Produce, Present and Publish: 2022 Curry Faculty Accomplishments

Curry faculty are dedicated educators and caring mentors to students as well as leading scholars, scientists, artists, and trailblazers in their disciplines. They are regularly published in notable academic publications, quoted as experts in the media, and applauded among peers at prestigious industry conferences.

This past spring semester, the following faculty honors include:

Dr. Benjamin J. Chicka, lecturer in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department, had a book God the Created: Pragmatic Constructive Realism in Philosophy and Theology published in February 2022. Another book, Playing as Others: Theology and Ethical Responsibility in Video Games, was published in October 2021 and he discussed the book on various podcasts, such as Ethics and Video Games and Gamers with Jobs Conference.

Dr. Laurie Fox, professor in the Program for Advancement of Learning, is publishing a book review in the spring journal The Educational Therapist, 43(1), on the book: The Motivational Interviewing Workbook: Exercises to Decide What you Want and How to Get There. 

Dr. Jessica Fry, assistant professor of Biology, was selected Honorable Mention for the 2021 Wasabi Fenway Bowl Honor Roll, which recognizes people in education who went above and beyond. She was nominated by her student Bella Scott ’22.

Dr. Abigail Hafer, senior lecturer in the Department of Natural Science and Mathematics, published “In the name of truckers: Public health, law and the sorry history of modern anti-vaccine movement” and “No heartbeat without a heart” in The Lawyer’s Daily. She also appeared on a radio program on WBAI on "Weird and Unusual Animals--A Celebration of Nature with Biologist Abby Hafer!" Most recently, she was honored by Oxford University Press, when they chose to include her chapter on "Humanism, Sex, and Sexuality" from The Oxford Handbook in Humanism in their Religion, Gender, and Sexuality campaign.

Dr. Amanda Kennedy, associate professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice and alumna Sarah Simmons ’20 presented “Focusing on the Topic of AAUW Initiatives and Advancing Faculty” at the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Massachusetts, Annual Meeting. Simmons, who now works for Merrimack College as an Active Program Coordinator in Accessibility Services, first became involved in the organization during her time at Curry, through Professor Kennedy. AAUW advocates for education and equity through various initiatives, including through public policy advocacy and diversity initiatives, as well as provides fellowships, grants, and awards to women.

Dr. Gagan "Mia" Khera, professor in the Psychology Department, was a co-author on a paper and a guest editor on a special issue of the Asian American Journal of Psychology. The paper is titled, “Recentering AAPI narratives as social justice praxis: Reclaiming and honoring our experiences and the Special Issue is titled:  Recentering AAPI Narratives as Social Justice Praxis.” 

Dr. Sandra George O’Neil, professor in the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department, published "Community obstacles to large scale solar: NIMBY and renewables," in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer; Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(1), pages 85-92, March. She also wrote two book reviews: “Dina Gilio-Whitaker: As long as grass grows: The Indigenous fight for environmental justice, from colonization to standing rock.” Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences and “Fueling Resistance” Global Environmental Politics 2021; 21 (4): 156–158. Professor O’Neil was also named a "Climate fellow" by the Global Center for Climate Justice. 

Chris McCusker, senior lecturer in the School of Business and Computer Science, received their Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Southern Maine.

Dr. Coleen Toronto, associate professor in the School of Nursing was a co-author of Reading a Q Methodology Research Article in the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 53(1), 10-12. She also co-authored A scoping review of Q methodology nursing education studies in Nurse Education Today, 109, 105-220.