Twelve Accomplished Professors Join Lebanon Valley College Faculty

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ANNVILLE, PA (09/01/2017) Excitement on campus is high as Lebanon Valley College welcomes the largest incoming group of new students in the College's history. Along with the more than 510 new students, a dozen accomplished professors will either join the LVC community for the first time, or return to the College in a new position.

The College's health professions programs welcome the largest group of faculty, including the first-ever chairs for two of its departments.

Dr. Michelle Scesa is at the helm of LVC's newly created Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, which includes the five-year speech-language pathology master's degree program. Dr. Scesa, who also holds the title of assistant professor, earned her Ed.D. in speech-language pathology from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Scesa has a background in health care, as she has worked for multiple rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. In addition, she also created social skills groups for autistic youth from the ages of 3-22, and a summer camp for autistic children and teenagers.

Dr. Michael A. Welsch, chair and professor of exercise science, comes to The Valley from the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom, where he was a professor of sports sciences and physical activity, and the director of the Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR). ISPAR is also Dr. Welsch's primary research focus.

Dr. Welsch has taught undergraduate students, as well as activity courses and community courses, in a plethora of fields related to exercise science. His research experience focuses around the translational research program on comprehending and examining multiple genes in different environmental conditions.

Joining Dr. Scesa and Dr. Welsch are three additional faculty members who will soon teach in the College's new Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion set to open next summer. This state-of-the-art facility will host the speech-language pathology, exercise science, athletic training, and physical therapy programs and be LEED certified.

Dr. Thomas P. Dompier, associate professor of athletic training, has taught at a variety of universities and colleges, including Ohio University and the University of South Carolina. His clinical work focuses on athletic training, and first aid and safety. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

Dr. Eva M. Frank, assistant professor of athletic training, comes from Northern Illinois University where she was a visiting assistant professor. She received her Ph.D. from Florida Atlantic University, and her research interests include athletic training professional development.

Dr. Georgios Antoniou Stylianides, associate professor of exercise science, brings his knowledge of physical education from Qatar University. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Toledo, and has taught at schools around the country, including Towson University and the University of Scranton.

In the humanities, Dr. Shayani Bhattacharya, assistant professor of English, arrives from the University of Buffalo, where she was a teaching assistant for self-designed courses. She also received her Ph.D. from Buffalo earlier this year, and previously earned her B.A. and M.A. from Jadavpur University in India.

The Sociology and Criminal Justice Department welcomes Dr. Julia H. Meszaros and Dr. Terrance Alladin as assistant professors.

Dr. Meszaros, assistant professor of sociology, arrives from the University of South Florida. She received her Ph.D. in global studies, with a certificate in women's studies from Florida International University. During the last decade, she received four academic awards for work on a variety of papers and presentations.

Dr. Alladin returns to The Valley as an assistant professor of criminal justice after spending last year as a teaching fellow in the same department. Before LVC, he worked for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he held multiple positions over the course of six years. He received his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

In the Languages Department, Dr. Fabrício Silva is the newest teaching fellow. He previously taught Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Kentucky, where he received his Ph.D. in Hispanic studies. Dr. Silva specializes in a variety of cultural studies ranging from Spain to Brazil.

Finally, the College welcomes three new science faculty members: Dr. Douglas Becker, Dr. Eric J. Ryndock, and Dr. Keith Veenhuizen.

Dr. Becker, assistant professor of biology, has taught a variety of sciences at Kutztown University. His research experience relates to the behavior, migration, breeding, and disturbance thresholds of an assortment of birds. He received his Ph.D. from West Virginia University.

Dr. Ryndock, assistant professor of biology, most recently taught at Drexel University and The Wistar Institute. He received his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from Pennsylvania State University's School of Medicine. He has spoken and presented his work at a multitude of conferences and conventions.

Dr. Veenhuizen, assistant professor of physics, joins the LVC Physics Department from Lehigh University, where he was a research mentor in research experience for undergraduate students. Lehigh University also is where Dr. Veenhuizen received his Ph.D.

About Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College is a private, coeducational college founded in 1866 and dedicated to the liberal arts. The College offers 41 undergraduate majors plus self-designed majors and a range of minors, concentrations, and pre-professional options, as well as graduate degree programs in athletic training, business administration, music education, physical therapy, science in STEM education, and speech-language pathology.

The College has 1,602 full-time undergraduate students and 113 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 95 clubs and organizations, and 19 study abroad programs. LVC awards generous academic scholarships to those whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to challenge and achievement.