Le Moyne Welcomes New Faculty

Aaron Abma, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Philosophy

Expertise: Ethics

Courses: Introduction to Philosophy; Moral Philosophy

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of its attitude toward its students, both its emphasis on wholistic education and its prioritization of care for the whole person.

In my first year, I’m looking forward to  getting to know the Le Moyne community, including both my students and my colleagues.  I am also looking forward to introducing students to various philosophical texts and to talking with them about those texts.

McKenna Burgwin, DNP, RN, FNP-C

Professor of Practice
Nursing

Expertise:  In addition to Le Moyne, I work in an outpatient cardiology office within the community. 

Courses: Health Assessment, Health and Illness Management, and overseeing clinical hours and advisement.

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of the sense of community Le Moyne builds for its students. I am a proud alumna of Le Moyne College and it is an honor to give back to the school that has given me so much.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to building connections with students and helping them to be skilled, and confident advanced practice providers. 

Rachel Dinero, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Psychology

Expertise: Social psychology, specifically attachment and relationships

Courses: Cross-cultural psychology; stereotypes and prejudice; social psychology; motivation and emotion

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of its student-centered focus and emphasis on community and service.

In my first year year, I’m looking forward to getting to know the students and broader campus community.

Marilla G. Hayman, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Management and Leadership

Expertise: Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Courses: Organizational Behavior; Effective Supervision; Effective Presentation

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of its close-knit community and its commitment to fostering a diverse and equitable learning environment.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to immersing myself in the campus culture, collaborating with colleagues, and making a positive impact on students’ educational journeys.

Heather Holcomb, Ph.D., CPA

Assistant Professor
Accounting

Expertise: Auditor judgment; fraud risk; accounting education

Courses: Principles of Accounting for Non-Majors; Intermediate Accounting; Advance Audit Date Analytics

I was drawn to Le Moyne because I truly feel welcome and respected.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to getting involved with students and faculty in the Madden School of Business & Economics and across campus.

Ola Kraszpulska

Professor of Practice, Scenic Design
Theatre

Expertise: Scenic design; scene painting; lighting design; mixed media art; theatre of the oppressed, theatre of the absurd

Courses: Arts Administration Internship; Arts and Activism; Scene Design; Career Development in Theatre

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of the strong sense of community. Theatre is an art form all about collaboration, and I’m really excited to collaborate with Le Moyne’s students, faculty and staff .

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to getting to know my students and colleagues and exploring the theatre and art scene of both the college and the greater Syracuse area.

Deepak More, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Finance

Expertise: Corporate finance, behavioral finance, climate finance, corporate governance.

Courses: Principles of Finance; International Finance

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of its dedication to student success and nurturing and motivating work environment.

In my first year, I am looking forward to contributing to the success of our students and the institution and becoming a responsible member of the Le Moyne family.

Jodin Morey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Mathematics

Expertise: Gravity, specifically orbital mechanics (dynamical systems); black hole gravity waves (PDEs)

Courses: Introduction to Statistics; Differential Equations

I was drawn to Le Moyne because it is a small liberal arts college that looks to support students not only academically, but also by broadening their perspectives and challenging them to consider what a more just world might look like.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to getting to know the students and faculty/staff at Le Moyne.  Having lived in Phoenix and Minneapolis, I’m also excited to learn about Syracuse and this part of the country.

Bibhudutta Panda, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Accounting, Finance and Economics

Expertise: Economic Growth and Development; Economics of Corruption & Institutions; International Capital Flows; Financial Development and Inclusion

Courses: Principles of Finance, Banking, Corporate Finance

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of its commitment to serving students and preparing next-generation leaders to promote a more just and humane society. As a passionate teacher-scholar, I am committed to the success of my students both in and beyond the classroom. I believe that my values and commitment to serving students align very closely with the Jesuit values that Le Moyne College stands for.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to getting to know my students and their needs. I will experiment with my courses to strike a balance of content, depth, rigor, and real-world applications for an effective coursework and classroom learning experience.

Rebecca Pelky, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing
English

Expertise: Poetry Writing; Native American Literatures

Courses: Major Authors: Joy Harjo; Creative Writing Workshop

I was drawn to Le Moyne’s strong support for the liberal arts and its focus on community both within and beyond the College.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to getting to know the students, staff and faculty!

Rick Reed, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Management and Leadership

Expertise: Organizational behavior, specifically our beliefs, attitudes and mindsets in the workplace.

Courses: Organizational Behavior; Organizational Behavior and Leadership for MBA

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of the welcoming community. I felt like the faculty, students and administration all had open arms.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to getting my feet underneath me, connecting with everyone here, and seeing first hand what Dolphy Day is really like.

Daniel Rudin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Communications and Film Studies

Expertise: Film and digital media; film studies; Philippine studies

Courses: Introduction to Video Production; Introduction to Audio Production; Introduction to Film Studies

I was drawn to Le Moyne’s student-centered focus, particularly its small student to professor ratio.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to revitalizing the department’s video and production courses.

Dina Schnellinger, MS, PA-C, PT

Professor of Practice
Physician Assistant Studies

Courses: Professional Skills; Physical Diagnosis and Patient Evaluation Lab; CML Lab; Magis

I was drawn to Le Moyne because I am an alumna and believe in the program and its faculty. I started as an adjunct then part time and recently changed to full time

Pol Solanelles, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Management and Leadership

Expertise: Social networks; leadership; social influence; teams.

Courses: Organizational Behavior; Group Skills and Group Leadership; Strategic Leadership

I was drawn to Le Moyne because the warmth of its people and the worth of its values.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to providing new ways to see the world in the classroom and actively engaging with the Dolphin community.

Lauren Stoczynski, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Biological and Environmental Sciences

Expertise: Freshwater biology; biology education research

Courses: General Ecology

I was drawn to Le Moyne because my dream job is working at an institution where I can do research with undergraduates and do lots of teaching (I love teaching!). I look forward to creating meaningful relationships with my students and having students at multiple times across their academic career, which will be great in watching them grow into critical thinking scientists. I am also happy to only be 3.5 hours from my parents in Erie, Penn. Upstate New York is also just a beautiful part of the country with lots of streams (my research focuses on stream fish and aquatic insects). Thus I am very excited to start my dream job!

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to building camaraderie with my colleagues in the department, chatting about pedagogical practices, teaching and building rapport with Le Moyne students, and getting into the streams and finding some cool sampling sites to use in my classes and research. 

Beck Wehrle, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Biological and Environmental Sciences

Expertise: Ecophysiology; reptile digestion

Courses:Anatomy and Physiology

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of the community of care central to the campus culture and the support for interdisciplinary scholarship. I wanted to be part of a college where I could practice really interactive teaching and support students as individuals, as well as build research partnerships with undergraduates.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to jump-starting my research lab and fanning the sparks of new ideas!

Shaoqing Zhange, Ph.D.

Visiting Assistant Professor
Information Systems

Expertise: The intersection of social media and financial markets, particularly focusing on managerial behavior and the herding phenomenon among retail investors through analyzing unique social media data.

Courses: Risk Management/Information Systems

I was drawn to Le Moyne because of its commitment to fostering innovative research and teaching.

In my first year here, I’m looking forward to engaging with students and colleagues and contributing to the vibrant academic community.