Getting to Know Chatham's New Professors: Fall 2022
Each year Chatham not only welcomes a new class of students, we also welcome a new class of faculty members. Our new faculty members run the gamut of majors and specialties at Chatham and there is a pretty high chance that you’ll see them around campus. Below, we take the time to get to know a few of them. Learn more about what led these professors to their fields of study and what Chatham students can look forward to in their classes in the mini-profiles below—
Tell us some of your favorites:
Movie: Well, my favorite band is Queen, so Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) is certainly high on my list.
Destination to travel: It is always nice to go home to southern California to see friends, but I really love traveling anywhere (e.g., Boston, London, Denver). I am hoping to go to Japan next time I can take a big trip!
Hobbies: Working out, gaming, playing music, dancing, and spending time with my dog Nugget (pictured right).
Lauren Bates,
Assistant Professor of Psychology
she/her/hers
How did you first become interested in your field?
I was an (unhappy) engineering major who decided to take an introductory psychology course during the spring of my freshman year since the chemistry class I wanted to take was full. I ended up having a great experience with an awesome psychology professor, who I keep in touch with to this day! I switched my major as soon as I could.
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
I am a cognitive psychologist who specializes in human learning and memory. I am particularly interested in memory improvement, especially as it pertains to helping students study and learn. One of my most recent projects showed that having students engage in a technique known as mastery quizzing (i.e., taking a quiz until one achieves a perfect score) leads to better long-term retention of learned material over and beyond traditional quizzing methods.
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
As someone whose specialty is memory improvement, students can look forward to assignments and activities that are tailored to help them learn course material more effectively. Also, I like to tell stories about my dog, Nugget.
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
I am looking forward to getting to teach students about my favorite topics in psychology (e.g., cognition, learning), as well as introduce the field to new students in my PSY 101 course. I hope to impart at least some of the wonder that I experienced when taking these courses to my new students.
Ryan D’Souza, Assistant Professor of Arts, Design & Communication
he/him/his
Tell us some of your favorites:
Movie: From the ones I recently watched: Andhadhun, Gangs of Wasseypur, Small Axe, Sound of Metal, The Lunchbox.
Destination to travel: Dubai – the city I was born in, and Mumbai – the city my parents were born in. But I hope to visit places with an Indian diaspora, like Eastern Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Southall, Trinidad.
Hobbies: I spend significant time reading public comments on various platforms. I love to read arguments between strangers on the Internet, each talking past the other yet participating in the same conversation. But I’m a perpetual lurker, seldom a poster. I also enjoy cooking, and trying to learn new cuisines. I then mix and match dishes, like chicken curry with polenta. However, I’m interested in working-class cooking, and food that people eat daily. At present, I want to learn how to cook ramen. Any help?
How did you first become interested in your field?
As an undergraduate, I was initially interested in mass communications (advertising, political campaigning, public relations). At that time, Barack Obama’s first campaign was celebrated for its inventive use of online platforms. However, there were limited opportunities in India or U.A.E. to learn what exactly was happening. So, I pursued an applied master’s program in the U.S., where I learned how to put theory into action. But theories work at levels of abstraction, in the sense that we break down things into component parts to then explore the individual features separately as a whole. For example, when we talk about society, we rarely mean society as a whole; we mainly talk about a specific idea of society. However, with increasing levels of abstraction, I eventually reached philosophy, from where there is no return.
With a Ph.D. in Communication, I explore forms of communication through different frameworks – each situated within an approach to theory. But underneath every exploration is an understanding that “miscommunication is the scandal that motivates the concept of communication.” So, in many ways, I’m interested in miscommunication over communication.
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
I research postcolonial culture and media. I am currently working on a case study of censorship in India. In 2016, a Bollywood movie was denied a rating certificate until it removed offensive scenes from the final cut. The filmmakers complied, and the movie was released. But the case study raises questions about art, censorship, and society. I come to this conversation by asking what it is to censor something.
For example, this profile on me was created with questions that I initially responded to, then edited several times before submission, which was copyedited before publishing. Are all these not acts of censorship? In this regard, I align with feminist scholars who describe censorship as constructive. Such approaches to culture and media challenge commonplace assumptions about production and consumption.
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
I strongly encourage students to question every assumption. Take nothing for granted. While this allows students to openly ask questions, such an approach is generative because it challenges what we know.
I also strive to offer students an interdisciplinary approach. I often discuss topics that are entirely scientific to reveal their underlying assumptions. For example, Newton’s laws govern the physical world we all live in but suggest we live in a deterministic world with no scope for free will. I think such a conclusion is disastrous to the point of making life meaningless. What do we do then?
Finally, I emphasize historical contexts. With an interest in culture, I think of knowledge as cultural, i.e., it is made up of different elements that develop over time. So, when we read a text from another generation in 2022, how do we understand it in the context of what was happening then? And how do we use that contextual knowledge for our purposes?
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
I’m most looking forward to teaching in an interdisciplinary department with colleagues and students who have different academic training from me. Such environments are exciting because there is always something new to learn. I’m also looking forward to teaching smaller-sized classrooms that create opportunities to work with students on their personal and professional interests. It is heartwarming to see young adults grow into this world that confronts them.
Tell us some of your favorites.
Movie: I cannot choose just one: Home Alone 1 & 2, The Wizard of Oz, The Karate Kid 1 & 2, Mary Poppins, Star Wars (with Return of the Jedi being my #1). There are more to name, but I’ll save that for a longer conversation.
Destination to travel: The Outer Banks is always an easy go-to spot or anywhere on the Gulf Coast (from beach-life on Sanibel Island to city-life in New Orleans).
Hobbies: Playing the keyboard, building jigsaw puzzles, going to concerts and festivals
Joel Evans,
Visiting Professor of Business
he/him/his
How did you first become interested in your field?
My first business marketing class. We created a marketing plan for a client and I was hooked.
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
I love reading about the science of teaching and learning to integrate new technology or tools in the classroom to enhance student learning. I have presented some research and shared my insights at the Marketing Management Association and the American Marketing Association conferences. I am in the middle of conducting a longitudinal study on the preferred method of meeting with an academic advisor beginning in 2019 (pre-Covid).
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
Lots of real-world examples from my business background as well as the opportunity to build your resume through class projects, certifications, and new tools/software programs.
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
Mentoring students who are trying to discover their passion or calling in life. Also, the more diverse culture from the greater Pittsburgh area and the opportunities that it brings.
Jungook Kim,
Instructor of Business
he/him/his
Tell us some of your favorites:
Movie: Too many, but to name a few, the Godfather, the Lord of the Rings series, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (this made me want to be a movie director). Can’t leave out the Back to the Future series—I watched the first one more than 100 times.
Destination to travel: Again, too many but to name a few—in the U.S., the Rockies in Colorado-Wyoming-Montana. I traveled to 47 states in the U.S., and loved most of them but if I have to choose, definitely the Rockies. Some others include Paris, Angkor Wat, and Japan. I studied Japanese society and culture in graduate school—I think I have some emotional tie to this country.
Hobbies: I enjoy working out—lifting weight. Not very heavy weight, though.
How did you first become interested in your field?
I was working as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) consultant in Korea from 2010-2013. While working with large Korean corporations, I realized that these companies were sincere and serious about CSR and they wanted to impose positive influence on society and environment. But at the same time, very unfortunately, their workers were very often being overworked and abused. One of the largest companies in Korea overtly says “no union” is a ‘philosophy’ of the owner-CEO. Basically, many companies were concerned about external stakeholders while completely ignoring internal stakeholders—their workers. This got me interested in pursuing answers to this paradox, and made me come to the U.S. to enter the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University.
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
I mostly do research on employee share ownership, such as ESOPs or ESPP. Related to this topic, I am interested in the broader concepts of ‘workplace democracy’ or ‘democratic workplaces.’ My dissertation consists of three empirical studies and these are about individual level outcomes of employee ownership and participatory management.
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
In classroom, I try to provide practical and realistic examples, and at the same time base my teaching in knowledge and theories. I feel obliged to help students to be ready to dive into the world of business and for that, I try to use simulation, case studies, and questions that provoke students’ thoughts.
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
I am excited about the opportunities at Chatham to have close relationships with students. I’d love to establish close ties with students and help them succeed. Students’ successes will be the most important measure of my own success.
Tell us some of your favorites:
Movie: Clockwork Orange
Destination to travel: Ghana (where I did the Peace Corps)
Hobbies: Cycling, skiing, yoga, climbing, gardening
How did you first become interested in your field?
I went to a small liberal arts college that had a thriving cooperative living and dining scene. As a dining coop member, I learned about local food procurement and was assigned composting as my first job duty. I fell in love with the food system during that first semester!
Laura Livingston, Director of Sustainable Agriculture, Assistant Professor of Food Studies
she/her/hers
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
I am currently running the agricultural production systems at Eden Hall along with my fabulous farm crew. Our operations include an apple orchard, two apiaries (bees!), maple syrup production, mushroom logs, and several unique organic vegetable production sites. I integrate these spaces into classes and labs across the campuses.
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
Students can look forward to hands-on experiences in the different agricultural production spaces at Eden Hall. I plan to integrate theory and practice, engaging students not just with agricultural spaces at Eden Hall but also with farmers in the greater Pittsburgh area.
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
I am looking forward to teaching the Introduction to Agroecology course and potentially creating a future course on apiary management.
Erica Maloney,
Assistant Professor of Social Work
she/her/hers
Tell us some of your favorites:
Movie: Ex Machina, Steel Magnolias
Destination to travel: Anywhere that has great running trails and Clearwater Beach
Hobbies: Ultramarathoning, camping, reading
How did you first become interested in your field?
Before I became a social worker, I worked in middle management at a large, for profit corporation. I thought the company engaged in unethical practices. This experience led me to social work. I decided that I would rather work in the service of others with an ultimate goal of making the world a little more just.
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
Labor and workers’ rights, GLBTQIA+ issues, youth serving mental and behavioral health systems, suburban poverty
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
They can look forward to a professor who has a great sense of humor!
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
Teaching in the classroom and interacting with students!
Nolynn Sutherland, Assistant Professor of exercise science
she/her/hers
Tell us some of your favorites:
Movie: I haven’t had much time to watch movies lately, but I am excited to watch Encanto with my niece that lives in Pittsburgh. I do have some classic favorites like Pretty Woman, Jerry Maguire, Dirty Dancing, Top Gun, etc.
Destination to travel: Oh my! Umm, everywhere.
Hobbies: I am a health nut and enjoy all types of exercise!
How did you first become interested in your field?
I learned the benefits of exercise early on and am very curious how our bodies constantly adapt to the stresses and demands we place upon ourselves.
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
My research involves the cardiovascular, biochemical, metabolic, and musculoskeletal effects of stretching. I also do research with acute and chronic yoga sessions.
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
I love interacting with students and am excited to meet everyone! I like student engagement in lectures and applying concepts to real life scenarios.
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
Meeting everyone in the small class sizes on the beautiful campus!
Caylin G. Winchell,
Assistant Professor of Biology
she/her/hers
Tell us some of your favorites:
Movie: They Live, Total Recall, The Labyrinth
Destination to travel: New Mexico, The Adirondack Mountains
Hobbies: Sculpting, painting, reading, writing, and everything crafty
How did you first become interested in your field?
My high school had a summer research program with a local infectious disease and immunology research institution (Trudeau Institute). I fell in love with infectious disease and immunology research before I had my driver’s license.
Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of research you do / what you’re currently working on?
I’ve always been interested in researching human pathogens that evade our immune system and ways that we can modify our own immune responses to better fight these deadly diseases. My current research focus is to understand the anti-microbial functions of host immune proteases called granzymes. These unique enzymes have been shown to have roles in cancer, auto-immunity, and infectious diseases.
What is something students can look forward to in your classes?
A fun and enthusiastic environment! I love to talk about biology and encourage cross-discipline discussions and questions.
What are you most looking forward to about teaching at Chatham?
I’m most excited to engage with students and contribute to the inclusive learning environment here on campus.
Thanks to these new faculty members for participating!
