New Faculty Have Wealth of Teaching, Industry Experience
Published 10.16.2008
News
Faculty & Staff
Pennsylvania College of Technology's academic schools welcomed 17 new faculty or staff members this fall six in newly created positions, nine replacements and two in temporary positions. The new faculty/staff are listed below under their academic schools.
BUSINESS AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES
Mark A. Ciavarella: assistant professor of marketing (replacement)
Ciavarella's most recent position was with Bucknell University as an assistant professor, teaching management and entrepreneurship courses since 2003. Prior to that, he taught management courses and assisted with research at the University of Georgia. As a business counselor at the Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of North Carolina, he assisted aspiring entrepreneurs with the development of business plans. Ciavarella's research and publications focus on organizational theory, ethics and entrepreneurship. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Shippensburg University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and he holds a doctorate in strategic management, with a minor in organizational behavior, from the University of Georgia.
Pamela Ellis: lecturer, computer information technology (replacement)
Ellis earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Northeastern University and a Master of Education in curriculum and development from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. She has more than 16 years of teaching experience, including English as a Second Language courses taught in educational institutions internationally, and has additional experience in the banking industry. Ellis is pursuing the Microsoft Master Instructor certification for Microsoft Office 2003, as well as A+ certification, and she is working toward an accounting degree at Penn College.
Lawrence R. Melley: lecturer, business administration (replacement)
Melley has served as an adjunct instructor for Penn College for approximately 10 years. Previously, he taught undergraduate business courses for Penn State Continuing Education, the Pennsylvania Business Institute and at the federal correctional facilities at Allenwood and Lewisburg. He brings considerable industry experience, most notably from his position as vice president of human resources for Commonwealth Bancshares Corp. Melley earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration from Bucknell University.
CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES
Peter Kruppenbacher: assistant professor of building construction technology (new)
Kruppenbacher has worked in the construction industry for 30 years, and his experience covers most aspects of residential and light-commercial construction. He earned a bachelor's degree in vocational-technical education from SUNY Oswego and an associate of occupational studies in building construction from Alfred State SUNY College of Technology. His work experience includes ownership of a residential-construction business, project manager for a commercial construction company and an associate professorship for the building trades program at SUNY Delhi.
Joseph J. Pantella: lecturer, construction management (replacement)
Pantella has been an adjunct instructor at Penn College in building construction management since August 2007. Prior to that, he was a full-time instructor at Triangle Tech in Bethlehem, where he taught construction technology. He has more than 30 years' experience including the roles of business owner, construction manager and site foreman in the construction industry.
HEALTH SCIENCES
Kimberly A. Brenchley: lab coordinator, nursing (replacement)
Brenchley accepted the full-time learning laboratory coordinator position with Penn College after having served as part-time clinical faculty since Fall 2007. Her experience includes various nursing and educator roles for Robert Packer Hospital, the Canton Area School District and the University of Maryland Medical System. She has taught EKG and critical care courses; her continuing study has included educational theory, curriculum development and instructional strategies.
Laurie A. Minium: instructor of nursing (new)
Minium recently completed her Master of Education through the University of Phoenix, and she earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Bloomsburg University. She brings 22 years of nursing experience and has maintained her certification in the specialty of inpatient obstetrics. She was employed as a staff nurse with Susquehanna Health, from 1986, and an adjunct instructor for Penn College's nursing program, from 2006, before accepting the full-time faculty position at Penn College this fall.
Dina L. Wilson: associate professor of nursing (new)
Wilson graduated from the Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed additional graduate course work in curriculum and instruction at the University of Kansas. She held nursing positions in Pittsburgh and Kansas City, Mo., from 1961-76. Since that time, she has held teaching roles in clinical and didactic learning in nursing at the University of Kansas School of Nursing and Johnson County (Kansas) Community College. Wilson has written articles for the American Journal of Nursing and Advancing Clinical Care.
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES
Michael R. Allen: instructor of welding (new)
Allen has 18 years of welding experience, including two trips to Japan, where he performed underwater welding at a nuclear facility. He has taught various welding courses as a temporary, full-time instructor. Allen earned an associate degree in welding technology and is working toward a bachelor's degree in welding and fabrication engineering technology from Penn College.
Drew R. Potts: instructor of civil engineering technology (replacement)
Potts has worked in industry for 19 years, most recently as a manager for an engineering department at a local manufacturing company. He earned a bachelor's degree in architectural engineering at Penn State and a master's degree in civil engineering at Bucknell University. He was an adjunct instructor for Penn College teaching structural drafting courses from 2001-03.
INTEGRATED STUDIES
Veronica Ciavarella: lecturer, geology/science (new)
Ciavarella has been teaching at Penn College in an adjunct role since Fall 2004. She completed a teaching assistantship at the University of Georgia, where she was awarded an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award and was nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award. She completed a bachelor's degree in biology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master's degree at the University of Georgia. She is enrolled in a doctorate of education program at Penn State.
Amber R. Donahue: instructor of mathematics (temporary)
Donahue has taught developmental math courses at Penn College on a part-time/substitute basis since August 2007. She earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education/mathematics from Lock Haven University and has served as a tutor and in full-time and substitute roles for various middle schools and high schools.
Lisa Jacobs: instructor of mathematics (temporary)
Jacobs has served as a part-time math instructor for Penn College since 2002 and is transferring to a full-time math faculty position. She has filled full-time teaching roles in secondary education in Pennsylvania and Virginia since 2001. Jacobs has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Houghton College and has completed additional course work in math and education from Penn State and Lock Haven University.
Michael A. Round: associate professor of speech communication/composition (replacement)
Round returns to Penn College after a previous affiliation and brings experience with teaching public speaking and composition courses for Pittsburgh Technical Institute and Slippery Rock University. Round received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in English/communication from St. Mary's University, San Antonio. He holds a doctorate in rhetoric and communication from the University of Pittsburgh. His publications include a book titled "Grounded: Reagan and the PATCO Strike" and several papers for the International Popular Culture Conferences.
Tiffany D. Schwanger: lecturer, mathematics (new)
Schwanger earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in mathematics from Penn State. She brings experience as an adjunct instructor teaching business mathematics, mathematics for elementary-education majors, college trigonometry, and finite mathematics with Lehigh Carbon Community College and Penn State Lehigh Valley. Most recently, she served as the director of student services for the School of Mathematical Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she worked closely with developmental students.
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
G. Andrew Bartholomay: instructor of forestry (replacement)
Bartholomay earned an associate degree in forest technology from Paul Smith's College, a bachelor's degree in forestry/resources management from the State University of New York, and a master's degree in forestry from the University of New Hampshire. He holds a doctorate in forest resources from Penn State. His considerable experience includes a woodlands manager position with the University of New Hampshire and instructor and assistant professor positions with Penn State Mont Alto and Penn State DuBois. He was a Trimble Fellow and a Doctoral Fellow for Penn State University. Bartholomay has served on several universitywide committees. He has published in the Northern Journal of Applied Forestry and has presented at the American Foresters National Convention, the Central Hardwood Forest Conference and the Penn State Graduate Research Exhibition, among others. He received a teaching excellence award at Penn State Mont Alto.
Justin W. Beishline: instructor of diesel equipment technology (replacement)
Beishline earned a bachelor's degree in business technology management and an associate degree in diesel technology from Penn College. He holds ASE and Mack certifications, Mobile Air Conditioning Society 609 certification for automotive application, and warranty certifications from Cummins and Caterpillar. He served six years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He brings work experience as a diesel technician and in warranty and service-management capacities since 1994.
For more information about Penn College, visit online , e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.
BUSINESS AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES
Mark A. Ciavarella: assistant professor of marketing (replacement)
Ciavarella's most recent position was with Bucknell University as an assistant professor, teaching management and entrepreneurship courses since 2003. Prior to that, he taught management courses and assisted with research at the University of Georgia. As a business counselor at the Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of North Carolina, he assisted aspiring entrepreneurs with the development of business plans. Ciavarella's research and publications focus on organizational theory, ethics and entrepreneurship. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Shippensburg University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and he holds a doctorate in strategic management, with a minor in organizational behavior, from the University of Georgia.
Pamela Ellis: lecturer, computer information technology (replacement)
Ellis earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Northeastern University and a Master of Education in curriculum and development from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. She has more than 16 years of teaching experience, including English as a Second Language courses taught in educational institutions internationally, and has additional experience in the banking industry. Ellis is pursuing the Microsoft Master Instructor certification for Microsoft Office 2003, as well as A+ certification, and she is working toward an accounting degree at Penn College.
Lawrence R. Melley: lecturer, business administration (replacement)
Melley has served as an adjunct instructor for Penn College for approximately 10 years. Previously, he taught undergraduate business courses for Penn State Continuing Education, the Pennsylvania Business Institute and at the federal correctional facilities at Allenwood and Lewisburg. He brings considerable industry experience, most notably from his position as vice president of human resources for Commonwealth Bancshares Corp. Melley earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration from Bucknell University.
CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES
Peter Kruppenbacher: assistant professor of building construction technology (new)
Kruppenbacher has worked in the construction industry for 30 years, and his experience covers most aspects of residential and light-commercial construction. He earned a bachelor's degree in vocational-technical education from SUNY Oswego and an associate of occupational studies in building construction from Alfred State SUNY College of Technology. His work experience includes ownership of a residential-construction business, project manager for a commercial construction company and an associate professorship for the building trades program at SUNY Delhi.
Joseph J. Pantella: lecturer, construction management (replacement)
Pantella has been an adjunct instructor at Penn College in building construction management since August 2007. Prior to that, he was a full-time instructor at Triangle Tech in Bethlehem, where he taught construction technology. He has more than 30 years' experience including the roles of business owner, construction manager and site foreman in the construction industry.
HEALTH SCIENCES
Kimberly A. Brenchley: lab coordinator, nursing (replacement)
Brenchley accepted the full-time learning laboratory coordinator position with Penn College after having served as part-time clinical faculty since Fall 2007. Her experience includes various nursing and educator roles for Robert Packer Hospital, the Canton Area School District and the University of Maryland Medical System. She has taught EKG and critical care courses; her continuing study has included educational theory, curriculum development and instructional strategies.
Laurie A. Minium: instructor of nursing (new)
Minium recently completed her Master of Education through the University of Phoenix, and she earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Bloomsburg University. She brings 22 years of nursing experience and has maintained her certification in the specialty of inpatient obstetrics. She was employed as a staff nurse with Susquehanna Health, from 1986, and an adjunct instructor for Penn College's nursing program, from 2006, before accepting the full-time faculty position at Penn College this fall.
Dina L. Wilson: associate professor of nursing (new)
Wilson graduated from the Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed additional graduate course work in curriculum and instruction at the University of Kansas. She held nursing positions in Pittsburgh and Kansas City, Mo., from 1961-76. Since that time, she has held teaching roles in clinical and didactic learning in nursing at the University of Kansas School of Nursing and Johnson County (Kansas) Community College. Wilson has written articles for the American Journal of Nursing and Advancing Clinical Care.
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES
Michael R. Allen: instructor of welding (new)
Allen has 18 years of welding experience, including two trips to Japan, where he performed underwater welding at a nuclear facility. He has taught various welding courses as a temporary, full-time instructor. Allen earned an associate degree in welding technology and is working toward a bachelor's degree in welding and fabrication engineering technology from Penn College.
Drew R. Potts: instructor of civil engineering technology (replacement)
Potts has worked in industry for 19 years, most recently as a manager for an engineering department at a local manufacturing company. He earned a bachelor's degree in architectural engineering at Penn State and a master's degree in civil engineering at Bucknell University. He was an adjunct instructor for Penn College teaching structural drafting courses from 2001-03.
INTEGRATED STUDIES
Veronica Ciavarella: lecturer, geology/science (new)
Ciavarella has been teaching at Penn College in an adjunct role since Fall 2004. She completed a teaching assistantship at the University of Georgia, where she was awarded an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award and was nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award. She completed a bachelor's degree in biology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master's degree at the University of Georgia. She is enrolled in a doctorate of education program at Penn State.
Amber R. Donahue: instructor of mathematics (temporary)
Donahue has taught developmental math courses at Penn College on a part-time/substitute basis since August 2007. She earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education/mathematics from Lock Haven University and has served as a tutor and in full-time and substitute roles for various middle schools and high schools.
Lisa Jacobs: instructor of mathematics (temporary)
Jacobs has served as a part-time math instructor for Penn College since 2002 and is transferring to a full-time math faculty position. She has filled full-time teaching roles in secondary education in Pennsylvania and Virginia since 2001. Jacobs has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Houghton College and has completed additional course work in math and education from Penn State and Lock Haven University.
Michael A. Round: associate professor of speech communication/composition (replacement)
Round returns to Penn College after a previous affiliation and brings experience with teaching public speaking and composition courses for Pittsburgh Technical Institute and Slippery Rock University. Round received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in English/communication from St. Mary's University, San Antonio. He holds a doctorate in rhetoric and communication from the University of Pittsburgh. His publications include a book titled "Grounded: Reagan and the PATCO Strike" and several papers for the International Popular Culture Conferences.
Tiffany D. Schwanger: lecturer, mathematics (new)
Schwanger earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in mathematics from Penn State. She brings experience as an adjunct instructor teaching business mathematics, mathematics for elementary-education majors, college trigonometry, and finite mathematics with Lehigh Carbon Community College and Penn State Lehigh Valley. Most recently, she served as the director of student services for the School of Mathematical Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she worked closely with developmental students.
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
G. Andrew Bartholomay: instructor of forestry (replacement)
Bartholomay earned an associate degree in forest technology from Paul Smith's College, a bachelor's degree in forestry/resources management from the State University of New York, and a master's degree in forestry from the University of New Hampshire. He holds a doctorate in forest resources from Penn State. His considerable experience includes a woodlands manager position with the University of New Hampshire and instructor and assistant professor positions with Penn State Mont Alto and Penn State DuBois. He was a Trimble Fellow and a Doctoral Fellow for Penn State University. Bartholomay has served on several universitywide committees. He has published in the Northern Journal of Applied Forestry and has presented at the American Foresters National Convention, the Central Hardwood Forest Conference and the Penn State Graduate Research Exhibition, among others. He received a teaching excellence award at Penn State Mont Alto.
Justin W. Beishline: instructor of diesel equipment technology (replacement)
Beishline earned a bachelor's degree in business technology management and an associate degree in diesel technology from Penn College. He holds ASE and Mack certifications, Mobile Air Conditioning Society 609 certification for automotive application, and warranty certifications from Cummins and Caterpillar. He served six years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He brings work experience as a diesel technician and in warranty and service-management capacities since 1994.
For more information about Penn College, visit online , e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.