New faculty bring educational and academic experience from 19 states and three countries. 

Dr. Susan Tammaro, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, announced that 12 new full-time faculty have joined Lebanon Valley College. The new professors will teach in ten academic programs, including two in the College’s growing Nursing Program. 

Dr. Protika Bhattacharjee: Assistant Professor of Economics 

Dr. Bhattacharjee comes to LVC after teaching at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., and the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.C. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Economics from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India, and a second Master’s and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of New Hampshire. 

Dr. Bhattacharjee’s research interests are Environmental Economics, Gender Economics, Labor Economics, and International Economics. 

Professor James Cosper: Assistant Professor of Design, Media, and Technology 

Professor Cosper brings a Master of Fine Arts (Design/Interactive Design) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Graphic Design/Product Design) from the University of Minnesota’s College of Design in St. Paul, Minn., and a Bachelor of Arts (English and Studio Art double major) from Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio.  

He previously taught at Towson University, Md., Shepherd University, W.V., and the University of Minnesota. His research interests lie in Art and Interactive Design Education, Graphic Design and Gaming, Toy Design, and Social Media and Privacy in the Digital Age.  

Dr. Nicole Fiscella: Assistant Professor of Exercise Science 

Dr. Fiscella taught at Slippery Rock University and Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., before LVC. She earned a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science (Adapted Physical Activity minor) from Slippery Rock University, a Master’s in Exercise Physiology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and a Master’s in Public Health (Health Promotion Health Behavior) and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology (Adapted Physical Activity) from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore.  

Dr. Fiscella has research interests in the Inclusion of Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Disabilities in Physical Activity Settings, and Understanding the Current Physical Activity Levels of Individuals with Disabilities.  

Dr. Mustafa Kirisci: Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of M.S. in Intelligence & Security Studies

Dr. Kirisci has a distinguished career, including training in Intelligence and Counterintelligence and International Law of Armed Conflict with the Turkish Armed Forces in Ankara. He has taught at four universities: Lehigh University, DeSales University, St. Mary’s College in California, and the University of North Texas. Dr. Kirisci has a Bachelor’s from the Turkish Military Academy (Business Administration) in Ankara, Türkiye, and a Master’s (Criminal Justice) and Ph.D. (Political Science: International Relations and Comparative Politics) from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.  

Dr. Kirisci, who spent five years as a Militarized Law Enforcement Officer with the Turkish Armed Forces, conducts research in Cybersecurity and International Relations and Comparative Politics.  

Dr. Paul Logan: Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

Beginning his career as a Staff Nurse at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., Dr. Logan worked in various healthcare organizations before joining The Pennsylvania State University Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing faculty in 2014. He has a Bachelor’s from Messiah University (Nursing), a Master’s (Tertiary Nurse Practitioner, Cardiopulmonary Track) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. (Nursing) from the Pennsylvania State University.  

Dr. Logan also maintains an active clinical practice as a cardiovascular nurse practitioner with WellSpan Cardiology in Chambersburg, PA. 

Dr. Logan’s clinical interests are general cardiology and critical care. His academic interests include healthcare quality and outcomes, durable learning in nursing, and virtual ICU care.

Professor Brynn Mason: Instructor for Business and MBA Program 

Professor Mason moved to the Business Department after providing career guidance and support to students and alumni in LVC’s Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Career & Professional Development since 2016, most recently as Director. She has taught at LVC, Wilkes University, and Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C.  

Professor Mason has an Associate’s (Education) from Lehigh Carbon Community College, a Bachelor’s (English) from East Stroudsburg University, an M.A. from Marywood University (Clinical Psychology), and an MBA from Lebanon Valley College (Human Resource Management). She has expertise in Career Coaching, Academic Support and Advising, Operations Management, and Student Development.  

Dr. Amanda Miller: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy 

Dr. Miller earned a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Biology from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. She then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Penn State College of Medicine. 

Her research focuses on the autonomic nervous system and regulation of blood flow and blood pressure. Dr. Miller has expertise studying mechanisms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. 

Dr. Jully Patel: Assistant Professor of Chemistry 

Dr. Patel joins LVC after beginning her career teaching at the National Institute of Technology in Raipur, India, and Government College Sundargarh, in Sundargarh, India. She was then awarded Postdoctoral Research positions at the University of Paris-Sud in France, the University of Buffalo, and, most recently, Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.  

Dr. Patel earned her Master’s and Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad in Jharkhand, India. Her research areas include the synthesis and characterization of inorganic catalysts, homogenous and heterogeneous catalysts, artificial photosynthesis, and alternative energy solutions. 

Professor Linda Rhine: Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing 

Professor Rhine, RN, has extensive experience in nursing and healthcare, including roles as Nurse Navigator for UPMC’s Breast Medical-Oncology Clinic, Program Coordinator, Hematology for Penn State’s Cancer Institute, and Staff RN at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s Cancer Institute. She has taught at UPMC’s Shadyside School of Nursing, Messiah University, the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, and Penn State Cancer Institute.  

Professor Rhine has a Bachelor’s (Nursing) from Pennsylvania State University, a Master’s (Nursing Education) from Messiah University, and a Nursing Certificate from the Parish Nurse/Faith Community. Her specializations include Patient Education and Advocacy, Hematology, and Oncology.  

Dr. Bikramjit Saha: Assistant Professor of Economics 

Dr. Saha arrives at LVC after teaching at the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, and the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Economics from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India, and a Master’s (Economics) and Ph.D. (Economics with Cognate in College Teaching) from the University of New Hampshire.  

Dr. Saha’s research interests are International Trade, Macroeconomics, Immigration, Labor Economics, and Inequality. 

Professor Bethany Sampsell: Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing  

Professor Sampsell, RN, a Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Nurse Practitioner has taught at Penn State University, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lycoming College, and the St. Joseph School of Nursing. Her extensive Nursing experience includes; Hospice and Palliative care, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Occupational Health, Case Management, Psychiatric Nursing, Rehabilitation Nursing, and Long-term Care. She continues to practice as a Nurse Practitioner at Masonic Villages in Hospice and Palliative Care.   

Professor Sampsell has an RN Nursing diploma from the Geisinger Medical Center School of Nursing, a B.S. in Nursing from Penn State University, Master’s in Nursing (Clinical Nurse Specialist Adult/Older Adult) from Penn State, and post-master’s certificates from Penn State (Adult Nurse Practitioner) and the PA College of Health Sciences (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner). Her areas of expertise include Health Assessment and Psychiatric Nursing. 

Professor Shannon Strohl: Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling 

Professor Strohl has previous experience teaching at Kutztown University, Duquesne University, and Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. She received her Bachelor’s (Psychology and German) from Moravian University, Master’s (Clinical Mental Health Counseling) from Kutztown University, and Ph.D. (Counselor Education and Supervision) from Duquesne University. She also is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor with extensive healthcare clinical experience.  

Professor Strohl has several areas of clinical and research interest, including Research Identity, Counselor Identity and Professional Development, Grief and Loss, Attachment, Suicide Bereavement, Trauma, Adversity in Development, Post-traumatic Growth, Clinical Supervision, Group Work, and Mentorship.