Tenure Track Faculty 2020

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Carolina Alarcón

Art and Design
Ph.D., Florida State University

Research: My interdisciplinary research focuses on the role of prints in mediating cross-cultural exchanges in the development of science.

Why I chose SIU: SIU has a great reputation of being a public institution that values teaching as much as research. I was impressed with the warm environment that supports their faculty’s research as well as their teaching goals.


Ahmed Al-Asfour

Ahmed Al-Asfour

School of Education
Ph.D., University of Wyoming

Teaching interests: Qualitative research methods, developmental and organizational leadership, human resource development, and higher education student affairs and administration.

Why I chose SIU: Great potential for the Workforce Development program to expand its’ master’s and doctoral programs.


Mehdi Ashayeri

Mehdi Ashayeri

School of Architecture
Ph.D.

Research: The intersection of sustainability, health, and computation in the built environment.

Why I chose SIU: The multidisciplinary college of CHHS at SIU and its research-oriented approach provides a rich environment to collaborate in solving complex aspects of the built environments, including sustainability, resiliency, and healthiness for future cities.


Serdar Aydin

Serdar Aydin

School of Health Sciences
Ph.D., University of South Carolina

Teaching interests: Healthcare operations management, organizational behavior and leadership in health care, research methods and health policy, essentials of health care systems, and health care finance, financial management and information systems.

Why I chose SIU: Low Turnover Rate: A proof of satisfaction keeping the faculty to pursue their long-term academic goal. Dynamic and Ambitious: Team and collaboration based structure, and goal of theory-practice integration. School Culture: High quality of teaching, research, and service triangle.


May Xiaoyan Bao

Accountancy
MFA, Iowa Writers’ Workshop
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Research: The development of my research work is driven by my interest in capital markets, financial reporting quality and tax reporting quality with archival/empirical research methodology stemmed from the Positivism research philosophy.

Why I chose SIU: Joining SIU as a faculty member has been my dream job since I became a Saluki. SIU is my alma mater where I received the Master of Accountancy 17 years ago.


Cody Brookshire

Cody Brookshire

Radio TV/School of Music
DMA, University of Georgia

Research: The intersection of electronic media, live performers, sound spatialization, and audience interaction, manifested in compositions written using Synkro Takt.

Why I chose SIU: I came to SIU to join forward-thinking colleagues in both Radio, Television, and Digital Media Department and the School of Music in their push to create new and exciting programs and curriculum.


Diana Cedeno

Diana Cedeno

School of Education
Ph.D., Montclair State University

Teaching interests: Human development and family studies.

Why I chose SIU: The long tradition of the university and the prestige it has developed throughout its history…and the values and mission of SIU, which are to promote inclusiveness, provide access and opportunity to students and community members, and develop excellence in research and teaching.


YouJung Choi

YouJung Choi

School of Psychological & Behavioral Sciences
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia

Teaching interests: Child development, early cognitive development, development of social cognition, moral development, development of psychological understanding (theory-of-mind), Intergroup cognition.

Why I chose SIU: University atmosphere where research is important and supports for conducting research, strong potential for collaboration with scholars with diverging research interests, having a great infrastructure to recruit and test various clinical subjects.


Francesca Dennstedt

LCIT
Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis

Research: Gender and queer theory in contemporary Latin America literature and culture with a focus on Mexico.

Why I chose SIU: I chose SIU because of the balance between teaching and research. During my campus visit, I was also impressed by the warmth of my colleagues and the beautiful nature around Carbondale.


Nusrat Farah

Accountancy
Ph.D., Oregon State University

Teaching interests: Financial and cost accounting, accounting information systems, auditing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Why I chose SIU: I felt so welcomed by the faculty, students, and staff during my visit. SIU provides me with an opportunity to grow as an academician and I feel blessed to be a part of diverse SIU family.


Wenchao Ge

Wenchao Ge

Physics
Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Research: The cross-section of quantum information and quantum optics.

Why I chose SIU: SIU is a research university so that I can balance my teaching and research. Faculties in my department are very nice and friendly and I would enjoy working under this environment. Carbondale area is close to nature, so our family would have a wonderful time living here.


Anthony Heathcoat

Anthony Heathcoat

Department of Automotive Technology
M.S. Ed., Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Research: The use of virtual and augmented reality in automotive technology classrooms, electrification, automation, automotive technology pedagogy.

Why I chose SIU: I am excited to once again be home in the department that I have had such a passion for since I was a new student. I am excited to have the university’s support to engage in research that will further not only the department, but also the automotive industry.


Lahiru Jayakody

Lahiru Jayakody

Biological Sciences, Fermentation Science Institute
Ph.D., Kagoshima University

Research: Synthetic microbiology, metabolic engineering, applied microbiology, microbial fermentation, microbial stress response, molecular biology.

Why I chose SIU: I was impressed with the Fermentation Science Institute’s future R&D potential and delighted to find a place to work with yeast again, my favorite microorganism.


Eric Lee

Eric Lee

School of Psychological & Behavioral Sciences
Ph.D., Utah State University

Teaching interests: Psychopathology, clinical psychotherapy, evidence-based therapies, assessment and psychometrics, research methods, open-science.

Why I chose SIU: Strong history of training in the behavioral sciences, divers psychology-related programs with opportunities for collaboration, and opportunities to engage in research related to dissemination of treatment in a rural are.


Lei (Matthew) Ma

Lei (Matthew) Ma

Finance
Ph.D., University of Utah

Research: The investment strategies and performance of institutional investors, executive compensation, and corporate disclosure using empirical methods.

Why I chose SIU: The campus is beautiful. I liked the place immediately when I gave a seminar talk in 2019. SIU is a very well-known research institution in the country. SIU has a strong and energetic business school.


Gennie Neuman Lambert

Gennie Neuman Lambert

Theater
MFA, Rutgers University

Teaching interests: creative and technical skills that help students develop interactive environments that support live performance through storytelling.

Why I chose SIU: SIU Theater is a focused design program with a thoughtful blend of theory and practice. The theater department connects the curriculum to actual theater productions to provide hands-on problem-solving experiences while finding imaginative ways to engage with greater national and international discussions.


Heather O’Brien

MCMA - Biological Sciences Cooperative Wildlife
Ph.D., Trent University (Canada)

Research: Spatial and Wildlife Ecology. I am interested in determining how spatial and behavioral processes such as movement and habitat selection scale up to affect the demography and distribution of multiple sympatric species.

Why I chose SIU: I came to SIU for the various research opportunities, including collaborating on a long-term project studying white-tailed deer and predator space-use.


Enrique Paz

Enrique Paz

English
Ph.D., Miami University (Ohio)

Teaching interests: Writing instruction.

Why I chose SIU: Best combination of research and teaching opportunities, especially given the opportunity to run the Writing Center.


Debra Penrod

Debra Penrod

School of Health Sciences
DNP, American Sentinel University

Research: Critical thinking development in nursing education, teaching methodologies, concept-based nursing curriculum, ethics in nursing, academic incivility, the gap between knowledge and clinical practice.

Why I chose SIU: I was energized by the new possibilities in our region in baccalaureate nursing education. Most importantly, I want to help bridge the gap between knowledge and clinical practice so more new nurses have clinical judgment tools that will enable them to successfully manage care in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.


Lorelei Ritchie

Lorelei Ritchie

School of Law
JD, Columbia University School of Law

Teaching interests: Intellectual property, contracts.

Why I chose SIU: Being at a public research university is perfect for my scholarly agenda. I was particularly attracted by the academically focused, community in a friendly and idyllic setting.


Zvi Rosen

Zvi Rosen

School of Law
JD, Northwestern University

Teaching interests: Intellectual property, real property, and business law.

Why I chose SIU: I came to SIU because it offered the full package of what I was looking for as a legal scholar – great colleagues, great students, and a great place to teach and research.


Thomas Roy

Department of Aviation Technologies
M.A.S., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Teaching interests: Aviation flight, maintenance and management.

Why I chose SIU: During my 25-year flying career, I was always grateful how well SIU prepared me to confidently fly, manage and maintain complex aircraft. When the opportunity presented to return to SIU Aviation and combine all I learned at SIU with 25-years of aviation experience, it was an obvious choice and fantastic opportunity.


Mehnaz Shams

School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering
Ph.D., Washington State University

Teaching interests: Environmental engineering, hazardous waste engineering, water and wastewater treatment, environmental chemistry, and water resources engineering.

Why I chose SIU: Joining SIU was an easy decision for me as there is a balance between teaching and research work here. Additionally, I loved the department culture, my fellow faculty members warmth during my interview, and the beautiful SIU campus. All these made me realize that this is where I want to be and I am really happy and proud to be a part of the Saluki family.


Geoffrey Swift

Geoffrey Swift

Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

Teaching interests: Materials science, batteries, diffraction methods, materials characterization, ceramics, composites.

Why I chose SIU: Having grown up in Southern Illinois, and as a graduate, the university is part of who I am. When the opportunity came to join the faculty, it was a chance to come home.


José Vargas-Muñiz

José Vargas-Muñiz

Biological Sciences
Ph.D., Duke University

Research: Medical mycology and marine mycology.

Why I chose SIU: The academics are unparalleled to other similar institutions and I am enthusiastic to contribute to both in teaching and research to this established educational institution.


Jennifer Walker

School of Health Sciences
M.S., Ed., Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Teaching interests: Pathology, anatomy, patient care, and hands-on lab learning.

Why I chose SIU: I had positive learning experiences as a student and I would like to give back to my SIU community. It is also a place that I can further my education and conduct research to improve in the radiologic sciences field.


Jennifer Weber

Jennifer Weber

Biological Sciences
Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

Research: Plant evolutionary ecology.

Why I chose SIU: It is clear that student success and achievement is central to the university mission. SIU values and supports student mentorship both in the classroom and via hands-on engagement including research, labs and field courses.


Kelli Whittington

Kelli Whittington

School of Health Sciences
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Teaching interests: Nursing theory, leadership & management, Nutrition, preparation for high-stakes testing.

Why I chose SIU: Opportunity to deploy a new BSN pre-licensing program, preparing nurses to positively impact the health of the region, engagement between workforce needs and educational development offerings.


Yue (Joy) Zhang

Finance
Ph.D., McMaster University

Research: Corporate finance and investment.

Why I chose SIU: I chose SIU because its objectives or preparing graduates for career success, stimulating their professional growth, and integrating research with teaching and learning. Also, the friendly and wonderful colleagues make it an amazing place to work for!