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Links to Senior Associates' Biographies |
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Gary Bittner, Ph.D. |
Steve Jacob, Ph.D. |
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Kathy Brace, Ph.D. |
Laura West Steck, Ph.D. |
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Mary Ligon, Ph.D. |
PJ Verrecchia, Ph.D. |
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Gary Bittner, Ph.D.
Dr. Gary E. Bittner has his doctorate in Sociology from
Catholic University of America. His areas of concentration
include urban studies specializing in neighborhood and
community organizations. Dr. Bittner joined the faculty of
York College of Pennsylvania in 1973 where he presently holds
the rank of Professor in Behavioral Sciences. Dr
Bittner has been a Fulbright Scholar to the University of
Vienna, Austria. He also serves on the International Board of
Directors, University Center for Peace Research at the
University of Vienna as well as being a researcher for the
Institute of Peace, Vienna, Austria.
Dr Bittner and his classes have
participated in the on-going Renaissance or Old Town York
Project for the YWCA, the “Access to Health Care” project
sponsored by York health care providers and the NAACP, “Public
Perceptions of Urban Problems” for Crispus Attucks and York
Red Cross, and the “Race Relations In York County” section of
the York Social Capital Conference. Dr Bittner has
published numerous articles and has participated in
conferences or taught classes in Russia, China, France and
Austria. Recently Dr. Bittner was
appointed as an official NGO delegate to the United Nations,
representing social institutes in Vienna. He was also
elected to the Scientific Committee of the International
Institute of Peace.
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Kathy Brace, Ph.D.
Dr. Brace is an associate
professor of Behavioral Sciences. She teaches a variety of
courses, including the Behavioral Sciences seminar and
cultural anthropology courses. Her previous research
interests have included epidemiological studies of cancer
mortality, and farm chemical use and health of farm
employees. She is currently involved in anthropological
research on food and culture. As the initial coordinator for
the departmental internship program and as the previous
coordinator for the long term care program, she worked
actively with many community agencies. Currently, she directs
the non-profit organization, The Foundation for Meg’s
Sisters. This agency helps to provide funds for offsetting
the costs of adoptions from China, as well as creating
educational materials and programs for helping the local
community learn more about the Chinese culture.
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Mary Ligon, Ph.D.
Dr. Ligon is a Gerontologist who
specializes in psychosocial development in late life and
intergenerational programming. She has conducted research
investigating the benefits of oral history to older adults and
to college students. She has presented research outcomes at
both regional and national conferences. She has worked
extensively in health care settings with elders. She teaches
gerontology and human services courses at York College of
Pennsylvania.
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 Steve Jacob, Ph.D.
Dr. Jacob is a Sociologist
who specializes in program development and evaluation. His
experience includes conducting needs assessments and
evaluations of informal education programs for the University
of Florida’s Program Development and Evaluation Center. He
has conducted and published research on program development
processes and using mixed methods in program evaluation. He
also regularly teaches a course in program design and
evaluation at York College of Pennsylvania.
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Laura
West Steck, Ph.D. Dr. Steck is a
sociologist who specializes in the areas of gender, race, and
family. She has conducted research on racial identity, race
and parenting literature, the emotion work of infant-feeding,
and the experiences of undergraduate students with children.
She currently serves as a member of the Healing York Working
Group, a York City initiative organized to address issues of
race and racism in the greater York area. Through her work
with Healing York, Dr. Steck has collaborated with
representatives from local non-profit agencies, government
officials, and community volunteers. She also teaches human
services, grant writing, and family courses at York College of
Pennsylvania.
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PJ
Verrecchia, Ph.D.
Dr.
Verrecchia is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Sciences
and the Criminal Justice Program Coordinator. His research
experience includes program evaluation, test validation, and
policy analysis. Among his courses Dr. Verrecchia teaches
Criminal Justice Research Methods I and II as well as
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences.
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