We are working on this page about the SJNY100 faculty with whom you will be working. As faculty send me their bios and photos, I will be building this so stay tuned and look for your professor. Those listed here teach on the Long Island campus. Some professors’ bios are missing but will be added soon–stay tuned.
Nerissa Aksamir
Nerissa Aksamit, born and raised in a small Wyoming town, received her Ph.D. in History from West Virginia University. Her studies at WVU focused on war and society, gender and women’s studies, and public history. Her current work is a transnational study of British Quaker humanitarian efforts during and after the Second World War in Germany. She has conducted research at the Friends House Library in London, at the University of Cologne in Germany, and at the International Committee of the Red Cross archives in Geneva. When she isn’t reading mystery novels or listening to true crime podcasts, she is watching movies with her husband and two cats – Picard (pictured here) and Watson.
Seminar: Dark Tourism
Malisa Ali
Women in Hip-Hop culture
David Andreas
Oh The Horror! It is us…
James Blakeley
James Blakeley studied Renaissance and Reformation history at the University of Arizona. He has taught at St. Joseph’s College since 2007 where he specializes in the social and religious history of medieval and early-modern Europe. He has a strong interest in how disease and plague affect economic, religious and political history. His interests including reading, traveling, and Switzerland.
Seminar: World Pandemics [honors program students only]
S. Karen Donohue
Sister Karen is a Sister of St. Joseph Art, music, drama, musicals and travel are just a few of her interests. If you love to get involved and want to try something new, please register for this unique interactive course!
Seminar: “You’re not in Kansas anymore”
Steve Fuchs
Steven Fuchs graduated from St. Joseph’s College and then completed his doctorate in history at SUNY Stony Brook. Though his specialty is U.S. Foreign Relations, he teaches a wide variety of courses on American and East Asian history. In fall 2011, he started Blue Stars and Yellow Ribbons: St. Joseph’s College – Veterans Community Initiative as a way to integrate the college community with that of the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Long Island State Veterans Home through curricular and co-curricular programs. He is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys getting dragged around by his kids to their activities.
Seminar: We are History: Hanging our with our Nation’s Heroes
Kelly Heider-Walsh
Kelly Heider-Walsh received her M.A. in Art from C.W. Post, Long Island University, and has been an adjunct faculty member at St. Joseph’s College since 2006. She recently completed her second master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education at SJC. Kelly is also a mom to three very active boys, an artist, avid daydreamer, and enthusiastic coffee drinker.|
Seminar: Picturing the World: From Cave Paintings to Refrigerator Art
Kirk Lawrence
Kirk Lawrence is an associate professor of sociology and head of the sustainability committee at St. Joseph’s. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside. His research and teaching interests are in the areas of environment, globalization, inequality, and theory. He is currently conducting research on oyster production in the Great South Bay. Kirk enjoys open spaces, plants and animals, and Dad life..
Seminar: Going Green to Save the World?
Linda Lubranski coming soon
Finding Your Place in the World: Global Issues and their impact on You
Paul Mager
Paul Mager graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Joseph’s College and acquired his Juris Doctorate at Stetson University College of Law and his Master of Arts Degree in Political Psychology at Stony Brook University. He has worked for the New York State Assembly and on two Presidential campaigns. He loves history and the great outdoors; he has visited over 45 areas included in the National Park System. For his honeymoon, Paul and his lovely wife Laura went cross country to camp and hike through many of our nation’s National Parks! His other interests include philosophy, comic books, and video games.
Seminar: The Wonderful (and not so wonderful) World of Disney
Chander Mallhotra
Chander Mallhotra is a St. Joseph’s graduate who teaches as an adjunct professor in the Education Department. He is currently working on his doctorate in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. Chander loves history, teaching, and of course, comic books. He also loves traveling and has been to 38 states and numerous National Parks sites Seminar: Marvelous! The Hidden Agenda of Comic Books
Thomas Petriano
Tom Petriano teaches in the Religious Studies department at St. Joseph’s. His office is Room 212E. “I love teaching at St. Joseph’s.” Dr. Petriano is Chair of the Religious Studies Department and an active organizer of events both on and off-campus. He is dedicated to social justice and was instrumental in developing the SJC Nicaragua Project.
Seminar: The Dream that Stuff is Made of
Fr. Francis Pizzarelli
I am a Montfort Missionary Roman Catholic Priest, teacher, administrator, licensed clinical social worker (with a specialty in addictions), and sociologist. I have spent my entire professional career studying human behavior and attempting to empower people to become more “sociologically mindful”. I love ocean beaches and the mountains. I love downhill snow skiing and a good conversation about life!
Seminar: The Human Experience: a contemporary Adventure Across the Landscape of American Culture
Stephanie Reese
Stephanie Reese graduated from St. Joseph’s College and then completed her masters in English at SUNY Stony Brook. She received an Advanced Certificate in Children’s Literature from Stony Brook Southampton, where she worked with several authors, such as Gayle Forman and Patricia McCormick. She is currently working on her Young Adult novel. When she’s not teaching or writing, she likes to read and gets too invested in TV shows. Her main area of interest lies in film adaptations of classic novels, specifically Jane Austen.
Seminar: Little Women to Avonlea: Discovering Modern Voices in Historical Dramas
Kristen Roedel
Kristen Roedel graduated from St. Joseph’s College with her BA in English. She obtained her MA in English from Long Island University, and she is currently working toward her PhD in American Literature at Stony Brook University. Her favorite courses to teach are creative writing and TV-based ones (like this seminar!). In her “off time,” she is a fiction writer, who has been published in literary magazines. She is also a blogger and an avid TV binge-watcher and reader, whose favorite kinds of stories are the ones that rip her heart out and stomp all over it.
Seminar: Home is Where the Horror is
Danielle Scheriff
Danielle Scheriff has been teaching art history at St. Joseph’s College for the last nine years. She studied Art History and Criticism at Stony Brook University, where she received her BA and MA degrees. Her research interests include art and film as components of visual culture and the translation of literature to film. She enjoys art, traveling, reading, and lounging around with her cat.
Seminar: Harry Potter and the Magical Freshman Seminar
Gary Seifert
Gerry Seifert has been an adjunct lecturer in the Psychology Department at St. Joe’s since 1988. He has also been a bartender, bar owner, bookstore owner, school psychologist, mental health counselor in private practice, and a high school teacher. Recently he started teaching in the Mental Health Counseling Masters Program at Long Island University. This seminar combines his lifelong interest in sports and psychology.
Seminar: The Game’s the Thing? Sports and Psychology
Wendy Turgeon
Wendy Turgeon teaches a wide range of courses in philosophy; her research and writing interests lie in aesthetics and philosophy of childhood. she is involved in a summer research collaborative organization which runs conferences in Oxford, England in July. In the past she has organized interdisciplinary conferences on Childhood, on Play and on the human/animal bond. She enjoys leading travel abroad trips for SJC students and is dedicating her current research interests to fairy tales and environmental philosophy.
Seminar: Folk Tales: Secrets and Sorcery for Honors Program students only]
Chris Vivas
Chris Vivas received his BA in English and Art Studio from Stony Brook University, before earning his MFA in Ceramics from SUNY New Paltz. He has exhibited art work within the United Sates and internationally. He has attended artist residencies in France, Japan and the Museum of Art and Design in New York City. Beyond exhibiting his work he has been published in Lark’s 500 Raku, curated for Stony Brook University, juried exhibitions, been published in Any Warhol: Private and Public in 151 Photographs, and received various grants within New York State. He currently works from his studio in Long Island.
Seminar: The Walking Dead