., Exercise Physiology, Kent State University Fields of Expertise: cardiovascular physiology, cardiac rehabilitation, electrocardiography.

   Amy McElhinney Associate Professor and Department Chair, Biology Academic Degrees B.A., Biology, Wartburg College M.S., Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington Ph.D., Biology (molecular, cellular and developmental biology), Indiana University Fields of Expertise: molecular biology, developmental biology, marine biology, invertebrate biology, general biology

   Kim Risley Professor of Biology, Milton J. Lichty Chair in Biology Academic Degrees B.S., Microbiology, North Dakota State University Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine Fields of Expertise: microbiology (study of bacteria, fungi and parasites) and immunology (study of the immune system) Spotlight

3. Chemistry and Biochemistry

   Keith Miller  Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry  Academic Degrees Ph.D., University of North Carolina B.S., University of Mount Union Fields of Expertise: biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, immunotherapy, antibiotics, vaccines, immunology

   Carolyn Reid Assistant Professor of Chemistry Academic Degrees: Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Tulane University B.S. Chemistry, University of West Indies, Jamaica Fields of Expertise: synthetic organic chemistry and Green chemistry Spotlight

   Robert Woodward Assistant Professor of Chemistry Academic Degrees Ph.D., synthetic organic chemistry, The Ohio State University B.A. and B.S., The Ohio State University Fields of Expertise: organic chemistry, carbohydrates and their chemistry, antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, virulence of bacteria

4. Communication

   Adelina Cooper Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Academic Degrees Ph.D., Journalism and Communication, The Ohio State University M.A., Mass Communication, University of Akron B.A., Public Relations, University of Akron Fields of Expertise: social media, multimedia storytelling (shooting, editing and producing video for the web)

   Andrea Ferraro Associate Professor of Public Relations Email: schoolofbusiness@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees: Ph.D., Urban Policy and Public Affairs, The University of Akron B.A., M.A., Communication, The University of Akron Fields of Expertise: public relations, integrated marketing communications, strategic issues management, crisis communication, differences between the public and private sectors, leadership, shopping center industry

5. Computer Science

   Blase Cindric Associate Professor, Computer Science Academic Degrees M.S., Computer Science, Pennsylvania State University B.S., Computer Science and Accounting, Westminster College Fields of Expertise: relational database technology, computer programming languages, computer graphics, web design

6. Education

   Melissa Askren-Edgehouse Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Education Email: schoolofed@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees Ed.D., Leadership Studies, Bowling Green State University M.Ed., Administration and Supervision, Ashland University B.A., Elementary Education, University of Mount Union Fields of Expertise: educational technology, assessment, evaluation and data, leadership in education, professional development, educational policy, accreditation

   Mandy Capel Director of Graduate Programs & Professor in the School of Education  Email: med@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Kent State University M.A., Art of Teaching, Marygrove College B.A., Elementary Education, University of Mount Union Fields of Expertise: Leadership development, strengths-based teaching and leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, independent and international school models, curriculum and instruction, early childhood development (cognitive, social, moral, physical, emotional, and psychological), educational technology, professional development, and strategic planning.

   Beth Canfield-Simbro Associate Professor of Education Email: schoolofed@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees Ph.D., Public Health, The Ohio State University M.P.H., Public Health, The Ohio State University B.S., Biology, Wright State University Fields of Expertise: public health, health behavior, sexuality, school health

   Mary Beth Henning  Professor of Education Email: schoolofed@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University M.Ed., The University of Toledo B.A., The College of Wooster Fields of Expertise: social studies education, financial literacy education, economic education, elementary education, secondary education, teacher education, interdisciplinary curriculum, culturally responsive education

   Bruce Pietz Assistant Professor of Education Email: schoolofed@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees Ed.D., Education, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota M.A., Physical Education, Minnesota State University B.S., Physical Education, Minnesota State University Fields of Expertise: K-12 physical education, importance of physical activity on physical, social and emotional well-being, how to structure before and after-school physical activity programs, impact regular physical activity has on cognitive development and test scores, various physical education teaching strategies for all grades, importance of assessment in K-12 physical education, how to structure various assessment strategies in K-12 physical education Spotlight

   Peter Schneller Professor Emeritus of Education Email: schoolofed@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees Ph.D., Teacher Education, University of Idaho M.S., Reading Specialist, University of Akron B.A., English and Speech, Wittenberg University B.S., Elementary Education, Kent State University Fields of Expertise: creativity, comparative education, middle school pedagogy, integrated curriculum, adolescent development (cognitive, social, moral, physical, emotional and psychological)

7. Engineering

   Chad Korach Associate Professor and Director of the School of Engineering Email: engineering@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees: Ph.D., Northwestern University B.S., M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology Fields of Expertise: engineering materials, tribology, composites, suface coatings and wear Spotlight

   Hans Tritico Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Email: engineering@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees Ph.D., University of Michigan M.S., Washington State University B.S., University of Michigan Fields of Expertise: water resources engineering Spotlight

8. English

   Danielle Cordaro Associate Professor of English, Director of the Digital, Written and Oral Communication Studio Academic Degrees Ph.D., English, Purdue University M.A., English, Western Michigan University B.A., English, Western Michigan University Fields of Expertise: teaching writing, administering a writing center

   Rodney Dick Director of Retention Academic Degrees Ph.D., Rhetoric and Composition, University of Louisville M.A., English, University of Louisville B.A., English and History, Gonzaga University Fields of Expertise: writing, professional writing, writing for businesses, technical writing, rhetoric, the history of writing, publishing and editing, visual rhetoric, document design

   David Thiele Assistant Professor of English Academic Degrees Ph.D., English, Boston College M.A., English, Boston College B.A., English, Kenyon College Fields of Expertise: the novel Dracula, liberal education, Victorian Britain

9. Exercise, Sport, and Nutrition Sciences

   Ron Mendel Professor of Exercise Science, Chair of the Department of Exercise, Sport, and Nurtition Sciences Academic Degrees Ph.D., Exercise Physiology, Kent State University M.A., Education, Walsh University B.S., Biology, Walsh University Fields of Expertise: exercise; sport performance training; sports nutrition Spotlight

10. Geology

    Lee Gray Professor Emeritus of Geology Academic Degrees: Ph.D., Paleontology, University of Rochester M.S., Paleontology, University of Rochester B.A., Colgate University Fields of Expertise: geology; paleontology; earth history

    Andrew Hutsky Assistant Professor of Geology Academic Degrees: Ph.D., Geology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln M.S., Geology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln B.S., Geology, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown  Fields of Expertise: geology, earth history, paleoclimate, sedimentary geology, stratigraphy, petroleum geology

11. History

    Theresa Davis Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History Academic Degrees Ph.D., History, University of Akron M.A., History, University of Akron B.A., History and Religion, Mount Union College Fields of Expertise: American, women’s and African American history

12. Music

    Elaine Anderson Professor of Music Email: music@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees D.M.A., Cello Performance, University of Alabama M.M., Cello Performance and Music Theory, Manhattan School of Music B.M., Public School Strings, Concordia College Fields of Expertise: cello, classical music, orchestral music, conducting; strings, music theory

    Jerome Miskell Professor and Chair of the Department of Music Email: music@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees D.M.A., Music Composition, University of South Carolina M.M., Music Composition, University of Akron B.M., Music Performance (Viola), University of Akron B.M., Music Composition/Theory, University of Akron Fields of Expertise: music technology, online education, Irish fiddle music, music of Gustav Mahler, orchestral management

13. Philosphy and Religious Studies

    Susan Haddox Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy and Religious Studies Academic Degrees Ph.D., Hebrew Bible, Emory University M.Div., Pacific School of Religion M.S., Biological Sciences, Stanford University B.A., Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gustavus Adolphus College Fields of Expertise: the Bible, gender and religion, religious music

    Nicole Johnson Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Academic Degrees Th.D., Practical Theology, Boston University School of Theology M.A., Applied Theology, Wheeling Jesuit University B.A., Religion and Political Science, Westminster College Fields of Expertise: Christianity (history, theology, ethics); peace and social justice; religious conflict and peacebuilding

14. Physical Therapy

    Megan Salvatore Director of Clinical Education Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Email: dpt@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees DPT, Physical Therapy, Wheeling Jesuit University M.S., Physical Therapy, Wheeling Jesuit University B.S., Biology, Wheeling Jesuit University Fields of Expertise: Certified in Vestibular Rehabilitation.  Neurology, geriatrics, amputee rehab, balance, fall risk reduction, safe patient handling. Spotlight

15. Physics and Astronomy

    Colin Campbell Assistant Professor of Physics Academic Degrees Ph.D., Physics, Pennsylvania State University B.S., Physics, Westminster College Fields of Expertise: computational physics, biological physics, and complex systems Publications

16. Political Science

    Michael Grossman Professor of Political Science and International Studies Academic Degrees Ph.D., International Studies, University of South Carolina M.A., Political Science, Northeastern University B.A., International Relations, George Washington University Fields of Expertise: Foreign affairs; U.S. foreign policy; international politics; Russian politics; Ukranian politics

17. Psychology

    Tamara Daily Lewis Miller Professor of Psychology Academic Degrees Ph.D., Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln M.A., Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln B.A., Psychology, Ohio Wesleyan University Fields of Expertise: social psychology

    Michael Knepp Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Human Development Academic Degrees Ph.D., Developmental and Biological Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University M.S., Developmental and Biological Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University B.S., Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh Fields of Expertise: anxiety and worry, temperament, stress, cardiovascular system research, neuroscience/biological psychology, neuropsychological testing, autonomic nervous system, informed consent, academic entitlement, cultural psychology and neuroscience

    Kevin Meyer Associate Professor of Psychology Academic Degrees Ph.D., Human Development and Family Science: Marriage and Family Therapy, The Ohio State University M.S., Human Development and Family Science: Early Childhood Development, The Ohio State University B.A., Psychology, The Ohio State University Fields of Expertise: marriage and family therapy, humor, child development, child psychopathology, general mental illness, diagnosis and treatment Spotlight

    Melissa Muller Associate Professor of Psychology Academic Degrees Ph.D., Biopsychology, Kent State University M.A., Biopsychology, Kent State University B.S., Psychology, California Lutheran University Fields of Expertise: animal cognition and behavior, learning and conditioning

    Kristine Turko Associate Professor of Psychology Academic Degrees Ph.D., cognitive psychology, Lehigh University M.S., Cognitive Psychology, Lehigh University B.S., Psychology, Drexel University Fields of Expertise: cognitive psychology: attention, memory and language, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Autism: training of behavior specialists

18. Sociology and Criminal Justice

    Aaron Howell Assistant Professor of Sociology Academic Degrees: Ph.D., University of Cincinnati M.A., University of Cincinnati B.S. Kansas State University Fields of Expertise: social inequality, urban sociology, race and ethnicity, international migration, globalization, social movements

19. Theatre

    Kevin P. Kern Assistant Professor Email: theatre@mountunion.edu Academic Degrees M.F.A., Acting, Brandeis University B.A., Drama, California Lutheran University Fields of Expertise: Shakespeare, acting in and the production of live theatre, film, television Spotlight

20. World Languages and Cultures

    Mark Himmelein Professor of German Academic Degrees Ph.D., Foreign Language Education, University of Akron M.A., German and Educational Administration, University of Pittsburgh B.A., German and Business Administration, Baldwin-Wallace College Fields of Expertise: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, German politics, German economic issues, German-American relations