Eighteen Faculty Members Earn Tenure and Promotions

Educators from various fields recognized for their hard work and ongoing support of SHU students

Eighteen faculty members at Sacred Heart University have been awarded tenure and promotions based on their outstanding work as educators. These changes go into effect September 1.

Twelve individuals granted tenure

The following SHU professors have been promoted and granted tenure for their ongoing success and dedication in their respective fields.

Kevin Bowlyn, Ph.D.

Kevin Bowlyn, of Bridgeport, associate professor of computer science & engineering at the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT), earned his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Southern Illinois University. Since joining Sacred Heart University, he has been dedicated to advancing research in reliable, low-cost and energy-efficient computing architectures. Beyond his research, Bowlyn was pivotal in securing accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology for the University’s two engineering programs.

Mark Congdon, Ph.D.

Mark Congdon, Jr., of New Haven, associate professor of communication & media in the School of Communication, Media & the Arts and director of inclusive excellence education in the Office for Inclusive Excellence, earned his Ph.D. in communication from the University of Maine. He leads university-wide faculty development and institutional efforts that embed inclusive excellence into teaching, research and community engagement. His teaching and scholarship center on community-engaged learning, inclusive pedagogy and public scholarship as tools for institutional and social transformation. He has received national and international recognition for his work, including the 2024 Global Service-Learning Award from Uniservitate and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.

Andres Felipe Cortes, Ph.D.

Andres Felipe Cortes, of Fairfield, associate professor of management in the WCBT, received his Ph.D. in business and technology from Iowa State University. His works have been published in Leadership Quarterly, the International Journal of Management Reviews, the Journal of Management Studies and the Journal of Business Ethics, among others. His research focuses on how executives’ behaviors, motivations and decisions can impact innovation in their organizations.

Katherine Cunningham, Ed.D.

Katherine Cunningham, of Wilton, professor and teacher education program director at the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development (FCEHD), received her Ed.D. from Columbia University. She teaches courses in foundational literacy skills, dyslexia, children’s literature and social and emotional learning. Cunningham’s work has appeared in Educational Leadership, Language Arts and The Educational Forum. She is also a part of several research teams that have been awarded federal and state grants, including a $3.4 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant and a Connecticut Right to Read grant.

Sally Drew, Ph.D.

Sally Drew, of Cromwell, professor of teacher education and special education program director in the FCEHD, received her Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut. She was named an American Educational Research Association Fellow for the Study of Deeper Learning in partnership with the American Institutes for Research to investigate the role of educator mindsets within professional deeper learning communities. Drew’s research examines writing instruction, the reading and writing connection and professional development and serves as a bridge to connect general and special educators in supporting students with diverse learning needs.

Charles Gillespie, Ph.D.

Charles Gillespie, of Norwalk, associate professor of Catholic studies, received his Ph.D. in religious studies, concentrating on theology, ethics and culture, from the University of Virginia. Gillespie’s research, publications and teaching investigate theology, interpretation theory, the performing arts and culture as they relate to the Catholic intellectual tradition. His book, God on Broadway, will be published later this year. He is also SHU’s inaugural Pioneer Journey director.

Lola Halperin, Ed.D., OTR/L

Lola Halperin, of Stamford, associate professor of occupational therapy (OT) in the College of Health Professions, received her Ed.D. in biobehavioral sciences from Columbia University. She designs, teaches and coordinates the mental health curriculum in the graduate OT program at SHU. She has served children, adolescents and adults with mental illness and other challenges in inpatient, outpatient and community-based facilities in the United States, Canada and Israel. To augment her clinical experience, she has obtained certificates in dialectical behavior therapy and lifestyle redesign for chronic pain management, trained in psychodrama and completed courses in group therapy and counseling. Her research grants, peer-reviewed publications and professional presentations pertain to the psychosocial aspects of OT and graduate OT education.

David Loranger, Ph.D.

David Loranger, of Middle Haddam, associate professor in the  fashion marketing & merchandising program in the WCBT, received his Ph.D. in apparel, merchandising and design from Iowa State University. Before teaching, Loranger spent 17 years in luxury retail management for Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Loro Piana and Barneys New York. At SHU, he teaches classes in marketing, fashion buying and global luxury retailing. His research focuses on the areas of cultural apparel products and generational consumption, and his work has appeared in publications such as the Journal of Consumer Marketing. Loranger also founded SHU’s fashion marketing industry advisory board and serves as its chair.

Syed Osman, Ph.D.

Syed Osman, of Trumbull, associate professor of finance in the WCBT, received his Ph.D. in economics from Texas Tech University. Before he taught at SHU, Osman worked as an economist at Amazon. His research interests include causal data science, applied machine learning, business data science and applied microeconomics. He is especially interested in using data and machine learning to address social issues.

Darcy Ronan, Ph.D.

Darcy Ronan, of Fairfield, associate professor of teacher education in the FCEHD, received her Ph.D. in science education from Columbia University. At SHU, she is the program director of STEAM+CS education programs. Ronan also serves as the project director of the federally funded Project {FUTURE}, an initiative that seeks to integrate computer science into elementary school curricula.

Kristen Savell, Ph.D.

Kristen Savell, of Trumbull, associate professor of biology, earned her Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Savell is the laboratory coordinator for the anatomy & physiology courses at SHU, as well as regularly teaching classes in evolutionary medicine, human evolution, and the bioarcheology and culture of Irish mortuary traditions at the SHU Dingle campus. Her research focuses on the evolution of modern human limb anatomy from both quantitative genetic and biomechanical frameworks.

Christine Susienka, Ph.D.

Christine Susienka, of New Haven, associate professor of philosophy and co-director of SHU’s Hersher Institute, received her Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University. Her research focuses heavily on the intersections of moral and political philosophy. She uses a relational ethics approach to think about climate change, human rights, democracy and socially disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Promoted to professor

• Kristin Rainville, of Fairfield, educational & literacy leadership
• Jessica Samuolis, of Trumbull, psychology

Promoted to associate teaching professor

• Michael Gorman, of Wilton, finance

Promoted to associate clinical professor

• Jaimee Hegge, of Chester, occupational therapy
• Tammy Testut, of Branford, nursing

Promoted to clinical professor

• Linda Morrow, of Byron, GA, nursing