Notes on Contributors
Loreta Andersen
(Ed.D.) has a doctorate in Instructional Leadership from St. John’s University, Queens, New York. She has worked as an early childhood educator in both private and public schools and as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the City University of New York–College of Staten Island. Dr. Andersen’s research focuses on developing positive social leadership skills in early childhood students within multi-cultural urban school settings. She is highly interested in understanding and developing empathy and emotional resilience in young children. Dr. Loreta Andersen continues to share her knowledge though presentations and workshops at conferences and symposiums.
Edna Aurelus
is an Assistant Professor and alumna at Wagner College. Dr. Aurelus has a Doctorate in Advanced Nursing Practice from Arizona State University and a post-doctorate degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Aurelus is dually board certified from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Dr. Aurelus’ extensive experience in psychiatry includes the old St. Vincent Hospital known now as Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), South Beach Psychiatric Center, Banner Behavioral Health Hospital and Perryville Prison, the only state female prison in Arizona. She is currently the Lead Professor for the psychiatric nursing course at Wagner. She is the author of multiple peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Aurelus adopts the concept of psychological safety and empathy in her classroom to encourage students to participate in class discussion without any fear. She is aware of how stressful and traumatic experiences can be affect learning. She is very vocal for women empowerment through education and social justice, which is one of the many reasons she started her own foundation in her native country in 2014 called EVS Smile Foundation.
Ange Concepcion
is the Assistant Dean of Campus Life at Wagner College, located on Staten Island, NY. She has been a college student affairs administrator for nearly a decade, working primarily in housing & residential life and student conduct. Her research interests include sexual assault prevention, Title IX, change management, leadership development, and Catholic higher education leadership. Ange received her B.S. in Physics from Loyola University Chicago, M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Administration & Policy from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Administration and Supervision, Church and Non-Public School Leadership from Fordham University.
Rhoda Frumkin
(Ed.D.) received her doctorate from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She is Professor and Director of Student Teaching and Professional Field Experiences of the Education Department at Wagner College in New York. Her expertise is in literacy learning and special education. Her research interests include culturally responsive practices and intercultural partnerships and the impact of literacy learning in students and families.
Katia González
(Ed.D.) received her doctorate from Columbia University-Teachers College in New York. She is Professor and Chair of the Education Department at Wagner College in New York and serves as Director of Graduate Education Programs. Her expertise is in early childhood special education, curriculum development and culturally responsive practices in teacher education. Her research interests include the role of intercultural communication and culturally responsive practices in schools, strategies and techniques to enhance and measure critical thinking, and the impact of community and family in inclusive education.
Jennifer Lauria
(Ed.D.) recently completed her 18th year as a Professor of Education, departmental administrator, and community-engaged scholar at Wagner College in New York City. Prior to her tenure at Wagner College, Dr. Lauria taught diverse Pre K-5 student populations at P.S. 22 in the New York City public school system for 9 years. Currently, she has embarked on a new professional chapter as an educational entrepreneur working as an educational consultant, innovative learning specialist, and Chief Executive Officer of her newly founded consultancy firm, Dr. Jennifer Lauria, LLC. In her new roles, she provides educational leadership, professional development, and instructional support to district and school building leaders, faculty, students, and families. Selected areas of expertise include: leadership, teacher education, innovative pedagogy, curriculum development, educational technologies, program evaluation, health and wellness for educators, cultivating respectful learning environments, and mindfulness methods as SEL supports.
Eman Metwally
is a Learning Specialist at Staten Island Academy in New York. Ms Metwally holds a dual Bachelors degree in English and General/Special Childhood Education and has completed her Master’s Degree at Wagner College in Early Childhood and Special Education. Ms Metwally’s passion is closely collaborating with families and students to engage in intercultural connections. Ms Metwally has participated in field experiences in the tri-state area, and has been a part of many afterschool programs dedicated to student advancement and success. In addition, Ms Metwally has traveled to Barcelona Spain, to experience first hand the importance of different modalities of learning and culturally responsive practices. Her thesis titled “The Impact of Social Support on First Year Teacher Development: A Case Study,” examined the role of support systems and mentorship and its impact on a teacher’s first year experience. Her passion lies in creating an innovative and supportive environment, for both teachers and students, to thrive and find their potential.
Fr. Kevin Nadolski
(OSFS) is a priest with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. A graduate of Temple University, Catholic University of America, and DeSales School of Theology, Fr. Nadolski holds degrees in journalism, theology, and education administration. He also holds a Ph.D. from Fordham University in Administration and Supervision, Church and Non-Public School Leadership.
Fr. Nadolski has worked as a teacher and principal in Catholic high schools and also served as vocation director, director of the seminary, director of development and communications, and assistant provincial for the Oblates in Wilmington, DE. He presently serves at DeSales University as Vice President for Mission and Assistant Professor of Education.
Carolyn Oglio-Taverner
is currently the Director of the Wagner College Early Childhood Center. She holds a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychopathology from Columbia University, Teachers’ College and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the Graduate Center, City University of New York. Along with her position as Director, she is also an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Wagner College, teaching courses in Child Psychology and Death and Dying, and a founding member of Emma’s Place, Staten Island Grief Center, a not-for-profit agency which offers free counselling services to children and families who have suffered losses in their lives.
Kathleen M. Palladino
is a graduate from Wagner College (B.A. ’18 and M.S.Ed. ’19) and holds an M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education/Special Education and a B.A. in Childhood Education 1–6/Special Education 1–6 and Spanish. She is currently a nursery school teacher at St. Patrick Catholic Academy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. As an educator, she is dedicated to incorporating the arts into classroom life and to creating safe, nurturing environments that allow each child to flourish individually and as a group.
Karen Prihoda
is currently a middle school special education teacher in Staten Island, New York She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education, Special Education and Spanish and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Wagner College in New York. Along with her teaching position, she also works with a non-profit in Trenton, New Jersey to provide summer camp and after school activities for children in low income neighborhoods.
Helen Mele Robinson
(Ph.D.) has her doctorate in Language, Literacy and Learning from Fordham University. As a tenured assistant professor with twenty plus years in higher education she has taught foundational courses, curriculum courses and guided pre-service teachers in their fieldwork. Dr. Robinson has shared her knowledge and presented at regional, national and international conferences. Dr. Robinson’s research and publications focus on an array of topics including preparing culturally responsive pre-service teachers, exploring the influence of technology on young children, as well as the current chapter examining the impact of trauma on the young child.
Vannessa Smith-Washington
is an Assistant Professor of Education at Wagner College in New York. Dr. Smith-Washington holds a Master’s Degree in Reading Education (K-12) from CUNY Queens College, a Masters’ in School Leadership from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus and a Doctorate in School Leadership and Curriculum Instruction from the University of Phoenix.
Dr. Smith-Washington’s passion is to mentor, train and supervise pre-service and novice teachers. She is permanently New York City and New York State certified in Special Education (K-12), Reading Education and School/District Leadership. She has worked closely with teachers, clinicians, school supervisors, administrators and parents and is a strong advocate for children and continues her research in teacher resiliency and mentorship.
Deryn A. Susman
is a 2019 graduate from Wagner College’s Undergraduate Education Department, after studying theater and childhood education. During her final year at Wagner, Susman focused her studies around bringing mindfulness and Yoga to the classrooms she worked in, culminating in a written thesis on this matter. To help with the research process, Susman enrolled in the Breathe for Change 200-Hour Yoga Instructor Certification: a program intended to teach educators how to inform their teaching practices with a Yoga practice. Susman has completed extensive research on trauma informed teaching and Yoga practices, in addition to a 20-Hour Trauma Informed Yoga Certification with Feet on the Ground in 2020. Susman is now a first grade teacher with Achievement First, and working towards a Masters in the Art of Teaching at Relay College. Susman has a very activive instagram page related to her pedagogical practices @MissDeryn.