School of Communication and the Arts Faculty

At the core of the educational experience at Marist is our distinguished faculty.  Offering both sterling educational credentials and deep professional experience, these talented men and women are deeply dedicated to the education and development of our students.  The members of Marist’s faculty share their knowledge with our students, mentor and encourage them, challenge them to think in new ways, collaborate with them on high-level research, and help them become career-ready.  We hear from countless alumni who reflect back on the significant impact their professors had and continue to have on their lives.  Each and every day, Marist’s faculty prove not only that outstanding teaching and outstanding research can go hand-in-hand, but that great teachers have a lasting impact on their students.

Dean, School of Communication and the Arts

Jacqueline Reich
Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts
PhD Italian Language and Literature, University of California, Berkeley
MA Italian Language and Literature, University of California, Berkeley
BA Romance Languages and Literatures (Italian/Spanish), Dartmouth College

Art & Digital Media Department

Chair, Anne Bertrand-Dewsnap
Senior Lecturer for Core Art History and Faculty Coordinator, Art History and Conservation Studies, Florence Campus
PhD in Art History, University of Pittsburgh
MA in Art History, University of Pittsburgh
BA in Art History, Smith College (magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa)

Steven L. Dana
Associate Professor of Digital Media
MFA, Painting, Lehman College (CUNY)
BFA, Graphic Design, School of Visual Arts, NY
BA, Psychology, Stony Brook (SUNY)

Amy Finkel
Assistant Professor of Photography
MFA, Design & Technology, Parsons School of Design
BA, Theater, English, and Music, Connecticut College

Matt Frieburghaus
Professor of Digital Media and Faculty Coordinator of Digital Media and Studio Art, Florence Campus
MFA, Computer Art, Syracuse University
BFA, Animation, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
AFA, Graphic Communication, St. Louis Community College

Mengqi Gao
Assistant Professor of Games and Emerging Media
MS, Informatics, University of California, Irvine
MFA, Game Design, New York University
BS, Engineering Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Malgorzata A. Oakes
Assistant Professor of Studio Art
PhD, Fine Arts and Art Conservation, Doctoral School of the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art & Design, Wrocław, Poland
MFA, Printmaking & Painting, Academy of Art & Design, Wrocław, Poland

Paul Qaysi
Visiting Lecturer in Art and Digital Media
MFA, Fine Art, Bard College
BFA, Fine Art, Pratt Institute

Karen Schrier
Professor of Games/Interactive Media and Director of the Games and Emerging Media Program
EdD, Columbia University
MS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
BA, Amherst College

Ed Smith
Professor of Art and Art Gallery Director
MFA, Columbia University
BFA, Pratt Institute

Communication Department

Zachary W. Arth
Assistant Professor of Sports Communication, Assistant Director of the Center for Sports Communication
PhD, Communication & Information Science, The University of Alabama
MA, Communication, State University of New York at Buffalo
BA, Communication/Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo

Jeffrey Basinger
Assistant Professor of Communication / Multimedia Storytelling
MFA, Creative Writing - Nonfiction, Oregon State University
BA, Film and Digital Media, University of California at Santa Cruz

Yasemin Beykont
Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication
PhD, Mass Communications, The Pennsylvania State University
MA, Media Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
BA, Public Relations, Istanbul Bilgi University
BA, European Studies, Istanbul Bilgi University

Amanda Damiano
Associate Professor of Communication
PhD in Communication, State University of New York at Buffalo
MA in Media Studies, Syracuse University
BS in Public Relations and Journalism, Utica College

Joanna D’Avanzo
Senior Professional Lecturer of Advertising and Coordinator of Global IMC, Florence Campus
BFA in Advertising Design, Fashion Institute of Technology

Andrew Elrick
Assistant Professor of Sports Communication, Director, Center for Sports Communication
PhD, Communications and Rhetoric, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
MS, Communications and Rhetoric, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
MS, E-Media, Quinnipiac University
BA, Communications, University of Connecticut

Babette Fasolino
Professional Lecturer, Public Relations, Internship Coordinator: Communication & Media Studies
MA, Communications and Organization Leadership, Marist College
BA, Broadcast Communications (Radio/TV/Film), California State University, Long Beach

Joanna Huyck
Professional Lecturer of Communication and Professional Programs
MA, Communication; Political Communication, University at Albany (SUNY)
BA, History & Political Science, College of Saint Rose

Qihao Ji
Associate Professor of Communication
PhD in Mass Communication, Florida State University
MA in Communication Studies, Bowling Green State University
BA in Journalism, Nanchang University

Chair, Kevin Lerner
Associate Professor of Communication/Journalism
PhD, Journalism and Media Studies, Rutgers University
MS, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
BA, University of Pennsylvania

Shannon Roper
Associate Professor of Communication
PhD in Communication/Computer-Mediated Communication and Gender Identity, Rutgers University
MA in Communication Arts, William Paterson University
BA in Communication/Public Relations & Advertising, Marist College

Leander Schaerlaeckens
Professional Lecturer of Sports Communication and Assistant Director, Center for Sports Communication
MA in Broadcast Journalism and Public Affairs, American University
BA in Print Journalism and Economics, City University in London

Mindy Stockfield
Visiting Professional Lecturer of Communication
BS in Advertising, Syracuse University

Wenjing Xie
Associate Professor of Communication and Director, Integrated Marketing Communication Graduate Program
PhD in Journalism and Public Communication, University of Maryland College Park 
M.Phil, Hong Kong Baptist University
MA, Renming University, P.R. China
BA, Shandong University, P.R. China

Fashion Department

Malinda Behrens
Interim Director for Fashion Career Development, Internships and External Partnerships
AA, Fashion Merchandising, Southern Virginia University

Patrick Boylan
Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design
BFA in Design Education, SUNY Empire State
MPS, Global Fashion Management, Fashion Institute of Technology

Rebecca Brown
Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion Merchandising
BS in Apparel Marketing, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

DooRi Chung
Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design 
BFA, Parsons School of Design

Stephanie Conover
Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion Merchandising 
MBA, Fordham University
BS in Family and Consumer Sciences, Western Illinois University

Bradley Erickson
Visiting Professional Lecturer of Fashion
BFA in Fashion, Parsons School of Design

Chair, Jennifer Finn
Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion Merchandising & Entrepreneurial Studies
BS in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, State University of New York at Plattsburgh

Jodi Hartmann
Interim Associate Dean, School of Communication and the Arts, Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion, and Coordinator of Fashion and Interior Design, Florence Campus
BS, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera
Senior Professional Lecturer of Fashion
Leonard De Vinci Arts Appliqués, Villefontaine, France
École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués Duperré, Paris France

Scott Miller
Professional Lecturer of Fashion
BA, Studio Art, Western Washington University, 1994
AAS, Fashion Design, Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY), 2001

Anthony Millero
Professional Lecturer of Fashion Merchandising
MPS, Global Fashion Management, Fashion Institute of Technology
BA, Media Studies & Urban Sociology, New York University

Jamie Perillo
Distinguished Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design
BFA in Fashion Design, Fashion Institute of Technology  

Mario Roman
Visiting Lecturer in Fashion History and Costume
PhD, Cultural & Historical Studies, University of the Arts London
MA, Fiber Science & Apparel Design, Cornell University
BS, Textile & Apparel Design, Cornell University

Sonia Roy
Distinguished Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design & Merchandising
MFA in Fashion Design, Academy of Art University
BFA in Fashion Design, Parsons School of Design

Richelle Valenzuela
Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design 
MFA in Fashion Design, Academy of Art University
BFA in Painting, San Francisco Art Institute

Film, Television, Games & Interactive Media Department

Chair, Dan Amernick
Senior Professional Lecturer of  Media Arts
PhD in Mass Communication, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
MA in Media Studies, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
BA in Mass Communication, Emerson College

Jessica Medenbach Crawford
Professional Lecturer of Media Arts
MFA, Video and Media Design, Carnegie Mellon University
BFA, Film Production and Electronic Arts, Bard College

Arzu Karaduman
Visiting Lecturer in Media Studies and Production
Ph.D., Moving Image Studies, Georgia State University
M.A., Communication and Design, Bilkent University
B.A., American Culture and Literature, Bilkent University

Music Department

Mike Napolitano
Interim Director of Music 
MA, Integrated Marketing Communication, Marist
BS, Integrative Studies, Marist

Malcolm Jones
Director of Bands/ Professional Lecturer of Music
DMA, Wind Band Conducting, Arizona State University
MM, Wind Band Conducting, Kent State University
BM, Music Education – Instrumental Band, University of Akron

Gavin Elliott Webb
Lecturer of Music
PhD,  Musicology, University of Ghana
MA, Musicology, University of Ghana
BMus, (cum laude) Professional Music, Berklee College of Music

Sarah Williams
Senior Lecturer of Music and Director of Choral Activities
MM, Opera Performance, SUNY Binghamton
BM, Vocal Music Performance, University of North Texas