Students and faculty gather at the Mont Alto Library for the Faculty Research Showcase
Mont Alto, Pa. — Penn State Mont Alto faculty recently gathered to spotlight their dynamic scholarship and creative endeavors during the 2025 Faculty Research Showcase, held at the Mont Alto Library. The event offered the campus community an opportunity to engage with the academic work of instructors across a variety of disciplines such as philosophy, literature, supply chain logistics and occupational therapy.
Faculty publications, research projects, conference presentations and community initiatives were on display and several authors shared remarks with attendees. Below is a snapshot of featured work:
Kristi Addleman Ritter, reference and instruction librarian addleman
Ritter authored two articles in Penn State Mont Alto Today, one exploring the history of the Mont Alto campus and another highlighting sustainability initiatives. Her work emphasizes the importance of localized research and the library’s role in academic storytelling.
Somjit Barat, associate professor of business
Barat authored recent publications on diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom, the ethics of outsourcing drug trials, and strategies for promoting inclusive business education practices on a global scale.
Peter Dendle, professor of English
Dendle contributed the foreword to "Faith and the Zombie: Critical Essays on the End of the World and Beyond," offering insights into the connections between pop culture, apocalypse narratives and belief systems.
Nancy Funk, assistant professor of integrative arts
Funk presented her children’s book series, "The Bunny Books," which combines storytelling with life lessons. She walked attendees through the creative process — from writing and collaborating with an illustrator to working with a publisher. Many copies have been donated to community organizations.
Vahid Ghomi, assistant professor of supply chain management
Ghomi’s research spans cross-docking optimization, ride-sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and critical discourse analysis in sustainability. His multidisciplinary approach addresses operational efficiency and social impact.
Olivia Hammond, associate teaching professor, Associate Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Hammond co-authored an exploratory study on life balance, stress and occupational burnout among occupational therapy assistant students. Published in the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, the research provides insights into student wellness and resilience in health care education.
Hanafiah Harvey, associate professor of economics
Harvey regularly engages in economic research examining trade dynamics between countries, including the influence of policy and exchange rate uncertainty on imports, exports and tourism-related growth.
Kimberly Herrmann, associate professor of physics and astronomy
Herrmann participated in a collaborative survey of the nearby spiral galaxy IC 342 using infrared imaging. The work, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, expands the understanding of galactic structures and star formation.
Angela Hissong, teaching professor of occupational therapy
Hissong shared the recently published fourth edition of her textbook, "Bailey’s Research & Evidence-Based Practice for the Health Professional." She also introduced her forthcoming study examining the cultural significance of food, family and memory-making.
Nikolette Lipsey, assistant professor of psychology
Lipsey’s publications focus on parenting mindsets, youth mental health, and disaster preparedness. Her work explores how growth mindsets and psychological resilience can influence behaviors in family and emergency contexts.
Jacob Moore, associate professor of engineering
Moore wrote about the development of open educational resources (OERs) and the role of representation in instructional videos. His interdisciplinary work supports student engagement and innovation in STEM education.
Ermeck Nurkhaidarov, associate professor of mathematics
Nurkhaidarov delved into advanced mathematical theory with his paper"On Generic Automorphisms," offering insights into abstract algebra and its applications.
Tom Reinsfelder, head librarian
Reinsfelder authored an article about his work on implementing chatbot technology in library reference services and promoting partnerships between academic and public libraries to increase access and community engagement.
Jackie Schwab, associate professor of human development and family studies
Schwab co-authored a chapter, along with Robin Yaure, in the book "Human Flourishing and Higher Education," exploring how women have adapted and thrived in the post- pandemic academic landscape. The work emphasizes resilience, community and the evolving definitions of success in higher education.
David Seitz, assistant professor of communications
Seitz edited the newly published book "Quiet Defiance: The Rhetoric of Silent Protest," a collection that examines how silence itself can be a powerful and intentional form of communication in activism. The volume explores historical and contemporary examples of nonverbal resistance across social movements.
Amanda Snider, assistant teaching professor of physical therapy
Snider’s recent work includes a conference presentation on student-athletes’ perceptions of pre-participation movement screenings and highlighted where physical therapist assistants can bring added value to fitness and rehabilitation frameworks.
David Spitzer, adjunct lecturer of philosophy
Spitzer presented his research on Parmenides, the ancient Greek philosopher, exploring the poetic fragments that have been translated and interpreted for centuries. His most recent work investigates themes of motion, being, and the translator’s role in philosophical texts.
Robin Yaure, professor of teaching, human development and family studies
Yaure’s presentation focused on a study examining students' use and understanding of generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. The project, which she co-presented at the National Council on Family Relations conference, raises important questions about the role of AI in education.
Linghao Zhong, professor of chemistry
Zhong co-authored a paper in Nature Sustainability on the use of nano iron oxides to improve both climate regulation and food security, addressing two of the most pressing global challenges through innovative materials science.
