Roanoke College welcomes new faculty

Roanoke College welcomed 18 new faculty members for academic year 2022-23. These professionals specialize in a variety of fields, and their research focuses on a range of topics including fireflies, black holes, gender inequality in the criminal justice system, and oppressive discourses around health. We asked each of them to tell us a little more about their backgrounds and interests.  

Nicole Breault  
Emerging Scholars Postdoctoral Fellow of History  
Education: M.A., history, University of Massachusetts; Ph.D., history, University of Connecticut 
Research Interests: Specialty field is early American history. Interests include legal and social history, urban governance, gender, material culture, labor and space. 
Teaching this year: First Contact: Native Americans and Europeans, United States History, The Black Death, Special Topics on the American Revolution  
Why do you teach? 
“History is a dialogue, a process and a craft. Through my scholarship and teaching, I strive to foster empathy and a curiosity about the diversity of experiences of ordinary men and women that make up the past. I guide students in a study of the past that informs their relationship to the present, prepares them to engage as informed citizens in and out of the classroom, and encourages them to learn more about themselves in the process. As a first-generation college student, I am committed to helping my students to foster a sense of belonging and demystify aspects of higher education that act as barriers.” 

Julie Cannon 
Assistant Professor of English and Communication Studies 
Education: B.F.A., motion picture, television and recording arts, Florida State University; M.A., health, society and media, Perdue University; Ph.D., communication, Cornell University 
Research interests: health communication, health equity, media literacy, mass media, public health, persuasion, stigma reduction 
Teaching this year: Introduction to Communication, Professional Communication, Research Methods for Communication, Health Communication  
Why do you teach? 
“I teach because I love watching people grow. Teaching provides an opportunity not only to nurture and guide people through the sometimes difficult or uncomfortable process of intellectual growth but to watch and take part in generational shifts in knowledge and approach to world understanding over time.” 

Kristin Dunn 
Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology 
Education: B.S., organizational biology, Christopher Newport University; M.S., environmental science, Christopher Newport University; Ph.D., entomology, University of Florida  
Research interests: Evolution of firefly light organs through comparative morphology with plans to extend work to other organs within the firefly and eventually to organ systems in other insects and spiders  
Teaching this year: Exploring Biology, Human Biology Lab, Principles of Physiology, Principles of Physiology Lab, Bugs in the System  
What excites you the most about this new opportunity?  
“I am really excited about the opportunity to work closely with students and get them involved in research. Making those connections with the students is such a rewarding part of the job of being a professor, and I appreciate all the ways Roanoke College facilitates those connections. The beautiful campus and bright student population at Roanoke College remind me every day that I made a great choice coming here.” 

Dr. Fatima 
Assistant Professor of Physics 
Education: B.S., physics with minor in mathematics and statistics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; M.S., physics, University of Dhaka; Ph.D., physics, University of North Dakota 
Research Interest: Nanoscience and nanotechnology, semiconductor and thin films 
Teaching this year: Theoretical Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism Lab 
What excites you the most about this new opportunity? 
“This new opportunity is exciting for me as I have been looking for a position to teach and continue research which directly links to my previous experience that I have gathered so far. I feel there would be opportunities for me to grow in my role, further my knowledge in teaching, research and progress in my career.” 

Kimberly Garza 
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Public Health 
Education: B.S., anthropology, Northwestern University; M.A., Master of Public Health and Ph.D., anthropology, University of Illinois at Chicago 
Research interests: adolescent health, stress and culture, diabetes and the family  
Teaching this year: Adolescent Health, Introduction to Epidemiology 
What excites you the most about this new opportunity? 
“I am thrilled to be a part of a community in which administration, staff and professors are all committed to student enrichment. Being part of a smaller institution that provides time to talk with and mentor students in finding their passion for the next stage of their career is really the best part of being here. I am also excited to get our students involved in additional research opportunities and collaborate with them in improving adolescent health.” 

Audrey Hamilton 
Visiting Assistant Professor of Fine Arts 
Education: B.F.A., theatre, Mississippi University for Women; M.A.T., secondary education, University of West Alabama; M.F.A., costume design and technology, University of Alabama 
Teaching this year: Costume Construction, You Are What You Wear, Theater Fundamentals. Also designing costumes for three Theatre Roanoke College productions (“Blood Wedding,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “Macbeth”). 
What excites you most about joining the Roanoke College community? 
“At Roanoke College, students, faculty, staff and administration are working together to encourage academic pursuits, share wisdom and expertise, promote well-being and inspire creativity. The momentum is palpable. I am grateful for the opportunity to support the positive work being done at Roanoke College. Andiamo!” 
What’s something most people don’t know about you?  
“I am the costume designer for La Musica Lirica, a summer opera festival in Novafeltria, Italy.” 

Lauren Kennedy-Metz ’14 
Assistant Professor of Psychology 
Education: B.S., psychology with minor in creative writing and concentration in neuroscience, Roanoke College; Ph.D., translational biology, medicine and health with concentration in neuroscience from Virginia Tech 
Research interest: Characterizing psychophysiological indicators of stress and developing biofeedback-based approaches to stress management interventions 
Teaching this year: Introduction to Psychology and Cognitive Psychology 
What excites you the most about this new opportunity?  
“I’m really looking forward to involving RC students in my research program and learning from them in both the classroom and the lab. Also, I’m super excited to be back in the area and to continue to build relationships with folks/institutions in the surrounding community.” 

Truong Le 
Visiting Assistant Professor of Math/Computer Science/Physics 
Education: B.S., physics and chemical physics, minor, mathematics and chemistry, Wichita State University; M.S., gravitational physics, Wichita State University; Ph.D., computational astrophysics, George Mason University 
Research interests: Black holes accretion disks with outflows, accretion flows and their instability, Gamma Ray Bursts cosmology, neuron stars, solar energy 
Teaching this year: Intro Physics for Life Science, Physics and Engineering Colloquium, Engineering Lab – Statistics 
Why do you teach? 
“I like the small school environment where I can share my passion in physics and astronomy with those students who have the passion and desire to learn. I hope to inspire those students to become the next generation of physicists, astronomers, astrophysicists and engineers.” 

Jonathan McCloud 
Assistant Professor of Education 
Education: B.A., Bridgewater College; Master of Music, Virginia Commonwealth University; Ph.D., curriculum and instruction with emphasis on educational psychology, Virginia Tech 
Research interests: Peer observation of teaching in higher education, play in educational settings, and early childhood education. Including ways that play is fostered through democratic structures and agentive practices, how to reflect on one’s underlying assumptions of the teacher/adult role in the educational environment, and how to compensate children for the presence of adults in their time and space. 
Teaching this year: Principles of Education; Teaching, Learning, and Cognition; How People Learn  
Why do you teach?  
“I teach because I believe that teaching is more than occupying some parent-like role, and that teaching is much more than leveraging a set of instructional skills. Teaching is a way of being. To teach is to provide a relationship that students may use for their personal growth. To teach is to cast light onto one’s connectedness to political, social and economic movements. To teach is to facilitate one’s quest to learn what it means to be a human being.”  

Ian Michalski 
Assistant Professor of Modern Languages 
Education: B.A., world languages and political science, Mercyhurst University; M.A., public and international affairs, Virginia Tech; M.A., Ph.D., Hispanic linguistics, Indiana University-Bloomington 
Research interest: Spanish sociolinguistics, second language acquisition of Spanish, and Spanish in contact with Yucatec Maya 
Teaching this year: Intermediate Spanish I (Fall) and II (Spring), Spanish for Heritage Speakers, Sounds of Sounds (Spanish Phonetics) 
Why should students consider studying your subject? 
“Learning to speak a new language and understanding the way that language functions help us become compassionate citizens of the world. I want students to understand that language learning builds our capacity for human connection and expands our perception of the world we live in.” 

Mohammad Mostofa 
Visiting Instructor of Business Administration and Economics 
Education: B.S., agricultural economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University; M.S., agricultural economics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University; M.S., applied economics, University of North Dakota; M.S. and Ph.D., applied statistics, North Dakota State University 
Research interest: Applying generalized linear models, biostatistics, survival analysis, economic policy analysis using large datasets, econometrics, statistical machine learning and data mining to diverse fields such as health care, bio-medical, business and industry 
Teaching this year: Principles of Macroeconomics 
What excites you the most about this new opportunity?  
“This new opportunity helps me to enrich my career goal. My ultimate goal is to be a great professor in the future. I am optimistic that Roanoke College is a great place to work because faculty, staff and other personnel are very cordial, welcoming and friendly.” 

Sarah Murray 
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs 
Education: Bachelor’s in sociology and theatre, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada; master’s degree, Ph.D., sociology with specializations in gender inequality and criminology, University of California, Riverside  
Research interests: gender inequality within the criminal justice system; experiences of women police officers as minorities in their workplaces 
Teaching this year: Introductory Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Research Methods 
Why should students study criminal justice? 
“I believe students should study criminal justice for a couple of reasons, and neither of them has to do with becoming a cop or a lawyer! First, the criminal justice system in the United States is so large that it touches almost everyone. Some people may have a loved one with a criminal record (approximately one in three adults) or have experienced the legal system as a juvenile themselves (the U.S. has one of the world's highest juvenile incarceration rates). Second, the criminal justice system is a useful lens to observe and analyze larger social issues around race, class and gender in a more concrete way.” 

Elizabeth “Betsy” Parkins  
Visiting Instructor of Business Administration and Economics 
Education: B.A., journalism, Washington and Lee University; M.S., communications management, Syracuse University; completing Doctor of Business Administration at Johnson & Wales University 
Research interest: Relationship between patient satisfaction and hospital profitability  
Teaching this year: Organizational Behavior, Making Life Count  
What excites you the most about this new opportunity?  
“I am most excited by the opportunity to engage with Roanoke College students, both in the classroom and as the director of the Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Innovation. Students and their unfettered ideas keep me energized every day and hopeful for our future. Whenever I get to know a student from a more personal perspective, I am always in awe of their accomplishments, thoughtfulness and eagerness to learn.” 

John Pescatore 
Visiting Assistant Professor of Math/Computer Science/Physics 
Education: B.S., civil engineering, Northeastern University; M.S., civil engineering, University of Cincinnati; Ph.D., engineering, Tennessee Technological University 
Research interests: Mathematical modeling of physical systems  
Teaching this year: Statics and Material Testing, Engineering Design Exploration, Engineering Foundations  
What's something most people don't know about you?  
“If I had a do-over, I would opt for a graduate degree in geology/geophysics.” 

Taylor Rowley '10
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performances 
Education: B.S., health and human performance, Roanoke College; M.S., kinesiology, James Madison University; Ph.D., kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 
Research interest: community-based physical activity and exercise promotion in special and clinical populations with an emphasis on the older adult population 
Teaching this year: Intro to Health and Exercise Science, Exercise Testing and Prescription, Special Populations, and Applied Cardiovascular Physiology 
Why do you think students should study your subject:  
“Good health is fundamental to our quality of life, and physical activity and exercise are a simple way to improve both. Plus, we get to practice what we preach! So many of our courses have a movement element built into them. It’s a fun way to learn!” 

Grace Tessein 
Visiting Assistant Professor of Fine Arts 
Education: B.F.A., ceramics and painting, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University; M.F.A., studio art with concentration in ceramics, Louisiana State University  
Research interests: memories held within objects in relation to loss, death, mourning and funerary traditions 
Teaching this year: Ceramics I, Ceramics II, Ceramics III, Sculpture I, Special Topics: The Body in Sculpture, Reading the Landscape: Exploring a Sense of Place 
Why do you think students should study your subject?  
“I see studio art classes as a fundamental part of a well-rounded education. 3D art gives students the opportunity to gain technical skills that have faded from other facets of learning; to use our hands, minds and bodies to shape the world around us. It is the purest form of hands-on, active learning and creative thinking. Ceramic art teaches patience, empathy, grace in our failures and joy in success. It enriches community and weaves the bond of humanity, making up the fabric of who we are. Contemporary ceramic art is incredibly exciting; right now is the best time to be learning all that the material has to offer. Art gives students the power to create a narrative that is their own and share it with those around them. It allows us the opportunity to see through the eyes and touch with the hands of another.” 

Carey Weatherspoon '95
Visting Assistant Professor of Biology 
Education: B.S., biology, Roanoke College; M.S., physical therapy, Arcadia University; D.P.T., Virginia Commonwealth University 
Research interests: Student retention, interdisciplinary education 
What classes are you teaching this year? Human Biology Lab, Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lab, Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab 
What excites you the most about this new opportunity? 
“I am excited to return to Roanoke College and join the Biology Department that served as the foundation for my continued graduate studies in physical therapy. With many Roanoke College undergraduates interested in pursuing careers in health care, I feel that I can bring a unique perspective both from my clinical experience and my years as an assistant professor in rehabilitation, wellness and physical therapy. I am most excited to help students make the connection between real life experiences and what they are learning in the lab and classroom. Additionally, I hope that I can be a resource for exploration of career and graduate/professional school options. The warm welcome I have received, and meeting colleagues that are dedicated to Roanoke College and its mission, is energizing. I look forward to contributing to the continued development of the college.” 

Katrina Webber  
Visiting Instructor of English and Communication Studies  
Education: B.A, communication and social interaction, SUNY Oswego; M.A., college student development and counseling, Northeastern University; completing Ph.D. at University of Connecticut 
Research interest: Critical interpersonal and health communication with a focus on oppressive discourses around "health," diet culture, beauty standards and mental health issues, centering the experiences of communities of color, LGBTQ folks, folks in fat bodies and individuals with disabilities, as well as interrogating representation of stigmatized identities in media 
Teaching this year: Intro to Communications Studies, Interpersonal Communication, Media Effects 
What excites you the most about this new opportunity?   
“I am very excited to teach smaller classes that can be more discussion-based and allow me to incorporate students' interests into content and examples. I also look forward to having students in several courses and connecting with them throughout their years at RC.  I also really appreciate that at a teaching-focused institution, my research is still valued, so I am looking forward to continuing my research in a new region of the country, collaborating within and across departments, working with the CSSR, and providing mentorship opportunities for students looking to gain research experience."