September 27, 2017
Committed to a culture of student success and academic excellence, St. John’s has expanded its teaching ranks by 40 new faculty appointments across the University’s six schools and colleges.
“It is an honor and a privilege to welcome our new faculty members to St. John’s University,” said Robert A. Mangione ’77P, ’79GP, ’93PD, ’99Ed.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Each one is an accomplished educator recognized for outstanding scholarly achievements and deep commitment to both teaching and the University’s mission.”
Reflecting its efforts to ensure student success, the University offers a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. In addition, 92 percent of full-time faculty possess a doctorate or other terminal degree in their field.
Over the past three years, hiring new faculty and deans has been a University priority under the leadership of President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D. Nearly half of the new faculty are female, and nearly half come from historically underrepresented populations in higher education.
The following new faculty began their appointments at St. John’s in the fall of 2017:
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Steven Alvarez, Ph.D., The Graduate Center, CUNY; Assistant Professor, English | Gina Castle Bell, Ph.D., George Mason University; Assistant Professor, Rhetoric, Communication, and Theatre | Robert Bland, Ph.D., University of Maryland; Assistant Professor, History |
| Suzanne Cope, Ph.D., Lesley University; Assistant Professor, ICS/English Composition | Syed K. Islam, Ph.D., The Graduate Center, CUNY; Assistant Professor, Chemistry | Tyreek Jackson, M.A., Columbia University; Instructor, Art and Design |
| Brian James, M.F.A., Rhode Island School of Design; Assistant Professor, Art and Design | Jiyun Kim, Ph.D., M.D., SUNY at Stony Brook; Associate Professor, Biological Sciences | Eric J. Raymer, Ph.D., North Carolina State University; Assistant Professor, ICS/Scientific Inquiry |
| Juan Santos, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin; Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences | LaToya L. Sawyer, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate, Syracuse University; Instructor, English | Frank X. Vazquez, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Assistant Professor, Chemistry |
Yiming Zhao, Ph.D., | ||
The School of Education
| Bilge Cerezci, Ph.D., Erikson Institute and Loyola University; Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction | Thomas P. Dolan, Ed.D., Hofstra University; Associate Clinical Professor, Education Specialties | Elizabeth Gil, Ph.D., Michigan State University; Assistant Professor, Administrative and Instructional Leadership |
| Elena Jurasaite-O’Keefe, Ph.D., University of Michigan, and Ph.D., University of Siauliai-Lithuania; Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction | Stephen Kotok, Ph.D., Penn State University; Assistant Professor, Administrative and Instructional Leadership | Rebecca Louick, Ph.D., Boston College; Assistant Professor, Education Specialties |
Stephanie Tatum, Ph.D., | ||
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business
| Andre de Souza, Ph.D., Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University; Assistant Professor, Economics and Finance | Xiao (Joyce) Lin, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison; Assistant Professor, School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science | Christopher Long, Ph.D., Duke University; Associate Professor, Management |
| Kirstin Munro, Ph.D., Portland State University; Assistant Professor, Economics and Finance | ||
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
| Corinne I. Alois, M.S., PA-C, Pace University; Assistant Professor/Industry Professional, Clinical Health Professions | Harry Barrett, M.P.H., Columbia University, M.S., St. John’s University, and D.Min., New York Theological Seminary; Associate Professor/Industry Professional, Pharmacy Administration and Public Health✝ | Robina Colclough-Davy, B.S., York College–CUNY; Instructor/Industry Professional, Clinical Health Professions |
| Yolene Gousse, Dr.PH., Downstate Medical Center, SUNY; Assistant Professor/Industry Professional, Pharmacy Administration and Public Health | ||
✝St. John’s University is deeply saddened by the loss of Harry Barrett, M.P.H., M.S., D.Min., who started at St. John’s on April 1, 2017, and passed away on August 25, 2017.
College of Professional Studies
| Christoforos Christoforou, Ph.D., The Graduate Center, CUNY; Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science | Denise M. Dragos, M.S., Pace University; Instructor, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science | Richard M. Frankel, J.D., Quinnipiac University Law School; Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Homeland Security | |
| Robert Gonzalez, Ed.D., St. John’s University; Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Homeland Security | Bernard A. Jones, D.Sc., New Jersey City University; Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Homeland Security | Mark J. Juszczak, Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University; Assistant Professor, Mass Communication | |
| April M. Merenda, M.P.S., St. John’s University; Assistant Professor, Administration and Economics | William L. Murphy, J.D., Touro College; Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Homeland Security | Seunghyun “Brian” Park, Ph.D., Kansas State University; Assistant Professor, Administration and Economics | |
| Sejal Singh, J.D., Brooklyn Law School; Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Homeland Security | Lequez Spearman, Ph.D., University of Tennessee; Assistant Professor, Sport Management | ||
School of Law
| Lauren Roth, Ph.D., Columbia University, and J.D., Harvard Law School; Assistant Professor, Legal Writing | ||
Related News
University Recognition Ceremony Honors St. John’s Faculty, Administrators, and Staff
St. John’s University recognized the contributions of its longtime employees on October 1, at its annual University Recognition Ceremony at Taffner Field House on the Queens , NY, campus. Fifteen...
Professor to be Honored at Fulbright Event
The School of Education at St. John’s University proudly recognizes Michael R. Sampson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Education Specialties, for being honored as one of Fulbright’s distinguished...
Tobin College of Business Announces Five Endowed Faculty Appointments
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University has announced five endowed faculty appointments, including two newly established positions, expanding the College’s investment in...