DEANS

Dr. Alfred Mueller II

Alfred G. Mueller II, Ph.D. (Iowa) comes to us from his most recent appointment as Professor and Chair of the Communications Department at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.Dr. Mueller received his doctoral and master’s degrees from The University of Iowa in Communications with a specialization in rhetoric and rhetorical theory and the baccalaureate degree with majors in History and Philosophy from Wilkes University.Dr. Mueller is past president of the Eastern Communications Association and recipient of the ECA’s prestigious Donald H. and Carolyn Drummond Ecroyd Teaching Award, presented this past April at the Association’s annual meeting in held Pittsburgh.He received the Harvey Kelly Excellence in Teaching Award from the Pennsylvania Communication Association in 2010. He has also served as Coordinator of the Letters, Arts, and Sciences Baccalaureate Program at Penn State Mont Alto.Dr. Mueller has published and presented widely on topics ranging from rhetorical theory and practice to media and cultural studies, public speaking and the rhetorical practices of early Christian apologetics.He is an active member of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) and former Director of Media and Film Studies and Director of Debate at Wesleyan College.

Dr. Robert Bunnell
Robert D. Bunnell, Ed.D. (Temple) will be stepping in as interim Dean of Neumann’s Continuing, Adult and Professional Studies Program, known to us as CAPS. Prior to his appointment at Neumann as Associate Professor and Director of Sport and Entertainment Management, Dr. Bunnell served Purdue University at Calumet as Athletics Director and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health, Recreation and Sports.Bunnell's tenure as AD and Vice Chancellor are still remembered at Purdue for his work as the architect of the university's athletic expansion plan, which called for the program to grow to 12 varsity sports for the planned move to the NCAA Div. III.Dr. Bunnell saw a 184 percent increase in student-athlete participation during his term and was instrumental in helping the university reach an agreement with the City of Hammond, Indiana to co-develop Dowling Park, the Purdue Peregrines' new outdoor athletic complex.Prior to his appointment at Purdue Dr. Bunnell served as Director of the Sport, Arts and Entertainment Management program at Point Park University, Pittsburgh.Since arriving at Neumann Dr. Bunnell has worked with colleague Dr. Andrea Pent to revise and update the undergraduate curriculum in SEM and to reinvigorate the M.S. program, which is seeing its first increase in prospective applicant inquiries in some time.

DIRECTORS

Dr. Lorraine Cavaliere
Neumann University has appointed Lorraine A. Cavaliere, EdD, director of its doctor of education program. A resident of Devon, Pennsylvania, Dr. Cavaliere has worked at all levels of the educational spectrum, having taught extensively in higher education as well as at secondary and elementary levels. Before coming to Neumann, she was the founding dean of the School of Education at Gwynedd-Mercy College and dean of Adult and Continuing Education at Cabrini College. She also served as a faculty member in the graduate programs at Cabrini College and Thomas Edison State College, a non-traditional institution of higher education for adult learners. In addition, she has been an adjunct faculty member at The College of New Jersey, Mercer Community College and Rutgers University, specializing in education and teaching methodologies as well as learning and cognition.She is a national consultant on adult learning, working with trainers in education and business. Her training programs and presentations focus on teaching strategies, adult learning behaviors and styles, as well as historical and current research relative to educational practices and learning processes.

Sr. Patricia Hutchison, OSF, Ph.D.
Sr. Patricia Hutchison, OSF, Ph.D. served for two years as Interim Director of Neumann University’s Core Curriculum Program and now becomes Director.Sr. Patricia Hutchison holds the Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Widener University; the M.S. in Education from Loyola University (Maryland) and; the baccalaureate degree in French from Neumann University.Sr. Pat also holds a certificate in theology from the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to her ongoing service as Director of Core, Sister Patricia will continue to serve as Director of The Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies.Sr. Pat served as editor of The AFCU Journal for over ten years and has published articles in The Cord, The AFCU Journal and Propositum, among other periodicals.

Douglas Turco
Professor Turco received his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico and M.S. and B.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse. Dr. Turco comes to Neumann via Arcadia University, where he served most recently as Associate Dean of their College of Global Studies.He brings an extensive record of successful national and international experience as a scholar, professor and administrator to his work at Neumann including prior appointments at Drexel, DeSales and Illinois State University.Professor Turco has also delivered invited lectures and research presentations at international, national and state/provincial conferences in over 25 countries.Dr. Turco has authored over 40 articles in journals including Sport Marketing Quarterly, International Journal of Sport Management, Journal of Travel Research and The Journal of Sport and Tourism. He has also written several books: Sport Tourism, Sport and Event Marketing, and Assessing the Economic Impact of Parks and Recreation Special Events.In addition he has written numerous book chapters.Most recently Dr. Turco has developed a partnership between The 2013 Beyond Sport Summit, scheduled to be held in Philadelphia on September 9-11, and Neumann’s Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development – a very exciting prospect.In his role as Director of the Sport and Entertainment Management Program and Professor of SEM Dr. Turco will work with his colleague Dr. Andrea Pent to oversee, build and recruit for our distinctive business-based undergraduate and graduate programs in Sport and Entertainment Management.

DEPARTMENT HEADS

John Mizzoni
Dr. John Mizzoni is the new department head of Arts and Humanities in the Division of Arts and Sciences. A resident of Jenkintown, John holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Humanities from Providence College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Temple University. A professor of philosophy, John is an expert in the fields of applied ethics and environmental ethics. In addition to his book, Ethics: The Basics, he has published articles on such diverse topics as popular music and the moral duty of sustainable businesses. John has taught at Neumann since 2000, conducting upper-level courses in Ethics and the Environment, Philosophy of Music, Business Ethics, Social/Political Philosophy, and Non-Western Philosophy. He also served as leader of the Philosophy work group prior to becoming department head.

Sylvia Riviello
Dr. Sylvia Riviello is the new department head of Math and Science in the Division of Arts and Sciences. A resident of Philadelphia, Sylvia holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Immaculata University and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College. For ten years, she worked as a thermal design analysis manager at Lockheed Martin. Since her arrival at Neumann in 2010, she received nominations for the university's Excellence in Teaching Award in both 2011 and 2012, and served as leader of the Science Work Group, supervising ten faculty members and coordinating 60 classes for biology, chemistry, physics, physical science and environmental science.

FACULTY

Arts & Sciences

Kristen Acosta
Kristen Acosta is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology; Graduate of West Chester University with a master’s degree in Criminal Justice.She is currently candidate for a doctorate in Public Service Leadership with a concentration in Criminal Justice.Kristen worked for the Chester County government in the role of a Domestic Relations Enforcement Officer for one year before moving into the Juvenile Probation Department as a Probation Officer.She continued working with adjudicated youth through Cornell Abraxas in their secure lockdown facility as a behavioral health clinician. Kristen began teaching Criminal Justice courses in 2003, and started as an adjunct with Neumann in 2005. She has continued to work in juvenile behavioral health with Northwestern Human Services as a contracted specialist.

Amanda Breen
Dr. Amanda Breen is a social psychologist who studies how social identity affect perception and experience.In particular, she is interested in using an intersectionality approach to better understand how individuals’ multiple social identities interact with one another to influence health disparities. She also has a strong interest in social cognition and the perception of individuals living in poverty in the United States.Amanda is committed to using the classroom as a venue for teaching social justice.She teaches social psychology, general psychology, and experimental psychology, among other courses.Amanda earned her B.A. in psychology from Ithaca College, her PhD in psychology from Temple University and her MPH from Drexel University.

Estuko Hoshino-Brown
Being born and raised in Japan, educated in Canada for her honours B.A. and Ph.D., and now working in the US, Dr. Hoshino-Browne has a unique cultural and ethnic background. She has extensive experiential insight into the inner-workings of three cultures. Taking advantage of this unique and privileged position among North American researchers, she has a passionate interest in examining cultural influences on social psychological processes. She also has a great interest in studying prejudice, stereotyping, and intergroup relations. Her published research includes cross-cultural examinations on cognitive dissonance and social perspective taking as well as stereotype activation and application processes. Most recently, she published several chapters in the books on international conflict, peace, and reconciliation processes.

Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller is a fulltime lecturer of history at Neumann University.He earned his B.A. in communication arts from Villanova University and his M.A. in history from Villanova, as well as secondary teacher certification from Widener University.Miller began his career in education at West Virginia University in 1988, teaching English composition.He has been an adjunct history instructor at Neumann since 2001, and also has worked in the Neumann library.He has taught history at Widener, Messiah College, Delaware County Community College, and Riverside Military Academy.Miller is author of The Winter Soldiers, a novel of the Civil War, and is a volunteer interpreter at the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation.He is founder of the Neumann History Club and volunteer curator of the Marine Corps League museum, Delaware County Detachment.A native of Ridley Park, Delaware County, he currently resides in Middletown.

Margaret Stewart
Margaret C. Stewart has a Ph.D. in Communications Media and Instructional Technology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Her dissertation examined the use of new media by military spouses to communicate during wartime deployment.Her ongoing research agenda focuses on how new and social media, mobile technology, emerging communication technologies, and convergence augment and influence relational and organizational communication.Additionally, she continues to examine the military constituency in organizational, pedagogical, and relational contexts.Prior to transitioning into higher education, she spent six years in various facets of the radio broadcasting and music industries in the Philadelphia market.She transitioned into academia in 2007, serving as a communication generalist instructor teaching a variety of courses in mass media, media production, public speaking, interpersonal, and small group communication.Margaret is Assistant Professor of Communication Media Arts at Neumann University in Aston, PA, where she teaches courses in Introduction to Communication, Mass Media, Public Speaking, various media production courses, and is developing courses in new media for the Division of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Concentration: Mass Media) and a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from La Salle University in Philadelphia.

Business & Information Management

Jeffrey Graber
Jeffrey Graber joins Neumann as visiting assistant professor of Accounting after serving five years as an adjunct instructor.He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with an MBA from Widener University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University.He has held corporate positions as a controller, director of finance and administration, and CFO at several regional corporations including IDS Scheer and Automated Medical Systems and he has provided college planning workshops for parents through the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

Education & Human Services

Jenelle Abnett

Dr. Jenelle Abnett attended SUNY Cobleskill College where she earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Education, and then went on to Canisius College, where she earned the baccalaureate degree in Psychology. Her undergraduate work in Psychology sparked an interest in brain science and learning theory.Understanding how different brains work and finding new ways to teach the same content to different learners inspired her to become a professor of special education.Jenelle continued her education at Notre Dame of Maryland University where she received her Master’s in Teaching Leadership and the Ph.D. in Changing Education for the Changing Population with a focus in Special Education. As a teacher in Baltimore City and Baltimore County schools, she worked in both self-contained and inclusion classrooms for grades k-8, teaching students with a wide range of disabilities and disadvantages. She taught as an adjunct professor at both the Community College of Baltimore County and Notre Dame of Maryland University. Her professional interests include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Specific Learning Disabilities and reading comprehension.

Laura Taddei
Dr. Taddei began her career in education teaching young children, ages 3 to 6 years old.She became a professional development consultant and began training early childhood educators.This experience prepared her to teach at local community colleges as an adjunct professor and then an Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director of an early childhood program, and most recently Director of the Center for Faculty Development.Her research and topics of interest are culturally responsive teaching, faculty development, educational technology, and assessment.

Mary Elizabeth Toler
The Reverend Doctor Mary Elizabeth Toler is an ordained American Baptist minister and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.She has extensive ministry and counseling experience in local parishes, hospitals, college campuses, and psychiatric recovery centers.Before coming to Neumann, she lived in Atlanta for over ten years where she operated a private pastoral counseling practice and taught pastoral care, counseling and theology at Mercer University.She holds a Th.D. from the Candler School of Theology of Emory University and an M.Div. from The Divinity School of Duke University. 

Diane Tomkinson
Sister Diane Tomkinson, OSF is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.In her teaching, writing and scholarship, she is passionate about retrieving and passing on the Franciscan theological and spiritual tradition, with a special focus on the contributions of early Franciscan women, especially the late thirteenth-century mystic, Angela of Foligno.Sr. Diane served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious and Theological Studies at Salve Regina University from 2005-2010 and as Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion at Middlebury College from 2003-2005.She was a visiting Franciscan Scholar at Neumann University in 2010-2011 and has taught summer graduate courses at St. Bonaventure University and the Washington Theological Union.Diane received her B.A. from Swarthmore College, her M.A. in Theology from Washington Theological Union, and her Ph.D. in Theology from Fordham University.Her most recent ministry combined serving as a family caregiver and as part-time Director of Formation for the Sisters of St. Francis.

Mary Beth Yount

Dr. Mary Beth Yount will be teaching theology and doctorate of education courses here at Neumann. She is a graduate of Duquesne University where she worked as an administrator in academic publishing and taught courses since 2008. Mary Beth's predominant research interests are practical theology (such as lay ecclesial ministry and the theology of the family), spirituality, and applied ethics. But most of all, she loves engaging students’ minds and hearts at the intersection of religious, philosophical, educational, and cultural dialogue.

Nursing & Health Services

Cynthia Miller
Professor Miller holds a diploma in nursing from the Petersburg General Hospital School of Nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Immaculata University, and a master’s degree in nursing education from Neumann University.Her expertise and practice interests are in the area of geriatrics and rehabilitation.In addition to experiences in direct care, she worked as a nursing supervisor, staff development educator, and adjunct clinical and laboratory faculty member in the Neumann Nursing Program.

Kathleen Neal
Professor Neal holds an associate degree in nursing from Delaware Technical College, a baccalaureate degree in nursing from Wilmington University, and is a Ph.D. candidate in nursing education at Widener University.She is certified as both a Rehabilitation Registered Nurse and a Pediatric Nursing, with extensive experience in direct care of children and families.Most recently she served as a clinical nurse educator at Nemours/Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children.For the past five years she supervised Neumann Nursing Students as an adjunct clinical faculty member.

Patricia Welsh
Dr. Welsh holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in nursing education from Villanova University, and a doctorate in education from Delaware State University.Her clinical practice included direct care in pediatrics and medical-surgical nursing.She has extensive experience in nursing education and curriculum design, and most recently served as the Department Chair and Instructional Director of the Nursing Program at Delaware Technical Community College-Stanton Campus.

Steve Thomas
Dr. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Temple University, a Masters of Education in Kinesiology with from Temple University, a Ph.D. in Biomechanics and Movement Science from the University of Delaware, and recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering, with an emphasis on Tendon Injury, Healing, and Regeneration.As an experienced Athletic Trainer, he also served as a research assistant and guest lecturer at Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Delaware, Temple University, Indiana State University, and Neumann University. His current research agenda focuses on a translational approach to overuse shoulder injuries, which combines basic science research with clinical trials to improve clinical outcomes in patients.Dr. Thomas has extensive publications in peer-reviewed journals, and numerous research presentations, refereed scientific abstracts, awards and honors.