Noteworthy

Michelle Lyttle Storrod, assistant professor of criminal justice, has received over $54,000 from the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center for a two-year grant intended to study the role of women in community violence intervention. The unique comparative study will take place in Chester, Philadelphia, and Camden, New Jersey, and will include students working hands-on to collect and analyze data from social media, community focus groups, and more.

Lyttle Storrod has previously received additional funding from the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center for work in other areas of researching gun violence including a focus on measuring community attitudes towards gun violence in the Philadelphia region. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/criminal-justice-faculty-member-receives-funding-gun-violence-research
 

Widener University is pleased to announce Heather L. Meier, a Philadelphia-area financial professional and licensed certified public accountant with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, will join the university’s leadership team as vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer. Meier comes to Widener from Gwynedd Mercy University, where she has served in a similar financial leadership role since 2022. 

In her new position at Widener, Meier will oversee the finances, financial planning, budgeting, contracts, human resources and facilities for the university and its seven colleges and schools, located in Chester and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. She will work to ensure financial sustainability, optimize the university’s resources and their allocation, and drive strategic financial initiatives that support Widener’s mission and long-term goals. She will be part of the core leadership team that reports to Widener President Stacey Robertson. 

“I am honored and thrilled to accept this position and join the Widener community,” Meier said.  "Widener University has a remarkable legacy in the Philadelphia region, with a distinguished history of evolving to meet the needs of generations of students. Its commitment to providing an exceptional education that prepares students for successful lives and careers is truly inspiring. I am privileged to contribute to the university’s continued success and be part of shaping its next chapter."

“We are so excited to welcome Heather Meier to Widener,” Robertson said. “Her impressive financial background – with so much of it steeped in higher education – coupled with her warm personality and keen support for our culture of belonging made her a fantastic choice for this critical position. Heather has a very collaborative spirit which makes her well-suited for the many partnerships she’ll be developing as her work touches every corner of Widener’s operations.”

Prior to her time at Gwynedd Mercy University, Meier served as controller and acting vice president for finance at Montgomery County Community College for more than six years. She also has held finance leadership roles at other local universities including La Salle, Jefferson and Villanova universities. She began her career in public accounting auditing for nonprofits and social service organizations. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University, two bachelors of arts degrees in business administration and economics, with a minor in accounting, from McDaniel College. 

She will begin her position at Widener on Jan. 14, 2025. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/node/32227
 

Widener welcomed Mary Beth Norton for an author talk about her award-winning book “1774: The Long Year of Revolution” as part of America250PADelco’s Revolutionary Reads Community Read.

President Stacey Robertson accompanied Norton on stage to discuss the book, which examines the critical role that 1774 played in leading up to the American Revolution. Norton is a past president of the American Historical Society, as well as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. She is currently the Mary Donlon Alger Professor Emerita of American History at Cornell University.

Each year through 2026, the Revolutionary Reads committee will select a title examining the lead up to the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence. The Revolutionary Reads Community Read is presented by Widener University, Delaware County Libraries, and Radnor Historical Society in partnership with America250PADelco.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-hosts-author-mary-beth-norton-third-annual-revolutionary-reads-event

Linda Knauss, professor emerita in the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, has been chosen to receive the 2024 Lifetime Award for Accomplishments in Ethics Education from the American Psychology Association, or APA. The prestigious award is presented annually by the APA’s ethics committee to an APA member whose career accomplishments made an indelible impact on ethics education in psychology in the areas of clinical, organizational, school, and applied science. 

The award recognizes Knauss’ outstanding and innovative contributions to ethics education during her more than four decades of teaching, mentoring, training, research, and education. Knauss joined Widener’s clinical psychology faculty in 1998. Before retiring in 2024, Knauss taught a wide variety of courses including ethics and professional issues, assessment techniques and report writing, family therapy, and transitioning to the professional role. 

Knauss will be honored at the ethics committee’s year-end virtual meeting in December.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/linda-knauss-honored-lifetime-achievement-award

Widener honored eight faculty members for their high distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching at the university's annual faculty awards ceremony. The 2024 award winners are:

• The Distinguished University Professor Award honors faculty members of high distinction at the university who also demonstrate the institution is committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service throughout faculty members’ careers. This year's recipients were School of Nursing Professor Donna Callaghan; College of Arts and Sciences Professor Katherine Goodrich; and School of Business Administration Professor Brian Larson. Larson is also interim associate dean for graduate business programs.
• College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Michael Cocchiarale was awarded with the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is 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 Faculty Award for Civic Engagement serves to recognize the outstanding contributions that 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 Karen May, associate professor in the School of Nursing.
• Paul T. Baker, assistant professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, was awarded the Outstanding Researcher Award. This award gives recognition 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 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 School of Engineering Associate Teaching Professor Ria Mazumder. Mazumder's innovative approach integrates collaborative project-based service-learning, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in sustainable engineering, bioinstrumentation, and community engagement, thereby addressing both educational and societal challenges
• 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 Lori Simons, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/widener-celebrates-2024-faculty-award-winners
 

Marina Barnett, assistant provost for civic engagement and associate professor of social work, is the recipient of the Program Leadership award from the National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS) Higher Education Coalition for her outstanding commitment and engagement since joining the coalition.

Barnett is recognized for her commitment to designing and implementing meaningful civic engagement services for students at Widener, and implementation of programs which aim to help both students, and the community, to thrive. The award was announced at the coalition’s 2024 summit and was presented by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education.

The NPSS Higher Education Coalition is a group of colleges and universities working to support their communities by placing more college students in high-impact jobs or volunteer positions. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/faculty-recognized-npss-outstanding-program-leadership
 

Kay Chronister, adjunct faculty member of English, has published a new fantasy novel titled “The Bog Wife.”

Described as a “propulsive read for fans of Shirley Jackson, Karen Russell, and Matt Bell that speaks to what is knowable and unknowable within a family history and how to know when it is time to move forward,” the book is one of several novels published by Chronister. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/adjunct-faculty-member-publishes-new-fantasy-novel
 

A new article authored by Katia Ciampa, associate professor and director of reading programs, Zora Wolfe, associate professor and associate dean of the College of Health & Human Services, and Jessica Storey, director of teaching and learning with technology, has been published in the Journal of Research on Technology in Education.

The article, titled “Faculty perceptions of the impact of professional development on online teaching practices,” examines the success of the trio’s one-year cohort in the Online Teaching Fellows Program at Widener.

The 14-week program included graduate and undergraduate faculty from across the university for professional development activities and discussions focused on creating authentic and equitable learning opportunities for students.  

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/article-faculty-and-staff-published-journal-research-technology-education

The Philadelphia Business Journal has named Widener President Stacey Robertson to its list of Most Admired CEOs. 

Recipients are chosen based on the work they’ve undertaken in their current role in the context of their careers, how they give back to the community and other ways they’ve positively impacted greater Philadelphia. Robertson is widely admired at Widener for her dedication to the university’s commitment to belonging, and to being a welcoming place for all. She lives into that promise each day with her warm, engaging manner and her relentless commitment to the ethos of “We’re All Widener.”

Robertson and the rest of the winners will be honored at a December event in Philadelphia. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/node/31945/

Andrew Bobal, instructional designer and adjunct professor in the School of Nursing, published a textbook that illustrates the importance of integrating technology into the nursing classroom. 

"Teaching Tomorrow’s Nurses: A Technology-Enhanced Approach," which Bobal co-authored, is a resource for nurse educators to understand the diverse learning technology options designed to obtain targeted learning outcomes. Packed with expert perspectives from across the nursing education spectrum, this comprehensive toolkit walks through the why and how of using technology to engage and evaluate learners and empowers readers to make confident, informed choices.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/nursing-faculty-co-authors-text-technology-classroom

Dennis Whitaker, adjunct professor of law at Commonwealth Law School, has been appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's (PBA) Amicus Curiae Brief Committee. Committee membership is by special invitation only extended by the sitting PBA President. Whitaker was appointed by current PBA President Nancy Conrad. The committee is a specialized committee charged with identifying legal issues that have relevance to the bar in general and that are appropriate subjects for amicus curiae briefs. Committee members prepare and argue the positions advanced on behalf of the Association in those briefs.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/commonwealth-law-professor-appointed-pennsylvania-bar-association-special-committee

Mariah Schug, chair of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and associate professor of psychology, has received over $142,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for collaborative research into how interacting with nature impacts a child’s development.

This money will fund collaborative research with the University of Utah and Wesleyan University, who each received their own funding from the NSF for this research. The combined institutions have received over $220,00 for this project.

This case study will examine children’s exploratory behavior in two societies, the Faroe Islands and Denmark, where opportunities for independence and time spent in nature are cultural priorities in childhood. The goal is to help parents and educators develop a more beneficial balance between protecting children and structuring their experiences on the one hand, and promoting autonomy, exploration, and experience in natural environments on the other.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/faculty-receives-national-science-foundation-funding-research-childrens-development

Sara Berkowitz, assistant professor of art history, has been selected as a Periclean Faculty Leader. The grant will help to fund a new humanities course in the College of Arts & Sciences which will expose students to cultural themes in art and allow for community engagement in collaboration with the Cultural Arts and Technology Center (CAAT) in Chester.

“With this new course students will not only learn about the value of the arts as a medium for communicating important messages about civil rights, but they will also give back to their community by supporting local artists and art forms that are often ignored in the traditional canon of art history,” said Berkowitz.

The new course, "Art History 188: Public Art: From Monuments to Murals", is set to begin in Spring 2025 and will be open to all students.

Periclean Faculty Leaders are a group of committed scholars dedicated to incorporating civic engagement into the curriculum while empowering students to use their academic knowledge to tackle real-world problems. Through the support of this program, they are leaders on campus and within a larger national context.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/art-history-faculty-named-periclean-faculty-leader

Nicole Beaty, assistant director for student accessibility services, was presented an award from Yeadon Borough for the successful planning and execution of Yeadon’s 75th Annual Flag Day Celebration. Beaty, a native “Yeadonite,” currently serves as chair of Yeadon Borough Council’s Recreation Committee. She was recognized for her work by Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins and Council President Latoya Monroe.

Yeadon, Pennsylvania is credited for being the “Home of Flag Day” due to longtime resident William T. Kerr’s tireless efforts lobbying for Flag Day to every American President from William McKinley to Harry S. Truman. For his efforts, Kerr was invited to witness Flag Day be signed into legislation on June 14, 1949. His grandson, Thomas Kerr, was in attendance at Yeadon’s annual event. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/staff-member-honored-yeadon-borough
 

Babatunde Odusami, professor of finance in the School of Business Administration, has published a new book titled “Financial Data Science with SAS.”

The book, which is designed for university students and financial professionals, covers of the theory and practical implementation of the various types of analytical techniques and quantitative tools used in the financial services industry and shows readers how to implement strategies such as data visualization, simulation, machine learning models, and more using real-world examples.

The book was published in partnership with SAS, a global leader in artificial intelligence, analytics, and statistical computing.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/finance-faculty-member-publishes-new-book
 

Justin Sitron, associate professor in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies, has been named president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS). Sitron will serve a two-year term which began in 2023.

SSSS is a global community dedicated to advancing knowledge of sexuality and communicating scientifically based research to professionals, policy makers, and the public. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/human-sexuality-faculty-named-president-society-scientific-study-sexuality

John Conte ’09, adjunct faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences and co-director of the Widener University Observatory, has received the Excellence in Teaching Award for 2024 from Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union.

Conte is recognized for his work as a physics teacher at Interboro High School. A cash prize is presented to award recipients for classroom expenses, as well as directly to their schools.

“I’m humbled and overwhelmed by the fact that I was selected among thousands of hardworking and dedicated teachers from all over Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. I believe teaching is one of the most rewarding careers you could have. It requires a lot of time and energy but the ability to make a positive impact on so many lives is an absolute privilege,” said Conte. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/alumnus-and-adjunct-faculty-member-recognized-excellence-teaching-award

Chelsea Abbas, associate professor of anthropology, has received funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation’s Local Filmmaker Fund.

Abbas’ work, “Love in the Time of Migration,” was awarded $20,000 in the documentary category. Directed by Abbas, the short, multimedia documentary follows the long-distance love story of a couple and explores the question: “can love conquer all?”

Abbas is one of 30 recipients of this year’s funding. The Local Filmmaker Fund aims to support Philadelphia-area storytellers with the development of their films and gaining new skills in their fields. 

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/anthropology-faculty-awarded-film-project-grant

Delaware Law School Professor Erin Daly participated in the hearings of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights when it considered the request for an advisory opinion on the climate emergency and human rights submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights by the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Chile.

Daly and Soledad Garcia Muñoz, the former special rapporteur for economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, submitted a brief to the court on the indivisibility and inter-dependence of human rights, particularly in the context of climate change. They encouraged the Court to take a holistic view of the human rights impacts of climate change, deeply rooted in the law of human dignity. Hearings in the case are being held in Barbados in April and in Brazil in May.

Daly also recently released a draft international covenant on environmental rights, as chair of the drafting committee of the International Center for Comparative Environmental Rights, known by its French acronym CIDCE. The draft has been translated into Arabic, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Turkish. She has also been invited to join the Green Rights Coalition, an international body that supports environmental human rights.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/node/31566/

Kayla Van Osten, assistant librarian at Wolfgram Memorial Library, has been recognized by Pennsylvania Military College alumnus Ken Byerly ’68 for her contributions to his new book, “Paid in Full: Tales of Bravery and Sacrifice.”

Byerly’s book tells the stories eight PMC graduates who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. Van Osten assisted Byerly in researching the alums in the year leading up to the book’s release, uncovering information and records from their time as cadets and beyond by searching through university archives and area news outlets of the time.

“Kayla’s work and communications were exceptional,” said Byerly, a Vietnam veteran himself. “What she uncovered was amazing and so helpful to me to be able to explain who these young men were when they were at PMC and in service to their country.”

A special, hardcover edition of Byerly’s new book were donated to the library.

Share link: https://www.widener.edu/news/noteworthy/library-staff-honored-pmc-alumnus