UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Education at Penn State welcomed six new faculty for the fall 2019 semester.
Bill Brendel
Bill Brendel, assistant professor of education (workforce education), earned a doctorate from Columbia University in adult learning and leadership. His research investigates how the ancient wisdom tradition of mindfulness practice may be incorporated as an approach to developing resilient leaders, cohesive teams and healthy organizational cultures. Utilizing wearable biofeedback technology, virtual-reality simulations and guided meditation, his research explores how employees who practice everyday mindfulness may transform their ability to lead complex change efforts, think creatively, make ethical decisions and act with greater compassion.
Christine Cunningham
Christine Cunningham, professor of practice in education and engineering, earned a doctorate from Cornell University in education. A professor of practice with a dual appointment in the College of Education and the College of Engineering, she will lead a pre-K-12 engineering education initiative that will create curricular materials; offer professional development for teachers; and conduct educational research. Cunningham’s interest focuses on making engineering and science more relevant and accessible, especially for populations underserved and under-represented in these fields.
Hollie Kulago
Hollie Kulago, associate professor of education (curriculum and supervision), earned a doctorate in curriculum studies from Purdue University. She comes to Penn State from Elmira College, where she was on the faculty since 2012. Her research interests include Indigenous teacher education; critical Indigenous curriculum and pedagogy (centering Indigenous knowledges and philosophies); current teacher-education-certification examination requirements for Indigenous teacher candidates; and Indigenous family, school and community relationships. Kulago is Diné (Navajo), originally from the Navajo Nation in Arizona.
Charlotte Land
Charlotte Land, assistant professor of education (secondary education English), earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction through the language and literacy studies program at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests focus on teacher learning and identities; writing studies and pedagogies; and critical, humanizing literacy instruction that empowers both students and teachers. While her teaching and research projects now include early elementary through college learners and teachers, Land taught high school English language arts in Kansas City, Missouri, before beginning her career in academia.
Elizabeth Prosek
Elizabeth Prosek, associate professor of education (counselor education), earned a doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Old Dominion University. She comes to Penn State from University of North Texas, where she was on the faculty since 2011. Her research interests include counseling military populations; expanding mental health and substance abuse treatment capacity in veterans’ courts; diagnosis and assessment of co-occurring disorders, including protective factors of substance misuse; and promoting ethics, competence and professional identity development in counseling and counselor education.
Peggy Schooling
Peggy Schooling, professor of practice in education leadership and executive director of the Pennsylvania School Study Council (PSSC), earned a doctorate from Immaculata University in education leadership. In her dual roles, she will continue to foster partnerships between Penn State and PSSC-member school districts, intermediate units and career-technical schools toward improving public education. Schooling’s interests include leadership development, curriculum and instruction and social justice issues in education.