Faculty & Staff Directory

Todd Davis, winner of the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize, teaches creative writing, environmental studies, and American literature at Penn State University’s Altoona College. His poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and have appeared in such journals and magazines as "Shenandoah", "The North American Review", "Iowa Review", "Indiana Review", "Gettysburg Review", "The Christian Science Monitor", "5 AM", "West Branch", "River Styx", "Arts & Letters", "Quarterly West", "Green Mountains Review", "Poetry East", "Orion", "Epoch", "Rattle", "Nebraska Review", "and Image." He is the author of three books of poetry - "The Least of These" (Michigan State University Press, 2010), "Some Heaven" (Michigan State University Press, 2007) and "Ripe" (Bottom Dog Press, 2002) - one chapbook, "Household of Water, Moon, and Snow: The Thoreau Poems" (Seven Kitchens Press, 2010), and co-editor of the anthology, "Making Poems: 40 Poems with Commentary by the Poets" (State University of New York Press, 2010). His poems have been featured on the radio by Garrison Keillor on "The Writer’s Almanac" and by Marion Roach on "The Naturalist’s Datebook," as well as by Ted Kooser in his syndicated newspaper column "American Life in Poetry." In addition to his creative work, Davis is the author or editor of six scholarly books, including "Kurt Vonnegut’s Crusade, or How a Postmodern Harlequin Preached a New Kind of Humanism" (State University of New York Press, 2006) and "Mapping the Ethical Turn: A Reader in Ethics, Culture, and Literary Theory" (University Press of Virginia, 2001).

Phillip Day’s research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hormonal signal transduction in germinating cereal grains such as rice, barley, and wheat. Specifically, Dr. Day studies the role of lipid- and protein-kinases in the gibberellin response of rice aleurone cells. He currently teaches courses in microbiology and genetics.

Mary G. De Jong received her Ph.D. in literature from the University of South Carolina. She has published many articles on American literature and culture, including four on the composition and performance of hymns and three on poet Frances S. Osgood's literary romance with Edgar Allan Poe. Her research interests and teaching now center on gender issues, especially in women's writing. Co-editor of "Popular Nineteenth-Century American Women's Writing and the Literary Marketplace" (2007), she is now co-editing "Sentimentalism Revisited: Emotions, Relationships, and Practices in Nineteenth-Century American Literature." Also in progress is a study of the letters exchanged by two antebellum American women reformers.

Lee Ann De Reus is an Associate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies and Women Studies at Pennsylvania State University-Altoona and the co-founder/assistant executive director of Panzi Foundation USA (www.panzifoundation.org). As a scholar-activist, she travels regularly to Panzi Hospital in eastern DR Congo to conduct research, develop programs for rape survivors, and inform her advocacy work in the U.S. She leads an annual field experience for PSU students to Rwanda and co-founded Beza Kids (www.bezakids.org) in support of vulnerable women and children there. Dr. De Reus is a 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellow and the recipient of numerous awards from Penn State University including the prestigious George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Spirit of Internationalization Award given in honor of her commitment to global service and outreach. She leads the Genocide Relief Project, a local community-based anti-genocide advocacy, education and aid organization and she is a featured activist in John Prendergast's book, "The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa's Worst Human Rights Crimes." A frequent guest speaker about the crisis in the DRC, her 2013 TEDxPSU talk, "Daring to Make a Difference for Congo" can be found at www.tedxpsu.com. For more information, visit www.leeanndereus.com or follow her on Twitter at @LADeReus or @PanziUSA.

Julie L. Decker, instructor in nursing, earned her diploma in nursing from the Altoona Hospital School of Nursing, a bachelor's degree from Mount Aloysius College, a master's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and is a doctoral student at Carlow University. She completed a lengthy tenure as a bedside clinician in the coronary and intensive care units of Altoona Regional Healthcare System, as well as working as an admission liaison and public educator. Professional interests include issues of nursing education and the improvement of work environments. Her research is focused on vertical violence/horizontal violence with the profession of nursing. Academic honors include membership in Sigma Theta Tau and Delta Epsilon Sigma. Professional membership includes the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, National League of Nursing. Additionally, Julie offers historical interpretations of nurses throughout pivotal events in American history; a Civil War Catholic Sister, World War II, and the Vietnam war. These impressions act as educational modes for the public on the various aspects of the nursing profession during times of conflict with accompanying discussion on general medical treatment during each conflict

Ms. Deleece recently graduated with her Master of Science in Evolutionary Psychology degree with Merit from Brunel University in London, U.K. She has just begun her career as a psychology instructor at Penn State Altoona teaching Introduction to Psychology. In addition to teaching, Tara has research experience in evolutionary psychology, and has collaborated with another Penn State Altoona faculty member, Robert Matchock. She also is in the process of applying to Ph.D. programs.

Daniel DiLeo received his Bachelor of Arts degree and his Ph.D. in political science from Temple University in Philadelphia. He teaches courses in American government and political philosophy. His research interests include the agendas and rhetoric of the governors of the American states, education policy in the American states and the political implications of religious doctrines.

Cathy Dillen, instructor in nursing, holds a master’s
degree in Nursing from Penn State with a focus
on adult health and nursing education as a clinical
nurse specialist. She has been employed at Altoona
Regional Health System for over twenty years
where she works as an oncology nurse and serves
as the cancer committee outreach coordinator. She
is certified as an oncology and medical-surgical
nurse and holds specialized training as a chemotherapy
biotherapy trainer.

Education:
AS Forest Technology, Williamsport Area CC
BS Electrical Engineering Technology, Penn State
ME Electrical Engineering, Penn State

Research Interests:
Power Electronics
Traction Motors
Vibrational Analysis