Behavioral and Social Sciences

Mission

The mission of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences is to provide our students with perspectives and tools to understand themselves and the society in which they live.

Education

Our goals in education are these:

To provide the best possible training for our psychology majors and graduate students.
To offer minor concentrations in communication, economics, medical anthropology, psychology, sociology, and social science for students pursuing majors from other departments.
To teach fundamental and interdisciplinary courses in anthropology, communication, economics, psychology, and sociology, as well as social science methods, perspectives, and global issues for all undergraduates.

Our students are taught to understand qualitative and quantitative research design, data collection techniques, and the means to analyze, evaluate, and interpret cognitive, behavioral, cultural, and social data. We also emphasize the concepts and skills required to communicate effectively in professional healthcare, community, and multicultural settings.

Faculty

Elizabeth Amy Janke
BA (Villanova University); MSEd (University of Pennsylvania); PhD (Ohio University)
Associate Professor of Psychology
Interim Chair, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Director, Health Psychology Graduate Program

Phyllis Blumberg
AB (Washington College); MA, PhD (University of Pittsburgh)
Professor of Psychology
Assistant Provost, Faculty Development and Director, Teaching and Learning Center

Amalia Issa
BS (Concordia University, Canada); MS, PhD (McGill University, Canada); MPH (University of California, Los Angeles)
Professor of Health Policy

Ashley Brooke de Marchena
BA (Tufts University); MA, PhD (University of Connecticut)

Kenneth Leibowitz
BA (Rutgers University); MA (West Virginia University)
Assistant Professor of Communication

Alysson E. Light
BA (Sarah Lawrence College); MA, PhD (University of Chicago)
Associate Professor of Psychology

Stephen T. Moelter
BS (Pennsylvania State University); MS, PhD (Drexel University)
Associate Professor of Psychology
Director, Undergraduate Program in Psychology and Director, Honors Program

Cathleen T. Moore
BA (Rutgers University); MEd, EdD (Temple University)
Professor Emeritus of Psychology

David Perlman
BS (Emory University); MA (Georgia State University); PhD (University of Tennessee)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Policy

Pamela Zubow Poe
BM (Syracuse University); MA (American University); MM (Westminster Choir College of Rider University); MPH (West Chester University); PhD (Temple University)
Visiting Assistant Professor
Director, Graduate Certificate in Health Education and Communication

Vinaya Rajan
BS (College of New Jersey); MS, PhD (Virginia Polytechnic Institute)
Associate Professor of Anthropology

Michelle L. Ramirez
BS (San Francisco State University); MPH (Portland State University); MA, PhD (University of Iowa)
Associate Professor of Anthropology

Joseph W. Ruane
BA (St. Charles Borromeo Seminary); MA (Temple University); PhD (University of Delaware)
Professor Emeritus of Sociology and of Health Policy and Public Health

Jessica M. Sautter
BA (College of New Jersey); MA, PhD (Duke University)
Assistant Professor of Medical Sociology

Adjunct Faculty

Shelby Arnold
BA (Wesleyan University); MS, PhD (Drexel University)
Adjunct Professor of Psychology

Thomas F. Burke
BA, MA (Villanova University); PhD (Temple University)
Adjunct Professor of Economics

Remo Chiatti
BA, MA (Studio Filosofico, Italy); PhD Anthropology (University of Pennsylvania); PhD Sociology (Gregoriana University)
Adjunct Professor of Sociology

Kathleen Connor
BS (St. Joseph’s University); MS (Villanova University); PhD (University of Pennsylvania)
Adjunct Professor of Psychology

Michelle M. Dooley
BA (Syracuse University); MA (Columbia University)
Adjunct Instructor of Sociology

Esther Hio-Tong Castillo
BA (Temple University); MA (New York University); PhD (Temple University)
Adjunct Professor of Sociology

Roland Lamb
BS (Lincoln University); MA (University of Phoenix)
Adjunct Instructor in Sociology

Thomas W. Summers
BS (Eastern College); MDiv (Princeton Theological Seminary)
Adjunct Instructor in Sociology

Leo Vaccaro
BA (Gettysburg College); MA (Villanova University)
Adjunct Professor of Economics

Paul Viggiano
BA (Villanova University); MA (Temple University)
Adjunct Instructor in Communication

Charles F. Volz
BA, MA (Villanova University); JD (Rutgers University School of Law)
Adjunct Professor of Sociology

Affiliated Faculty in Other Departments

Ross Radish, Student Affairs