School of Academic Studies Faculty & Staff

 Patrick Albano Dr. Patrick Albano is Associate Professor of Academic Studies/History.He holds a doctorate from Drew University, Madison, NJ in Interdisciplinary Studies and degrees from East Stroudsburg and Rutgers University. He completed post-graduate work at Temple University in Military History. Dr. Albano has held fellowships with the National Endownment Humanities, West Point Military Academy and the University of Southern California [Asian Studies]. He teaches the History of Asia, Warfare, Diplomacy, Intelligence as well as World and U.S. history survey courses. He has been a visiting professor at both Shippensburg University and Lockhaven University in Pennsylvania for two years.

E-mail: Patrick.Albano@pierpont.edu
Angeline Mary Beth Angeline is Assistant Professor of Academic Studies/Math. She holds a Master's of Arts Degree in Technology Education, a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University and a Certification in Secondary Mathematics from Fairmont State University. She teaches General Math, Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra and Fundamental Concepts, emphasizing the connection between mathematics and patterns. She also teaches Online Pre-Algebra. Previously, she previously taught at West Virginia Wesleyan. Currently, she is working on a doctorate in Education Leadership. 

E-mail: MaryBeth.Angeline@pierpont.edu
Beighley David Beighley is Assistant Professor of Academic Studies/English. He is currently A.B.D. at West Virginia University while completing his doctoral work in late-medieval/early-modern literature. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in English from West Virginia University and a B.A. in English Literature and B.S. in Professional Writing from Slippery Rock University. He teaches Developmental Composition, Written English I and II, Technical Report Writing, and literature courses through the university. He has presented papers at regional and international conferences on subjects ranging from theoretical examinations of social-constructivism in the writings of Zitkala-sa to historiographical inspections of Anglo-Saxon and medieval texts such as Aelfric’s homilies and Beowulf.

E-mail: David.Beighley@pierpont.edu
Benedetti Debra Benedetti is Associate Professor of Academic Studies/English and Writing Coordinator. She holds a master's degree in English education from West Virginia University and has completed extensive doctoral course work in Education Psychology. She teaches English 0097and English 1104 at the Fairmont campus, as well as English 1108, 1109 and other English courses at the Caperton Center in Clarksburg. She was most recently an Assistant Professor of Writing and Literature at Alderson-Broaddus College. Debbie has served as Regional Representative for the Circuit Writers program of West Virginia Writer’s Inc., and has conducted statewide poetry and fiction writing workshops for West Virginia high school students. She is a member of several professional organizations and is included in a national registry for executives and professionals. Debbie enjoys writing and photography, much of which has been published in literary magazines and in Grab-a-Nickel, a West Virginia literary newspaper.

E-mail: Debra.Benedetti@pierpont.edu
Bidwell Joelleen Bidwell is ...

E-mail: Joelleen.Bidwell@pierpont.edu
Bolyard M. Jean Bolyard is Professor of Academic Studies/Math and Dean of the School of Academic Studies of Pierpont Community and Technical College. She holds degrees in math education from Potomac State College and West Virginia University and has completed doctoral hours in both the adult learner and mathematics. She has been instrumental in incorporating "real world" applications in Developmental math courses. In addition, she has implemented journaling in her math classes as a way to encourage students to explore their math anxieties and accomplishments. She devotes considerable attention to developing students' study skills specific to math and has been a presenter of math study skills and math anxiety workshops for both students and faculty. She teaches Math 94 (Pre-Algebra) and Math 95 (Elementary Algebra.)

E-mail: Martha.Bolyard@pierpont.edu
Campbell

Ironda J. Campbell is Assistant Professor of Speech Communication at Pierpont State Community & Technical College and Fairmont State Univeristy. She teaches Fundamentals of Speech, Nonverbal Communication, and Freshmen Experience Seminar. Ironda received an MA in Communication from Stephen F. Austin State University and a BS in Mass Communications from Norfolk State University. She has worked as a reporter for radio and television, conducted discussions nationally in areas of human communication, and has been teaching on the college level at various academic institutions for over 15 years.

E-mail: Ironda.Campbell@pierpont.edu

Helwig Margaret Helwig is Assistant Professor of academic Studies/English. She holds a Master's degree from Northern Michigan University in English literature and pedagogy. She also holds a Bachelor's degree from NMU in English, minoring in journalism. Margaret worked for two years as a technical communicator, specializing in training documentation and product review. She teaches Composition Skills, Written English I, and Technical Report Writing.

E-mail: Maggy.Helwig@pierpont.edu
 Geneva Hines

Geneva Hines is Instructor of Academic Studies/English and serves as the International Student Advisor and Admissions Officer for Fairmont State.  She teaches English 97 as well as Freshman Seminar and is an Academic Advisor in the Advising Center.  She holds a BA and an MA from West Virginia University in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).  Geneva resides in Fairmont with her four-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter.  Her passions are her students, her family, and her crafts, especially basket weaving and tole painting.

E-mail: Geneva.Hines@pierpont.edu

King Linda S. King is Associate Professor of Academic Skills/Math and Math Coordinator. She holds a Master of Science degree in Mathematics with a Secondary Emphasis from West Virginia University. She teaches Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, and Geometry for the Elementary Teacher primarily, and emphasizes the connections between developmental and college-level math in her courses. She is a Web-CT mentor and is teaching Elementary Algebra on-line.

E-mail: Linda.King@pierpont.edu
Dr. Lalah W. Larew Dr. Lalah W. Larew is Professor of Academic Studies/Math. She holds a MS and an Ed.D. in Math Education from West Virginia University. She teaches Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, and Intermediate Algebra. She has developed and field-tested a “self-paced” format for the pre-algebra and elementary algebra courses offered by the Academic Development Center. Her doctoral research focused on the “Van Hiele Levels of Thought” as they pertain to developmental students learning geometry. Dr. Larew has extensive background in the teaching and learning of geometry. She has presented on the topics of learning geometry, student transition from high school math to college math, and mentoring new faculty at various local, state, and national conferences. She is a member of several professional organizations including The Blue Ribbon Schools Committee coordinated by WVU.

E-mail: Lalah.Larew@pierpont.edu
Losh Ruby Losh is Instructor and Coordinator of American Sign Language Communication Program. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Fairmont State College.

E-mail: Ruby.Losh@pierpont.edu
Lupica-Scott Debra Lupica-Scott is an assistant professor of Academic Studies. She holds an MA in English from West Virginia University and a BA in English from Waynesburg College, Waynesburg, PA. She has taught English 0097 (Composition Skills) for more than a decade at Fairmont State and has recently begun to teach the Freshman Seminar. In addition to her teaching duties, she serves as secretary of the Community & Technical College Faculty Assembly. She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons, ages ten and three.

E-mail: Debra.Lupica-Scott@pierpont.edu
Mainenti

Dr. Ray Mainenti is Assistant Professor of Academic Studies and Director of Tutorial Services/Supplemental Instruction Supervisor and Adjunct Instructor of English. He received a B.A. Degree in French/English and M.A. in Secondary Education from WVU. He has studied abroad at the Sorbonne, University of Paris in Paris, France. In 1997 he earned a doctorate in Foreign Language/English Education from WVU. Dr. Mainenti has taught English and French in Monongalia County Schools for 19 years and French at WVU. He is a part-time actor in regional theater and studies voice and piano.

E-mail: Raymond.Mainenti@pierpont.edu

 Brenda Mayfield Brenda Mayfield
Program Assistant

E-mail: Brenda.Mayfield@pierpont.edu
Nancy Parks Nancy W. Parks is an Assistant Professor of Academic Studies and serves as the Director of Assessment for Pierpont Community & Technical College. Parks holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Fairmont State College and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a specialization in Teaching in Higher Education from West Virginia University. She has also completed doctoral hours at WVU and Grambling State University. Parks designed the college’s Early Assessment program, which delivers academic outreach services to area high schools. She teaches Composition Skills and Freshman Seminar. Parks also administers placement testing for first-year students. She has worked with first-year students at Fairmont State since 1989. She is married, lives in Fairmont, and is the mother of two teenagers.

E-mail: Nancy.Parks@pierpont.edu
Jim Savchuk Jim Savchuk is Assistant Professor of Academic Studies/English at the Caperton Center in Clarksburg. He teaches Composition Skills, Written English, and Introduction to Literature. He is a doctoral student in the English program at the University of Miami. His dissertation examines articulations of national subjectivity in antebellum America. After completing two years of graduate study in philosophy at Ohio University, he received a MA in English from Bowling Green State University. He has presented papers on film and modern American poetry at interdisciplinary, literary, and pop culture conferences in Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.

E-mail: James.Savchuk@pierpont.edu
Starks April Starks is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Interpreter Training Program at Pierpont Community and Technical College. She holds an R.B.A. (May 2007) from Fairmont State University and an A.S in Interpreter Training from Fairmont State College. In addition, she holds a level IV certification from the National Association of the Deaf and attends professional development seminars on a regular basis. She enjoys working with Fairmont State's community education program as well as Gear-up's middle school institute summer camp in teaching sign language. She has worked as a community based interpreter for 9 years in specialized settings and has taught at the college level for 4 years. April is actively involved in West Virginia Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf serving as vice president of professional development. She also serves as a mentor for Educational Interpreters under the direction of the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf. She is committed to ensuring that our graduates / Interpreters meet the needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in West Virginia.

E-mail: April.Starks@pierpont.edu
 Sandra Woods Dr. Sandra R. Woods is a Professor of Academic Studies/English. She holds an MLA (liberal arts) from the Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in English from West Virginia University. Since participating in a 1993 FACDIS seminar on internationalizing composition studies, all of her writing classes have had an international component. Her sections of Composition Skills have focused "the world of work" as well as folklore and fairy tales from various cultures. Dr. Woods regularly teaches a variety of English courses at the Caperton Center and has conducted a course on the personal essay for the college's Lifelong Learners program. She has served as a faculty adviser, a WebCT mentor, and since 2000, a reader for the AP English Language examination.

E-mail: Sandra.Woods@pierpont.edu