Faculty & Staff Directory

Michael Gannon’s interests and research are in tropical biodiversity and the ecology of temperate and tropical bat species. His studies have taken him from Pennsylvania to the Caribbean. He teaches general biology, function and development of organisms, and mammalogy.

I am a graduate of Davidson College, Davidson, NC (30 minutes north of Charlotte, NC), where I earned a Political Science degree and a graduate of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN where I earned a Masters of Education degree in Student Personnel Services. I worked at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and UT-Chattanooga in Residence Life before coming to Penn State Altoona in 1990 as an academic adviser. I supervise a first-year retention program, have taught first-year seminar and study skill courses and am a member of several on and off-campus committees. I chair an community organization that documents African American history in Central Pennsylvania.

Mr. Girard is a part time lecturer and teaches undergraduate courses at Penn State Altoona as well as at the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in science and engineering technology. Mr. Girard has taught courses in physics, statics, strength of materials, and quality control. Mr. Girard has an M.S. degree in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology from The Pennsylvania State University, Altoona College. Mr. Girard is also a graduate of the Defense Language Institute, where he completed the Russian Basic Course while serving on active duty in the U.S. Army. In addition to his work as a part time lecturer, Mr. Girard has been employed as an engineer with the Department of the Navy and a local defense contractor; and has most recently started his own consulting business.

Dr. Girard has been teaching at Penn State Altoona since August 2004. She has taught consumer behavior, marketing research, principles of marketing, contemporary american marketing, internet marketing, marketing strategy, entrepreneurial marketing, and leadership and motivation courses. Besides teaching undergraduate courses and doing academic research, Dr. Girard serves as a marketing research consultant to businesses.

Sarah Gority, graphic designer and marketing coordinator, recently joined the University Relations staff after being employed locally with a small specialty marketing firm. Previously, she was a member of the media department at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She attended Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing.

Eric Granlund, instructor in engineering, currently teaches in the areas of engineering mechanics, engineering design and graphics, machine elements, computer-aided design and materials science. He is the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the student chapter of Tau Alpha Pi Engineering Technology Honor Society. Eric received both his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Engineering Mechanics from the Pennsylvania State University.