Instructors

“John Failing has a strong educational background diversified through various physical science, business, and financial subjects. Fortunately (or unfortunately), he has taken more standardized exams than should be allowed and has scored above the 90th percentile in almost every one. Professionally, he has spent ten years custom-tutoring students and working professionals in a plethora of academic subjects and standardized exams ranging from statistics to the MCAT.”

“Ade Neidermeyer is a Professor of Accounting at WVU's College of Business & Economics. He has been recognized as an Outstanding Teacher twenty-five times in his thirty-five year WVU career.”

“Sandra (Sandy) Lee Ryder, Esq. holds a Bachelor's degree in Education, two Masters (literature and social science) plus a Ph.D. in law. In addition, she is certified in Illinois as a reading specialist and to teach the gifted, advanced placement in English and social science. Sandy has written curriculum and has taught online classes at the graduate level at Olivet Nazarene University, Illinois Central College, and DePaul University. She has received numerous scholarships, and has utilized media and technology for teaching. Sandy was a successful athlete at the collegiate level, and a successful coach at the high school level.”

“Irene C. Murphy boasts of being an educator for thirty-five years. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Ohio University in Athens, OH and her Master of Arts Degree from Marshall University. She began her career as an elementary school teacher and taught intermediate students for nine years. She was an elementary school teaching-principal in a rural coal-mining town for three years. She was the principal of Mason Elementary for eight years. During her time at Mason Elementary, she was nominated as one of the top principals in the state of West Virginia by the Education Alliance Organization. In 1991 she received the Milken Outstanding Educator National Award for her leadership skills. In 1994 her family and she moved to Jackson County where she currently works as the Director of Elementary/Middle Schools in charge of curriculum and instruction.”

“Jeremy Bock, B.S., is a computer engineering technologist working at the Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED) at West Virginia University. He is a web accessibility expert, and develops the CED website as well as their program websites. He also consults for WVU as part of the WVU Web Accessibility Board to help make all University sites accessible to everyone including those with disabilities. Previously he has worked as a software engineer and consultant in the private sector.”

“Dr. Robert Creese is a Professor of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering at West Virginia University College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. He has a Ph.D. in Metallurgy with an M.S. and B.S. in Industrial Engineering. Dr. Creese holds professional registrations in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and is a Certified Cost Engineer. Dr. Creese's most recent publication is Geometric Programming for Design and Cost Optimization.”

“Arun Ross received the B.E. (Hons.) degree in computer science from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India, in 1996, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science and engineering from Michigan State University, East Lansing, in 1999 and 2003, respectively. Between 1996 and 1997, he was with the Design and Development Group of Tata Elxsi (India) Ltd., Bangalore, India. He also spent three summers (2000--2002) with the Imaging and Visualization Group at Siemens Corporate Research, Inc., Princeton, NJ, working on fingerprint recognition algorithms. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown. His research interests include pattern recognition, classifier fusion, machine learning, computer vision and biometrics. He has presented his research work at various international conferences and has authored several papers in Biometrics. He is actively involved in the development of Biometrics and Pattern Recognition curricula at West Virginia University. Arun is a recipient of NSF's CAREER Award and was designated a Kavli Frontier Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. He is the co-author of "Handbook of Multibiometrics" and co-editor of "Handbook of Biometrics". Arun is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Image Processing and the IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security.”

"Dr. Kershner is affiliated with the West Virginia University Community Medicine Department. She teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs in school, and public health. She is a registered nurse, certified as a teacher in school health and is nationally credentialed as a health education specialist. She has presented at local, state, national and international conferences about violence in the lives of women and numerous other health-related topics. She has received several awards for her teaching skills and service-related efforts including the West Virginia Health Education Teacher of the Year, the Robert C. Byrd School of Medicine Distinguished Teacher Award (twice), the West Virginia Health Education Council Innovative Health Programming Award, the PATCH Health Advocacy Award, the June Harless Award for Exceptional Teaching, the Midwest District AAHPERD Health Education Teacher of the Year, Roy Duncan Award, the WVU School of Medicine Dean's Award for Community Service, the West Virginia Faculty Merit Foundation award, the WVAHPERD Honor award, the American Association of Health Education University Professor of the Year Award and the West Virginia Carnegie Award."

"Carol Petitto is the executive director of On Eagles’ Wings, a NARHA equine assisted activities and therapies center located near Morgantown, WV. As a NARHA registered therapeutic riding instructor, Carol teaches riding lessons for individuals with disabilities from the ages of four-years-old and up. Carol has worked with and taught a diverse number of participants within the On Eagles’ Wings program, including riders with autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, developmental delays, muscular dystrophy, stroke, ADHD, Rett’s Syndrome and vision impairment. She has been actively involved in the horse industry for the last thirty years as the owner of a registered Appaloosa and Arabian breeding facility. Carol is currently completing a PhD in Human and Community Development from the Davis College of Natural Resources and Design at West Virginia University. She also teaches several classes on equine assisted activities and therapies within the Davis College, and has recently completed a 16-hour graduate level certificate in disabilities studies from WVU."

"Patty Harman is a NARHA registered therapeutic riding instructor, and has taught riding lessons for individuals with disabilities at On Eagles' Wings since its inception. She has been involved in the horse industry for many years as the owner of a small horse boarding facility, riding instructor, and as a visiting lecturer of several equine related courses at West Virginia University. Patty received many years of formal equestrian training in dressage and jumping as a student at both Meredith Manor and Morven Park International Equestrian Institute."

“Kelly Ayers is a curriculum developer with the Forensic Science Initiative. Prior to joining FSI, Kelly was employed as a forensic services technician with the Asheville, NC Police Department. While there, she was qualified as an expert in forensic identification in North Carolina Superior Court and was published in the Journal of Forensic Identification. She has an undergraduate degree with a double major in Philosophy and Biology from Frostburg (Maryland) State University and was the first graduate of the West Virginia University Forensic Identification Program. Since joining FSI, Kelly has become an IAI Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst and received her Master of Science in Forensic Science Administration from Oklahoma State University. She is a native of Romney, WV.”

“Chris Bily is a Forensic Science Curriculum Developer with the Forensic Science Initiative. He has extensive experience in forensic science education and curriculum design. Chris taught forensic science in high school in Chicago for seven years where he also acted as a consultant and curriculum developer for Forensic Press and Precision Forensic Testing. In 2007, he accepted a full time position with Forensic Press as a forensic science training, education, and research specialist. The focus of Chris's work was pattern evidence, enhancing pattern evidence in blood, and presumptive tests for blood. During this time Chris also taught forensic science classes through the Criminal Justice Department at Wake Technical College in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has contributed to numerous publications with Forensic Press and initiated an original piece of research on locating blood under paint which was published in the Journal of Forensic Identification. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Benedictine University and has participated in excess of 500 hours of continuing education course work in various forensic disciplines.”

“Robin Bowen is the Assistant Director for the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops research, scientific resources, and professional training for forensic scientists and related professionals. Her primary responsibilities include coordination of continuing education programs, management of research projects, and correspondence of progress to the National Institute of Justice. Bowen is the primary developer of the Forensic Educational Alliance, an initiative to offer a variety of forensic science continuing education courses online. She has an undergraduate degree in Forensic and Investigative Sciences and a graduate degree in Secondary Science Education. Bowen is Sponsorship Chair of the Young Forensic Scientists Forum, a member of the International Association for Identification, a member of the National Science Teachers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.”

“Jessica Boyle is a Forensic Science Technician with Forensic Science Initiative. She started her career with FSI as an undergraduate at West Virginia University in 2006 where she assisted FSI in its operations from both educational and accounting angles. Jessica earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology in May of 2009. Her responsibilities now include online course development, research in forensic science, and continued assistance in training for those in the forensic field. ”

“Lindsey Crass is a Forensic Science Technician with Forensic Science Initiative. She has a Bachelors of Science in Forensic Biology from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. She also has a Post Bachelors Certificate in Forensic Investigation from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Lindsey has spent time working in the Toxicology Lab at the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office in Pontiac, Michigan. Her responsibilities include online course development, forensic research, and assistance in training for professionals in the forensic field.”

“Sarah is a Forensic Science Technician with Forensic Science Initiative. She has a Bachelor's in Biology from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Sarah has also earned her Master's in Forensic Science from Towson University. During her graduate studies, Sarah was involved in research funded by the NIJ. The project focused on finding new serological tests using DNA as the substrate. Her responsibilities include assisting with online classes, developing a relationship with vendors, and helping with training. Sarah is a native of Wyckoff, NJ.”

“Anthony Iten is a Forensic Science Technician with Forensic Science Initiative. He graduated from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota with a Bachelors of Arts degree and Forensic Science Certificate. Anthony has spent time working in the Drug Chemistry and Latent Print sections in the St. Paul Police Department Crime Lab in St. Paul, Minnesota. His responsibilities include online course development and assistance in training professionals in the forensic field. He is currently developing a Latent Print online course.”

“Samantha Neal is the Instructional Coordinator for the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops research, scientific resources, and professional training for forensic scientists and related professionals. Her primary responsibilities are the development and coordination of online continuing education courses in forensic science and continuing education programs. She has undergraduate degrees in both Forensic and Investigative Sciences and Chemistry."