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Liberal Arts Division

Meet the Faculty and Staff

Dr. Robert Kleinschmidt Dean   609-570-3644 ET 107
Lyndsey Goehrig Executive Assistant   609-570-3378 ET 109
Jennifer Juran Assistant to the Dean   609-570-3644 ET 112
Joshua Grissman Administrative Specialist   609-570-3323 CM 129

Dr. Edward Avery-Natale

Associate Professor, Sociology; Chair, Social Sciences; Coordinator, Sociology

averye@mccc.edu
609-570-3339
office: ET117

Ph.D. Sociology, Temple University
B.A., Sociology and Philosophy, Bloomsburg University

Dr. Edward Avery-Natale teaches introductory sociology courses as well as classes about race and racism. He has since published articles on topics such as racism, Black Lives Matter, identification formation, gender, religion, punk rock, Deleuzian approaches to sociology and identity, and more. Dr. Avery-Natale is looking forward to publishing several new books about punk after the success of his first, Ethics, Politics, and Anarcho-Punk Identifications: Punk and Anarchy in Philadelphia.

Edward Avery-Natale

Dr. Carol Denise Bork

Professor, English; Coordinator, Liberal Arts Studies

borkc@mccc.edu
609-570-3890
office: CM128C

Carol Bork

Dr. Bettina Caluori

Professor, English

caluorib@mccc.edu 
609-570-3595
office: ET110

Ph.D., M.A., English, University of California at Santa Barbara
B.A., English, Williams College

Dr. Caluori teaches composition and literature. Her interests include the multiplicity of American literatures, gender and literature, and reading fiction from around the world. Bettina Caluori's Online Office contains a collection of her blogs on writing.

Dr. Bettina Caluori

Mitch Canter

Associate Professor, Communication; Coordinator, Audio Production & Communication

canterm@mccc.edu 
609-570-3755
office: ET118

Prof. Canter spent 20 years in the radio & television industries before coming to Mercer to teach full-time in 2001. He has performed many functions in audio and video production including writing, editing, casting, sound recording, directing audio, and video production as well as performing as voice-over & on-camera talent. In addition to teaching, Prof. Canter performed as a mobile DJ, was an on-air personality for 107.1 The Boss, and conducts workforce training workshops in public speaking, presenting, and effective communication for Rutgers University Office of Continuing Professional Education.

 Mitch-Canter-IMG.jpg

Dr. Edward Carmien

Professor, English

canterm@mccc.edu
609-570-3306
office: CM157

Ed-Carmien.jpg

Katie Atkins Carnevale

Assistant Professor, Communication

carnevak@mccc.edu
609-570-3454
office: ET113

Ed.D., Immaculata University
M.S., Syracuse University
B.A., Sacred Heart University

Dr. Carnevale teaches communication courses including Public Speaking, Speech: Human Communication, and Public Relations. She spent 15 years in the communications industry as a reporter, editor, marketing coordinator, social media manager, and communications director. Her research interests center around Generation Z and engagement in the college classroom, and she has presented at numerous conferences. 

 Katie-Carnevale-IMG.jpg

Michael Chovan-Dalton

Professor, Photography; Coordinator, Photography

daltonm@mccc.edu 
609-570-3835
office: FA102

M.F.A, Columbia University
B.F.A., School of Visual Arts, NYC

Prof. Chovan-Dalton is the Coordinator of Photography & Digital Imaging; he has many exhibitions and is in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma.

Michael Dalton

Dr. Craig Coenen

Professor, History; Coordinator, History

coenenc@mccc.edu 
609-570-3533
office: CM129B

Ph.D. History, Lehigh University
M.A., History, Lehigh University
B.A., History, University of Wisconsin at Green Bay

 

Christopher Cruz-Cullari

Associate Professor, English; Coordinator, Reading

cruzc@mccc.edu
609-570-3326
office: ET 110 

Daniel D'Arpa

Professor, Spanish; Coordinator, ESL and Languages

darpad@mccc.edu
607-570-3318
office: CM157

Ph.D. Spanish Sociolinguistics, Temple University, Philadelphia
M.A., Spanish Literature and Linguistics, Florida State University, Tallahassee
B.A., Sociology/Anthropology, Stockton University

Dr. D'Arpa has experience in public education as a secondary Spanish teacher, university language professor, and department coordinator. His research is on Spanish dialects in contact with Caribbean English Creole. Dr. D'Arpa has taken student groups to study in Spain, Costa Rica and Cuba.

Daniel D'Arpa

Yevgeniy Fiks

Professor, Visual Arts

fiksy@mccc.edu 
609-570-3543
office: ET125

M.F.A. School of Visual Arts
B.F.A. Brooklyn College, CUNY

Yevgeniy Fiks is a multidisciplinary artist, whose work has been shown internationally, including at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, and Museu Colecção Berardo in Lisbon.

Yevgeniy Fiks

Jody P. Gazenbeek-Person

Professor, Theatre/Dance; Coordinator, Theatre/Dance

gazenbej@mccc.edu
609-570-3454
office: CM122

MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University in Directing
BA with a dual concentration in Dance and Drama Studies from SUNY Purchase

In addition to teaching, Jody P. Gazenbeek-Person continues to perform professionally as a dancer, actor, choreographer, and director. Some of his performances are posted on YouTube and Vimeo.

Jody P. Gazenbeek-Person

Kitty Getlik

Manager, Kelsey Theatre

getlikk@mccc.edu
609-570-3580

Kitty Getlik

Ric Giantisco

Associate Professor, Game Design; Coordinator, Game Design & Game Programming

giantisr@mccc.edu
609-570-3458
office: ET115

Ric Giantisco

Nicole Hall

 Assistant Professor, ESL

halln@mccc.edu 
609-570-3316
office: CM 157

M.A., Applied Linguistics and TESOL from Texas A&M Commerce

Professor Hall was born and raised in New Jersey, but I lived abroad teaching English in South Korea, Russia, and Greece. She is currently working on her doctoral degree in English and Applied Linguistics. Professor Hall’s research interests include L2 writing pedagogy, translanguaging, and linguistic equity in higher education.

Dr. Barbara Hamilton

Professor, English

hamiltob@mccc.edu
609-570-3544
office: ET119

M.A. and Ph.D. Comparative Literature, Rutgers University
B.A. English, Carleton College

Dr. Hamilton teaches all levels of composition, World Literature I and II, Intro. to Drama, and Liberal Arts Studies. She is also faculty advisor for students in the Global Studies concentration.

Barbara Hamilton

Michael Hanna

Coordinator, Advanced Manufacturing

hannam@mccc.edu 
609-570-3828
office: ET108

Alvyn Haywood

Professor, Communication

haywooda@mccc.edu
609-570-3362
office: ET108

Alvyn Haywood

Dr. Padhraig Higgins

Professor, History

higginsp@mccc.edu
609-570-3495
office: CM129B

Dr. Padhraig Higgins

Nicole Homer

Professor, English

homern@mccc.edu 
609-570-3316
office: CM 128B

Scott Hornick

Associate Professor, Music; Coordinator, Music and Music Entertainment Technology

hornicks@mccc.edu
609-570-3716
office: CM149

 

Kenneth Howarth

Professor, Philosophy; Coordinator, Philosophy, Religion, and Politics

howarthk@mccc.edu
609-570-3809
office: ET106

M.A., Contemporary Philosophy, Claremont Graduate University, CA
M.A.E.C. Eastern (Asian) Classics, St. John's College, NM
M.A.L.A. Liberal Arts (Classics), St. John's College, MD
B.A., Political Science, Davidson College, NC

Professor Howarth is the Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies Coordinator. He specializes in ethics, practical reasoning, and comparative and the history of philosophies, and lives to engage with family, Boston Terriers, whales and students.

Kenneth Howarth

Dr. Heather Jennings

Professor, Psychology; Coordinator, Psychology

jenningh@mccc.edu
609-570-3450
office: ET114

Ph.D., Educational Psychology-Temple University
M.A., Clinical Psychology- Columbia University, Teacher's College
B.A, Psychology- Rutgers University

Dr. Jennings specializes in psychopathology and spent several years working as a clinician in psychiatric emergency screening services, home-based, shelter-based, and school-based therapy programs before joining the Mercer Faculty in 2004. Dr. Jennings' research interests include the psychological variables that impact academic success among community college students and every semester she learns something new and interesting from her students. 

Heather Jennings

Matthew Johnson

Coordinator, Performing Arts

johnsoma@mccc.edu
609-570-3735
office: CM 155

M.M. in Music Education-Performance, West Chester University
B.M. in Music Performance- Voice, Seton Hill University
B.M. in Music Education- Pk-12 certification, Seton Hill University

Matthew Johnson has been performing for over a decade and has six years of experience in PK-12 music education. His studies as West Chester University focused on vocal performance and pedagogy. While at Seton Hill he studied classical and musical theater voice with secondary studies in saxophone, piano, and music composition. Matthew holds certifications in Gender Affirming Voice and Speech and in the Estill Voice Method.

Matt-Johnson.jpg

Holly Johnson

Professor, English and Journalism

johnsonh@mccc.edu
609-570-3594
office: ET120

M.F.A. Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts
B.A. English with a minor in Creative Writing, Cornell University with Honors

Professor Johnson teaches journalism as well as all levels of composition from developmental to Honors. She is the faculty adviser to the award-winning student newspaper, The College VOICE, and coordinator of both the credit and non-credit journalism programs.

Holly Johnson

Lucas Kelly

Professor, Fine Arts; Director, The Gallery

kellyl@mccc.edu
609-570-3806
office: ET119

 

Dr. Matthew J. Kochis

Associate Professor, English; Coordinator, English

kochism@mccc.edu 
609-570-3852
office: ET 120

Ph.D. in English Literature, University of Tulsa 
MA in English Literature, Seton Hall University
BS in Secondary Education & English, University of Scranton

Matt Kochis

Tina La Placa

Professor, Advertising and Graphic Design; Coordinator, Advertising and Graphic Design

laplacat@mccc.edu
609-570-3356
office: ET116 

M.A. - Advertising Design, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
B.F.A. - Graphic Design, minor Illustration, Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA

Tina La Placa

Barry Levy

Professor, Television and Film; Coordinator, Digital Film, Television, and New Media

levyb@mccc.edu
609-570-3465
office: ET113

 

Katina Lindsay

Assistant Professor, Fashion Design; Coordinator, Fashion Design

lindsayk@mccc.edu
609-570-3135
office: ET116

 

Dr. Vickie Masseus

Assistant Professor, English

masseusv@mccc.edu 
609-570-3378
office: ET 108

Ph.D. in English Literature, St. John's University, Queens, NY
MA in English Literature, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

Dr. Wan-Ning Yeh

Assistant Professor, ESL

yehw@mccc.edu 
609-570-3371
office: CM 157

Ph.D. in Composition & TESOL, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
M.A. in TESOL, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
B.A. in English Language, Literature and Linguistics, Providence University (Taiwan) 

Dr. Yeh teaches primarily ESL coursework, and also offers Chinese language courses. Her research interests include second language writing, autoethnography and art-based research. She also established and coordinates the Conversation Partners program.  

Wan-Ning-Yeh

Kerri O'Neill

Coordinator, Fine Arts

oneillk@mccc.edu
609-570-3521
office: ES121

M.F.A  Penn State University
B.F.A   University of Delaware

Kerri is the Fine Arts Coordinator where she oversees all studio spaces for the Fine Arts department, as well as teach some studio courses throughout the year. In addition, Kerri has served as the advisor to the art club on campus which aims to promote the arts both inside and outside the college community.

Kerri Oneill

Garry Perryman

Coordinator, Architecture

perrymag@mccc.edu

Dr. Eirini Papafratzeskakou

Associate Professor, Psychology; Coordinator, Psychology

papafrae@mccc.edu
609-570-3557
office: ET114

Ph.D., Developmental Psychology- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
M.S., Developmental Psychology- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
B.S, Psychology- Old Dominion University

Eirini Papafratzeskakou

Daniel Schermond

Associate Professor, Sociology; Coordinator, Sociology

schermod@mccc.edu
609-570-3345
office: ET110

Daniel Schermond

Sharmila Sen

Professor, English; Chair, English and Foreign Language

sens@mccc.edu
609-570-3733
office: ET116

Sharmila Sen

Kyle Stevenson

Professor, Fine Arts

stevensk@mccc.edu
609-570-3836
office: ET124

 

Dr. Jack Tabor

Associate Professor, English;

taborj@mccc.edu
609-570-3838
office: CM140B

Ph.D., M.A., English. University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A., English. University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Tabor teaches freshman composition as well as Introduction to the Novel; Literature of War and Conflict, The Holocaust; British Literature II; and beginning and intermediate ballet. He is also the co-coordinator of Mercer's Holocaust Study Abroad Program in Poland. Dr. Tabor is currently learning how to play the guitar.

Dr. Jack Tabor

Jacqueline Vogtman

Professor, English; Coordinator, English

vogtmanj@mccc.edu
609-570-3750
office: CM157

MFA in Creative Writing from Bowling Green State University
BA, English, The College of New Jersey

Professor Vogtman is a writer whose fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals, and her award-winning book of short stories, Girl Country, was published in 2023 by Dzanc Books. She is the editor of Kelsey Review, and she co-advises S.O.U.L., MCCC's student creative writing club. 

Jacky Vogtman

Dr. Amy Vondrak

Professor, English; Coordinator, Developmental Composition; Co-Coordinator, READY

vondraka@mccc.edu
office: KC 239

Ph.D. Syracuse University
MA.., North Carolina State University
BA.., University of Michigan

Amy Vondrak is a creator of learning spaces and experiences that center our students, their experiences, and their lives in the creation of knowledge and pursuit of revolutionary equality. She is an instigator of utopia in the every day. 

 

Dr. Steve Voorhees

Professor, Television, Digital Film, & New Media

voorhees@mccc.edu
609-570-3805
office: ET125

Ph.D., Media Studies, Rutgers University 
M.A., Broadcasting, Telecommunications, & Mass Media, Temple University 
B.A., Radio & Television, Rider University

Dr. Voorhees' research focuses on the intersection of political economy of media, audience studies, and TV history.  His work has been featured in publications such as the Journal of Electronic News, Journalism History Journal's Broadcast History Series, and Media Ethics MagazineHe is also a producer and co-host of Inside the Box: The TV History Podcast where his commentary is featured on the DVD box set release of the 1960s CBS sitcom Green Acres

 

Michael Welliver

Professor, Ceramics and Sculpture; Coordinator, Fine Arts

wellivem@mccc.edu
609-570-3522
office: ES121

 

Dr. Dylan Wolfe

Professor, Communication; Chair, Arts and Communication

wolfedy@mccc.edu
609-570-3332
office: ET113

Ph.D. University of Georgia, Speech and Communication Studies
BS and MS, State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Environmental Communication

Professor Wolfe's teaching and research is based on the notion that the experience of communication is a crucial component of the communicative process. Dr. Wolfe has presented his work at numerous academic and professional conferences and has been published in highly respected academic journals including Western Journal of Communication, Environmental Communication, and Visual Communication.

Dylan Wolfe

Mauro Zamora

Associate Professor, Digital Media Arts; Coordinator, Digital Media Arts

zamoram@mccc.edu
609-570-3340
office: ET118

 

       Complete Liberal Arts Division Faculty and Staff Contact Directory