New Faculty 2024-25
Barney School of Business
Hailey Harris, Assistant Professor of Sports Management. Harris earned her doctorate from Texas A&M University in kinesiology, with a concentration in Sport Management. Her expertise is in the branding of female athletes and women in the sports workforce. She is teaching Sports Management and Analytics, Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Organization, and Management and Organizational Behavior, and conducting research on the branding and communication of female athletes and women in sports.
Quoc Phan, Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance. Phan earned his PhD in finance from the University of Manitoba, and his master's degree in finance from ESC Rennes School of Business. He is a certified Financial Risk Manager by the Global Association of Risk Professionals. Phan was a lecturer in finance at Vietnam National University – International University and a visiting instructor at the University of Manitoba. His research interest is the impact of automation technology on corporate finance.
Xinying Qu, Assistant Professor of Business/Data Analytics. Qu earned her doctorate in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from Boston University. Her expertise lies in big data analytics and the application of AI/ML technologies. She has worked at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Fountain Financial, and BrooksCity. Qu teaches graduate-level courses in managerial statistics, business analytics, and data visualization.
Aninda (Andy) Shome, Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing. Shome holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Argosy University, an MBA in marketing from Newcastle Business School, and multiple certifications. He is an award-winning researcher, with publications focused on enhancing student engagement through AI-powered educational technologies and AI in Management and Marketing. Shome is currently developing his first academic course in AI and Business.
Anthony Smith, Assistant Professor of Business Law. Smith earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, a graduate degree in philanthropic studies, and a bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University. His research expertise is in consumer protection, student loans, and bankruptcy. Previously, he held faculty positions at Bentley University and Ithaca College. Smith has spent time both teaching and working in the People's Republic of China. He is teaching Legal Environment in Business.
David Stec, Clinical/Applied Teaching Instructor and Director of the Supply Chain & Logistics Management Program. Stec has an MBA & MSME from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a MS in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a BSME from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His professional experience includes 30 years in operations, supply chain management, and management consulting complemented with 20 years of graduate and undergraduate teaching experience.
Christopher (Chris) Zack, Visiting Instructor of Operations and Project Management. Zack received his MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his BS in electronic engineering technology from the University of Hartford. He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) who retired from IBM after 23 years with the company.
College of Arts and Sciences
Kristal Cloft, Clinical/Applied Teaching Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Cloft earned a MA degree in education and has been working on a PhD in curriculum and instruction with a focus in higher education mathematics. She has been teaching at the University of Hartford in the mathematics department since 2008 under various position titles.
Janell Carroll, Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology. Carroll has been teaching at the University in various capacities for the past 25 years. She earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in education and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Denison University. She is the author of Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity, a popular college-level textbook, now in its 7th edition. Carroll is a Certified Sexuality Educator and Certified Life Coach with research interests in sexuality, gender, menstruation/menopause, and health & wellness. She is teaching undergraduate courses in introductory psychology, human sexual behavior, and the psychology of gender.
David Finitsis, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology. Finitsis earned his doctorate from the University of Connecticut and completed his internship in Clinical and Community Psychology at the Yale School of Medicine. His expertise is in research methodology/meta-analysis, and treatment adherence applied to chronic illness populations. He conducts research on blood, injection, and injury phobia symptoms’ impact on cognition and healthcare decision-making.
Gengyun Le-Chan, Assistant Professor of Biology. Le-Chan earned her MSc from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, MD in internal medicine from Yunnan University Medical School, and PhD from the University of Hong Kong. She was a NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Minnesota and a full-time faculty at St. Cloud State University. Le-Chan’s expertise is in muscle biology, chromatography, and exercise physiology and her research interests are aging and metabolic disease, how exercise prevents disease, and what our bodies do to respond to disease.
Andrew Meguerdichian, Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Meguerdichian earned a BS in chemistry and BA in sociology, along with an MS in chemistry and a doctorate in materials science, at the University of Connecticut. He also did a post doctorate at the University of Connecticut where he supported testing initiatives on the Crumbling Foundation Project in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Meguerdichian is teaching Precalculus with Trigonometry (M140) and Everyday Statistics (M114) in the Department of Mathematics.
Jinsook Park, Clinical/Applied Teaching Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Park earned her MS in computer science at Ball State University and her doctorate in STEM education at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, with a concentration in mathematics. Her expertise is in the pedagogical approach design for learner engagement and qualitative data analysis. Park has taught undergraduate general education mathematics and UIS courses at the University of Hartford since 2018. Her research interest is developing engaging and equitable spaces for all learners from culturally, socioeconomically, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
Abu Saleh Md Tayeen, Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Md Tayeen earned his PhD and MS in computer science from New Mexico State University and completed a year-long postdoctoral research position. His research expertise lies in machine learning, with a focus on federated learning for intrusion detection and privacy preservation. Additionally, Md Tayeen applies data science methods to extract insights from diverse fields such as social media and smart grid.
College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions
Natalee Cifuentes, Visiting Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy. Cifuentes earned her BS in health sciences and Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Hartford. She completed an orthopedic physical therapy residency at the Harford Healthcare Rehabilitation Network. She is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and earned a certificate in orthopedic manual therapy. Cifuentes has 8 years of clinical experience in the outpatient orthopedic setting and has interests in social determinants of health and pain neuroscience education.
Brianne DeMarco, Clinical Skills Lab and Simulation Coordinator. DeMarco’s BSN, MPH, and DNP were each completed at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she also served as part-time nursing faculty. DeMarco’s clinical and research practice has centered in the realms of public and community health, specifically hospice and palliative care.
Jackie Goodman, Visiting Assistant Professor in Nursing. Goodman earned her MSN from Western Governors University in nursing leadership and management and BSN from Sacred Heart University. She has worked in many areas of nursing, including ICU, Med/Surg, Behavioral Health, and outpatient care. She has held multiple management roles. She is teaching Health and Physical Assessment this fall.
Kimberly Hekkala, Visiting Assistant Professor in Nursing. Hekkala earned her DNP, MSN, BSN at Chamberlain College of Nursing, Downers Grove Illinois. She has currently been working as Clinical Coordinator at the University of Hartford since August 2022.
J. Adrienne McAuley, Visiting Associate Professor of Physical Therapy. McCauley earned her BS in physical therapy from the University of Vermont, her Doctorate from Touro University, and a Master of Education from George Washington University. She is an accomplished orthopedic and pelvic health clinician and has served as core faculty in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program since 2006. She serves on the Orthopedic Specialty Council and on the Guideline Development Group for the Academy of Pelvic Health.
Tina Riordan, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science. Riordan earned her Doctorate degree in sport and exercise psychology from Springfield College, MS at West Chester University, and BS from Westfield State University. She will be teaching undergraduate courses in functional anatomy, sports nutrition, and injury care and prevention. Her expertise specializes in athletic training, with a keen focus on professional quality of life and work-life balance of helping professions.
Christina Swaidan, Visiting Associate Professor of Education and Interim Department Chair of the Education Department. Swaidan earned a BA in European Studies from Mount Holyoke College; a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Joseph University; and an EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford. Her research explores the psychic duality or double consciousness experienced by African Americans in higher education.
Jinghui Yang, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy. Yang earned his doctorate degree from New York University in physical therapy research and completed post-doctoral training at Mayo Clinic in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. His expertise is in cardiopulmonary physical therapy clinical practice and research. He is teaching graduate courses in physical therapy exam and intervention labs, cardiopulmonary physical therapy, and research series, and conducting research on the impact of blood flow restriction exercise on pain modulation and cardiovascular health.
Valerie V. Whynall, Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing. Whynall earned her MS in nursing at the University of Hartford and is currently a student in the University’s doctoral program in educational leadership and social justice. She will teach undergraduate nursing courses including medical surgical nursing and obstetric nursing. Whynall is the faculty advisor for the Connecticut chapter of the National Student Nurses Association. Her doctoral research is focused on the transition to practice for new graduate nurses.
College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture
Tom Filburn, Visiting Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Filburn obtained his PhD from the University of Connecticut in chemical engineering; he also holds a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut. He has worked for Northeast Utilities, United Nuclear Corporation, the Applied Research Lab at PSU and United Technologies Corporation (UTC, now RTX). Filburn is returning to CETA, where he spent the period 2001-2014 as a full-time faculty member. He will be teaching mechanical and aerospace courses.
Dongbin Kim, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Kim earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was most recently a Research Fellow at the U.S. Army Research Lab at West Point, focusing on air-ground robot swarm teams for U.S. Department of Defense. His research interests include aerial manipulation, swarm robotics, mixed reality, haptics, AI, and robot learning-by-demonstration.
Seong Hyun Moon, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Moon earned his doctoral degree from Arizona State University, and he specializes in motion biomechanics, focusing on the analysis of human gait, posture, and activity levels in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), implementing technologies such as 3D motion capture systems, wearable devices, and EMG. By using expertise in motion biomechanics, his objective is to mitigate fall risk among the elderly and enhance patient rehabilitation.
Somaye Seddighikhavidak, Assistant Professor of Architecture. Seddighikhavidak earned her doctorate in architecture from Texas A&M University. Her experience in integrating digital technologies within architectural design studios is coupled with her expertise in spatial design and parametricism. She is teaching design studios integrated with digital technology, and computational design for undergraduate students.
The Hartford Art School
Brandon Brownlee, Visiting Assistant Professor of Painting and Foundations. Brownlee earned an MFA in painting from New York Academy of Art where he studied figurative painting and drawing. A University of Hartford alumnus, he completed his BFA in illustration at the Hartford Art School and attended Manchester Community College, where he received an AFA in visual fine arts. His paintings investigate found objects and interior spaces through a narrative lens and his work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in private collections in the United States and Mexico.
Kevin Hernández Rosa, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture and Jackie McLean Fellow. Hernández Rosa received an MFA from the Yale School of Art and is an accomplished sculpture, writer, and educator. Their work has been widely exhibited nationally and internationally and their poetry has been published in Beautiful Days Press, and Can We Have Our Ball Back? They teach Introduction to Sculpture and Expanded Media and co-teach Issues in Art Making, a lecture and seminar contemporary art practices course.
Kelly Light, Visiting Assistant Professor of Illustration and recipient of Hartford Art School Fellowship. Light received her BFA in illustration at Syracuse University and her MFA in illustration from the University of Hartford. Kelly has been published as an illustrator and author/illustrator by Random House, HarperCollins and Bloomsbury and has a background in character art for companies such as Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Hanna Barbera, Henson, and Peanuts. She will be teaching courses in animation and digital illustration.
The Hartt School
Carolina Flores, Associate Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral Activities. Flores obtained degrees in music education and piano pedagogy at the Superior Conservatory of Music in Zaragoza and the Royal Superior Conservatory of Music in Madrid (Spain), respectively. In addition, she earned BM and MM degrees in piano performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, and a DMA in choral conducting at The Hartt School. Flores is a frequent lecturer, adjudicator, and clinician, having led choirs on tours of Austria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, and Spain. Currently, she sings professionally with CONCORA, she is the Artistic Chorale director of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale (MSOC) and serves as a national board member of the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO).
Kyle Grimm, Assistant Professor of Music Composition. Grimm earned his doctorate in 2018 from the Hartt School. He will be teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and lessons in music composition, including first-year composition, electronic music, sound synthesis, and real-time computer music for the creation and performance of electroacoustic music. An active double bassist and composer, his expertise is in creating and performing musical works that incorporate technology.
James E. Jackson, III, Visiting Assistant Professor of Wind Band Conducting and Euphonium Studies, and Director of Omni Ensembles. Jackson completed coursework towards the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in euphonium performance emphasizing in instrumental conducting at the University of Kentucky. He received a Master of Music degree in euphonium performance in 1995 from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of Kentucky. Jackson has been a clinician throughout the United States at numerous universities, colleges, and public schools and is a founding member of the tuba and euphonium quartet Alchemy, among other accomplishments.
Samuel Martin, Visiting Assistant Professor and Director of Vocal Studies. Martin teaches specialized song seminars and coaches privately. He earned a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Ithaca College School of Music and a Master of Music in collaborative piano from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio. His stylistic versatility has resulted in concert appearances both nationally and internationally, most recently in Germany, México, and throughout the United States. Martin is the Founding Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Song Initiative, an award-winning nonprofit concert series dedicated to the promotion and innovation of song.
Hillyer College
Taylor Bellagamba, Clinical/Applied Teaching Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Bellagamba earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Connecticut as well as master’s degree in data analytics from Capella University, Minnesota. Taylor was a former high school math teacher, and then a part-time faculty member for the University of Hartford and Connecticut State Community College system. Bellagamba focuses on designing lessons that incorporate active learning for her students.