Wilkes Introduces New Faculty – News@Wilkes

Here’s a summary of the 13 new faculty members welcomed by Wilkes University for the fall 2026 semester:

Bing K. Wong College of Arts and Sciences

1. Dailyn Clark – Department of Psychology

   • Experience in teaching and student affairs.
   • Doctorate in cognitive psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY.

2. Robert Johnson – Faculty of Practice and Director of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing

   • Previous roles in higher education, author of several works, including Delicate Men.

3. Miquela Langan – Department of Biology and Earth Systems Science

   • Director of summer camp programs, adjunct professor since 2023.
   • Expected doctorate in education from Wilkes in 2029.

4. Chester Loeffler-Bell – Division of Performing Arts

   • Experience in teaching lighting design, a member of IATSE Local 18.

5. Mudassir Syed – Department of Chemistry

   • Background in sustainable polymer chemistry and organic chemistry.
   • Doctorate from Texas Tech University.

6. Zoë Welch – Department of Biology and Earth Systems Science

   • Former instructor at Stanford University.
   • Doctoral degrees in ecology and marine biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

7. Stacy Wittrock – Department of Criminology

   • Previous assistant professor in criminology, completing a doctorate in criminology and criminal justice.

8. Amy Yanagitsuru – Department of Biology and Earth Systems Science

   • Adjunct professor since 2024 and a former postdoctoral scholar.
   • Doctorate in integrative ecology from the University of California.

College of Business and Engineering

1. Reem Bedeir – Department of Accounting

   • Former associate professor, extensive experience in academia and industry.
   • Degrees from Cairo University.

2. Shohgo Motoyama – Department of Marketing and Sports Management

   • Experience in sports management and collegiate sports.
   • Doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

3. Alia Shalaby – Department of Elementary Education

   • Former graduate instructional consultant at Penn State University.
   • Doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Penn State.

College of Health and Education

1. Billie Burry, PhD ’22 – Department of Graduate Nursing

   • Former chief nursing administrator and licensed nurse practitioner.

2. Lauralei Carden ’07 – Department of Nursing

   • Over 20 years of diverse nursing experience, currently pursuing a doctorate.

These new faculty members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience across various disciplines, enhancing Wilkes University’s academic community.