Faculty Promotions, Retirements Honored
Providence College officials recently celebrated faculty promotions and tenure as well as the retirement of five faculty members whose careers have spanned decades.
The ceremony, sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, was held in the Slavin Center’s ’64 Hall.
Dr. Richard H. Connelly, assistant professor of computer science, accepted a gift after 20 years of service, and Dr. A. Cemal Ekin, professor of marketing, received one for 36 years of teaching. The retiring faculty member honored for the longest service was Dr. Raymond W. Lavallée, assistant professor of French, who taught at PC for 49 years.
College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80 told the audience that the occasion reminded him of a passage from the book What the Best College Teachers Do by Ken Bain.
Rather than the traditional dichotomy of research and teaching, institutions should think of themselves as concerned with the learning of both faculty, in terms of research, and students, Bain wrote. That requires recognition that efforts to foster learning in others can stimulate our own greater understanding, Father Shanley said.
“I think what we celebrate here today is the commitment of these faculty and the rest of us who are here to sustaining and building a community of learners,” Father Shanley said. “What we model for our students is a commitment to lifelong learning.”
The learning celebrated at the ceremony benefits not only teachers but also the students, he said.
“I am grateful for your learning, I am grateful for what you do for our students, and I look forward to an ever-deepening, richer commitment to learning on this campus,” Father Shanley said.
All promotions and retirements listed below took effect July 1.
Faculty retirements:
Dr. Richard H. Connelly, assistant professor of computer science
John DiCicco, assistant professor of art
Dr. A. Cemal Ekin, professor of marketing
Dr. Raymond W. Lavallée, assistant professor of French
Dr. Craig B. Wood, professor of natural science in biology
Faculty promoted to professor:
Dr. Peter R. Costello, professor of philosophy
Chard deNiord, professor of English
Dr. Leo H. Kahane, professor of economics
Faculty promoted to associate professor:
Dr. Angela K. Dills, associate professor of economics
Sang Woo Kang, associate professor of music
Eric Sung, associate professor of photography
Dr. Arthur P. Urbano, Jr., associate professor of theology
Dr. Marcy B. Zipke, associate professor of education
Newly Tenured Faculty:
Dr. Christopher Arroyo, associate professor of philosophy
Dr. Christopher M. Bloom, associate professor of psychology
Dr. Mark P. DeFanti, associate professor of marketing
Dr. Dana L. Dillon, assistant professor of theology
Dr. Christine E. Earley, professor of accountancy
Dr. Matthew Eriksen, professor of management
Dr. Julia Jordan-Zachery, associate professor of political science and director of the Black Studies Program
Sang Woo Kang, associate professor of music
Dr. Katherine M. Kranz, associate professor of social work
Dr. Nicholas V. Longo, associate professor of public and community service studies and director of the Global Studies Program
Dr. Brian M. McCadden, associate professor of education and dean of the School of Professional Studies
Dr. Edgar Mejía, associate professor of Spanish
Rev. R. Gabriel Pivarnik, O.P., assistant professor of theology
Dr. Robert E. Stretter, associate professor of English
Eric Sung, associate professor of photography
Dr. Tuire M. Valkeakari, associate professor of English
Dr. Marcy B. Zipke, associate professor of education