School of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty

At the core of the educational experience at Marist is our distinguished faculty. Offering both sterling educational credentials and deep professional experience, these talented men and women are deeply dedicated to the education and development of our students. The members of Marist’s faculty share their knowledge with our students, mentor and encourage them, challenge them to think in new ways, collaborate with them on high-level research, and help them become career-ready. We hear from countless alumni who reflect back on the significant impact their professors had and continue to have on their lives. Each and every day, Marist’s faculty prove not only that outstanding teaching and outstanding research can go hand-in-hand, but that great teachers have a lasting impact on their students.

Dean, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Deborah Gatins
BA, Vassar College
PhD in Clinical Psychology, University of Miami, Florida

Crime and Justice Studies

Chair, Frank Merenda
Associate Professor of Crime and Justice Studies
EdD in Leadership and Administration, St. John’s University
MPA in Management and Policy, Harvard University
MA in Special Education, Counselor Education/School Counseling, and Guidance Services, Lehman College, City University of New York

Addrain Conyers
Assistant Provost, Academic Affairs, Associate Professor of Crime and Justice Studies
PhD in Sociology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
MA in Sociology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
BA in Psychology and Sociology, Boston College

Vanessa Lynn
Assistant Professor of Crime and Justice Studies
PhD, Sociology, SUNY Stony Brook
MA, Sociology, SUNY Stony Brook
MS, Applied Social Research, Hunter College, CUNY 
BA, Sociology and Journalism, Brooklyn College

Julie Raines
Associate Professor of Crime and Justice Studies
PhD in Public Administration, North Carolina State University
JD, Catholic University of America

Alyssa Yetter
Assistant Professor of Crime and Justice Studies
PhD, Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
MA, Criminology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
BA, Sociology and Anthropology, Denison University

Education

Olga DeJesus-Diaz
Associate Professor of Education, Assistant Dean for Teacher Education
Ed.D, Educational Leadership, Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
M.S., School Building Leadership, Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY 
M.S., Elementary Education, Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY 
B.A., Psychology / Minor in Education, Bernard Baruch College NY, NY 

Quinn Austermann
Professional Lecturer of Education
PhD, Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut
MA, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Connecticut
BS, Education, University of Connecticut
BS, History, University of Connecticut

Katie Harlan Eller
Assistant Professor of Literacy Education
PhD, English Education, Columbia University
MPhil, English Education, Columbia University
MA, Liberal Studies, Duke University
BS, Education, Baylor University

Christina Wright Fields
Associate Professor of Education
PhD in Higher Education Administration, Bowling Green State University
MS in Higher Education Administration with Enrollment Management, Drexel University
BS in Biology, Millersville University

Joelle Fingerhut
Assistant Professor of Education
PhD, Educational Psychology and Methodology, University at Albany (SUNY)
MSEd, Special Education, Simmons University
BA, Psychology/English, Ithaca College

Dana Gathers
Assistant Professor of Education
PhD in Literacy & Learning, Fordham University
MEd in Elementary Special Education, CUNY Brooklyn College
BA in Psychology, Temple University

Kari Morrison
Director of Clinical Teacher Preparation
EdD in Teacher Leadership, Walden University
MS in Teacher Leadership, University of Minnesota
BS in Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse

Stephanie Purington
Professional Lecturer of Education
PhD, Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
MEd, Secondary Education, University of Hartford
BS, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Carol Rinke
Assistant Provost for Student Success, Professor of Science and Math Education
PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Maryland College Park
MAT in Science Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
BA in Human Biology, Stanford University

Kathleen Vigil
Assistant Professor of Educational Technology
EdD, Boston University
MEd, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Andrew W. Weaver
Assistant Professor of Literacy Education
PhD, Teaching & Learning (Literacy Education Concentration), New York University
MS, Education, Southern Methodist University
BS, Psychology, Santa Clara University

Social Work

Program Director, Daria Hanssen
Associate Professor of Social Work
PhD in Social Work, Hunter College School of Social Work, Graduate Center of the City University New York
MSW, Florida State University
BA in Social Welfare, Florida Atlantic University

Qiang Chen
Associate Professor of Social Work
PhD/MSW, School of Social Welfare, SUNY Albany
MA, Sociology, Beijing University
BA, Social Work, China Youth University of Political Sciences

Darren Cosgrove
Assistant Professor of Social Work
PhD, Social Welfare, University at Albany (SUNY)
MSW, University at Albany (SUNY)
BS, Human Services, Empire State College

Katharine Dill
Associate Professor of Social Work, Program Director for Master of Social Work Program
PhD in Social Work, University of Toronto
Diploma in Social Work Research, University of Toronto
MSW, University of Toronto, Canada
BSW, University of Western Ontario

Maurya W. Glaude
Professional Lecturer, MSW Practicum Education Coordinator
PhD, University of Houston 
MSW, Tulane University
BA, Psychology & Art History, Texas Southern University

Adelaide K. Sandler
Assistant Professor of Social Work
PhD, Social Work, University of Connecticut
MSW, Social Work, University of Connecticut
MS, Community Counseling. Western Connecticut State University
BA, Sociology Washington University in St. Louis

Psychology

Chair, Mary Stone
Associate Professor of Psychology
PhD in School Psychology, Fordham University
EdM in School Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
BA in Psychology, New York University

Yasmine Awais
Internship Coordinator, Professional Lecturer of Psychology
PhD, Social Welfare, The Graduate Center (CUNY)
MA, Psychology, The City College of New York (CUNY)
MAAT, Art Therapy, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
BFA, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (SUNY)

Kristy L. Biolsi
Associate Professor of Psychology
PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz (2007)
BS in Psychobiology from Long Island University, Southampton College (2001)

Anna Blumenthal
Assistant Professor of Psychology
PhD, Psychology (Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience), Western University
MS, Cognitive Science (Cognitive Neuroscience), University of Trento/SISSA
BA, Psychology, Drew University

Janine Buxton
Internship Coordinator, Psychology and Crime and Justice Studies
MS, Rehabilitation Counseling, University at Albany (SUNY)
BA, English Literature/Psychology minor, University at Albany (SUNY)

Peter M. del Rosario
Associate Professor, Psychology and Counselor Educator, MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
PhD in Counseling Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo
BS in Psychology, Union College

Kristen Dovgan
Associate Professor of Psychology
PhD, George Mason University
BA, Western Connecticut State University

E. G. Fredrick
Assistant Professor of Psychology
PhD in Experimental Psychology, East Tennessee State University
BS, Middle Tennessee State University

Christian D. Heasley
Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Psychology
PhD, Counselor Education & Supervision, Virginia Tech
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Messiah University
MA, Student Affairs in Higher Education, Slippery Rock University
BM, Music Education, Westminster College

C. Ryan Kinlaw
Associate Professor of Psychology
PhD in Developmental Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MEd in Human Development and Psychology, Harvard University
BS in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kimery Levering
Associate Professor of Psychology
PhD in Cognitive Psychology, Binghamton University
MS in Psychology, Binghamton University
BA in Psychology, The College of New Jersey

Erik Moody
Assistant Professor of Psychology
PhD in Experimental Psychology, Kent State University
MA in Experimental Psychology, Kent State University
BA in Psychology, Manhattanville College

Patrick O’Donnell
Associate Professor and Director, School Psychology Graduate Program
PsyD in School Psychology, State University of New York at Albany
Advanced Certificate in School Psychology, Marist College
MS in Clinical Psychology, Loyola College in Maryland
BA in Psychology, Siena College

Yumiko Ogawa
Psychology and Counselor Educator, Director, MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
PhD, Counselor Education and Supervision, University of North Texas 
MA, Counseling, University of North Texas
BS, Psychology, Meiji Gakuin University 

Jason Trent
Associate Professor of Psychology
PhD in Social/Personality Psychology, University of Missouri
MA in Psychology, University of Missouri
BA in Business Studies, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Sierra M. Trudel
Assistant Professor of Psychology
PhD in Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut
MS in School Psychology, University of Hartford
BA in Psychological Science, Central Connecticut State University