Purdue North Central Welcomes New Faculty Members

Purdue University North Central welcomes new faculty members for the 2011 - 2012 academic year. They are:

Patrick Cannon - visiting assistant professor of Social Sciences and Academic Coordinator of Concurrent Programs. He earned his bachelor's degree from Marquette University and his master's degree from Indiana University. Most recently he held positions as a limited term-lecturer and coordinator of Dual Credit Programs in Social Sciences at PNC and as an instructor at Indiana University South Bend.

Jacquelyn M. Covault - assistant professor of Literacy Education. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at Purdue North Central and her Ph.D. at the Purdue University West Lafayette campus. She formerly was employed as a visiting faculty at Purdue University Calumet and was a limited term lecturer at PNC.

Charlene C. Gyurko - assistant professor of Nursing. She received her bachelor's degree at Purdue University Calumet; master's degrees at Indiana University Northwest and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and a Ph.D. at Indiana State University. Gyurko previously served as an assistant professor of Nursing at Purdue University Calumet.

Behice E. Ilhan - assistant professor of Marketing. Ilhan holds a bachelor's degree from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey; a master's degree from Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Ilhan also taught at the University of Illinois.

Meden F. Isaac-Lam - assistant professor of Chemistry. She was granted her bachelor's degree from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines; her master's degree from San Francisco State University and Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. She most recently held positions as an instructor and staff researcher at San Francisco State University.

Assen I. Kokalov - assistant professor of Spanish. Kokalov earned his bachelor's degree from Whittier College; his master's degree from Arizona State University and Ph.D. from the Arizona State University School of International Letters and Cultures. He held a position as a teaching associate at the School of International Letters and Cultures.

Natalie J. McGathey - assistant professor of Mathematics. She holds a bachelor's degree from Lewis University; a master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. McGathey was a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois.

Bennett C. Nott - visiting assistant professor of Social Work. He was granted a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a Master's of Social Work from the University of Michigan School of Social Work.

He has held positions as a psychotherapist at both Samaritan Counseling Center and Nasr Psychiatric Center in Michigan City. Additionally, he has been a limited-term lecturer at PNC.

Joseph E. Schoer - assistant professor of Educational Foundations. He received his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Most recently he held a position as a French teacher at National Trail Local S.D. in New Paris, Ohio.

Anthony B. Sindone - continuing lecturer of Economics. He was granted a bachelor's degree from California State University and a master's degree from the University of Notre Dame. He was previously a visiting professor of Economics at PNC.

Jessica A. Thomas - assistant professor of Chemistry and Dual Credit coordinator. She earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Most recently she held a position of continuing lecturer and Dual Credit coordinator for PNC.

Annette J. Tomory - continuing lecturer of Chemistry. She was granted her bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue University. She held positions as limited-term lecturer at PNC and a research assistant at Purdue University in West Lafayette.

Erin L. White - continuing lecturer of Elementary Education and coordinator of Learning & Technology. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at Purdue North Central. She was a co-coordinator of the R.O.C.K. Program after school program at LaPorte Y.M.C.A., and co-taught fifth and sixth grades at LaPorte Community Schools. Additionally, she has worked in the PNC Office of Learning and Technology since August 2010.

Kumara Jayasuriya - associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Columbo, Sri Lanka; a master's degree from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to coming to PNC he was a dean, chair and associate professor at Indiana University East.