Our Faculty

Engaging, dynamic faculty members are the heart of Alvernia University.

Our professors are accomplished scholars, experts in their fields, and supportive mentors who are committed foremost to their students’ success. More than two-thirds of them hold the highest degree available in their field. Outside of the classroom many regularly publish books and articles, present scholarly works at national and international conferences, and serve as field experts to the mass media — through newspaper, broadcast, and online outlets. It's no wonder that our students appreciate small class sizes (14:1 student to faculty ratio), personal attention, and breath of academic programs offered — relevant in today's world.

See below for recent work completed by our faculty outside of the classroom.

SPRING 2013 

Carol Schwanger
Associate Professor of Music
Carol Schwanger is a member of the storied Ringgold Band, established in Reading in 1852. Alvernia's Instrumental Music Director, James Seidel, is the conductor of this band. The Spring concert features music of the Civil War, including a world premier work by local musicians Chris Heslop and David Kline.

Theresa Adams, Ph.D., RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Nursing department professor, Theresa Adams presented a podium presentation entitled, "Cultural Competence for Lifelong Learners" on April 23, 2013 for the Reading Hospital Alumni Association at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences.

Sister Christen Shukwit
Campus Ministry
Sister Christen is working with the president of ICC Prime Time Club at Immaculate Conception, in Birdsboro to help them with journaling and memoir writing, with the hopes of working toward a History of the Church.   

Carrie Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communication and English
Dr. Fitzpatrick published "Technical Writing is Spinach" in the Sigma Tau Delta spring newsletter.

Judith Warchal, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Warchal and Dr. West presented a session titled "Obesity is Not New-Addressing It in Counseling Is" at the American Counseling Association Conference on March 22nd in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Brian Prather, MFA
Assistant Professor of Theatre Design
A new work, “The Memory Play” is opening Off-Broadway with scenic design by Brian Prather.

Theresa Adams, Ph.D., RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Nursing department's Theresa Adams presented a podium presentation, Heritage Highlights: Utilizing Innovative Technology to Transfer Knowledge to Practice" at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing 2013 Hot Issues Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on Friday, April 12, 2013.

John A Rochowicz, Jr, Ed.D.
Professor of Mathematics
Dr. Rochowicz received an award (March 12, 2013) for more than 20 years of service in judging senior and junior division projects in mathematics, computers, physics and physical science for the Reading Berks Scientific and Engineering Fair held at Albright College annually. This science fair is a big event (428 exhibits this year), and winners go on to compete at the national fair. After this year's national fair in Phoenix Arizona, winners will participate in the international fair. This RBSEF fair is sponsored by the Intel Corporation and the Reading-Berks Society of Engineers.

Caroline Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communication and English
Dr. Fitzpatrick moderated a student panel “The New News” at the 2013 International English Honor Society’s (Sigma Tau Delta) Annual Convention, March 20-23, in Portland, OR. Panelists included Alvernia undergraduate students Jessica Ciesla, Sydney Glasmyre, Kellie Lorence, and Chelsea Prosser.

Caroline Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communications and English
Dr. Fitzpatrick presented her paper “Teaching Mythology and Narrative Structure Using ‘Big Fish’” at the 2013 Popular Culture Association’s International Conference, March 27-30, in Washington, D.C.

Spencer S. Stober, Ed.D.
Professor of Biology
Donna Yarri, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Theology
Drs. Donna Yarri and Spencer S. Stober co-authored an article,"Darwin on the Treatment of Animals: His Thoughts Then and His Influence Now," accepted for publication in the Journal of Arts & Humanities, VoL. 2 (2), March 2013.

Bongrae Seok, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Seok presented his paper "Negative Virtues and the Sustainability Approach" in the seventh annual Felician ethics conference (April 20, 2013, Felician College, Rutherford NJ). Dr. Seok analyzed the virtues humility, poverty, and shame to develop a new interpretation of moral excellence from the perspective of the sustainability approach.

Spencer S. Stober, Ed.D.
Professor of Biology
Dr. Stober was appointed to the International Advisory Board for sustainability conferences and corresponding journals published by Common Ground.

Bongrae Seok, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Seok presented his paper "NeuroAesthetics and Embodied Experience of Beauty" in the Sixth Annual Geo-Aesthetics Conference (International Association for the Study of Environment, Space, and Place, March, 2013, Towson University). In this paper, Dr. Seok argues that some foundational features of aesthetic experience are intrinsically embodied.

Ana Ruiz, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Judith Warchal, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Drs. Ruiz and Warchal presented "Activities to Teach Ethics in the Undergraduate Psychology Program," project supported by two grants, as a Participant Idea Exchange at the 35rd Annual National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology, Fla.

Spencer S. Stober, Ed.D.
Professor of Biology
Dr. Spencer S. Stober presented a paper,“Nature-Centered Leadership: Nature as a Stakeholder in Strategic Planning,” at the International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, Hiroshima, Japan, January 23, 2013.

Judith Warchal, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Ana Ruiz, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
 Drs. Ruiz and Warchal co-authored a chapter titled "Long-Term Impact of Service-Learning on Alumni Volunteer Service Activities" published in the book Service-learning in higher education: Connecting the global to the local edited by P. Lin & M. Wiegand. They also partnered with faculty of other universities on a chapter titled "Reflections on Connections" published in the same book.

Ana Ruiz, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Judith Warchal, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Drs. Ruiz and Warchal published a teaching resource titled "Activities Guide: Teaching Ethics in the Introduction to Psychology Course." The resource was supported by a 2011 OTRP Instructional Resource Award and a Faculty Excellence Summer 2012 grant.

Erin Way, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr. Way presented at the 35th Annual National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology (NITOP) in St. Pete Beach, FL on January 5, 2013. Her presentation was entitled "Connecting With the Community through Applied Experiences in Research Methods Coursework"

OTHER YEARS: 2012  —  2011  —  2010