FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sacred Heart University has awarded tenure to nine faculty members, seven of whom also earned promotions. In addition, seven additional members were promoted.
Jesse Bailey of Hamden, associate professor of philosophy: Bailey earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Texas-Austin, a master’s degree from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, N.M., and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. He teaches ancient philosophy and is the faculty advisor for the Philosophy/Religious Studies Club. Bailey’s research focuses on ancient philosophers and religion. Along with receiving tenure, Bailey was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.
Lori Bindig of Bloomfield, associate professor of communication and media studies: Bindig earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies, a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater and a master’s degree in communications from the University of Hartford. She received her doctorate in communications from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Bindig teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations, corporate communications and social media. Her research examines the intersection of media and youth culture, with an emphasis on femininity within consumer culture. Bindig’s critical analyses of popular teen television programs has led to the publications of her books, Gossip Girl: A Critical Understanding, Dawson’s Creek: A Critical Understanding and The O.C.: A Critical Understanding. She also has contributed to a number of books, most recently Back to School: Media Literacy, Graduate Educations and the Digital Age. Bindig was awarded the title of university fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition to receiving tenure, she was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.
Bronwyn Cross-Denny of Stamford, associate professor of social work: Cross-Denny earned her bachelor of science degree from Western Michigan University and her master’s degree and doctorate from Fordham University. She is also a licensed clinical social worker in Connecticut. Cross-Denny teaches courses in social work and human behavior. Her clinical expertise encompasses a variety of issues, including mental health, grief/loss, trauma, family issues, parenting and addiction. She is an editorial board member of Research on Social Work Practice JournalïSage Publications and the Society of Social Work Research. Her research probes social and economic justice, human diversity, social determinants of health, equitable mental and physical health care and addiction. Cross-Denny has received numerous awards, including an Innovative Teaching Award in 2015, SHU’s Dr. Marian Calabrese Outstanding Faculty Award in 2013 and SHU’s Faculty Excellence Award in 2012. She is co-chair of the Council on Radical, Ethnic and Culture Diversity for the Council on Social Work Education. Beside tenure, Cross-Denny received a promotion from assistant professor to associate professor.
Robin Danzak of Stratford, associate professor of speech-language pathology: Danzak earned her bachelor’s degree in art history/Spanish from New College of Florida, her master’s in linguistics from the Universidad de Concepción in Chile and her doctorate in communications sciences and disorders from the University of South Florida. Danzak teaches speech and language courses, with emphasis on school-age children and cultural diversity. Her research centers on bilingual language, literacy (writing) and identity of bilingual adolescents and adults; global service learning and college students’ intercultural development. In 2014, Danzak received the Fulbright Scholar Award to the University of Padua, Italy. Along with receiving tenure, Danzak was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.
Onoriode Ekeh of Milford, associate professor of theology and religious studies: Ekeh earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y., and obtained his master’s degree and doctorate in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Ekeh teaches theology and anthropology and is a member of the Bridgeport/Sacred Heart University Emergency Reserve Corps. His research focuses on theological interests in 20th-century Roman Catholic theology, theology of God/Trinity, Christian anthropology, eschatology and the intersections of theology and science. Ekeh is published in several journals, including Newman Studies Journal, Irish Theological Quarterly and The Heythrop Journal. In addition to achieving tenure, Ekeh was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.
Kenneth Knies of New Haven, associate professor of philosophy: Knies completed his undergraduate work at Brown University and earned his doctorate in philosophy from Stony Brook University. He teaches philosophy courses that focus on the close reading of canonical texts in the history of philosophy. Knies’ primary research concentrates on phenomenology with an interest in ancient philosophy and the differing approaches to transcendental subjectivity in the modern tradition. His current work studies the relationship between transcendental and historical reflection in philosopher Edmond Husserl’s book, Crisis, as well as a study on the nature of presuppositions. Knies most recent published works are Three Views of the One True World and What They Make of Mere Worldviews: A Husserlian Perspective on Weltanschauung and The Practical Obscurity of Philosophy: Husserl’s Arbeit der Probleme der Letzten Veraussetzungen. Along with receiving tenure, Knies was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.
Ciara Leydon of Stratford, associate professor of speech-language pathology: Leydon received her bachelor’s degree in economics from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, her master’s degree in speech language pathology from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and a doctorate in speech language pathology from Northwestern University. She teaches courses at the graduate and undergraduate level for speech language pathology. Leydon researches voice and voice disorders, vocal fold wound healing and vocal fold epithelium. She has been published in various medical journals, such as Journal of Surgical Research, Laryngoscope, Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, Journal of Voice and Journal of Communication Disorders.
Mary Yakimowski of Tolland, associate professor of educational leadership and literacy: Yakimowski received her doctorate in educational psychology with an emphasis on evaluation and measurement from the University of Connecticut. She teaches in SHU’s Department of Educational Leadership and Literacy program. Her research interests include urban districts, assessments, program evaluation, school improvement and strategic planning. Yakimowski has presented her work in regional, national and international venues. She has been an active member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and has received 13 AERA Outstanding Publication Awards in the assessment, program evaluation and accountability categories.
Seven other faculty members have been promoted. Jason Grimes, who teaches physical therapy and human movement science; Joslin Leasca, who teaches nursing; and Eric Scibek, who teaches exercise science, were promoted from clinical assistant to clinical associate.
Mark Beekey and Barbara Pierce, who teach biology; Richard Magee, who teaches English; and Christina Taylor, who teaches psychology, were promoted from associate professor to full professor.
PHOTO CAPTION: Professors who have been awarded tenure in 2017 are (from top left, each row reading left to right) Jesse Bailey, Lori Bindig, Bronwyn Cross Denny, Robin Danzak, Onoriode Ekeh, Kenneth Knies, Leanna Lawter, Ciara Leydon and Mary Yakimowski.
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About Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University, the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its main campus in Fairfield, Conn., and satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. More than 8,500 students attend the University’s five colleges: Arts & Sciences; Health Professions; Nursing; the Jack Welch College of Business; and the Isabelle Farrington College of Education. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its guides Best 381 Colleges–2017 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 294 Business Schools–2017 Edition. U.S.News & World Report ranks SHU among the best master’s universities in the North in its “Best Colleges 2017” publication. The Chronicle of Higher Education also names SHU one of the fastest-growing Roman Catholic universities in its 2016 almanac. Sacred Heart fields 32 Division I athletic teams and has an award-winning program of community service. www.sacredheart.edu
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