On Monday, May 20, Mercy University honored its distinguished faculty members at the annual Faculty Recognition Ceremony, celebrating the exceptional contributions and achievements of Mercy’s educators.
Before the ceremony, attendees explored the more than 35 posters that were displayed throughout the Rotunda, featuring the innovative programs and scholarly work faculty members had deployed in their classrooms this year.
One of the posters, What AI Cannot Do: In-Person Advocacy, was presented by Legal Studies students who shared how their trip to Albany to meet with lawmakers was the highlight of the semester. “We met with Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and Legislative Director Andy Falk, and we were able to talk and go through two different bills,” said Michaela Milano ’25, who is majoring in Legal Studies/Paralegal. “It was really educational and really exciting to be able to sit down with them and talk about the process of legislation and how bills get passed and all the little bits and pieces of it.”
Donna Drumm, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences assistant professor and program director, explained, “The funding [for the trip] came from the Senate microgrants, and it was great to see the students be engaged with lawmakers face-to-face,” she said. “Because face-to-face advocacy still has a place in changing laws and making laws in our country.”
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Eva Fernández, Ph.D., kicked the recognition ceremony off with a warm welcome. She highlighted the critical role Mercy faculty members play in shaping the academic and personal growth of students. She told the attendees, “The work that you're all doing is such an important testament to the multifaceted roles that you play in mentoring our students and crafting and delivering an engaging curriculum that’s also current.”
Fernández introduced Mercy University’s President, Susan L. Parish, Ph.D., M.S.W., who shared her appreciation for Mercy’s exceptional faculty. “This is why I'm so proud to be a part of this remarkable institution,” Parish said. It's because of the work that each of you does day in and day out, transforming lives through education.” She added, “So, let’s continue to inspire, to educate, and to empower the next generation of leaders, thinkers, artists and innovators.”
During the recognition ceremony, the deans of each school shared the remarkable accomplishments of their faculty, who were honored for their commitment to academic excellence and for their unwavering dedication to their fields and to their students.
Eric Martone, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education, recognized Sudha Ramaswamy, Ph.D., for her promotion to Professor. “At Mercy, [Dr. Ramaswamy] teaches graduate courses in Special Education and will lead one of the University’s new undergraduate degree programs in teaching students with disabilities.” Dr. Martone continued, “Her research interests include early social development of children with autism and global dissemination of special education curriculum. These interests most recently led her this past summer to Bangalore India, where she led a teacher training project at a program for students with autism.”
Interim Dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences, Kathleen Golisz, OTD, OTR, FAOTA, praised the accomplishments of Irina Ellison, who was promoted to Professor. “Dr. Ellison is a dedicated and experienced academic leader, who has served in a range of appointed and elected academic leadership roles at Mercy, focusing on supporting inclusivity, academic excellence, and student success.” Golisz continued, “Dr. Ellison’s research centers on strategies for more just, accessible, and inclusive educational environments and for making a world in which neither health outcomes nor graduation rates are defined by social determinants.”
Other awards and recognition included:
Faculty Recognition:
Libraries
Moddie Breland, Ed.D. | Promoted to Associate Professor
School of Business
Mahmud Wazihullah, M.B.A. | Promotion to Assistant Professor
Zachary Williams, Ph.D. | Promotion to Associate Professor
School of Education
Patrick McCabe, Ph.D. | Retirement
Sudha Ramaswamy, Ph.D. | Promotion to Professor
School of Health and Natural Sciences
Irina Ellison, Ph.D. | Promotion to Professor
Ruth Lyons Hansen, DPT, Ph.D. | Promotion to Professor
Francine Seruya, Ph.D. | Tenure
School of Liberal Arts
Elise Arnold-Levene, Ph.D. | Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor
Soonyi Lee, Ph.D. | Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor
Emily Seibert, MFA | Promotion to Associate Professor
School of Nursing
Gwen Hobson, M.S. | Promotion to Associate Professor
Lisa Martin, Ph.D. | Retirement
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Sarah Hahn, Ph.D. | Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor
Serah Shani, Ph.D. | Tenure
Teaching Excellence Awards
Full-Time Faculty:
Jeanine Stancanelli, OTD, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy (School of Health and Natural Sciences)
Part-Time Faculty:
Michiko Kuroda, M.A., Senior Instructor, International Relations and Diplomacy (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Faculty Fellow:
Elise Arnold-Levene, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Spanish (School of Liberal Arts)
Online Teacher of the Year:
Barbara Keckler, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies (School of Education)
Outstanding Research Award:
Tharushi Perera, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Chemistry (School of Health and Natural Sciences)
William F. Olson Chair Award:
K. Patrick Fazioli, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Critical Inquiry (School of Liberal Arts)
Texaco Research Endowment Award:
Jacqueline Fisher, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Honorary Master of Pedagogy Degrees:
Faculty:
Larry Arias, JD, Senior Lecturer, Legal Studies
Jacqueline Callahan-Stewart, MS, Senior Instructor, Psychology
Zhixiong Chen, Ph.D., Professor, Computer Science
Joseph Freebern, JD, Senior Instructor, Psychology
Randall Glading, Ed.D., Senior Lecturer, Childhood Education
Scott Malowitz, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Sociology
Joan Piscitello, MEd, Senior Instructor, Sociology
Nadia Ramjit, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology
Dominick Sampogna, M.B.A., Senior Instructor, Business
Denise Stefano, M.B.A., CPA, Associate Professor, Accounting
Patrick Tormey, M.B.A., Senior Instructor, Marketing STAFF
Staff:
Mary Keiling, Administrative Assistant, School of Business
Melissa Lockwood, Enrollment Services Counselor, Student Financial Services
The Faculty Recognition Ceremony is a valued tradition at Mercy. It reflects our commitment to fostering an environment of academic excellence and community engagement. And it gives us a chance to shine a spotlight on the innovative work our faculty does every day to deliver an exceptional educational experience for our students. Attendees left with a renewed sense of pride and inspiration, ready to continue their pursuit of knowledge and service.