Welcoming New Faculty for the New Term

Elmira, NY (09/19/2019) — The new academic term is underway at Elmira College and, in addition to new students, the College welcomed several new faculty members.

Doc McAlister Billingsley joins Elmira College as an assistant professor of anthropology, following previous teaching experience at Southeast Missouri State University and Pomona College. He earned his Ph.D. at Washington University in St. Louis (MO) and his bachelor's degree at Millsaps College (MS), a small liberal arts college where purple was one of the school colors.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, but raised in Corning, New York, Robert Berger earned his Ph.D. in English literature in 2018 from Binghamton University (NY). He has taught various English literature and writing courses since 2013 and currently teaches college composition at Elmira. In his spare time, he enjoys running, travel, and spending time with his wife, Marina, and rescue chihuahua, Bran.

Susan Cagir received her B.S. in nursing from Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, and her masters in nursing from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY. Since 2006, she has worked at Arnot Ogden Medical Center teaching at the school of nursing, along with working per diem on perinatal maternal child health. For the past three years, she has assisted clinically in the maternal child nursing courses at Elmira College. A member of the Rho Gamma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing since 2005, she is now a board member of the chapter as well as a board member of Professional Nurses of The Twin Tiers.

Stephanie Johnson, instructor of inclusive special education, earned her bachelor's degree in elementary and special education and a master's of inclusive education from St. Bonaventure University (NY). She is currently working on her Ph.D. at the University at Buffalo (NY). Stephanie has experience teaching in rural, urban and international settings. Most recently, she was an adjunct professor at St. Bonaventure and University at Buffalo.

Alicia Tammaro, assistant professor of nurse education, graduated from Elmira College with a bachelor's degree in nursing. She earned her Masters of Science degree in adult gerontology nurse practitioner from the University at Buffalo (NY). Additionally, Alicia has extensive professional experience in pulmonary, cardiology and critical care.

Hannah Hammond holds an Master of Fine Arts in theatre pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University (VA) and a Master of Arts in musical theatre from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists. Professional credits include vocalist with Cirque Dreams, Paulette in Legally Blonde at Midtown Arts Center, Queen Victoria in Alice Formerly of Wonderland at the Wyoming Theatre Festival, and Lana Mae Hopkins in Honky Tonk Laundry at Millbrook Playhouse. Hannah recently moved to Elmira from Rome, Georgia, where she spent three years as a visiting faculty member in the Berry College theatre department.

Ralph Dennis Courtland joins the EC faculty as an assistant professor of finance. He earned his B.A. from Gettysburg College (PA), M.A. from Montclair State University (NJ), and M.S. from the College for Financial Planning. Ralph is a CFP® and taught finance as an adjunct at Marist College (NY), along with 23 years of experience at various Wall Street firms.

Erin Bela joins the EC faculty as an assistant professor of mathematics, teaching college algebra and precalculus mathematics. She completed her undergraduate work at Chapman University in Orange, California, and received her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame (IN) in 2018. Additionally, she spent the 2018-2019 school year teaching at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

Vicki Teribury, assistant professor of nurse education, earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Mansfield University and is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Wilkes University (PA). Her previous experience includes being a nursing supervisor at St Joseph's Hospital, over 9 years of teaching experience as faculty at Arnot School of Nursing, and as an adjunct clinical instructor at Elmira College and Corning Community College.

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