Noteworthy

Assistant Professor Maria Luiza Pinho co-authored a recently published article in the International Business Review, a premier journal in the field. Pinho’s new work, “MNEs in crossfire: A critical review of global business-society tensions,” highlights tensions that multinational enterprises (MNEs) face when trying to balance their economic goals and the expectations placed on them by society.

The authors introduce the Responsible Global Business (RGB) framework which focuses on unifying previously fragmented strands of business-society research into a coherent alternative approach.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/management-faculty-publishes-new-article-international-business
 

Widener hosted a Mathematical Puzzle Programs (MaPP) math puzzle challenge event on campus for the third consecutive year. The event, designed for students grades 7-12, has grown to over 75 participants in 2026 with students competing in an interactive, team-based puzzle challenge.

Student participants were based in the University Center but needed to visit other areas on campus to find clues to solve their puzzles for a day of fun and teamwork. Widener students and faculty where there to help guide and encourage the teams to solve the case. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-hosts-math-puzzle-event-area-students
 

Widener University showcased the creativity and talents of three faculty award winners at the President’s Lecture Series held recently in Harris Hall. 

“Our presenters have shown us what it means to push boundaries, to serve with purpose, and to lead through innovation,” President Stacey Robertson said in kicking off the program. “From transformative research to innovative teaching and meaningful service, each awardee embodies the spirit of curiosity and impact that moves our institution forward.”

The event featured remarks by:

• Associate Professor Hilary Barnes, recipient of the Outstanding Researcher Award that recognizes a faculty member who has exhibited distinction in scholarly work. Barnes teaches in the Jack & Nancy Dwyer School of Nursing and her remarks were titled, “From Role Transition to Health Policy: Research on Nurse Practitioners and Healthcare Delivery.”
  
  Barnes’ research program focuses on understanding and optimizing the roles and impact of nurse practitioners within an evolving healthcare delivery landscape. Her work aims to inform policy, education, and practice to improve healthcare access, quality and value. She is recognized as a national leader on the nurse practitioner workforce, having published in high-impact, interdisciplinary journals.
   
• Professor Stuart Eimer, recipient of the Civic Engagement Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and to Widener’s civic engagement in the local or global community through teaching or research. Eimer is co-chair of the Department of Sociology and teaches in the College of Arts & Sciences. His remarks were titled, “What Kind of Civic Engagement.”
  
  Eimer’s civic engagement initiatives are longstanding and have run the gamut from first-year seminars to research, internships and workshops for adult union members. The efforts have included high-impact service-learning classes, such as fundraising to buy bicycles for low-income children in Chester, tutoring in after-school programs and helping to staff food pantries. He has engaged in collaborative work with community partners to evaluate programs, and with union leaders to develop and deliver meaningful educational opportunities for members working for social change.
   
• Associate Teaching Professor Catherine Safran, recipient of the Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching award, recognizing faculty who have designed, implemented and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project. Safran teaches in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her remarks were titled, “Bridging Instructional & Student Goals Through Peer-Supported Science Courses.”
  
  Safran is the founding director and coordinator of the Widener Learning Assistant program, a structured program that supports the teaching community while fostering student learning. Learning assistants are undergraduate students embedded in the classroom who enhance student belonging and facilitate learning under the guidance and mentorship of course instructors. The program aligns with Widener’s institutional priorities of student retention and the application of high-impact teaching practices.
  
  Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/presidents-lecture-series-features-three-award-winning-faculty

Assistant Professor Keeshea Turner Roberts presented her article “Governing the Poor,” at the 2026 Poverty Law Conference hosted by the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. 

The Poverty Law Conference brings together scholars, educators, and advocates from across the country whose work centers on poverty, inequality, and access to justice to promote meaningful conversation through paper presentations and roundtable discussions. 

“I am honored to contribute to this important conversation and to engage with colleagues committed to advancing justice in this moment,” Roberts said of the opportunity.  

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/delaware-law-faculty-presents-2026-poverty-law-conference
 

Daniel Roozbahani, assistant professor of robotics engineering, has been selected to serve as guest editor of an upcoming Special Issue publication in the peer-reviewed journal Machines. The Special Issue, titled "Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Manufacturing and Automation," aims to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and applications of AI and robotics in manufacturing and automation. The Special Issue will review and publish submitted papers by academia and industry experts to foster knowledge exchange and provide a comprehensive understanding of how AI and robotics are shaping the future of smart manufacturing. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/engineering-faculty-named-guest-editor-upcoming-special-issue-publication

Daniel Roozbahani, assistant professor of robotics engineering, completed the ISEP Collaborative Online International Learning, or COIL, Academy. This virtual program provides selected faculty the opportunity to work with international partners to co-design courses or projects that connect students across cultures and bring the power of international learning to Widener's classrooms and labs.

During an eight week online course, Roozbahani was paired with a partner from the University of Botswana to develop a collaborative project for his Widener course, bringing a global perspective directly into the classroom. 

Learn more about the ISEP COIL Academy here

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/engineering-professor-earns-isep-collaborative-online-international-learning-certification

Students, faculty and alumni from Widener’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies represented the university through presentations, posters and organization leadership roles at the 2025 annual conference of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality held in Philadelphia. 

• Associate Professor Justin Sitron concluded his time as President of the organization, a role he has held since 2023. 
• Associate Professor Mark Levand presented as part of a symposia session covering topics in sexual violence research.
• Professor Brooke Wells presented a research poster and co-authored several pieces of research featured in symposia sessions. 
• Student Wascar Ramirez was selected as the organization’s incoming scientific co-chair and presented as part of a symposia session alongside Wells. 
• Student Stacey Rose presented a research poster alongside Wells. 
• Student Mahmoud Baydoun served as a panelist in a plenary session “From Data to Dialogue: Getting Your Research to the Masses.”
• Student Lauren Prenaveau presented a research poster. 
• Alumnus Eli Green ’08 ’14 was a featured panelist in a plenary session “Persisting Under Pressure: Research in Tough Times.”

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/human-sexuality-students-faculty-and-alumni-represent-widener-conference
 

Widener University honored faculty members for distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony, held Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the University Center. Honors included:

•    The Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award , given to a faculty member who has exemplified a history of teaching at the highest level of distinction. It is endowed by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation that provides grants to institutions of higher education for the promotion of excellence in teaching. The recipient was Commonwealth Law School Associate Professor Amanda Sholtis of Enola, Pennsylvania.

•    The Faculty Award for Civic Engagement, which recognizes the outstanding contributions faculty members have made in accordance with Widener’s civic engagement mission, as well as solidifying Widener students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and the impact of their disciplinary learning. This year's recipient was College of Arts and Sciences Professor Stuart Eimer of Collingswood, New Jersey.

•    The Outstanding Researcher Award, given to a faculty member who has participated in research and scholarship nationally or internationally, and made a significant contribution through their research, while advancing their profession or discipline as well as the university’s mission and vision. The recipient was Associate Professor Hilary Barnes of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Barnes teaches in the Jack & Nancy Dwyer School of Nursing.

•    The Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching Award highlights an individual who has designed, implemented, and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project. This award was presented to College of Arts and Sciences Associate Teaching Professor Catherine Safran of Bear, Delaware.

•     The Faculty Institutional Leadership Award recognizes a record of leading initiatives that further the university’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives. This year’s award recipient was College of Arts and Sciences Professor Hemlata Mistry of Wallingford, Pennsylvania.
 

Photo shows, from left, Interim Provost Mark Nicosia, Professor Hemlata Mistry, Professor Stuart Eimer, Professor Hilary Barnes, Associate Teaching Professor Catherine Safran and Associate Professor Amanda Sholtis.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-commends-faculty-2025-awards-event

Audrey Snyder, dean of nursing, in her capacity as a member of the North Carolina-Republic of Moldova Nursing Collaborative, received the prestigious Virginia Henderson Award from the Nursing Association of the Republic of Moldova. This honor, presented during the international nursing conference in Chisinau, recognized Snyder's leadership in the NC-Moldova Nursing Collaborative and her role in advancing nursing education and practice as part of a three-year Rotary International grant. The award symbolizes gratitude for promoting empathy, professionalism, and modern nursing values across borders, reflecting Snyder’s commitment to global collaboration and the spirit of humanity in healthcare. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/nursing-dean-receives-virginia-henderson-award-international-nursing-efforts

Afrooz Moatari-Kazerouni, assistant professor of operations and supply chain management, and Jeff Lolli, associate dean for undergraduate programs and professor of sport and event management, received grant funding from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) to expose high school students to careers in supply chain management and business analytics with a particular focus on first-generation students and students of color. Moatari-Kazerouni and Lolli were one of only nine projects to be accepted and funded as part of the 2025 INFORMS Ambassadors program which aims to create long lasting pathways of inclusion in supply chain management and business analytics careers. 

Presently, representation of first-generation students and students of color is limited in these fields due to barriers in access to mentorship which can hinder a sense of belonging for students interested in these career fields. Moatari-Kazerouni and Lolli took nearly 40 area high school students for a behind-the-scenes tour of the NFI Distribution Center in Hillsboro, New Jersey, whose primary client is L’Oreal Groupe. Students experienced real-world supply chain management and business analytics applications and engaged with Widener faculty and industry professionals. The group took a tour of the facility, learned about industry safety protocols, attended a career insights panel, and more. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/business-faculty-named-informs-ambassadors-program-use-grant-funding-advance-diversity-supply-chain

Faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences have received a mini-grant totaling $11,500 from the Swarthmore Humanities Leadership Program and the Mellon Foundation which will be used to fund faculty development opportunities. 

Assistant Professors Thomas Wilk and Sara Berkowitz attended the Humanities Faculty Leadership Program at Swarthmore College over the summer and, along with Assistant Professor Jessica Guzman, have been selected as grant recipients. This funding will support a series of forums for humanities and humanistic social science faculty members over the course of the 2025-2026 academic year which aim to strengthen humanistic leadership at Widener and create a framework for broader implementation. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/humanities-faculty-receive-grant-fund-faculty-development-workshop
 

Erika Huckestein, assistant teaching professor of history, has been selected as a winner of the 2025 European Studies First Article Prize in Humanities for her work "From Cradle to Grave: The Politics of Peace and Reproduction in the Anti-Fascist Campaigns of British Women’s Organisations."

This award, presented by the Council for European Studies, recognizes the writers of the best first articles on European studies published within a one-year period. Huckestein’s research area focuses on themes of political engagement, gender and social movements in Britan and Europe.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/history-faculty-recognized-council-european-studies
 

Professor Kenn Tacchino has been appointed interim dean of the School of Business Administration (SBA). Tacchino has been a member of the SBA faculty for over 30 years in the areas of taxation, financial planning, and business law.  

A five-time winner of the School of Business Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award, Tacchino is deeply committed to student success. As a former department head and pre-law advisor Tacchino has had the opportunity to lead many University initiatives throughout his career.

Tacchino is “thrilled and honored to work collaboratively with the SBA faculty, the University Administration, SBA students, alumni, and industry groups”.  

Tacchino is an accomplished scholar whose research area is focused primarily on retirement and pension planning. He has been published extensively on these topics. Outside of Widener, Tacchino has served as editor for the Journal of Financial Service Professionals since 2001 and consulted with several major Fortune 500 companies. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/kenn-tacchino-named-interim-dean-school-business-administration
 

Dennis Whitaker, adjunct professor of law at Widener Law Commonwealth, and Melissa Chapaska ’14, a Widener Law Commonwealth graduate, were recently appointed pro bono counsel by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The appointment is part of a Court program that seeks to provide legal representation to indigent litigants from attorneys who can provide the Court with the particularly high-quality appellate advocacy necessary for a Court that decides issues that are of first impression or otherwise important to establishing or clarifying Pennsylvania law.

Whitaker and Chapaska, both of counsel at HMS Legal, LLP, will represent an appellant proceeding in forma pauperis, a Latin term that refers to a legal process where a person who cannot afford the usual court fees can do so without incurring the costs, in a matter regarding the timing and appealability of collateral orders, which are orders separate from the substantive issues of a case which involve important rights that would be lost if forced to wait until final judgment. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/law-faculty-and-alumna-appointed-pro-bono-counsel-pa-supreme-court

Maria Luiza Pinho, assistant professor in the School of Business Administration, has co-authored a chapter in a newly published book “The Historical Evolution of International Business: A Global Perspective.”

Pinho co-authored the chapter “The Evolution of IB Teaching Content: Analysis of IB Textbooks and Syllabi,” which provides a data-driven, historical analysis of how international business has been taught across institutions and time. The peer-reviewed chapter synthesizes insights from over six decades of textbooks and academic syllabi, revealing the thematic shifts and pedagogical patterns that have shaped how generations of students and scholars have engaged with international business. Pinho’s chapter has received numerous positive reviews from respected members of the field. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/business-faculty-publishes-new-book-chapter-international-business-education
 

A collection of more than 3,000 pieces of political memorabilia belonging to Professor Stephen Kauffman was on display at Wolfgram Memorial Library through the 2024-2025 academic year. The video interview featuring key pieces from the collection and Kauffman discussing the collection and its significance is available to view online. 

The display also served as a center point for an event in Fall 2024 featuring Kauffman discussing his collection as well as James Vike, professor and associate dean of social science, sharing research findings on political polarization. A full recording of the event “From George to Joe: The Legacy of Voting for Our Presidents” is also available online. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/faculty-memberss-political-memorabilia-display-lives-wolfgram-memorial-library
 

Erika Dawkins, assistant professor in the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, was named the 2025 Early Career Psychologist of the Year by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. Presented by the Early Career Psychologists Committee, this prestigious award recognizes the impact made by an early-career psychologist. As a clinician, educator, and researcher, Dawkins has made meaningful contributions to the psychology field. In addition to her role at Widener, Dawkins is also the owner of Revolutionary Perspectives, LLC, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to one's emotional well-being. 

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Widener welcomed U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon to campus for a women’s history month talk and fireside chat with President Stacey Roberton. The event was sponsored by the gender, women, and sexuality studies department and Project Pericles. 

Scanlon spoke to students, faculty, and staff about her work and the issues that are important to her when representing Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District, including women’s rights, healthcare and wage gaps. She also emphasized the importance of empowering women and other members of traditionally marginalized communities to become involved in the community and in politics as a way to enact change. 

Afterward, Scanlon and Robertson sat together and discussed women’s central – and often unrecognized – role in history and as historical leaders, and how society can use history to navigate the future. From the women’s suffrage movement, to civil rights, to the current day, they discussed the power of open communication and accurate information within communities. They also spoke about inspiring courage for those who wish to stand up for their beliefs and taking time to do so safely and peacefully. 

Both women touched on the importance of finding a community, role models, and using voting as a vital tool to share thoughts and opinions. The event was followed by questions from attendees and a brief reception.

 Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/us-rep-mary-gay-scanlon-joins-president-stacey-robertson-womens-history-month-event

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Robert Mishur has been awarded the Cynthia H. Sarnoski Endowed Science Faculty Fellowship to support developing protocols to detect and identify metabolites, and then using those methods to investigate mechanisms of aging. The award is a two-year term, running through 2027. 

“With an aging population, it’s important that we have the tools to help people age healthily,” said Mishur. “By understanding the pathways that underly the aging process we can help people live longer and make sure they’re living life healthy for longer.”

These methods can be applied to a variety of organisms, including fruit flies and nematodes, or microscopic thread-like worms, offering broad opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Mishur also intends to apply this technology to assess the impact of different drugs on cancer cells. 

“It feels great [to receive this award]!” Mishur shared. In addition to using a portion of the funding on research materials, he is most looking forward to how the award can benefit the students working with him on this topic. It will allow him to provide compensation for their research assistance, and have them accompany him to academic conferences.

The Cynthia H. Sarnoski Faculty Fellowship award supports science faculty through a generous gift made by Cynthia H. Sarnoski, who serves as vice chair of the Widener Board of Trustees. Sarnoski graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Widener in 1974. She is a retired senior vice president for Global Compliance and Quality Systems for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/chemistry-faculty-awarded-cynthia-h-sarnoski-faculty-fellowship-continue-research-cancer-and-aging
 

Matthew Clarke, executive chef at Widener, won first place at the Aramark Culinary Excellence, or ACE, competition for the mid-Atlantic region of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. Chef Matt competed at West Chester University against talented chefs from across the region to showcase their culinary excellence. His win earned him a spot to represent Widener and the region at the National ACE competition in Napa Valley this summer.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/executive-chef-places-1st-regional-cooking-competition