New Faculty

Credentialed as an LCSW and LMFT, Atwell’s areas of specialization include relationship therapy, grief/loss, and perinatal/postpartum mental health. Her research focuses on studying nontraditional forms of grief and loss related to the birth experience.

Bell is a retired air force officer whose interests include veteran issues, survivorship, palliative care, and geriatrics.

Dunkle’s research interests include adult learning, life-long learning, online learning, students with ADHD in the elementary classroom, and motivation theory. An army officer for 16 years, her NYS teaching certifications are in elementary education and secondary social studies.

Johnston’s primary research focuses on clinical education of physician assistant students and clinical dermatology; she teaches courses in Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Seminar.

Luppino-Gholston’s practice centers around community social work, non-profit administration, legislative advocacy, and women’s issues; she teaches courses in social welfare policy, organizational behavior, diversity and inclusion, and social work research methods.

Helen’s research focuses primarily on supports and services for children with autism and their families in China. She is also interested in parent/caregiver roles in special education both in the United States and China. In addition, she has conducted capacity building work in collaboration with special education programs in China for many years.

Tower is both an adult and acute care nurse practitioner, specializing in critical care with a surgical focus. Having 18 years of inpatient clinical experience, she will teach Advanced Health Assessment as well as Adult Gerontology Primary Care Practicum.