Faculty Members from All Academic Divisions & Departments

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5354

e DBlondel@ncwu.edu

Program/Department Biology, School of Math and Science

Dimitri Blondel, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Biology

Ph.D., University of Florida

What kind of questions do I study?
Animal behavior, behavioral ecology, behavioral endocrinology, conservation behavior, science education

What kind of organisms?
Mostly mammals, mostly small ones: prairie voles, singing mice, house mice, meerkats. But I have also worked with ostriches and blue crabs!

Where have I done my research?
Kalahari desert, Panamanian cloud forest mountains, American midwest prairies, North Carolina estuaries - and of course laboratories.

Selected publications:
Drea, C.M., C.S. Davies, L.K. Greene, J. Mitchell, D.V. Blondel, C.L. Shearer, J.T. Feldblum, K.A. Dimac-Stohl, K.N. Smyth-Kabay, and T.H. Clutton-Brock. 2021. A heritable androgenic mechanism of female breeding competition in meerkats. Nature Communications 12(1):1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27496-x

Blondel, D.V., J. Rosenberg, A. Sansone, E.A. Godin, B. W. Yang, L. T. Jaglom-Kurtz, L. Linnenbrook-Garcia, and R.M. Schwartz-Bloom. 2019. Development of an online experiment platform for high school biology. Journal of Formative Design in Learning. 3:62. doi: 10.1007/s41686-019-00030-5

Godwin, J., M. Serr, S.K. Barnhill-Dilling, D.V. Blondel, P.R. Brown, K. Campbell, J. Delborne, A.L. Lloyd, K. Oh, T. Prowse, R. Saah, and P. Thomas. 2019. Rodent gene drives for conservation: opportunities and data needs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 286(1914):20191606. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1606

Sudweeks, J., B. Hollingsworth, D.V. Blondel, K.J. Campbell, S. Dhole, J.D. Eisemann, O. Edwards, J. Godwin, G.R. Howald, K. Oh, A.J. Piaggio, T.A.A. Prowse, J.V. Ross, J.R. Saah, A.B. Shiels, P. Thomas, D.W. Threadgill, M.R. Vella, F. Gould, and A. Lloyd. 2019. Locally fixed alleles: A method to localize gene drive to island populations. Scientific Reports. 9(1):1-10. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-51994-0

Blondel, D.V., G.N. Wallace, S. Calderone, M. Gorinshteyn*, C.M. St. Mary, and S.M. Phelps. 2016. Effects of population density on corticosterone levels of prairie voles in the field. General and Comparative Endocrinology 225:13-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.09.002

Blondel, D.V. and S.M. Phelps. 2016. Effects of acute corticosterone treatment on male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster): Territorial aggression does not accompany induced social preference. Journal of Comparative Psychology 130:400-406

Blondel, D.V., J. Pino, and S.M. Phelps. 2009. Space use and social structure of long-tailed singing mice (Scotinomys xerampelinus). Journal of Mammalogy 90:715-723. doi: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-009R2.1

Forward, R.B., Jr., R. A. Tankersley, D. Blondel, and D. Rittschof. 1997. Metamorphosis of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus: effects of humic acids and ammonium. Marine Ecology Progress Series 157:277-286. doi: 10.3354/meps157277

Teaching Philosophy

I strive to make biology interesting and exciting and to help my students gain an appreciation of biology’s relevance to their lives. My methods are driven primarily by an active learning, evidence-based approach; I like to emphasize inquiry-based learning. I also bring into my teaching my own passion for biology and my own research experiences, to make the content more accessible and exciting. Finally, underlying all of my teachings is an attitude of respect and positive reinforcement for each of my students, and an appreciation and acknowledgment of the diverse backgrounds brought to my classroom.

More About Me:

How long have you been at NCWU?
Since 2021

What's your favorite class that you teach?
Animal Behavior

What are your research & teaching interests?
Behavioral Ecology

What is a fun fact or an interesting hobby of yours?
I collect science-themed board games.

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5267

e JBuel@ncwu.edu

Location Rocky Mount Campus

Program/Department Communications, Entertainment Arts, School of Humanities

Jason Buel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Communications/Assistant Professor of Cinema & Media Arts, Program Coordinator, Communication

Assistant Professor of Cinema & Media Arts

My research focuses on digital communication in and around contemporary social movements. I am fascinated by the intersections between media, technology, and politics. I am especially interested in how people use new and emerging documentary practices in attempts to transform power relations and fight for equality.

In my teaching, I strive to keep an inquisitive spirit at the forefront of everything I do. I want to create opportunities for my students to experience wonder, to find lines of inquiry that feel genuinely meaningful to them, and to discover ways of actively engaging with society rather than passively accepting the world as they have inherited it. My students pose questions that matter, and they are empowered not only to find answers to those questions but to develop creative interventions based on what they are learning. If my students take nothing else away from my courses, I want them to develop the desire, confidence, and skills necessary to take charge of their learning and see themselves as lifelong learners.

Selected Publications

Buel, Jason. “The Mediated Adventures of EggBoy: Direct Action, Street Art, and Memes as Anti-Fascist Praxis.” ImageTexT 13.3 (forthcoming).
Buel, Jason. “Automated Visions, Algorithmic Imageflows: The Technopolitics of Black Lives Matter Videos on YouTube.” MAST: The Journal of Media Art Study and Theory 3.1 (April 2022).
Buel, Jason and Kristi Kouchakji. “Analog No More?: Idle No More as Digital Nation.” InsUrgent Media from the Front: A Media Activism Reader. Ed. Chris Robé and Stephen Charbonneau. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2020.
Buel, Jason and Kristi Kouchakji. “He Did Nazi That Coming: Remix, Resistance, and Richard Spencer’s Face.” Resist and Persist: Essays on Social Revolution in 21st Century Narratives. Ed. Leisa Clark and Amanda Firestone. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2020.
Buel, Jason. “Assembling the Living Archive: A Media-Archaeological Excavation of Occupy Wall Street.” Public Culture 30.2 (May 2018): 283–303.
Buel, Jason. “Playing (With) The Western: Classical Hollywood Genres in Modern Video Games.” Game On, Hollywood! Essays on the Intersection of Video Games and Cinema. Ed. Joseph Michael Sommers and Gretchen Papazian. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2013.

Selected Conference Presentations

Buel, Jason. “Counter-Confederate Culture Jamming: Radical Recontextualization as Anti-Racist Work.” Annual Convention of the National Communication Association. Baltimore, MD, November 13–17, 2019.
Buel, Jason. “Power to the Algorithms? The Black Lives Matter Movement on YouTube.” Annual Convention of the National Communication Association. Baltimore, MD, November 13–17, 2019.
Buel, Jason. “How Dank Was My Meme Stash?: Sequential Art, Social Justice, and Internet Memes.” Graphic Justice Discussions. Brooklyn, NY, October 20, 2018.
Buel, Jason. “This is What Documentary Looks Like: Digital Docmedia and the Archive.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies Annual Conference. Toronto, Ontario, March 14–18, 2018.
Buel, Jason. “Opacity and Visibility in Contemporary Digital Activism.” Annual Convention of the National Communication Association. Philadelphia, PA, November 10–13, 2016.
Buel, Jason and Kristi Kouchakji. “#citizenship: Idle No More and Digital Nationhood.” Visible Evidence XXIII. Bozeman, MT, August 11–14, 2016.
Buel, Jason. “Mere Footage into Argument: #BlackLivesMatter and Algorithmic Montage.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 30–April 3, 2016.
Buel, Jason. “Pictures at a Revolution: Babylon ‘13’s Witnessing and Co-Creation of a New Political Imaginary for Ukraine.” Visible Evidence XXII. Toronto, Ontario, August 19–22, 2015.
Buel, Jason. “Imag(in)ing Black Lives Matter: Representations of Resistance in Web Videos.” International Association of Media and Communication Research Conference. Montréal, QC, July 12–16, 2015.
Buel, Jason. “A Kinder, Gentler Patriarchy: (Re)mediated Spaces and the (Re)construction of Inequality in Contemporary Social Movements.” Console-ing Passions International Conference on Television, Video, Audio, New Media and Feminism. Dublin, Ireland, June 18–20, 2015.
Buel, Jason. “Dear Subscriber: You Are Registered as a Participant in a Mass Disturbance.” International Communication Association, Ethnicity and Race in Communication Pre-Conference. Seattle, WA, May 22, 2014.
Buel, Jason. “Globalizing Protest: Scales of Resistance in Ukraine’s Maidan Movement.” Rethinking Globalization and the Question of Scale: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from the Humanities and Social Sciences. Raleigh, NC, April 24–26, 2014.

How long have you been at NCWU?
Since 2017

What's your favorite class that you teach?
Documentary and Social Change

What are your research & teaching interests?
Communication in social movements, film and new media

What is a fun fact or an interesting hobby of yours?
I play the drums. 🙂

Tim Dornemann, Ed.D., CES, PES, CSCS, CPSS OS Pro

e TDornemann@ncwu.edu

Location Rocky Mount Campus

Program/Department Exercise Science, Master of Human Performance and Sports Science

Tim Dornemann, Ed.D., CES, PES, CSCS, CPSS OS Pro

Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Director of the MS-HPSS Program

Tim Dornemann, Ed.D., CES, PES, CSCS, CPSS, RSCC*D, OS Instructor

Education

Ed.D. in Sports Management with an emphasis in Sports Fitness and Health and a Specialization in Leadership from the United States Sports Academy

Dr. Tim Dornemann joined the Exercise Science Department in the fall of 2023 as an Associate Professor of Exercise Science. Tim completed his Doctor of Education in sports management with an emphasis in sports fitness and health and a specialization in leadership from the United States Sports Academy. Additionally, he has a Master of Arts degree in exercise physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science degree from Rockford University. He was first certified as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 1992. Dr. Dornemann has served as a reviewer for the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE) and a member of the CASCE standards committee.

Dr. Dornemann previously oversaw both the undergraduate in exercise science and the Master of Science in kinesiology programs at Barton College and served as the director of sports performance his first five years at Barton. He currently serves as a member of the United States Sports Academy’s national faculty and has taught for the sports academy in Malaysia, Thailand, and China. Dornemann volunteers as the director of educational programs for Sports Performance Sciences (SPS), an organization that conducts performance-enhancement education programs internationally and develops conditioning programs combined with character development programming domestically. Through the international branch of SPS, International Performance Sciences, he has worked with the Philippine Olympic Committee and India national wrestling team.

Two of the projects Dornemann developed for SPS have been published by Linus Publishing – “PowerRev ‘Four Laws of Victory’ Character Development Program: Build Successful Teams and Athletes by Teaching Lessons That Transcend Sports” and “PowerRev Youth Athletic Development Program: Building Champions in Sports and in Life.” A third collaborative project “The PowerRev Way; Developing the Total Athlete” came to print in 2023. He also has written Russian Vibration Training: The Mikheev Method, published by Healthy Learning.

Dornemann’s certifications include:

NSCA: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS); Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS); Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction (RSCC*D)
NASM: Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES); Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)
NASE: Level II Certified Speed Specialist
Original Strength: Original Strength Certified Professional
USAW: Sports Performance Coaching Certification
FMS: Level 1 and 2

View Full CV >

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5256

e DElias@ncwu.edu

Program/Department Biology, Biomedical Science, Environmental Science, School of Math and Science

Daniel Elias, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Environmental Science/Program Coordinator, Environmental Science

B.S., La Molina National Agrarian University
M.S., Washington State University
Ph.D., Ball State University

How do I teach?
As a scientist and educator, I heavily rely on inquiry-based education, active learning, and interdisciplinary teaching. I want my students to improve their understanding of foundational and basic biological concepts and further apply these concepts into larger issues, develop problem-solving skills and strategies, improve skills associated with collaborative teamwork, and lessen any math, science, or authority anxiety.

What are my research interests?
My research interests focus on how human activities have an impact on aquatic ecosystems. Specifically, I am interested in the effects of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products on freshwater organisms. These pollutants are ubiquitous and detected at concentrations that likely have an effect on organismal fitness. So, I want to address and explore how these contaminants alter organisms’ behavior (using movement as an indicator), growth, reproduction, and egestion/ingestion rates and how these changes affect food webs and nutrient cycles.

What am I doing right now?
In class:
I teach Life Science (BIO101), Life Science Lab (BIO102), Introduction to Environmental Science (BIO224), Agroecology (BIO226), Global Water Issues (BIO330), Environmental Science (BIO324), Environmental Science Lab (BIO325), Environmental Studies (BIO326), and Environmental Health (BIO424).

In research:

Effects of pharmaceuticals and salinity on snail (Physa acuta) and fish (Poecilia reticulata) growth, movement, and reproduction
Meta-analysis on pharmaceuticals abundance in wastewater effluent
Case studies addressing global water issues

Students have pursued research addressing the effects of acetaminophen and salinity on freshwater ecosystems from an ecotoxicological approach. We have received funding through Society for Freshwater Science, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, and North Carolina Wesleyan University internal grants. This funding has supported research and students’ conferences participation. I am always looking forward to meeting enthusiastic students to be part of these research efforts.

p 252-985-5325

e TEllis@ncwu.edu

Location Rocky Mount Campus

Program/Department Communications, Masters of Public Health, Public Health, School of Humanities

Tyana Ellis, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Communications and Public Health

Dr. Tyana J. Ellis started her college journey at Campbell University, earning a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations, a B.S. in Health Communication, and an M.S. in Public Health. Following that, Dr. Ellis decided to pursue her doctoral degree at the University of Alabama, earning a PhD in Health Communication with a cognate in Public Health. After earning her doctorate, Dr. Ellis moved to Richmond, Virginia, where she worked at the University of Richmond as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Studies, teaching classes such as Health Policy, Global Health, Health Communication, and Patient and Provider Communication. In 2023, Dr. Ellis also became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®).

Dr. Ellis’ research largely centers around health disparities, such as food insecurity and mental health, in vulnerable populations, such as college students and rural communities. Dr. Ellis has presented much of her health disparity research at regional, national, and international conferences such as the Southern States Communication Association, Kentucky Conference on Health Communication, National Communication Association, American Public Health Association, and International Communication Association. In addition to presenting at conferences, Dr. Ellis is actively involved in several professional associations, serving as the Vice Chair of the Southern States Communication Association’s Health Communication Division and the Mentoring Chair of the American Public Health Association’s Food and Nutrition Section.

Dr. Ellis has several publications in press, including chapters in upcoming books on innovative approaches in narratives and health communication, communication anxiety and apprehension, and clinical and public health nutrition; an article in Review of Communication; and her first book, “The Communicative, Intersectional, and Systemic Nature of College Food Insecurity.”

Dr. Ellis is currently an Assistant Professor of Communication and Public Health at North Carolina Wesleyan University.

Selected Scholarly Work

Ellis, T. J. (in press). The Communicative, Intersectional, and Systemic Nature of College Food Insecurity. Lexington Books.

Ellis, T. J. (in press). “It’s not a matter of choice”: The intersectional and systemic nature of college food insecurity. Review of Communication Special Issue on Thinking Critically about Critical Communication.

Ellis, T. J. (in press). The Importance of Instructor Social Support for College Students’ Mental Health. In L.B. Carper (Ed.), Innovative Approaches in Narratives and Health Communication. Vernon Press.

Ellis, T. J., & Koh, L. (in press). Gastronomic solutions: Exploring enteral and parenteral nutrition for optimal patient care. In A.K. Mitra & D. Vanoh (Eds.), Essentials of Clinical and Public Health Nutrition. Springer.

Ellis, T. J. (in press). Research is in Your Reach! In-Class Research Activity. In E. E. Johnson-Young, A. Y. Goldman, & A. R. Walker (Eds.), Collaborative Team-Based and Experiential Learning: A Path to Student Innovation in Communication. Peter Lang International Academic Publishers.

Ellis, T. J. (in press). Photovoice Scavenger Hunt: Critically Evaluating how Campus Environments Communicate about Health. In K. Rudick (Ed.), Teaching from the Heart: Critical Communication Pedagogy in the Communication Classroom (Second Edition). Cognella.

Ellis, T. J. (in press). Communication Apprehension about College Food Insecurity. In S. Prentiss & D. Horn (Eds.), Communication Anxiety and Apprehension. Routledge.

Franco, C. L., & Ellis, T. J. (in press). Communication Apprehension and Death: Identifying Factors and Mitigating Anxiety and Avoidance around Discussing End-of-Life Topics. In S. Prentiss & D. Horn (Eds.), Communication Anxiety and Apprehension. Routledge.

Ellis, T. J. (2024). Crisis Communication Group Case Study. In B.N. Frisby & R. Kaufmann (Eds.), Teaching Communication Series: Pedagogical Resources. Cognella.

Vahedi, L, Harb, C., Tate, S., Nguyen, A., Ellis, T., Woolsey, S., & Suen, J. J. (2023). When peace is threatened, so is public health. American Journal of Public Health 113(2), 132. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307185

Bissell, K., Ellis, T. (2021). Are children getting outplayed? Examining the intersection of children’s involvement in physical education, youth sports, and their health and well being. Handbook of Communication and Sport. (Ed. Michael Butterworth). Mouton de Gruyton Publishers.

Professional Affiliations

National Communication Association
American Public Health Association
Southern States Communication Association
Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Association Honor Society
Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority

Download CV >

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5261

e JKelly@ncwu.edu

Location Rocky Mount Campus

Program/Department Leadership Cabinet, Political Science, School of Education and Social Science

Jarrod Kelly, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Political Science/Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation

Ph.D., Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
M.A., Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
B.A., Psychology, Miami University

I specialize in American Politics, with specific interests in electoral politics, public opinion, and political psychology. Recently, I have become particularly interested in the social and electoral implications of misinformation, particularly conspiracy theories.

Teaching Interests
I teach courses on American politics and social science research methods. I offer courses on American political institutions, including U.S. Congress, The American Presidency, and Judicial Politics. These courses challenge students to critically examine the role and efficacy of these institutions, with particular emphasis on the relationship between the institutions and the electorate. I also teach American Political Thought, a course examining the “big ideas” central to the development of the American approach to governance, policymaking, and political ideologies.

I also offer two courses more directly related to my interests and expertise in electoral politics. Political Psychology is an interdisciplinary course examining how people “think” about politics, particularly the origins and development of political attitudes, the role of personality and dispositional factors, as well as information processing. I have also recently developed a new course, Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation, which also satisfies a Wesleyan Core requirement.

Finally, I also teach Social Research Methods. This course introduces students to the empirical approach to asking and answering social science research questions, with an emphasis on quantitative methods. I favor an applied approach, with students developing their own research questions, collecting data, and analyzing the data using statistical software.

Research Interests
I have broad research interests in political psychology and electoral politics. A common thread throughout much of my research is a focus on political identity, particularly partisan and ideological identities. Recent projects have examined how partisan identity/loyalty structures vote choice in primary elections, cross-cutting issues across partisan and ideological identity, and the social nature/function of ideological identity.

Recently, I have become interested in how misinformation shapes political attitudes, and I am working on a project, in collaboration with Dr. Preuss (Associate Professor of Psychology at NCWU) on how belief in conspiracy theories can fulfill a social need.

Dr. Preuss and I have also recently founded the Social Science Research Lab at NCWU. This is a dedicated space to collect and analyze data and we hope to involve students in the research conducted through the lab in the coming years.

Courses Taught
POL 112: American Political System
POL 212: Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation
POL 300: United States Congress
POL 301: Judicial Politics
POL 302: The American Presidency
POL 308: Social Research Methods (cross-listed as SOC 308)
POL 400: American Political Thought
POL 411: Political Psychology
POL 495: Special Topics: Campaigns and Elections

How long have you been at NCWU?
Since 2017

What's your favorite class that you teach?
POL 212: Conspiracy Theories & Misinformation

What are your research & teaching interests?
Political psychology, electoral behavior and American politics

What is a fun fact or an interesting hobby of yours?
Father of 2 dogs, Paulie a St. Bernard/Bernese mix and Frankie, a Beagle/English Bulldog mix

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5118

e YKim@ncwu.edu

Program/Department Political Science, School of Education and Social Science

Young Hun Kim, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science/Program Coordinator, Political Science

Ph.D., Political Science, Pennsylvania State University
M.A., Political Science, Pennsylvania State University
M.A., Russian and Eastern European Studies/Political Science, Seoul National University
B.A., Polish Language and Literature, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

I have earned my Ph.D. in Political Science in 2008 from the Pennsylvania State University. My teaching and research focus on comparative political institutions, democracy and democratization, East European politics, Russian Politics, and East Asian Politics.

Teaching Interests
I currently teach Comparative Politics, East Asian Politics, Introduction to International Relations, Introduction to Political Science, and Political Parties and Public Opinion.

I believe my role as a teacher is to introduce students to new areas, work with them on topics that they are curious about, and keep students motivated and enthusiastic throughout the course. In doing so, I hope that students in my classes not only complete the class in a successful manner but also effectively evaluate theoretical arguments in Political Science and develop their own perspectives accordingly.

Research Interests
My research has focused mostly, but not exclusively, on comparative political institutions and democratization, with regional expertise in East Asia and Eastern Europe. More specifically, I examine sources and consequences of new types of presidential instability (interrupted presidencies and impeachment attempts), the post-tenure fate of political leaders, and institutional determinants of democratic performance in presidential and semi-presidential systems. My research appeared in Cross-Cultural Research, Democratization, Government and Opposition, Journal of Politics, and Political Research Quarterly.

Courses Taught
POL 112: American Political System
POL 200: Introduction to Political Science
POL 201: Introduction to International Relations
POL 300: The United States Congress
POL 311: Political Parties and Public Opinion
POL 313: Comparative Politics
POL 315: East Asian Politics
POL 401: Ideals and Ideology
POL 408: Big Business and American Politics
POL 495: Presidentialism in Comparative Perspective

How long have you been at NCWU?
Since 2015

What's your favorite class that you teach?
Political 201 and 313

What are your research & teaching interests?
Comparative Political institutions, democracy democratization, presidential instability

What is a fun fact or an interesting hobby of yours?
Cycling

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5314

e MLove@ncwu.edu

Program/Department English, School of Humanities

Margaret Love, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English

Faculty Adviser to Sigma Tau Delta

Education
Ph.D., Tufts University
M.A. in Humanities, University of Chicago

Teaching Interests
I teach courses in world literature and composition, with a particular interest in exploring the power dynamics present in these fields. My literature courses offer students insight into how literary texts and other cultural representations shape how we perceive lived experience. My composition classes help students reflect on their writing habits and consider which ones serve them well and which ones might be worth re-evaluating. I encourage my students to take ownership of their own learning process as they encounter new and challenging materials. As an instructor, I am committed to continuing to develop an actively anti-racist pedagogy that emphasizes inclusivity, mutual respect, and collaborative learning. This includes highlighting common ground while also acknowledging problematic ideas, and clarifying the definitions of terms to further contextualize harmful statements. My ultimate aim is to support my students in developing critical thinking skills that can empower them to resist structures of inequity.

I’m also a member of the Wesleyan Singers and enjoy creating music with NCWU students.

Research
My research interests center on Caribbean fiction and poetry, in particular the use of epigraphs in twentieth-century anglophone Caribbean novels. I present my work regularly at the Caribbean Studies Association’s annual conference and have published articles in Caribbean Quarterly, Storyworlds: A Journal of Narrative Studies, and the volume Caribbean Literature in Transition, 1920-1970 (2021, Cambridge University Press).

My current book project, Radical Canons, explores the cultural functions of literary authority and the construction of literary canons.

Courses Taught
ENG 427: Senior Seminar
ENG 423: Studies in Contemporary Literature (Imagined Otherwise: Magic & The Supernatural)
ENG 422: International Literature (Global Masculinities)
ENG 230: Regional World Literatures (Voices of the Caribbean)
ENG 202: World Literature II (Movements in Global Literature)
ENG 201: World Literature I (Global Literary Cultures)
ENG 115: Introduction to Literature
ENG 112: Writing II
ENG 111: Writing I

Meir Magal, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP, NSCA-CSCS, FACSM

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5171

e mmagal@ncwu.edu

Location Rocky Mount Campus

Program/Department Exercise Science, General Science, Master of Human Performance and Sports Science, Masters of Public Health, School of Math and Science

Meir Magal, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP, NSCA-CSCS, FACSM

Inaugural Souza Professor of Exercise Science/Chair, School of Math and Science/Program Coordinator, Exercise Science

Meir Magal, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP, NSCA-CSCS, FACSM

Education
Ph.D. in Human Performance (Exercise Physiology), The University of Southern Mississippi (2002)

Dr. Magal obtained his Human Performance (Exercise Physiology) doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2002. He is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist, a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and a Fellow of ACSM (FACSM). He serves as a Program Director, Professor of Exercise Science, and the Chair of the School of Mathematics and Sciences at North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU). Although NCWU is primarily a teaching college, Dr. Magal has been heavily involved in providing service to ACSM in different capacities and with ongoing research. Over the last 17 years, Dr. Magal has served on the ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards (CCRB) in different capacities. He also authored and served as an editor on several ACSM publications. Most recently, he served as a Co-Editor on the 6th Edition of the ACSM’s Fitness Assessment Manual book. Research-wise, Dr. Magal has published numerous papers and abstracts examining NCAA DIII athletic performance, cardiorespiratory and postural control responses to various modes of exercise, and physical activity preparticipation health screening procedures.

Selected Scholarly Work

M. Magal, M. Amitay and J. R. Hoffman. A Comparison Between the Traditional and Novel Isometric Mid-Thigh Methods and The Relationship to Countermovement Jump Performance. International Journal of Exercise Science. 18 (3): 226-238, 2025.
P. M. Gallo, B. Langton, M. Magal, R. Reed, J. Whitworth and F. Neric. (In Press, 2024). ACSM CCRB Update on Recertification and Continuing Education Credit Provider Policy. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal.
Magal, M. and Riebe D. Active Voice: We Can and Should Do Better When Estimating Cardiorespiratory Fitness ACSM Bulletin Blog. March 7, 2023.
M. Magal, R. A. Valladarez Cuestas, S. K. Crowley, V. B. Batchelor & J. R. Hoffman. Seasonal Changes in Physical Performance–Related Variables in Women NCAA Division III Soccer Players. Gazzetta Medica Italiana-Archivio per le Scienze Mediche. 182 (12): 896-904, 2023
M. Magal, B. A. Franklin, G. B. Dwyer, and D. Riebe. Back to Basics: A Critical Review of the Methodology Commonly Used to Estimate CRF. ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal. 27 (2): 12-19, 2023.
M. Magal, S. L. Fann and K. S. Thomas. Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Perceptual Responses to Preferred Walking Speed at Different Inclines and Post Exercise Postural Control in Healthy College Age Adults. International Journal of Exercise Science. 15 (2): 113-124, 2022.
Magal, M., Liette, N. C., Crowley, S. K., Hoffman, J. R. and Thomas, K. S. Sex-Based Performance Responses to an Acute Sprint Interval Cycling Training Session in Collegiate Athletes. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 92 (3): 469-476, 2020.
S. K. Crowley, J. R. Rebellon, C. Huber, A. Leonard, L., D. Henderson and M. Magal. Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Sleep, and Physiological Responses to Stress in Women. European Journal of Sports Science. 20 (10): 1368-1377, 2020.
Magal, M. and Neric, F. B. ACSM Certifications: defining an exercise profession. From concept to assessment and everything in between. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal. 24 (1): 12-18, 2020.
K. S. Thomas, M. Hammond and M. Magal. The Impact of Graded Forward and Backward Walking, at a Matched Intensity on Metabolic Measures and Postural Control. Gait and Posture. 65 (9): 20-25, 2018.
G. P. Whitfield, D. Riebe, M. Magal and G Liguori. Application of the American College of Sports Medicine Adult Preparticipation Screening Algorithm to a nationally representative sample of US adults aged >=40 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001 to 2004. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 49 (10): 2056-2063, 2017.
J. Bunn, C. L. Eschbach, M. Magal, K. Wells. The Effects of Warm-up Intensity and Duration on Cycling Time Trial Performance. Central European Journal of Sport Science & Medicine. 17 (1): 5-13, 2017.
M. Magal and D. Riebe. New Pre-Participation Health Screening Recommendations: What Exercise Professionals Need To Know. ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal. 20 (3): 22-27, 2016.
D. Riebe, B. A. Franklin, P. D. Thompson, C. E. Garber, G. P. Whitfield, M. Magal and L. S. Pescatello. Updating ACSM's Recommendations for Exercise Pre-participation Health Screening. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 47 (8): 2473-2479, 2015.

Professional Affiliations

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School of Mathematics and Sciences
North Carolina Wesleyan University
3400 North Wesleyan Blvd.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Office Location:
Indoor Sports & Education Facility (ISEF) – 118

See a full list of publications, research projects, presentations and honors.

View Full CV >

More Facts About Me!

How long have you been at NCWU?
Since 2002

What's your favorite class that you teach?
Exercise Physiology

What are your research & teaching interests?
NCAA DIII Athletics

What is a fun fact or an interesting hobby of yours?
I used to be a professional tennis player

Employment Type FACULTY

p 252-985-5216

e rmpietryk@ncwu.edu

Program/Department School of Business & Professional Studies, Sports Administration

Robin Pietryk, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Sports Administration/Program Coordinator, Sports Administration

Ph.D., Walden University

Research Interests
Pietryk, Robin M. (2008). Athletes versus non-athletes: Academic success at a small liberal arts college. Ph.D. dissertation, Walden University, United States (Publication No. AAT 3297182).

Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy is to provide students with a positive learning environment that will not only provide them with valuable knowledge, but also encourage lifelong learners. I implement a variety of strategies in the classroom to reach the needs of different students. As an educator, I continually search for different methods to instruct college students. Three key principles I focus on in my classroom include:

Student learning styles
Preparing students with 21st-century skills
Student evaluation

Learning Styles:
The classroom, whether online or physical location, will provide students with several methods for gaining necessary skills and knowledge. It is essential to provide visual, auditory, and hands on methods for learning. A few methods I utilize for instruction include: projects, PowerPoint, open discussion, and research. I enjoy using open dialogue with students because it not only brings the classroom material to life, but also helps to nurture a passion and enthusiasm for the subject matter.

21st Century Skills:
The classroom allows the opportunity to use a plethora of technology. Engaging students in computers and programs enhances their abilities needed in the 21st century. Online books, assessments, lectures and exams are only a few strategies I have used in my courses.

Evaluation:
I feel it is important to use many approaches to assess the student’s progression on course material. Projects, papers, examinations, presentations, rubrics, open discussions are just a few evaluation methods I implement. When possible, I enjoy utilizing practical experiences.

Lastly, it is important for me to be available to students and listen to their questions and concerns. Most adult learners are juggling jobs and families, among other obstacles. Each student’s circumstances are different and it is important to be accommodating to aid in the student’s success. Students must be held accountable to timelines and quality of work, but there may extenuating circumstances that may require me to be accommodating. My classroom environment will provide knowledge, skills and theories through many learning styles. It will be conducive for all students to learn and enhance their preparation for a career and to become lifelong learners.

More About Me:

How long have you been at NCWU?
Since 1999

What's your favorite class that you teach?
Current Issues & Sport Ethics

What is a fun fact or an interesting hobby of yours?
I still coach volleyball (club)

Employment Type Faculty

p 252-985-5191

e dthierauf@ncwu.edu

Program/Department English, School of Humanities

Doreen Thierauf, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of English

General Education Program Coordinator
Assistant Director of the Teaching and Learning Center
Editor, Omnium: The Undergraduate Research Journal at NCWU

Education
Ph.D., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Teaching Interests
As a faculty member at North Carolina Wesleyan, I often have the chance to teach across traditional disciplinary boundaries, as I do in my course on 19th- through 21st-century British literature which focuses on the development of British national identity from the time of the abolition of slavery to the present. Moreover, I appreciate that NCWU maintains small class sizes so that students can forge long-lasting professional relationships with their instructors and peers. I not only enjoy mentoring English majors until they graduate—and sometimes beyond—but also working with them on projects and events for our chapter of the International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, which invites our majors to make the fullest use of their studies. Was honored to win North Carolina Wesleyan's Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award in 2025.

I’m serving as editor of NCWU’s undergraduate research journal, Omnium, and have been a member of the Wesleyan Singers since 2019.

Research
My research interests include Victorian literature and culture, particularly 19th-century writings on gender, maternity, and violence. My scholarly work has appeared in Victorian Studies, Victorian Literature and Culture, Victorian Review, Victoriographies, Oxford Bibliographies, Pedagogy, The Journal of Popular Culture, and in other venues.

Courses Taught

HUM 495H: Honors Seminar in Literary Studies
ENG 427: Senior Seminar
ENG 426: Gender Studies
ENG 424: African American Literature
ENG 423: Studies in Contemporary Literature
ENG 422: Studies in International Literature
ENG 313: British Literature after 1700
ENG 215: Studies in a Genre
ENG 214: Social Issues in Contemporary Literature
ENG 213: Black Literatures
ENG 206: British Literature II
ENG 202: World Literature II
ENG 115: Introduction to Literature
ENG 112: Writing II
ENG 111: Writing I
ENG 090: Basic Writing

Employment Type Faculty

p 252-985-5360

e sthompson@ncwu.edu

Program/Department Religious Studies, School of Humanities

Shane Thompson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of the Bible & the Ancient Near East

Education
PhD, Brown University
MA, Brandeis University
MTS, Emory University
BA, Wake Forest University

Dr. Thompson is an expert in the religions, history, languages, and cultures of ancient Anatolia, Egypt, the Levant, and Mesopotamia, using textual, archaeological, and socio-anthropological methods to examine the ancient Near East. He enjoys teaching classes on a range of topics concerning religion and ancient history to instill passion, understanding, and empathy towards ancient cultures and unfamiliar religious traditions. He is also the co-director and co-founder of Wesleyan’s Digital Humanities Lab which is the recipient of an NEH Spotlight Grant. In addition, he is currently a Kershaw Lecturer of Near Eastern Archaeology for the AIA.

He has published and presented on an array of topics ranging from pedagogy to primary text editions. His most recent projects, Displays of Cultural Hegemony and Counter-Hegemony in the Late Bronze and Iron Age Levant: The Public Presence of Foreign Powers and Local Resistance (Routledge, 2023) and Power and Identity at the Margins of the Ancient Near East (edited volume, University Press of Colorado, 2023) explore ancient Near Eastern power relationships in “peripheral” locales. Recent articles focus on topics ranging from borders and power to games and Israelite religion (for articles, see linked CV).

He is Co-Chief Editor of Avar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Life and Society in the Ancient Near East and the book series, Life and Society in the Ancient Near East (LSANE). He currently serves as Co-Chair of the ASOR sessions Understanding Power in the Ancient World: Approaches, Manifestations, and Responses and Cultures of Mobility and Borders in the Ancient Near East. Dr. Thompson is also the Co-Chair of the Hebrew Bible and ASOR Membered Sponsored Program Units for the American Academy of Religion Southeast (formerly Society of Biblical Literature Southeast) and Series Co-Chief Editor, Life and Society in the Ancient Near East, Transnational Press London.

Current Projects
Dr. Thompson is the co-editor of numerous forthcoming volumes: Sports and Games in the Ancient World: Essays on Leisurely and Cultic Competition (Transnational Press London), Music in the Ancient Near East (Transnational Press London), Understanding Power in the Ancient Near East, Volume I: Approaches (Brill), and Cultures of Mobility in the Ancient Near East and several others (see linked CV). His next monograph focuses on the cult centralization of King Hezekiah at the end of the 7th c. BCE (Routledge). For additional projects and articles, see his CV.

Courses Recently Taught
REL 101 – Introduction to Religion
REL 115 – Religious Worlds
REL 191 – Introduction to Biblical Hebrew
REL 195 – Archaeology of Religion
REL 201 – Old Testament
REL 202 – New Testament
REL 320 – Studies in Biblical Life and Thought (rotating topics)
REL 350 – Israelite Religion: History, Texts, and Archaeology
REL 495 – The Bible and Film
REL 495 – Ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian Religious Texts
REL 495 – Comparative Mythology

View Full CV >

Our Faculty

Academic Affairs

Faculty Members from All Academic Divisions & Departments

Academic Affairs

Faculty Members from All Academic Divisions & Departments

Joe Lane, Ph.D.

Anne Aichele

Wendy Achilles, Ph.D.

Maria Gil del Alcazar, Ph.D.

Aaron Allen, Ph.D.

Vanessa Batchelor, MS, NSCA-CSCS, NSCA-CPSS, USA-W L1

Dimitri Blondel, Ph.D.

Teaching Philosophy

More About Me:

Lucinda Boykin

Consuela Blaizes, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN

Patricia Brewer, Ph.D.

Jason Buel, Ph.D.

Jim Bowers, Ph.D.

Justin A. Davis

Brent Dozier, Ph.D.

Tim Dornemann, Ed.D., CES, PES, CSCS, CPSS OS Pro

Daniel Elias, Ph.D.

Tyana Ellis, Ph.D.

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Paul Ewell, AIC, D.B.A.

More About Me:

Jay Fortenbery, Ph.D.

Bill Grattan, Ph.D.

Meredith Gringle, Ph.D.

Lois Hart, Ed.D.

Benjamin “Ben” Hiskes

Christa Jones-Hooker, Ph.D., RN, NE-BC, CNE

Education:

Jarrod Kelly, Ph.D.

Young Hun Kim, Ph.D.

Chip Larkin, M.L.S/M.F.A.

Carl Lewis, Ph.D.

Jackie Lewis, Ph.D.

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Heather Louch, Ph.D.

Margaret Love, Ph.D.

Chris Lusby, J.D.

Meir Magal, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP, NSCA-CSCS, FACSM

Meir Magal, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP, NSCA-CSCS, FACSM

More Facts About Me!

Gail Marsal, Ph.D.

Kim Martin, Ph.D.

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Lesley McGraw DNP, MSN, RN, CNE

Gabriel Onabote

Crystal Ostheim, D.N.P., BS, FNP-BC, NP-C, CNE

Pamela Patterson, Ph.D.

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Monica Phillis, M.S.

Robin Pietryk, Ph.D.

More About Me:

Jamie Hathaway Pollard, M.Ed.

Greg Preuss, Ph.D.

Jay Quinan, Ph.D.

Chad Ross, Ph.D.

Rachel Roy, MLS

Fred Sanborn, Ph.D.

More About Me

Jonathan Sarris, Ph.D.

Tony Sawyer, M.M.

Andrew Stern, Ph.D.

Kelvin Spragley, Ph.D.

Uma Swamy

Katrina Sweet, Ph.D.

John Temple, Ph.D.

More About Me:

Lee Templeton, Ph.D.

Doreen Thierauf, Ph.D.

General Education Program Coordinator Assistant Director of the Teaching and Learning Center Editor, Omnium: The Undergraduate Research Journal at NCWU

Shane Thompson, Ph.D.

Emily Weber, Ph.D.

Sherry Williamson, D.B.A.

Amy Karnehm Willis, Ph.D.

Morgan Wood

Molly Wyatt, Ph.D.

Bill Yankosky, Ph.D.

Lillie Baumbach

General Education Program Coordinator
Assistant Director of the Teaching and Learning Center
Editor, Omnium: The Undergraduate Research Journal at NCWU