Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Lycoming College welcomes new faculty for the 2022-23 academic year

Lycoming College welcomes new faculty for the 2022-23 academic year

(standing l-r) Breton, Smith, Wilson, Gulden (sitting l-r) Weidman, Lawton, Rieck (missing Azriel, Donald, Wagner, Weaver)

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Lycoming College is pleased to welcome eleven faculty members to its community this fall, bringing with them extensive knowledge and experience in their fields. With ecocriticism on the theatre stage, operatic styles in the music hall, Anglo-modernism in literature, expertise in stellar evolution, and more, these professors will enrich the classrooms at Lycoming College.

“Lycoming College strives to provide a distinguished education that helps students realize a meaningful career and life experiences, and our faculty are central to achieving that goal,” said Philip Sprunger, Ph.D., provost and dean of the faculty at Lycoming College. “Their teaching and research expertise, as well as their ability to mentor students, will play a very important role as students navigate higher education. We wholeheartedly welcome our new faculty to campus this fall.”

New faculty members include:

Jay Azriel, Ph.D., is the Sloter Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship. He received a bachelor of business administration from Oglethorpe University, a master of business administration from The American University, and a doctorate from the University at Albany.

Ariane Breton is an instructional services librarian and assistant professor. She received a bachelor of arts from Bishop’s University and a master of information studies from the University of Ottawa.

Rebecca Donald is the director of library services and associate professor. She received a bachelor of arts from Northwest Nazarene University, a master of science in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master of arts in Christianity and contemporary culture from Trinity International University, and is finishing a doctorate in educational studies at Trinity International University.

Leslie Gulden, Ph.D., is a visiting assistant professor of theatre. She received a bachelor of arts from Fordham University at Lincoln Center, a master of fine arts in directing for theatre, video, and cinema from the California Institute of the Arts, and a doctorate from Texas Tech University.

Leslie Rieck, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of biology. She received a bachelor of science from Allegheny College and a doctorate from The Ohio State University.

Gary Smith is a lecturer of mathematical sciences. He received a bachelor of science from Bloomsburg University and has a master’s equivalency certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Phoebe Wagner is an assistant professor of English. She received her bachelor of arts from Lycoming College, a master of fine arts from Iowa State University, and is completing her doctorate at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Kent C. Weaver is a visiting instructor of music and interim director of choral activities. He received a bachelor of music from Westminster Choir College and a master of music in conducting from The Ohio State University.

Saadia N. Lawton is a visiting assistant professor of art history. She has a bachelor of arts from Clark University, a master of professional studies from Cornell University, a doctorate from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master of public administration from Baruch-Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

Sean Weidman, Ph.D., is a visiting assistant professor of English. He received a bachelor of arts from Westmont College and a master of arts and doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.

Emily Wilson, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of astrophysics. She received a bachelor of science from Franklin & Marshall College, a master of science from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and a doctorate from RIT.