Teaching Faculty
Sandra Barney, History.
Dr. Sandra Barney earned her doctorate in history from West Virginia University in 1995; she joined LHU's faculty in 1999 She teaches a variety of courses in the History Department. Her early research focused on gender and the professionalization of medicine in Appalachia during the Progressive Era. She has also begun research on sexuality and parenting in the English-speaking countries of the North Atlantic Basin and on the history and distribution of preschool enrichment programs. She enjoys reading, gardening, and cooking in her free time.
Susan Boland, Psychology.
Dr. Susan Boland earned her doctorate in Social Psychology from Washington University (St. Louis) in 1987; she joined LHU's faculty in 1990. Dr. Boland teaches a variety of courses, including Psychology of Women, Social Psychology, and Experimental Psychology. Her research has focused on attitudes, stereotypes, Type A behavior, and personal relationships.
Judy Brink, Anthropology.
Dr. Brink received her B.S. in Social Science Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her Master's and Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh (1985). For her Ph.D. research, she lived for over a year in a village in Egypt studying the effect of education and employment on the status of women. Dr. Brink continued to work in Egypt and complete research on the effect of labor migration of husbands on the status of their wives, child-rearing strategies of Egyptian mothers, the effect of Islamic fundamentalism, participation in zar possession trance rituals, and agricultural participation on women's status. Her current field location is in Oaxaca, a southern state in Mexico, researching the creation of an indigenous ethnic identity in order to sell handmade rugs to tourists, as well as the ancestor worship ceremony "the Day of the Dead." She teaches Anthropology for Women for the Women's Studies program. Dr. Brink is married, has no children, but does have two Ragdoll cats. She loves to travel, especially to archeological sites in Latin America, and recently has visited Morocco, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize; she also goes to Mexico several times a year. Dr. Brink's favorite activity is snorkeling, which she does in Cozumel, Mexico. Website: http://www.lhup.edu/jbrink
Karen Kline, Mass Communication.
Karen Kline joined the Journalism and Mass Communication faculty at Lock Haven University in 1987 after teaching for six years at Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. At LHU she teaches professionally-oriented courses in the areas of television, radio, advertising, and public relations as well as media studies courses, including Gender and the Mass Media and Cultural Studies in Mass Communication. Her primary research interests involve examination of the creative practices that guide the work of culture-making industries and qualitative analysis of audience responses to the mass media.
Marjorie Maddox Hafer, English.
Marjorie Maddox Haffer, poet and professor of English at LHU, has published over 250 poems and four stories in literary journals and five collections of poetry: Perpendicular as I (winner of the 1994 Sandstone Book Award), Nightrider to Edinburgh (Amelia Award winner), How to Fit God into a Poem (Painted Bride Award winner), Ecclesia (Franciscan UP), Body Parts (Anamnesis Press), andWhen the Wood Clacks Out Your Name (Redgreene Press Award winner). She has an M.A. from the University of Louisville and an M.F.A. from Cornell University (1989), where she was awarded the Sage Graduate Fellowship in Poetry Writing. The recipient of numerous awards, Ms. Maddox Hafer gives readings of her poetry around the country. At LHU, she teaches Ethnic American Literature, Modern Poetry, Creative Writing, Pennsylvania Authors, Women Poets, and other courses.
Joan Whitman Hoff, Philosophy.
Joan Whitman Hoff is a professor of Philosophy. She received her Ph.D. from The American University and her M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Whitman Hoff has published two books and numerous essays in journals and books, in addition to nearly 100 presentations at conferences. She teaches Philosophy of Feminism and Introduction to Women's Studies; she also has developed and taught a web-based course entitled Women, Technology and the Information Age. Dr. Whitman Hoff is a certified mediator who specializes in family conflict resolution.
Beth McMahon, Health Sciences.
Beth McMahon is a Full Professor at Lock Haven University specializing in community health assessment and improvement, current health issues and women’s health issues. She came to LHU in 1998 from the Susquehanna Health System where she was responsible for the Women’s Health Center, The Health and Wellness Life Center, Community Health Improvement and Promotion. She received her PhD from Penn State University in Health Education, a MS in Exercise Physiology with a focus in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness, and a BS in Health and Physical Education for East Stroudsburg University. She is actively involved in numerous community organizations including the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition. Her area of research interest and publications are in community health improvement, “at-risk” youth and, community service learning and college student success. She has actively volunteered in a variety of community organizations, including community based health improvement coalitions, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Women Shelters, local elementary schools, YMCA and YWCA, and American Heart Association. She delivers over 50 keynote presentation and publications locally, regionally and nationally each year.
Robert Myers, English.
Professor Myers received his Ph.D. from Penn State in 1991. He teaches American Literature, and has published a biography of the author Harold Frederic, as well as several articles on late-19th-century literature.
Rose Ann Neff, Health.
Rose Ann Neff has seen many changes at Lock Haven University since 1973 when she graduated from here. She joined the LHU faculty in 1979 after teaching one year at Ephrata High School and four years at Susquehanna University. Her Ph.D. in Health Education was earned in 1990 from Penn State. In addition to developing and coordinating the Fitness Management Option, currently Dr. Neff teaches Nutrition for Wellness, Health Promotion at the Worksite, and Women's Health Issues. The supervision of senior Professional Field Experiences (internships) also accounts for part of her academic duties. Traveling and hiking are among her top recreational pursuits.
Lynette Reitz, Social Work.
Lynnette Reitz received her M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1990. She teaches a variety of courses in the Social Work Program at LHU, as well as serving as the Field Work Coordinator.
SueAnn Schatz, English.
SueAnn Schatz joined the English faculty at Lock Haven University in 2001 where she teaches a variety of British literature courses, Business Writing, Introduction to Literature, and Composition. Her teaching and research interests include film and the novel, Native American literature, and women's writing. Dr. Schatz received her Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 1999. More information about Dr. Schatz can be found at her website, www.lhup.edu/sschatz
Sharon Stringer, Mass Communication.
Sharon Stringer is an assistant professor who received her doctorate in Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in Mass Communication from Penn State University in 1999. Her teaching responsibilities include numerous journalism courses, public relations, and advertising; she contributes to the Women's Studies program by teaching Cultural Studies in Mass Communication. Dr. Stringer, who currently serves as the academic adviser for the LHU's student radio station (WLHU), has been employed as an editor and a public television producer and is a member of the Association of Educators of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Agricultural Communicators in Education (ACE).