Faculty
Patricia H. Howson, Ph.D.
Interim Chairperson of the Division of Education
Professor
Director of Early Childhood/General Special Ed Program
Director of Undergraduate Early Childhood Education Program.
Interests: Child Development, Early Childhood Curriculum and Administration, Infant and Toddler Development and Curriculum, Methods of Teaching Elementary Mathematics, Parenting
Ann T. Ackerman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Interests: Social Studies Education; Jewish – American History; US in Vietnam History; 19th – 20th Century British & US Intellectual and Cultural History; Contemporary Ethnic Issues.
J. Diane Connell, Ed.D.
Professor
Director of Learning Disabilities Program
Interests: Neurological aspects of Learning Disabilities and other exceptionalities; cognition and learning; brain-based learning as applied in K-16 classroom and counseling settings.
Susan E. Gately, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director of General Special Education Program and
Director of Elementary Education Program
Interests: autism and literacy development; co-teaching and inclusion; reading diagnosis.
John Gleason, Ph.D.
Professor
Director of Ed.D. Program
Interests:
Fiona Hughes-McDonnell, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Director of Secondary Education Program,
Professional Educator Preparation Programs
Interests:
Carol A. Langelier, Ph.D.
Professor
Director of Graduate Counseling Programs
Interests: diversity; cross-cultural counseling; classroom climate; cognitive-behavioral therapy; adolescent development; hybrid learning
in graduate counseling programs; spirituality and counseling.
John Moody, Ed.D.
Instructor
Director of Educational Administration Program
Interests:
Joann Nichols, Ed.D.
Instructor
Interests: early childhood education and literacy; the psychology of education and development; the history of education and conceptual childhood;
animal therapy and early childhood instruction.
Jerome L. Rekart, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Education and Psychology
Director of Behavioral Science Laboratory
Interests: learning and memory from molecular, cellular, behavioral and applied perspectives; applying psychological and
neuroscientific findings to education; quantitative research methodologies.
Naomi Schoenfeld, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Director of Graduate Emotional & Behavioral Disabilites Program
Interests: learning; special education; emotional/behavioral disorders in children and youth; single-subject research;
effective practices in teacher education; positive behavioral interventions and supports.
Kathleen Smith-McIlwain, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Director of Elementary Special Education Program, Reading Program, and Undergraduate Elementary Education Program
Interests: reading comprehension; integrated curriculum; role of language in critical thinking; written expression as a means for
social empowerment; relevance in 21st century literacy instruction.
Robert Walrath, Psy.D.
Associate Professor
Interests: relationships between psychological processing disorders and specific learning disabilities; child and family psychotherapy;
affective disorders in children and school psychology.
Staff
Gail Amrein
Administrative Assistant, Undergraduate Education
Barbara Graff
Administrative Assistant, Graduate Education
Joan Russell
Administrative Assistant, Counseling
Site Design: Alicia Egan & Patty Granger, Rivier College 2010 Banner Design: Elissa Lautenschlager & Luke Brownell, Rivier College 2010