FSU Welcomes New Faculty

Fairmont State University is welcoming 17 new faculty members and two new deans as the 2006-2007 academic year begins. Pierpont Community & Technical College, a Division of FSU, is welcoming seven new faculty members.

Dr. Sharon Boni has been named Dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health Administration. Dr. Van Dempsey has been named Dean of the School of Education. New FSU faculty members are Erin Noelle Hippolyte, Temporary Assistant Professor of French; Jess Cunnick, Temporary Assistant Professor of Biology; Todd Ensign, Temporary Assistant Professor of Science Education and Science and Technology Specialist for the NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center; Bonnie Freeman, Temporary Research Assistant in the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Geoscience; Mahmood Hossain, Assistant Professor of Computer Science; Cynthia Keeling, Temporary Assistant Professor of Science; A. Dennine LaRue, Temporary Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Marcie Rice, College Assistant/Temporary Instructor; Suzanne Rogers, Temporary Assistant Professor of Biology; James Vassil, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Technology; Jess White, Temporary Instructor of Geoscience; Joseph Wiles, College Assistant/Temporary Instructor; Jerry Carbo, Associate Professor/Business Director of MBA Programs; Constance Edwards, from temporary to tenure track as an Assistant Professor of Music; Jeff Greenham, Temporary Assistant Professor of Art; Jeffrey Ingman, Assistant Professor of Theatre; and Deanne Broscious, Temporary Assistant Professor of Nursing.

* Dr. Sharon Boni received her education at Alderson-Broaddus College (B.S.N.), West Virginia University (M.S.N.) and the Catholic University of America (D.N.Sc). She is a licensed nurse in West Virginia and New York and is certified in Critical Care Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She has served as Associate Dean for Student Services, School of Nursing, Excelsior College, Albany, N.Y.; Professor of Nursing, Alderson-Broaddus College, and chair of the Division of Health Sciences and Department of Nursing there; Project Director of North Central WV Nursing Workforce Network, Morgantown; Hospice Nurse, Philippi; and Nursing Faculty for Mountain Health Partners, Buckhannon.

* Dr. Van Dempsey earned his B.A in Education, M.A. in Teaching: Social Studies and Doctor of Philosophy: Social Foundations of Education; at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has directed the Benedum Collaborative for school-university partnerships at West Virginia University for the past eight years and most recently served there as Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Foundations, Department of Advanced Education. He has also taught at UNC Chapel Hill and at several public schools in North Carolina.

* Erin Noelle Hippolyte received a B.A. in English from Hammline University in St. Paul and from the University of Rochester, N.Y., both her M.A. in French and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. She has taught French, Comparative Literature, Film Studies and a variety of Humanities courses at the University of Rochester, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Eastman School of Music.

* Jess Cunnick will teach and conduct cancer research as part of Dr. Albert Magro's West Virginia IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence grant. Cunnick obtained his B.A. degree in biology from McPherson College and his Ph.D. from Kansas State University where he studied biochemistry. He spent five years as a postdoctoral fellow at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., studying cellular signaling pathways. For the past four years Cunnick has studied inflammation and cancer as a research associate at Children's Hospital, Los Angeles.

* Todd Ensign completed a B.S degree in Earth Science Education and an M.Ed. in Educational Technology at Northern Arizona University. Ensign has designed and provided professional development for state teachers through The EdVenture Group, served Fairmont State as an adjunct instructor of Geosphere and Exosphere courses and has delivered NASA educational programs to teachers throughout West Virginia.

* Bonnie Freeman is working as part of Dr. Mark Flood's WV-INBRE grant from the National Institutes of Health. She has worked on research projects at FSU since 2001. These include Mutagenic Potential of Environmental Substances, Homocysteine and Genotype in an Obese West Virginia Population and Sequence Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Genes. She has been an instructor for Project AMPLE, Crime Solvers and Biotech summer programs at Fairmont State. She holds an A.A.S. degree in Veterinary Technology and a B.S. in Biology from Fairmont State.

* Mahmood Hossain earned a B.S. degree in Applied Physics and Electronics and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Dhaka at Bangladesh. He earned an M.S. in Computer Science from Mississippi State University where he anticipates completion of his Ph.D. this fall. He has taught a wide variety of courses including introductory and advanced programming. His Ph.D. research focuses on clustering multiple heterogeneous datasets in document clustering and bio-informatics.

* Cynthia Keeling will teach courses in Geoscience education and serve as the Program Manager for the NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center. She holds a B.A. in Education from Fairmont State and an M.A. in Reading from Baldwin Wallace College, as well as a specialization in gifted education from WVU and an Educational Leadership degree from Salem International University.

* A. Dennine LaRue has served as an adjunct professor in the Math Department since 1987. She holds an M.S. in Mathematics from WVU and an A.B. in Education (Math/Journalism) from Fairmont State. She taught Pre-Calculus, Geometry and other courses at Fairmont Senior High School for 10 years and is a private math tutor. She has been an officer in the West Virginia State Math Field Day organization for 15 years and a regional site coordinator and director for 26 years. She has also been a county coach and local Math Field Day director.

* Marcie Rice will be responsible for Student Support, Recruiting and Outreach for the School of Science and Technology. She holds an M.A. degree in Elementary Education from WVU and was a substitute teacher in Monongalia County. She taught seventh-grade math and science at Warm Springs Middle School in Berkeley County before coming to FSU. She will be developing programs and activities to impact student success at FSU.

* Suzanne Rogers holds a B.S. degree from Cornell and an M.S. degree from Ohio State University in Plant Science/Horticulture. She holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy/Plant Physiology from the University of Illinois. She has taught courses on plant cell culture, tropical plant identification and production and greenhouse management at Texas A&M where she conducted research on plant cell structure. While at Salem International University, she taught courses in molecular genetics, DNA transcription, cell and molecular biology, plant tissue culture and plant physiology. She has conducted research into the genetic transformation of wetland plants for pollution remediation.

* James Vassil began his tenure at Fairmont State in 2001. He has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Fairmont State and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. His previous responsibilities at Fairmont State included course development and presentation for the West Virginia Division of Highways. In his new role, he will teach a variety of on-campus and online civil engineering technology courses.

* Jess White will manage the NASA IV&V Student Outreach Program. He earned a B.A. degree in Technology Education from Fairmont State and is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Professional Studies at FSU. White has completed a one-year internship in Organization and Management at NASA IV&V and has been a substitute teacher in Monongalia County. He will provide science, technology, engineering, geology and mathematics outreach for Pre-K through Lifelong Learners throughout West Virginia as well as encourage the pursuit of related careers in those fields.

* Joseph Wiles will oversee Assessment, Facilities and Curriculum for the School of Science and Technology. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from WVU in 1995, earning a degree in English and receiving a Phi Beta Kappa key. He is currently pursuing an M.A. degree in Industrial Labor Relations at WVU. From 1994-2006, he was employed by WVUs Academic Services Center with responsibilities in Computer Technology.

* Jerry Carbo is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. He holds a J.D. from Penn State University, an M.A. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell and a B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas Christian University. He maintains his own law firm and has been a Fairmont State professor since 2001, teaching courses in Human Resources, Management and Employment Law. He worked in the private sector for Alcoa Fujikara in South Carolina, Carrier in Tennessee and Alcoa Massena of New York in various Human Resource positions.

* Constance Edwards obtained her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Bassoon Performance with a minor in Musicology from the University of Arizona; her M.A. in Music History and Literature from the University of Akron and her B.A. degree in Bassoon Performance from the College of Wooster in Ohio. She has orchestral, chamber and competitive experience in the U.S. and Europe and has been an instructor and lecturer in colleges and universities throughout Arizona.

* Jeff Greenham holds an M.F.A. from WVU and a B.F.A. from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He was most recently the Director of Ceramics at Chautauqua School of Art and has been a manager, artist and director of studios in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and South Carolina. He has been an independent consultant to the Smithsonian Institute, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the National Council on the Education of the Ceramic Arts. He has been a visiting artist and lecturer in the U.S. and Europe. He was named FSU's Outstanding Adjunct in May 2006.

* Jeffrey Ingman holds an M.F.A. from Rutgers in Professional Acting and a B.S. in Theater from Southern Utah State University. He has taught acting and directing at the University of Montana and the University of the Pacific and was the entertainment manager and co-director of the medals ceremony for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He has served as Interim Executive Director of Diversionary Theatre in San Diego and as director and writer for the Utah Shakespearean Festival. He has directed musicals, comedies and classic and dramatic presentations.

* Deanne Broscious earned a B.S. degree in Nursing at WVU. She is currently enrolled in the M.S.N. and F.N.P. programs at the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Hyden, Ky. She worked most recently as a registered nurse in the trauma center at WVU Hospitals. She holds additional licensure and certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Trauma Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

New Pierpont Community & Technical College faculty members are: Mary Beth Angeline, Assistant Professor of Academic Studies/Math; Aimee Richards, Temporary Assistant Professor of Academic Studies/Speech Communication; Nathaniel Sams, Assistant Professor of Academic Affairs/Math; Chris Toothman, Assistant Professor of Drafting/Design; Kelly Ferren, Assistant Professor and Clinical Education Director of Respiratory Care; Heather Casdorph, Assistant Professor of Applied Design; Noel Tenney, Temporary Assistant Professor of Folklife Studies.

* Mary Beth Angeline holds a master's degree in Technical Education from WVU and a B.A. in Business Administration from Fairmont State. She has also received certification in Mathematics Education from Fairmont State. She has taught at FSHS and has been an adjunct at Fairmont State since 1998.

* Aimee Richards is completing her Ed.D. in Educational Psychology at WVU. She has an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from WVU and a B.A. in Theatre from Bethany College. She has served as an adjunct at Fairmont State and as a teaching assistant and research assistant at WVU. She has also been involved with West Virginia Puppet Theatre.

* Nathaniel Sams has an M.S. and B.A. in Mathematics and a B.A. in Chemistry from WVU. He recently served as Senior Lecturer of Mathematics at WVU. He has also taught Mathematics at WVU-Parkersburg and was a lecturer and graduate teaching assistant at WVU.

* Chris Toothman received a Masters in Technology Education from California University of Pa. and a B.A. in Technology Education from Fairmont State. He was a CAD/Drafting instructor in Monongalia County Schools from 1989 until his employment at Fairmont State in January 2006. He has taught as an adjunct for Fairmont State and has also taught at WVU.

* Kelly Ferren received a B.S. and A.S. from Fairmont State. She has been employed at United Hospital Center, WVU Hospitals, Monongalia General Hospital as well as Rite-Aid Home Health Care as a respiratory therapist.

* Heather Casdorph received a M.A. in Education from FSU and an undergraduate degree in Interior Design from WVU. She has worked as a designer at General Glass Home Center in Morgantown and Creative Kitchens in Charleston. She has also been an adjunct at Fairmont State.

* Noel Tenney is working toward a Ph.D. concentrating on Museum Education and Traditional Folk Culture of Appalachia at Pennsylvania State University. He has an M.A.T. in Art Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a B.S. in Art Education and Speech Communications from Concord College. He has taught as an adjunct at Fairmont State, WVU and West Virginia Wesleyan. He has taught at Salem College and directed, planned and supervised the Fort New Salem project.