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Faculty and Staff

Howell Bosbyshell, Ph.D

Submitted by Howell Bosbyshell on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:15
Rank: 
Assistant Professor
E-mail: 
hbosbyshell@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
TBA
Office Phone: 
610-436-2805
Office Location: 
Merion 205
Courses Taught: 
Introductory Geology, Field Geology, Geophysics, and Structural Geology

B.S. Chemistry-Geology, West Chester University
Ph.D. Geology, Bryn Mawr College

Dr. Bosbyshell's research is concerned with the tectonic and thermal evolution of mountain belts, with an emphasis on developing a modern tectonic interpretation for the Central Appalachians. By combining detailed mapping with structural and petrographic analysis, he is developing an integrated thermal, baric, and kinematic record of orogenic evolution, building from the thin section through regional scales. An important component of this work is collaborative research to establish the absolute timing of deformation and metamorphism through in situ dating of monazite using the electron microprobe. Dr. Bosbyshell teaches Introduction to Geology, Structural Geology, Field Geology, and Geophysics.

Richard Busch, Ph.D

Submitted by Richard Busch on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:22
Rank: 
Professor
E-mail: 
rbusch@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
TBA
Office Phone: 
610-436-2716
Office Location: 
Merion 235
Courses Taught: 
Geology, Historical Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy and Science Education.

A.B., Franklin & Marshall College
M.A., Temple University
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Busch teaches Introduction to Geology, Historical Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Science for the Elementary Grades, and Modern Trends in Science Education. Dr. Busch has developed inquiry-oriented, hands-on, object-based pedagogical strategies and curriculum materials to be used in K-12 science education. He has also developed Satellite Education pedagogical strategies as a science-technology-society vehicle for grades 3-12. His research in geology focuses on 1) trilobite biostratigraphy and 2) the use of methods and applications of event stratigraphy for understanding the details of spatial-temporal relationships in the geological record. He is currently studying the biostratigraphy and newcspecies of trilobites in Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian formations of the Appalachian Basin plus event stratigraphy of the Marcellus Shale and Shawangunk Formation.

Cindy Fisher, Ph.D

Submitted by Cindy Fisher on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:24
Rank: 
Associate Professor
E-mail: 
cfisher@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
T/R 8-8:50, T 4-4:50; W 10-11:50;
Office Phone: 
610-436-2108
Office Location: 
Merion 212
Courses Taught: 
Oceanography, Paleontology, Global Change and Paleoclimatology

A.B., Augustana College
M.S., Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder

Dr. Fisher's research interests include the study of marine microfossils as proxies for paleoceanography. Her research involves interpreting ocean circulation during the maximum greenhouse paleoclimate of the Cretaceous world. Besides, introductory geology courses, she has taught Oceanography, Paleontology, Global Change and Paleoclimatology.

Marc Gagne, Ph.D

Submitted by Marc Gagne on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:31
Rank: 
Professor
E-mail: 
mgagne@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
T/R 12-1, 3-4; W 4-5;
Office Phone: 
610-436-3014
Office Location: 
Merion 205
Courses Taught: 
General Astronomy, Intermediate Astronomy, History of Astronomy

B.S. Physics, Université de Montréal
Ph.D. Physics, University of Georgia

Dr. Gagné and his students study young stars and star formation, primarily through their x-ray and infrared emission. Students in his research group analyze data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope to identify newborn stars in molecular clouds, star clusters, and OB associations. With his collaborators at Swarthmore College, Penn State and the University of Delaware, his research seeks to understand the mechanisms which produce the x-rays seen from the most massive young stars. Dr. Gagné also studies glaciers via passive microwave remote sensing in collaboration with colleagues at Lehigh University. For more information regarding Dr. Gagne's research, please visit 'Astronomy Research'.

Steve Good, Ph.D

Submitted by Steve Good on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:27
Rank: 
Professor
E-mail: 
sgood@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
T 3-4; W 3-5; R 2-4;
Office Phone: 
610-436-2203
Office Location: 
Merion 228
Courses Taught: 
Paleontology, Secondary Science Teaching Methods, Student Teacher Supervision, Introduction to Geology

A.B., Augustana College
M.S., Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder

Dr. Good's research uses non-marine mollusks (river and lake dwelling clams and snails) as tools for solving geological problems (primarily to constrain ancient depositional environments and to determine the age of deposition). Current research includes the study of fossils from the Morrison Formation (Jurassic) of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Other research examines the development of collaborations between professional scientific organizations and in-service and pre-service teachers. Dr. Good teaches courses in secondary science teaching methods, Introduction to Geology, Paleontology, and supervises student teachers in middle and high school science.

Dr Good serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the department’s Master of Science in Geoscience program. Dr. Good serves as the BSEd program coordinator to advise students and faculty regarding certification and accreditation requirements of the Pennsylvania State Department of Education (PDE), and the accreditation requirements of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (NCATE).

Cynthia Hall, Ph.D

Submitted by Cynthia Hall on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:29
Rank: 
Assistant Professor
E-mail: 
chall@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
M 1:15-4:15; T 11-12, 2-3; R 2-4;
Office Phone: 
610-436-1003
Office Location: 
Merion 215
Courses Taught: 
Geochemistry, The Carbon Cycle

B.S. Chemistry, Howard University
Ph.D. Geochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Hall teaches Environmental Geochemistry (ESS 301) and SCI 101, The Carbon Cycle, a general education science course designed for elementary education majors. Dr. Hall has conducted research on marine nitrogen cycling, specifically examining the rates and pathways of denitrification, a reaction that removes biologically available nitrogen, on the continental shelf and salt marshes of Georgia. Currently, Dr. Hall is initiating a comparative study between locally-grown organic and conventional agriculture products. This research entails measurements of nitrogen-containing species and trace, heavy metals of the two populations of agricultural products and the possible sources of these contaminants. The heavy metals will be measured using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer, which can detect trace metals in the ppm range in under 60 seconds. The handheld version allows samples to be analyzed in the field. Dr. Hall’s personal interests include yoga, capoeira, vegetarian cooking, outdoor activities, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Martin Helmke, Ph.D

Submitted by Martin Helmke on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:34
Rank: 
Associate Professor
E-mail: 
mhelmke@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
T/R 9:15-11; T 2:30-4;
Office Phone: 
610-436-3565
Office Location: 
Merion 211
Courses Taught: 
<p>Introductory Geology, Hydrogeology, Fundamentals of Soil, Geology of National Parks</p>

B.S., Antioch College Ph.D., Iowa State University Dr. Helmke teaches Hydrogeology, Fundamentals of Soil, and Introduction to Geology at WCU. His research interests include contaminant transport through fractured materials, soil and groundwater remediation, groundwater and contaminant transport simulation, risk assessment, and collecting images using unoccupied aerial vehicles. He previously taught geology courses at Iowa State University and Dickinson College, and served as a senior hydrogeologist at an environmental consulting firm in the Washington, D.C. area.

Victoria Baeder Helmke

Submitted by Vicki Helmke on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:46
Rank: 
Instructor
E-mail: 
vhelmke@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
M/W 3-4; or by appointment;
Office Phone: 
610-436-3565
Office Location: 
Merion 211
Courses Taught: 
Paleontology

Biographical Summary soon to be completed.

Joby Hilliker, Ph.D

Submitted by Joby Hilliker on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 20:43
Rank: 
Associate Professor
E-mail: 
jhilliker@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
M 1-2; T 11-1; W/F 11-12;
Office Phone: 
610-436-2213
Office Location: 
Merion 223
Courses Taught: 
Meteorology

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Penn State University

Joby Hilliker teaches ESS 170 (Our Atmosphere) and several other meteorology courses for majors in the Geology and Astronomy Department. While studying meteorology at Penn State, Joby was a part-time television meteorologist for "Weather World", a PBS daily weather program. Joby also worked as a weather forecaster at Accu-Weather, a writer for the weather page presented in The New York Times, and taught an introductory meteorology course at his alma mater. In 2003-2004, Joby moved to Cincinnati, OH, where he worked at Cinergy Corp., a Mid-West utility company, where he developed statistical algorithms, constructed short-term energy products, and communicated weather forecasts with energy traders.

Dr. Hilliker has written several research articles relating to statistical weather forecasting. His Master's and Ph.D. work focused on constructing prototype forecast systems for use in the aviation industry. One such system outputted short-term probabilistic forecasts for fog dissipation at the San Francisco Airport, while a second system aided air-traffic controllers in short-term decision-making during thunderstorm events.

Tim Lutz, Ph.D

Submitted by Tim Lutz on Tue, 06/01/2010 - 12:37
Rank: 
Professor
E-mail: 
tlutz@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
M/R 12-1; T 11-12, 3:30-4:30; W 1-2;
Office Phone: 
610-436-3498
Office Location: 
Merion 231
Courses Taught: 
Introduction to Geology; Humans and the Environment; Environmental Geology; Geometrics

Biographical Summary soon to be completed.

James Maxwell

Submitted by James Maxwell on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:49
Rank: 
Instructor
E-mail: 
jamxwell@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
By Appointment;
Office Phone: 
610-738-0598
Office Location: 
SSL 166
Courses Taught: 
Science Methods for the Elementary Grades

Biographical Summary soon to be completed.

Daria Nikitina, Ph.D

Submitted by Daria Nikitina on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:38
Rank: 
Assistant Professor
E-mail: 
dnikitina@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
TBA
Office Phone: 
610-436-3103
Office Location: 
Merion 217
Courses Taught: 
Geomorphology

B.S., M.S. Geography, Moscow State University
Ph.D. Geology, University of Delaware

Dr. Nikitina teaches Introductory Geology and Geomorphology. She also leads an interdisciplinary Field Study course focused on Geology and Environmental Changes in the Peruvian Amazon and the Andes. Dr. Nikitina’s background is in the interdisciplinary and systematic study of landforms and the earth surface processes that create and change them. Her current research interests include Holocene sea level changes along the Atlantic coast of the USA, coastal erosion, anthropogenic impact and the effect of climate change on coastal systems. With a group of WCU students and collaborators from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Delaware Dr. Nikitina conducts research on the Delaware estuarine salt marshes and coastal environments of New Jersey. In the past she has conducted research on active volcanoes of Kamchatka, Kurils, and Aleutians. Active volcanoes are her passion as she incorporates case studies and research topics on recent volcanic activity and volcanic landforms into her courses.

Arthur Smith, Ed.D

Submitted by Art Smith on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:40
Rank: 
Associate Professor
E-mail: 
asmith2@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
M/W 4-7;
Office Phone: 
610-436-3499
Office Location: 
Merion 229
Courses Taught: 
Geology, Science Education

B.A., M.S., Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Smith was Pennsylvania's 1975 Teacher of the Year, the 1983 recipient of the National Science Foundation's Outstanding Educator in Science and Mathematics Award for Pennsylvania, and the 1992 recipient of the University of Pennsylvania's Alumni of the Year Award in education, Dr. Smith teaches classes in geology and science education. Dr. Smith is also the recipient and consultant on Ben Franklin partnership research grants.

LeeAnn Srogi, Ph.D

Submitted by LeeAnn Srogi on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 13:42
Rank: 
Professor, Chair of the Department
E-mail: 
esrogi@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
TBA
Office Phone: 
610-436-2721
Office Location: 
Merion 201
Courses Taught: 
Geology, Mineralogy, Investigating Earth Material and Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology.

B.S. Yale University
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Srogi teaches Introduction to Geology and upper-level courses in Mineralogy: investigating mineral systems (ESS 302) and Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (ESS 405). At the graduate level, she teaches a related course, Investigating Earth Materials (ESS 502), and workshops designed to stimulate new ways of teaching about minerals and rocks: beyond "rock-in-a-box"! Dr. Srogi also team-teaches (with biology faculty) SCI 101, The Carbon Cycle, a General Education science course for students majoring in elementary education. Beginning in spring 2004, she will offer a new General Education course on Volcanoes (ESS 125). Dr. Srogi has conducted research into the geologic and tectonic history of the region for more than twenty years, and she incorporates this research into her classes. For example, in spring 2003, the Petrology students analyzed rock chemical compositions to aid in mapping meta-sedimentary units, in partnership with Dr. Gale Blackmer of the Pennsylvania Geologic Survey. She continues to study Paleozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and their connections with similar units throughout the Appalachians. In addition, she is starting research on the Mesozoic igneous rocks (the Jurassic diabases) in the Morgantown-Douglassville areas. Her non-rock interests include music (mostly classical and jazz), reading, cooking, films, hiking, birding, and gardening with native plants to provide habitat for birds and insects.

Karen Vanlandingham, Ph.D

Submitted by Karen Vanlandingham on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:37
Rank: 
Associate Professor
E-mail: 
kvanlandingham@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
T 12-1:30; W 9:30-11:30; R 2-4;
Office Phone: 
610-436-2788
Office Location: 
Merion 225
Courses Taught: 
Introductory Astronomy, Geology of the Solar System, Planetarium Director and Project ASTRO Director

B.S., New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Ph.D., Arizona State University

Dr. Vanlandingham is the Director of the West Chester University Planetarium. She teaches General Astronomy, Geology of the Solar and System, and The Origin of Life and the Universe. Dr. Vanlandingham studies interacting binary stars, specifically classical nova explosions. She uses observations and computer models to determine the elemental abundances produced in these explosions. It is thought that novae may be responsible for some of the isotopic anomalies seen in meteoritic inclusions in our solar system and may also contribute significantly to the abundance of some isotopes of aluminum and sodium seen distributed throughout the galaxy. Dr. Vanlandingham's research also includes studies of isolated magnetic white dwarfs. Some of these stars have been found to have magnetic fields of 1000 mega-gauss - over billion times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field. Dr. Vanlandingham's other areas of interest include how popular culture influences what we think of science, great debates in science, and elementary education and public outreach.

Linda Slack, Department Secretary and Assistant Building Administrator

Submitted by Tim Scott on Wed, 10/26/2011 - 12:54
Rank: 
Department Secretary and Assistant Building Administrator
E-mail: 
lslack@wcupa.edu
Office Hours: 
M/T/W/R/F 8-4
Office Phone: 
610-436-2727
Office Location: 
Merion 207

Linda Slack, Clerk Typist II, is the newest member fo the Department of Geology and Astronomy staff. In addition to providing faculty with administrative support, Linda will assist the Department Chair, Lee Ann Srogi, Ph.D., with class scheduling, purchasing, budget maintenance and facilities administration.

Having recently relocated from suburban Chicago with her husband, Linda is not only new to the University. Within the last six months, her family has settled into their new home in the West Chester area. Linda's most recent employer was DuPage County Health Department in Wheaton, Illinois, where she provided administrative support and training services on behalf of its Human Resources Department.

Based on her prior, personally rewarding work experience with Student Services at the University of Wisconsin-Barron County, Linda wanted to return to higher education and the opportunity to work with college students. Linda is especially excited to join the WCU community and has found all of its members to be welcoming and fully committed to personal excellence.

In her personal time, Linda enjoys exploring her new surroundings including West Chester, Philadelphia and the East Coast with her husband. In addition, they have a son attending medical schooll in Philadelphia who comes home occasionally for family events and laundry, and a daughter studying fashion design in San Francisco.