Faculty & Staff Directory

Corien Bakermans, assistant professor of microbiology,
earned her doctorate from Cornell University.
Her research involves determining what adaptations
microorganisms have evolved to live at low temperatures
and how these adaptations are relevant
to ecological success and ecosystem processes.
She previously served as a research scientist in the
Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State
University.

Dr. Balch's research focuses on memory processes, including music-dependent and mood-dependent memory. Lately he has also been investigating the distinction between source and fact memory. Another line of research he pursues involves memory demonstrations and effects that occur in the teaching of psychology, with an emphasis on teaching techniques that improve students' performance in psychology courses. In some of his research, he has worked with student assistants who have taken independent project courses from him. With respect to his teaching interests, Dr. Balch teaches several sections of introductory psychology each year, and included in his classes a number of the demonstrations and techniques he developed in his research. He also teaches a course in developmental psychology, which includes an opportunity for students to earn extra credit by performing videotaped exercises featuring children from the community. Recently, he has been teaching an advanced course in memory involving a number of in-class memory demonstrations and a library-research paper designed to provide expertise to each student in some topic of memory that particularly interests him or her.

David Barnes teaches in the areas of Information Sciences and Technology and Security and Risk Analysis. His research interests include operating systems, computer and network security, forensics and risk. Information on courses he teaches can be found at www.personal.psu.edu/drb21. He has an A.B. in economics from Duke University and a J.D. from the Penn State University Dickinson School of Law.

Todd D. Batzel received the B.S. and PhD. degrees in electrical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, in 1984 and 2000, respectively, and the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, in 1989. Currently, he is an associate professor of electrical engineering at Penn State Altoona. His research interests include electric machines, electric motor controls, power electronics, predictive diagnostics for electric machinery, artificial intelligence applications to control, and embedded control systems.

In addition to his position as the supervisor of the Penn State Altoona engineering student and research labs, Eric Beaver is a part-time instructor of IET 216, covering topics of computer networking and databases. He joined the Penn State staff in 2009 and has been teaching since 2010. He brings almost 10 years of networking experience, specializing in wireless WAN/LAN technologies, and continues to work with local companies in this capacity. Mr. Beaver earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University in 2002. Serving in an advisory role, he works with the Penn State Altoona Motorsports Club in their involvement with the international collegiate design competition sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

Mr. Belsterling is a Certified Fraud Examiner and has 25 years of experience in Accounting, Management and Consulting. He was employed by an international firm, a regional CPA firm, and worked in the Automobile Industry for 17 years, most recently as a Controller for one of the 100 largest auto groups in the United States. Mr. Belsterling has experience in Human Resources Management, Marketing, Inventory Management, Customer Relationship Management and Management Information Systems administration. As a sole proprietor, he has provided representation for clients in connection with business acquisitions, as well as sales, and he has prepared corporate tax returns, financial statements and business valuations for clients in Real Estate, Engineering, the Transportation Industry and the Automobile Industry. Mr. Belsterling has also served as President and Chairman of the Board for a Non-Profit organization. He received his B.S. in Accounting and his Master of Business Administration degree from Waynesburg University.

Dr. Benson teaches primarily in the Human Development & Family Studies program, but teaches one section of developmental psychology per year. Her research has focused on the development of narrative ability in preschool children; specifically, the development of the ability to invent stories with plots. With a background of experience with Head Start, she is interested in how narrative ability is connected to emerging literacy, and how mother-child interactions are connected to the child's social competence in the Head Start classroom.

Currently serves as the Director of Operations for Home Nursing Agency Healthcare in Huntingdon, PA. Past work experience includes Campus Director for an associate-degree granting institution as well as 10 years as a small-business owner. She earned her BSBA at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and her MSBA at Penn State, University Park. She resides in Warriors Mark with her husband, son and two Labs.

Pamela Blackmon, assistant professor of political
science, earned her doctorate from the University of
Miami. Her research interests include international
relations and international economics. She has
published articles in "International Studies Review," "Central Asian Survey," and "Women's Studies" while also contributing a
chapter on market liberalization policies in Kazakhstan
and Uzbekistan to "The Politics of Transition in
Central Asia and the Caucasus" (Routledge, 2009). Her first book "In the Shadow of Russia: Reform in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan" is forthcoming with Michigan State University Press.

Landy Blasdel, assistant professor of chemistry, earned her doctorate from Harvard University. Her graduate work focused on the total synthesis of Salinosporamide A, a natural product that is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Upon completion of her graduate work, Landy moved to Penn State’s University Park campus, where she served as a National Science Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow. Her research focused on the synthesis of a ruthenium dye for use in a photoelectrochemical system to split water into oxygen and hydrogen.

Bryce Britton is a full time instructor at Penn State Altoona, teaching musical theater, acting and interdisciplinary arts. He received his master of fine arts in theatre direction from Ohio University and has worked in many professional theaters throughout the country. Some of his favorite directorial credits include Dana Lynn Formby's "The Small of Her Back," "Wonder of the World," "West Side Story," "Pippin," "Into the Woods," "Extremities," "Sleuth," "The Dumb Waiter," "Compleat Female Stage Beauty," and his MFA thesis, "The Grapes of Wrath." Recently Bryce directed "Dead Man's Cell Phone" for Shepherd University and "A Voice from the Prairie - the Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder" for Ohio Valley Summer Theater. Next up is Engelbert Humperdinck's opera "Hansel and Gretel" with Shepherd University's Music Department and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" this spring at Penn State Altoona. Bryce is also an Equity Stage Manager and has worked at Contemporary American Theater Festival, Seattle Children's Theater, Village Theater and Seattle Repertory Theater.