November 12, 2004
New faculty welcomed
This is a list of new faculty in the mathematics, philosophy, and religious studies departments of he College of Arts and Sciences. New faculty in the other four colleges will be highlighted in subsequent issues of this newsletter.
Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Anthony J. Crachiola, a full-time visiting assistant professor of mathematics, recently completed his Ph.D. at Wayne State University, with work in the field of commutative ring theory/affine algebraic geometry. He earned his M.A. in mathematics from Wayne State, and also his undergraduate degrees, graduating summa cum laude in both French and mathematics, with a B.A. in each.
Magdalena Maria Matysiewicz, full-time mathematics lecturer/instructor, earned an M.S. in mathematics from Tulane University in May, and was awarded a master of science degree in statistics in August 2004. The Tulane Department of Mathematics named her the "Outstanding Teaching Assistant for 2001 - 2002."
Connie Meyers Unger is a part-time instructor in mathematics. She has a M.A. and a B.A. in mathematics from the University of New Orleans. Unger has received numerous academic awards and academic scholarships from UNO.
Philosophy
Joseph C. Berendzen, a full-time assistant professor, received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Villanova University in May 2002. His areas of specialization are critical theory, 20th-century European philosophy, and social/political philosophy. Berendzen has taught courses in political theory, feminism, and philosophy of social science.
Andrew Irvine, a part-time instructor, was born and raised in Australia. He completed a B.A. in English at the University of Sydney. He received his Ph.D. in religious studies from Boston University. For the past three years, he has worked with students in a study-abroad program in comparative religion and culture. He teaches in the philosophy and religious studies departments this year.
Religious Studies
Boyd Blundell, full-time extraordinary instructor, earned his Ph.D. in theological ethics from Boston College, an M.A. in theology from University of St. Michael's College/Regis College in Toronto, and a B.A. in philosophy from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Blundell taught at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia and Boston College. He is fluent in French and has fair reading ability and some verbal fluency in Spanish.
Elizabeth A. Goodine, full-time instructor, earned a Ph.D. and an M.A from Temple University, and a B.A. from the State University of New York. She has taught at Temple University. She has mastered Greek, French, German (reading), and Hebrew (basic).
Deborah Halter, who has taught for us for a number of years as a part-time instructor, is a lecturer extraordinary, teaching two courses in world religions and two in Catholicism. Halter has an M.A. and an M.P.S., both from Loyola and has a forthcoming book.
Kevin Alan Galatas, part-time instructor, has a B.A. and J.D. from Louisiana State University, and an M.A. in religious studies from Loyola. He teaches introduction to world religions. He has practiced as a family mediator in St. Tammany Parish, and also has practiced admiralty and maritime law.
Timothy Knowlton, part-time instructor, recently received his Ph.D. in anthropology from Tulane University. He teaches world religions.
Robert McGinnis, part-time instructor, is a retired chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Dillard University. He holds a B.A. degree from Kentucky Wesleyan, a B.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, an S.T.M. from University of the South, an M.A. from Tulane University, and a D.Div. from Vanderbilt University.
Emile Noel, part-time instructor, teaches world religions. He is director of religious education at Holy Name of Jesus Parish.
Vinzi Provenza, part-time instructor, graduated from Loyola with a B.A. magna cum laude and received his M.A. in religious studies. He teaches world religions.
Adrienne Tremblay, part-time instructor, teaches tribal religions and anthropology.
