Daemen College : Academics & Research : Division of Health & Human Services : Education : Faculty
Education Department Faculty
Meet the Education Department Faculty
Dr. Mary Hawkshaw-Fox, Ph.D. - Department Chair
Office: Business Center 206
Phone: 716.839.8352
mfox@daemen.edu
Mary is the Chairperson of the Education Department. Dr. Fox joined the faculty in 1994 specifically to assist with the development and implementation of the early childhood special education program. She received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) from Florida State University, in Tallahassee, FL, her Master of Arts in Education and Human Development from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. She teaches courses in the core curriculum, in early childhood, both undergraduate and graduate courses in special education.
Dr. Kimberli B. Andrews
Office: Duns Scotus 337b
Phone: 716.839.8309
kandrews@daemen.edu
Kimberli joined the faculty in 2005 to teach special education. She has held various higher educational teaching positions in several colleges and universities in Western New York. Dr. Andrews has credentials in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Early Childhood from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Mr. Joe Argenio
Office: Thomas Reynolds Center
Phone: 716.839.8405
jargenio@daemen.edu
Joe has been a part of the Education Department staff since 1992 teaching Instructional Design and various methods courses. He holds an MA in Social Studies Education from SUNY at Buffalo. He has experience as a building principal and as a staff development specialist for Erie 1 BOCES. Currently Joe is the Director of Special Programs in Education at Daemen!
Sarah Avtzon
Sarah joined Daemen College, TTI program - Brooklyn division in September 2005 as a full time faculty member. Prior to working at Daemen College, Sarah was an Educational Director of a Headstart, UPK and Inclusion program. Sarah established a sensory clinic in the preschool and developed a sensory-based curriculum to assist teachers in carrying over goals and interventions to the classrooom daily routine and activities. In addition, Sarah was a a workshop leader and consultant for over 60 preschools in NYC, training teachers in implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum and using a transdiscilplinary approach to intervention of children with special needs. Sarah holds a BA in Psychology and Early Childhood Education, a Masters in Elementary Education and Supervision, an MS. Ed in Instructional technology -concentration Special Needs and is currently completing her Ed.D.
Dr. Ruth Berry
Dr. Ruth Berry joined the Education Department in 2008. Prior to her appointment at Daemen College she held a faculty position at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Berry earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from Michigan State University. She has 14 years of teaching experience in grades kindergarten through sixth grade with both general and special education students in schools in Nigeria (Africa), Arizona, and Kansas, and has published a number of research-based articles on the topic of inclusion.
Dr. Mark Brown
Office: Duns Scotus 345e
Phone: 716.839.8317
mbrown@daemen.edu
Mark holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Cincinnati. He has held teaching positions at the University of Eastern Illinois and Miami University.
Felicia Coombs
Felicia has been with Daemen College since January, 2008. She has a Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in the area of Child and Youth Studies, a Specialist degree in Reading, a Masters degree in Special Education, a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and is a National Boards Certified teacher in the area of Special Education with students from birth to ages 21. She has taught students with disabilities for twelve years both at the elementary and secondary levels and specializes in educating students in the self-contained and Inclusion settings. While working with colleagues, Dr. Coombs not only conducts workshops to familiarize and teach others of various modifications to use in the classroom to meet the academic needs of students, but she also adapts and modifies the curriculum to meet the academic and social needs of students with disabilities in order to help them be more successful in the general education classroom. She team teaches with general education teachers in order to help all students become acquainted with the curriculum and working with various students in both a large and small group setting. Dr. Coombs is a member of Council of Exceptional Children and the International Reading Council.
Marybeth Fortune
Office: Thomas Reynolds Center
Phone: 716.839.7825
mfortune@daemen.edu
Marybeth joined the faculty in 2006 as an adjunct in the Canadian Scholars Teacher Education Program, and was appointed as full-time faculty in this program in 2007. Prior to working at Daemen College, Marybeth worked in secondary schools as a teacher, as a cross-curricular head of literacy, assessment, and evaluation, and was also a vice-principal. Marybeth has been involved in publishing 5 mathematics textbooks and teacher resource books, serving in the roles of author and reviewer. In addition, she has worked with the Ministry of Education of the Provincial Government of Ontario to develop 4 assessment and evaluation policy documents, and 6 provincial curriculum policy documents, serving in the capacites of project manager and/or writer. Marybeth holds a B.A. in math and English, a B.Sc. in psychology, a B.Ed, a M.Ed. in Educational Administration, and is currently completing a Ph.D..
Dr. Susan Krickovich
Office: Duns Scotus 337a
Phone: 716.839.8553
skrickov@daemen.edu
Susan who served as interim co-chair, joined the faculty in 2005, has held several district wide positions, including director of staff development, curriculum and design. Her duties included supervision of the elementary programs in the areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The focus of her work was to support teachers in developing effective subject area program designs thereby increasing student achievement. Prior to her central office responsibilities, she served as an elementary school principal. Dr. Krickovich was an adjunct instructor at Daemen and then joined the faculty as a full-time assistant professor. She earned her Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo
Dr. Edward J. McMahon
Office: Duns Scotus 352
Phone: 716.839.8400
emcmahon@daemen.edu
Edward has over 40 years of teacher training experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has developed, taught and evaluated the majority of the courses offered in our core requirements, along with prerequisite courses. Dr. McMahon holds the Ed.D. from the University at Buffalo.
Rona Miles
Rona received her Psy.D. from Yeshiva University in school psychology. She has worked extensively in the Head Start domain conducting parent and teacher trainings, as well as coordinating special education and related services for preschool children through the Department of Education. Dr. Miles’s clinical and research interests include assessment and diagnosis of learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, and anxiety in children. Prior to completing her doctoral degree, she taught mathematics in junior high and high school for 12 years.
Dr. Joanne T. Sadler
Office: Duns Scotus 345d
Phone: 716.839.8528
jsadler@daemen.edu
Joanne joined the faculty in 2003, teaching in the Childhood Education and Early Education programs. Previously she worked in the Buffalo City School District as a Supervisor of Curriculum Development and has expertise in multicultural education and teaching students of diverse backgrounds. She has taught in grades kindergarten through fifth. Dr. Sadler holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo.
Dr. Dennis Scheitinger
Dennis received his bachelors, masters, and doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Scheitinger was a classroom teacher for twenty years. In addition, he developed consultant services for Western New York school districts, was the Director of the Eire 1 BOCES Institute for Professional Advancement, and was a Coordinator in the New York State Mentor Internship Program. Dennis is in demand as a keynote speaker and staff developer for school districts in Western New York. Dr. Scheitinger joins Daemen College as an Assistant Professor in the Weekend Program.
Office: Duns Scotus 345c
Phone: 716.839.8536
bshields@daemen.edu
Dr. Shields joined the faculty in 2001 to teach principally in the area of special education. He has held various teaching, professional and administrative positions working for organizations that provide service to people with disabilities and their families in Missouri and New York State. In addition to his Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo, Dr. Shields also has two master's degrees: Master of Arts in Special Education (University of Missouri at Columbia) and Master's of Education (University at Buffalo). Dr. Shields' Bachelor's degree--in special and elementary education--was earned at Slippery Rock (PA) University.
Dr. Pessy Sloan
Pessy joined the Education Department in 2008 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Sloan earned her Ph.D. in Clinical and School Psychology from Hofstra University. She brings with her many years of experience as a school psychologist, clinician and researcher. Prior to her appointment at Daemen College, Dr. Sloan has had extensive teaching experience at the elementary and university levels. She has presented at numerous conferences and has published a number of articles on the topics of gifted and special needs children.
Andy Steck
Dennis joined the faculty in 2008. He earned his B.S. in Education from Bowling Green University, his M.S. in Education from SUNY Geneseo, and is earning his Ed.D. from D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY. He has taught in area colleges and has served as a principal in Batavia and Dansville, NY. He is certified as School District Administrator and Supervision, as well as Elementary and Special Education.
G.E. Washington, PhD
Office: Duns Scotus 140
Phone: 716.839.8584
gwashing@daemen.edu
Dr. Washington is an assistant professor of art education. In 2005 Dr. Washington earned his doctorate in art education from The Pennsylvania State University. He has created artworks for galleries, nightclubs, churches, and other public spaces throughout Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and New York. He has designed and implemented community-based as well as arts-based curriculum projects with organizations in West Virginia, Washington DC, Chicago, Pittsburgh and several locations in Arizona. Dr. Washington has extensive teaching experience at the elementary, secondary and university level. In his research work, he hyphenates the line between life and aesthetics in order to investigate everything that we do “as” performance. In teaching, life becomes the starting point for student learning in his courses.
Donald Wheeler
Office: Thomas Reynolds Center
Phone: 716.839.7825
dwheeler@daemen.edu
Dennis received his Doctorate in Education from Syracuse University in April 2007 and his Doctorate in Philosophy from the International Graduate Center in July 2006. His teaching and research interests focus on educational assessment, classroom instruction, and curriculum alignment. Dr. Wheeler's professional experience includes work as an English teacher, Special Education teacher, curriculum consultant, and District Office administrator.
Ms. Elizabeth Wright, Esq., MSW
Office: Thomas Reynolds Center
Phone: 716.839.8442
ewright2@daemen.edu
Ms. Wright joined the education department faculty in 2006. She serves as the Executive Director of the Thomas Reynolds Center for Special Education and After-School Programs. She also teaches Special Education Laws and Trends to Education Department graduate students. Ms. Wright earned her Juris Doctorate and Master of Social Work from the University of Buffalo in 1997. Prior to serving as Executive Director of the Center, Ms. Wright, then a Partner at Goldstein, Ackerhalt & Pletcher, LLP, practiced law in the areas of special education law, and estate planning for families with children who have special needs. She is admitted to practice law in both New York State and Federal District Court.