Faculty & Staff Directory

Carolyn Mahan�s research interests include the study of biodiversity in threatened
ecosystems, the effects of human-modified landscapes on wildlife, and behavioral
ecology of sciurids. Dr. Mahan teaches introductory biology, environmental studies,
field ecology, and evolution.

Ian Marshall is the author of "Story Line: Exploring the Literature of the Appalachian Trail," "Peak Experiences: Walking Meditations on Literature, Nature, and Need," "Walden by Haiku," and articles on writers as diverse as Henry Thoreau and Dr. Seuss. His specialties are American nature writing and ecocriticism. He received his B.A. and M.A. from West Chester University, PA (1977, 1983), and his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware (1988).

Amir Marvasti is Associate Professor of Sociology at Penn State Altoona. His areas of specialization include deviance, social psychology, race and ethnicity, and qualitative methods. He received his PhD from the University of Florida in 1999.

Amir’s research focuses on how deviant identities are socially constructed and managed in everyday encounters, in institutional settings, and in written texts. His work in this area explores how social power and dominant discourses influence who we are, how we think of ourselves, and how we are perceived by others. Using a constructionist framework, he conceptualizes power and identity as interrelated social processes that can be documented in talk and everyday interactions.

Additionally, Amir has an active publication record on the pedagogy of qualitative research. His books in this area provide broad overviews of qualitative methodology from data collection, to analysis, to writing a research manuscript. Through these publications, Amir has developed his particular understanding of qualitative research as a methodology that is uniquely suited for the study of lived experience.

Select Publications:

-“Constructing the Service-Worthy Homeless through Narrative Editing.” 2002. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography. 31 (4): 615-651.

-Qualitative Research in Sociology. 2004. Sage.

-Middle Eastern Lives in America (with Karyn McKinney). 2004. Rowman and Littlefield.

-“Being Middle Eastern American: Identity Negotiation in the Context of the War on Terror.” 2005. Symbolic Interaction 28(4): 525-548.

-Doing Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Guide (with David Silverman). 2008. Sage.

-“Does Diversity Mean Assimilation?” (with K.D. McKinney), 2011. Critical Sociology 37(5): 631-650.

-The Handbook of Research Interview: The Complexity of the Craft, 2nd edition (with Jay Gubrium, James Holstein, and Karyn McKinney). 2012. Sage.

Jun Masamune, assistant professor of mathematics,
earned his doctorate in information sciences
and mathematics at Tohoku University. He previously
served as visiting assistant professor in the
Department of Mathematical Sciences at Worcester
Polytechnic Institute. His research interest involves
geometric analysis on singular spaces and its applications
to real-world problems.

Dr. Matchock�s research focuses on circadian and seasonal rhythms in physiology and behavior, with a special emphasis on reproduction. His primary program of research focuses on how reproductive processes (e.g., pubertal maturation/menarche) can be influenced by early testosterone exposure (as measured with 2D:4D ratios or direct assays of testosterone), and family composition or socioendocrinology (putative olfactory cues released by conspecifics). In addition, he has investigated seasonal rhythms of menarche, which are possibly mediated by the photoperiod. He has also examined circadian and seasonal rhythms in steroid hormones such as cortisol and testosterone during the puberty period. Much of this chronobiological work is interpreted from a human evolutionary perspective. A secondary line of research is related to cognitive neuroscience and investigates how components of attention, especially conflict resolution or the ability to inhibit irrelevant stimuli, can be modulated by chronobiological factors. Specifically, this preliminary, interdisciplinary work is starting to examine how circadian (time-of-day), homeostatic, and sleep inertia (i.e., that period of grogginess and hypovigilence experienced upon awakening) � induced influences on arousal/alertness interfere with attentional processes. This research may help to better understand deficits in performance that require selective attention when in a non-optimal state. Dr. Matchock teaches Introductory Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology, The Neurological Bases of Behavior, Evolutionary Psychology, The Psychology of Fear and Stress, and Behavioral Genetics.

Frances Mateycik, assistant professor of physics, earned her doctorate in physics from Kansas State University and a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In her dissertation, titled "Facilitating Case Reuse During Problem Solving in Algebra-Based Physics," she investigates methods for facilitating case reuse in problem solving. Her research includes semi-structured individual and focus group interviews as well as student work on exam problems.

Jan McClure. has a B.S .and Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering and a M.E. in Industrial Engineering. As a consultant, Jan developed proposals and software for the control of an antenna system and documented and designed the knowledge base for a cable television diagnostic program. She spent eight years as Coordinator, Expert Systems Development Group, Penn State, involved with management of cooperative project with the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation. Also, she directed the development of seven expert systems, software, documentation, support, and users’ manual. Directed the beta test evaluations by the users. Currently, she is developing agricultural systems for sustainable and organics vegetable cropping systems. As an instructor, she has taught statics, dynamics, strength of materials, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and freshman engineering design. Also, she has been an Oasis Mentor (mentor to at-risk student for retention and improved study skills) and Engineering Undergraduate Advisor.

Mr. McCoy has been an Adjunct Instructor in Psychology at Penn State Altoona since 1997. He has taught courses in Introduction to Psychology, Psychology of Personal Well-being and Adjustment, Introduction to Psychologies of Religion, Psychology of Religions, Cultures and Therapies, and Abnormal Psychology. Mr. McCoy has served as the part-time faculty senate representative and on the Budget Committee.

Karyn D. McKinney, Associate Professor of Sociology, holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Florida. Her research has focused on the role of race and racism in identity and experience. Her publications include "Being White: Stories of Race and Racism" (Routledge, 2005), "Middle Eastern Lives in America" (with Amir Marvasti, Rowman and Littlefield, 2004) and "The Many Costs of Racism" (with Joe Feagin, Rowman and Littlefield, 2003). In addition, she has published articles in journals such as "The Indiana Law Review" (2001), "Race and Society" (2004) and "Social Identities" (2006). Chapters by McKinney have appeared in "White Out" (Routledge, 2003, with Joe Feagin), and "Race in the College Classroom" (Rutgers University Press, 2002). McKinney's current research explores the meanings of masculinity for men of various racial and ethnic groups. Dr. McKinney teaches courses focused on social inequalities in race, class and gender, giving attention to the intersectionality of these statuses in individual lives.

Kim M�nard, assistant professor of criminal justice, earned her doctorate at Penn State. She previously served as an assistant professor at San Jos� State University and, most recently, as a senior lecturer at Penn State�s University Park campus, where she earned Teacher of the Year honors from the Justice Association. Her research focuses on interpersonal violence, specifically gender differences in the victimization and perpetration of these crimes, as well as victim reporting and involvement in the criminal justice system. Her work appears in a host of journals, including "Criminal Justice and Behavior," "Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Law & Human Behavior," and "Violence and Victims."

A. Bill Miller, assistant professor of visual arts, earned his MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Before joining Penn State Altoona, Bill served as an associate lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and as an instructor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. His nationally and internationally exhibited works include his acclaimed Gridworks Project, which comprises abstract ASCII drawings, ink drawings, animated GIFs, and video elements.

http://www.master-list2000.com/abillmiller/abillmiller.html

Dr. Mohammed teaches a blend of multimedia, theory, and introductory-level courses. He is author of "Communication and the Globalization of Culture: Beyond Tradition and Borders" (Lexington, 2011) and "The (Dis)Information Age: The Persistence of Ignorance" (Peter Lang, 2012). In addition, he has published in a wide range of scholarly journals, including "New Media and Society," "the Journal of Computer Mediated Communication," and "the Journal of Health Communication." He was previous head of the Communication Program at American University of Kuwait and earned tenure while at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He has been an invited lecturer at many venues, including recent international presentations in Jamaica and India. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico, where his dissertation adviser was legendary communications scholar Everett Rogers.

Dr. Moist teaches courses that focus on culture, technology, journalism, media history, and popular culture, as well as introductory communication courses. He is the Popular Culture Association’s Research Chair for the Collecting and Collectibles area, and has published scholarship in many academic journals including "American Studies," "the Journal of Popular Culture," "Animation: An Interdisciplinary Journal," and "Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly." He is currently working to finalize publication of a book that focuses on the nuances, culture, and complexities of artifact collection titled "Collecting and Collections: Objects, Practices and the Fate of Things." He is a member of the Editorial Boards for the "Journal of Popular Culture," and for "Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture," where he is editor of the music area. He has a background in music performance and theory, and has been both a musician and music writer, as well as doing audio engineering and production, and running a small CD label specializing in non-mainstream rock, folk, and experimental music. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa and has taught at the University of Iowa and the Penn State School of Visual Arts before joining the Communication Faculty at Penn State Altoona.

Stefan Müller, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, earned his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His primary area of research lies in symplectic and contact topology. In particular, he is interested in Hamiltonian and contact dynamics and their generalizations to non-smooth dynamical systems. These new topological theories shed light on various unexpected phenomena that are known to be present in symplectic and contact topology, and in turn have applications to smooth and topological dynamics, as well as to other areas of mathematics such as Riemannian geometry. Most recently, he held a research fellowship at the Korea Institute for Advanced Study, where he developed topological contact dynamics in collaboration with Peter Spaeth.

Erin Murphy, associate professor of English and creative writing, is the author of four collections of poetry: "Word Problems" (Word Press, 2011), winner of the 2012 Paterson Prize for Literary Excellence; "Dislocation and Other Theories" (Word Press, 2008), winner of the 2009 Paterson Prize for Literary Excellence; "Too Much of This World" (Mammoth Books, 2008), winner of the Anthony Piccione Poetry Prize; and "Science of Desire" (Word Press, 2004), a finalist for the Paterson Poetry Prize for the best poetry book of 2004. With Todd Davis, she is co-editor of "Making Poems: 40 Poems with Commentary by the Poets" (State University of New York Press, 2010). Her awards include a $5,000 Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prize, the Foley Poetry Award, the National Writers' Union Poetry Award judged by Donald Hall, the Normal School Poetry Prize judged by Nick Flynn, the WISE Women Tribute Award in Arts & Letters, and fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Institute for Arts and Humanities. Her work has been featured on Garrison Keillor�s "The Writer�s Almanac," and her poems and creative nonfiction essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including "180 More: Extraordinary Poems for Every Day," edited by Billy Collins (Random House), "The Art of Losing," edited by Kevin Young (Bloomsbury), and the "2009 Best of the Net" anthology, judged by Patricia Smith. She is the recipient of the Athleen J. Stere Teaching Award, the Grace D. Long Faculty Excellence Award, and the university-wide Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching.