Dr. Stephanie Chung, associate professor in the School of Education, co-authored a research study, “An Examination of In-Service Teacher Attitudes toward Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Professional Practice.” The study was published in Current Issues in Education in May. She also presented a seminar, “A New Scientific Understanding of ADHD: Practical Implications,” during the Professional Development Day in August sponsored by Cairn University for Christian school educators. Dr. Chung also recently agreed to serve as a reviewer for Educational Psychology, an international journal of experimental educational psychology.
Steven Condy, adjunct professor in the School of Music, artistic director of opera theater, and affiliate artist in voice, taught at the MasterWorks Summer Music Festival. Condy is the director of the Vocal Intensive Study Program at MasterWorks. In July, he also performed the role of Dr. Dulcamara with the Portland Opera in its production of The Elixir of Love.
Dr. Brian P. Luther, associate professor of New Testament, presented a paper at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Atlanta, GA, on November 18. The title of the paper was “Joseph: The Deceiver like God.”
Robin Leigh Massie, part-time faculty in the School of Music and director of opera theater, performed the solo in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra. She also performed several selections on the Fourth of July Pops concert and taught at the MasterWorks Summer Music Festival alongside her husband Steven Condy.
Dr. Matthew McAlack ’83, director of the Youth and Family Ministry program in the School of Divinity, spoke at the Summer Escape Retreat held at the Ocean City Tabernacle Kull Youth Center on July 6–8 along with youth pastor Jeremy McAlack ’14/G’14 from Bible Fellowship Church in Yardley and Chris Pascarella from Lincroft Bible Church. On July 20–23, he led a partnership program in which teens were paired with children for several days of activities, sharing the good news of Jesus. Participating groups included teenagers from Calvary Baptist Church in Bristol, Rosie’s Clubhouse in West Philadelphia, BCM in North Philadelphia, and Urban Promise in Camden, NJ. Dr. McAlack also spoke at Fellowship Alliance Chapel’s Night Games event at its church camp in Medford, NJ. The event was organized by middle school pastor Eddie Jurimas ‘14/G’14. This fall, Dr. McAlack organized the We Luv Youthworkers Convention hosted at Cairn University, led a workshop to train mentors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County, and spoke at the Morris Plains Christian Testimony Chinese Church in Booton, NJ.
Jim Meyer ’83/G’96, associate professor of counseling in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was the keynote speaker at TEAM Japan’s missionary conference in Japan on July 27–July 31.
Christopher J. Palladino ’94, chair of the History Department and assistant professor of history, humanities, and social science in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Debbie Lynn Wolf, professor in the School of Music and chair of the Music Education program, taught the course Sociology and Music Education for the graduate music education program at Villanova University on June 13–20. They also collaborated on a presentation and discussion at the University of the Arts this summer, engaging over 25 music educators and students pursuing a masters in music education. The course topic was the Sociology of Music. Mr. Palladino also participated in the 19th annual Colloquy on Christian Education and Culture in Manhattan. This is his ninth year participating in the discussion.
Dr. Roger Petersen ’73, professor of speech and story performance in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was the keynote speaker for the Explorer’s Bible Study (EBS) national conference held at the end of July in Oxford, Mississippi. In two plenary sessions for the membership and leadership of EBS, Dr. Petersen shared the true nature of the love that Christians should have for one another and how Christians can appraise and increase the love that they have for Christ.
Dr. Keith Plummer, associate professor in the School of Divinity, served as a moderator for the session “Biblical Theology for Marriage and Family Counseling” at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Atlanta, GA, on November 17.
Laura Saloiye ’05, lead readers’ services librarian at Cairn’s Masland Library, was part of a leadership team organizing the 2015 GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) Leadership Conference held at Messiah College on July 9–12. She has helped organize the event for the last two years. The conferences are intended to inspire and encourage counselors as they prepare to work with the girls in their GEMS groups on an annual theme. This year’s theme, “Choose Truth,” was based on Psalm 119:105.
Dr. Gary E. Schnittjer ’89, professor of Old Testament, presented a paper at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Atlanta, GA, on November 18. The title of the paper was “Focus on the Family in Genesis: Domestic Dysfunctions and Scriptural Narrative Ethics.”
Dr. Sheryl Vasso, professor and program advisor for the MS in Education degree program, presented a two-part seminar, “Assessing Enduring Understandings,” during the Professional Development Day in August sponsored by Cairn University for Christian school educators. She spoke at Langhorne Presbyterian Church’s women’s one-day retreat on the theme “Walk the Talk, Dress the Part,” addressing the three specific areas that Satan often targets: our walk, our words, and our spiritual wardrobe. She was also the speaker for Sunbury Church’s women’s retreat on “A Way with Words” on October 30–November 1. Working with ACSI and MACSA on November 11, she lectured on “Understanding by Design,” an approach to curriculum development that intentionally prioritizes learning experiences for maximum engagement of students and effectiveness of understanding. The next day, she spoke at the MACSA Conference in Lancaster, PA, on the topic of “Educators in Film.”
Dr. Debbie Lynn Wolf, professor in the School of Music and chair of the Music Education program, presented a workshop, “Swedish Hymns that Have Inspired the World,” at the College Music Society International Conference in Sweden and Finland on June 17–24. On November 12–13, she copresented a series of workshops on music in education with Ruth Borrmann ’89/’90/G’10, adjunct professor in the School of Education, at the MACSA conference in Lancaster, PA. On October 2, she presented a workshop titled “Reach for the Moon and See Stars: Challenging Students with Special Needs Towards Musical Excellence” through the Bucks County Association of Piano Teachers.
Dr. Timothy Yoder ’86, chair of the Liberal Arts Department and professor of philosophy and ethics, participated in a panel disussion on theological aesthetics at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Atlanta, GA, on November 18. The topic was “Tattoos: The Human Body as a Vehicle for Art and Truthfulness.”