Vice President of Western Galilee College, Prof. Yossi Yagil

Provost of Gwynedd Mercy University, Dr. Jeffrey Breese

Dr. SoYoung Kang, Center for Teaching and Learning, Education, Gwynedd Mercy University

Dr. SoYoung Kang is currently a Director of Center for Teaching and Learning, and teaches in Education at Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania. Prior to this, she was an Associate Professor of Education at Westminster College in Pennsylvania and an Assistant Professor at Ohio University. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Her field of interest includes multicultural education, diversity, culturally responsive teaching, UDL, English learners, comparative education, care theory, cultural studies, and social justice issues in education. Due to living and attending schools in various countries such as the U.S., Korea, France, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India, her view of education is dynamic and multicultural. She received her M.ED. in Community Counseling and a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies in Education from the University of Tennessee. She has presented at many professional conferences and published numerous articles in national/international journals, newspaper, and books.

Prof. Vered Vaknin-Nusbaum, Education, Western Galilee College

Prof. Vered Vaknin-Nusbaum, Ph.D., Reading, and comprehension (Haifa University,2004), is an associate professor in the Department of Education, Western Galilee College, and a research associate, the University of Haifa. She also the head of the Literacy Center for Education. She teaches undergraduate and graduate students topics related to reading, reading acquisition, and learning disabilities. Over the last two decades, she systematically studied questions related to the processing of written language by typical and poor readers and the way specific characteristics of the Hebrew orthography and morphology modify the reading process. She participated in an international language and reading project funded by NIH with researchers from the United States.

Dr. Einat Nevo, Early childhood Education, Western Galilee College

Dr. Nevo Einat
Areas of Expertise:
Language development, promotion of language abilities in educational systems, language disorders, emergent literacy, acquisition and development of reading abilities, motivation to read, working memory
College Position:
Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development from a Community Perspective, lecturer in the Department of Education and in the Master’s Degree Program in Literacy and Innovation in Education

Dr. Mindy MacRone-Wojton , Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, Gwynedd Mercy University

Exploring Parental Perception and Coping Strategies Amidst Special Education Challenges within Mainstream Educational settings

Dr. Mindy MacRone-Wojton, DSc, OTR/L serves as an Associate Professor in the Bachelor of Health Science in Occupational Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Programs within the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions at Gwynedd Mercy University since 2018. She has taught classes on foundations of occupational therapy and occupational science, creativity and activity analysis, health and medical conditions, the occupational therapy process, health and wellness promotion, neuroscience, emerging practice, environmental adaptations, and assistive technology. Dr. Wojton has been a licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR®) for more than 25 years. She has spent most of her career as a school-based therapist, working with and advocating for students with attention deficit disorder, autism, cerebral palsy, emotional disturbance, genetic disorders, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Dr. Wojton earned a D.Sc. in Rehabilitation Sciences with a specialty in Early Intervention and School-based Practice from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Franklin & Marshall College.

Dr. Carmit Gal, Education, Western Galilee College

Dr. Carmit Gal is a researcher and lecturer specializing in the intersection of neurocognitive science, human behavior, and educational practice. Dr. Gal brings a unique perspective to the field of education, combining insights from cognitive neuroscience with practical classroom applications.
Dr. Gal’s primary research focuses on understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying learning processes and their implications for educational practice. Her work explores how individual differences in cognitive abilities influence learning outcomes and how this knowledge can be applied to enhance teaching methodologies.
In addition to her core research, Dr. Gal also leads the International Department at Western Galilee College, where she has expanded her focus to include the impact of internationalization on educational experiences and outcomes. This role has allowed her to investigate how cross-cultural experiences influence cognitive development and learning behaviors.
Dr. Gal has published in various peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at conferences on topics ranging from neurocognitive approaches to education to international education practices. She is committed to bridging the gap between neuroscience research and classroom practice, with a particular interest in developing innovative, brain-based teaching strategies for diverse learning environments

Dr. Victory Osezua, Public Health, Gwynedd Mercy University

Comparative study: FoMO and JoMO among adults in Israel and the USA

Dr. Victory Osezua’s research explores the social inequities and social structures that affect the wellbeing of underserved youth using community-based participatory research methods. Dr. Osezua is skilled in quantitative and qualitative research and has presented research results and evaluation reports to a wide audience. Dr. Osezua also works as an independent public health consultant conducting community-based evaluation and research for various non-profit organizations across the country.
She is currently an Assistant Professor of public health at Gwynedd Mercy University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. Dr. Osezua has worked as a Behavioral Scientist at Johnson and Johnson Research and Development and program coordinator and researcher at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and with the Volunteers of America Mid-States in Louisville doing HIV prevention.

Prof. Yehuda Peled, Education, Western Galilee College

Prof. Peled Yehuda
Areas of Expertise:
Technology in teaching and learning with an emphasis on e-learning environments.

Dr. Maya Kalman Halevi, Education, Western Galilee College

M. Kalman-Halevi (Ph.D.) is a lecturer and researcher in the department of Education and in the department of Early Childhood Education and Development from a Community Perspective at the Western Galilee College, Israel. Maya is an expert in educational psychology. Scientific Areas of Specialization: Parental practices and their influence on internalization and children behaviour, the development of emotion regulation in children, fostering school environment which contributes to optimal emotional and social development among kindergarten teachers, children, adolescents, and adults in the digital era

Dr. Rony Tutian, Education, Western Galilee College

Dr. Tutian Rooney
Areas of Expertise:
Educational counseling, prevention programs, treatment of aggressive students
College Position:
Head of the Educational Counseling Cluster in the Department of Education, Lecturer in the Department of Education and Learning Disabilities, in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development from a Community Perspective

Dr. Devorah Eden, Education, Western Galilee College

Doing gender doing entrepreneurship: Women principals in Israel and the USA

Dr. Eden Devorah
Areas of Expertise:
Educational Leadership, Gender, Education Policy
College Position:
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education and in the Master’s Degree Program in Management in Educational Systems

Dr. Carol Etlen, Education, Gwynedd Mercy University

Dr. Carol Etlen is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Educational Administration Program, at Gwynedd Mercy University, a position she has held for the last 12 years. Before her tenure at Gwynedd, she taught graduate courses in Education at Chestnut Hill College and St. Joseph University. Prior to her experience in Higher Education, she spent most of her career in a multitude of roles that included special educator, principal, behavior specialist, and special education administrator in PreK-12 in both urban and suburban settings as well as the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, in Pennsylvania. Dr. Etlen received her bachelor’s degree in education from West Chester University and her master’s and doctorate degrees from Aradia University in Special Education Leadership. In addition to her work at Gwynedd she recently served on the Board of Directors for the Springfield Township School District, Montgomery County, PA and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Settlement Music School, Willow Grove, PA Branch.

Dr. John Gunn, Psychology, Gwynedd Mercy University

Understanding the relationship between bullying and suicide in a U.S. & Israeli sample

Dr. John Gunn received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stockton University, his master’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University-Camden, and his doctoral degree in Family Science & Human Development from Montclair State University. Before joining the Psychology program’s faculty at Gwynedd Mercy University, Dr. Gunn served as an adjunct instructor at Montclair State University and as a postdoctoral associate with the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University. His research interests include: the exploration of theoretical models to understand suicidal thoughts and behaviors, understanding risk and protective factors that contribute to the development of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, population level factors that influence suicide, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among LGBTQ+ persons.

Prof. Yehuda Peled, Education, Western Galilee College

Prof. Peled Yehuda
Areas of Expertise:
Technology in teaching and learning with an emphasis on e-learning environments.

Dr. Margaret Rakus, Business, Gwynedd Mercy University

Evaluating Graduate Skills through Industry Managers’ Insights using AHP approach

Dr. Margaret Rakus joined higher education following more than a decade in public relations, publishing, content production and marketing. Coordinator for the GMercyU Digital Communication and Marketing program, Dr. Rakus develops innovative teaching practices in digital communication, digital analytics, SEO and business courses. She developed and launched digcomcrew.org, a student produced media site that serves the GMercyU community. As a member of the University DEI initiative, she facilitates professional development sessions focused on the LGBTQ population and is developing an online module on Cultural Humility. Dr. Rakus’ research agenda includes study abroad, business education, the Latino population and digital media.

Dr. Michal Levi, Business, Western Galilee College

Dr. Levi-Bleikh Michal
Areas of Expertise:
Specialization in supply chain management and logistics, specialization in information systems on planning, analysis and design of systems, support for information systems on business intelligence
College Position:
Lecturer in the Department of Management and Logistics

Dr. Talmor Irit, Business, Western Galilee College

Dr. Talmor Irit
Areas of Expertise:
Operations research, systems analysis, logistics and risk management
College Position:
Head of the Department of Logistics and Lecturer in the Department of Management

Dr. Amber Gentile, Education, Gwynedd Mercy University

Navigating Education in Wartime: Israeli Teachers’ Resilience and Challenges – From Classroom to Remote Learning During Conflict Escalation

Dr. Amber Gentile is an Associate Professor in Education at Gwynedd Mercy University. She is passionate about sharing best practices in teaching and learning to address the holistic needs of all learners. Her areas of interest include Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Culturally Responsive Teaching, Trauma Informed Practices, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Mindsets, Mental Wellness, and Social Justice issues in Education. She brings diverse experience in P-12 education: as an emotional support instructor then director in alternative education programs, a juvenile education instructor in a county prison, dean of students at a vocational technical school, and an administrator in a traditional public high school. In her 15 years in higher education, she has taught education courses at all levels and has served in several leadership roles. She has been an invited expert speaker for podcasts, webinars, and professional development sessions and has presented at professional conferences and published journal articles.

Dr. Hen Rayder, Education, Western Galilee College

Dr. Chen Ryder is a cognitive neuropsychologist and behavioral neuroscientist, lecturing in the departments of Criminology and Education. As co-director of the Brain and Behavior Research Institute, she conducts psychophysiological research utilizing wearable sensors and neurotechnologies. Her research examines central and peripheral nervous systems and neural correlates of mental disorders, aiming to advance innovative diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Dr. Ryder’s expertise encompasses neuropsychology, brain health, psychophysiology, neurocognition, and psychopathology

Dr. Carmit Gal, Education, Western Galilee College

Dr. Carmit Gal is a researcher and lecturer specializing in the intersection of neurocognitive science, human behavior, and educational practice. Dr. Gal brings a unique perspective to the field of education, combining insights from cognitive neuroscience with practical classroom applications.
Dr. Gal’s primary research focuses on understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying learning processes and their implications for educational practice. Her work explores how individual differences in cognitive abilities influence learning outcomes and how this knowledge can be applied to enhance teaching methodologies.
In addition to her core research, Dr. Gal also leads the International Department at Western Galilee College, where she has expanded her focus to include the impact of internationalization on educational experiences and outcomes. This role has allowed her to investigate how cross-cultural experiences influence cognitive development and learning behaviors.
Dr. Gal has published in various peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at conferences on topics ranging from neurocognitive approaches to education to international education practices. She is committed to bridging the gap between neuroscience research and classroom practice, with a particular interest in developing innovative, brain-based teaching strategies for diverse learning environments

Dr. Alan Harper, Business, Gwynedd Mercy University

Economic Markets Navigating a Changing Reality

At Gwynedd Mercy University, Dr. Alan Harper’s role as Associate Dean of Operations and Program Coordinator melds leadership with a passion for academic excellence. With responsibilities encompassing faculty hiring, class scheduling, and budget management, his focus remains on enhancing our educational offerings and student success. Dr. Harper’s tenure as an Associate Professor of Finance, coupled with a hands-on approach in advising and curriculum development, allows him to contribute significantly to the university’s strategic objectives. Bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application, he leads and mentors with a commitment to fostering future leaders in the finance sector. Dr. Harper earned his BBA in Finance from Middle Tennessee State University, his MBA from Mercer University and his PhD from Capella University in Organization and Management with a research focus in Finance and
Economics.

Dr. Israel Rachevski, Business, Western Galilee College

Dr. Rachevski Israel
Areas of Expertise:
Innovation, Enterpenurship, Financial Management
College Position:
Head of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Academic and Community Relations, and Innovation Development, lecturer in the Department of Management and the Department of Logistics

The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Research,
Dr. Elizabeth Knauss, English, Gwynedd Mercy University

Dr. Elizabeth Keenan Knauss, PhD, joined Gwynedd Mercy University in 2021 as Assistant Professor of English and Writing Program Coordinator. She holds a BA in English from Boston University and a MA and PhD in English from the University of Delaware. Dr. Knauss’ scholarship focuses on Rhetoric and Composition, as well as literature of the Restoration and early Eighteenth Century. She has presented at conferences around the country on topics such as the professionalization of graduate students, pedagogical strategies in the composition classroom, and the performance history of Restoration plays. Prior to joining Gwynedd Mercy University, Dr. Knauss taught at St. Joseph’s University and Manor College.