Toby Norris, Ph.D., assistant professor of art history A member of the faculty since 2006, Prof. Norris earned a B.A. from Magdalen College, University of Oxford; a M.Phil. from Glasgow University (Scotland) and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. He previously taught at Northwestern and DePaul University. He has published articles in scholarly journals and made presentations at professional conferences. Smriti Rao, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics Prof. Rao joined the faculty in 2006. She earned a B.A. from Birla Institute of Technology (India) and a M.A. and Ph.D. from UMassAmherst. Prof. Rao previously taught at Bates College and has taught numerous courses in economics and global studies at Assumption. She has served the College extensively through various committees and by serving as the chair of the Fulbright Committee for the past two years, helping four students win Fulbright awards during that time. She has also been published in scholarly journals and made presentations at professional conferences.
Promoted to Associate Professor Nanho Vander Hart, Ph.D., associate professor of special education Chairperson of the Department of Education and director of special education, Prof. Vander Hart has taught at Assumption since 1999. She earned a B.A. from Ewha Women’s University (Seoul, Korea), an M.A. from the University of Northern Colorado and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.
Promoted to Professor Colleen Fahy, Ph.D., professor of economics Prof. Fahy began teaching at Assumption in 1992. She earned a B.A. from St. John Fisher College and an M.A. and Ph.D. from State University of New York at Binghamton. She has taught courses in economics, corporate finance, statistics and micro-economic theory, and has been published in the Journal of Economic Business and Social Science Quarterly among others. Paula Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., professor of psychology A faculty member since 1995, Prof. Fitzpatrick holds a B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. She previously taught at UConn and became an assistant professor at AC in 1996 and was promoted to associate professor in 2002. She chaired the Psychology Department on two occasions and served as director of the Honors Program for three years. She has published and presented widely in her field. Nalin Ranasinghe, Ph.D., professor of philosophy Prof. Ranasinghe joined the faculty in 2001 and has published and presented widely. He earned an M.A. from the University of Dallas and a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University. The author of The Soul of Socrates in 2000, his second book, Socrates and the Gods, will be available in August. He teaches courses about ethics, Plato and the philosophy of history, among others. Owen Sholes, Ph.D., professor of biology A faculty member since 1978, Prof. Sholes has served the College as chair of the faculty, chair of the Department of Natural Sciences and on numerous committees. He holds an A.B. from Carleton College and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. He has been published in numerous scholarly journals and made presentations a professional conferences.
Arlene deWitt
esteban Loustaunau, Ph.d. daniel Maher, Ph.L., Ph.d. Carrie nixon
Molly flynn, Ph.d.
Toby norris, Ph.d.
Smriti rao, Ph.d.
nanho Vander Hart, Ph.d. Colleen fahy, Ph.d.
nalin ranasinghe, Ph.d.
owen Sholes, Ph.d.
Paula fitzpatrick, Ph.d.
Assumption College Magazine
Summer 2012
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