Faculty - All Schools

Matt received his BA in English from Alma College, where he also played football and minored in biology. After college, he worked for two years as a technical and professional writer for the mortgage division of NBD Bank in Detroit, Michigan. Interested in the use of language, and its application within the corporate context, Matt decided to attend graduate school to pursue his master's and, eventually, doctoral degrees in English. At the University of Oklahoma, he studied American literatures (the plural usage is intentional) and creative writing, completing a creative master's thesis titled, "Thumbing through Detroit", which is a collection of short fiction and poetry. For the next five years, while completing his PhD course work in composition and 19th and 20th century American Literatures, Matt taught first-year composition and technical communication. These courses added depth to his training as a generalist, and prepared him for the variety of teaching opportunities he enjoys at Husson. Having taken his degree, Matt accepted a professorship at Lake Superior State University, teaching technical communication, world literature, Native American literatures, and creative writing. Looking for a change, he moved to Maine and accepted a professorship at Husson. At Husson, he teaches technical and professional communication, a variety of literature courses, creative writing, and first-year composition.

In addition to following a specific career path, I would suggest to a first-year student that she balance her ambition with a selection of course from other disciplines, pursuing, in this way, her curiosities and eccentricities. A college education should prepare a student to make informed decisions about a variety of important political and social issues; it should prepare her to be an active participant in political and cultural debates rather than passively accepting the opinions of others. Overall, I would suggest that a student never let herself be bored, never be swayed by the apathy of others.

Professor Plebani has worked for more than a decade in the field of mental health in both clinical and administrative positions in the service of children, adolescents and adults with psychiatric issues. Throughout his professional career, he has worked in settings as diverse as psychiatric hospitals, community-based treatment facilities and the Adolescent Reception Detention Center at Riker's Island Correctional Facility. He holds an undergraduate degree with dual concentrations in Psychology and Sociology from Drew University in New Jersey. His graduate studies were undertaken and completed at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, resulting in an advanced degree in Forensic Psychology. Professor Plebani is presently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Safety through Capella University. Particular academic and research interests include Criminal Profiling, Psychopathy, and the Psychology of Cults.

Apart from Professor Plebani's responsibilities as a faculty member in the School of Legal Studies at Husson University, he has served as a member of the Law Enforcement Oral Boards for the University of Maine, Holden, and Orono Police Departments. Additionally, he maintains an active relationship with the Maine Criminal Justice Academy as an off-site instructor for topics including Deviant Behavior, Mental Health and Crisis Stabilization and Law Enforcement Interactions with the Mentally Ill.

"Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not?'" - Robert F. Kennedy

It has always been my belief that learning is an intensive, life-long process. Within the classroom, I am an advocate of blending the academic and practical aspects of Criminal Justice. As students meet the eventual challenges of the professional world, it is of the utmost necessity that they can translate conceptual and theoretical material into real world application. My teaching style reflects a belief that higher education is a distinctly cooperative effort between students and faculty members that benefits the individual scholar, the school and the broader society in which all are imbedded. Therefore, I strive to provide an educational experience that challenges students to ask, "Why not?"

David Prescott taught as an adjunct professor at Husson for seven years before joining the University full time in 2011 as Director of Healthcare Studies. David attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine where he earned a B.A. with a double major in psychology and music. After an unsettled year living for brief periods on Martha’s Vineyard; Bristol, England; and Raymond, Maine he spent the next decade in the great Midwest, completing an M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Nebraska and a clinical psychology predoctoral internship at Indiana University Medical School. He worked for 17 years at Acadia Hospital, a psychiatric treatment facility in Bangor, as a psychologist, program director, and quality improvement director.

David has always found teaching to be among his greatest interests and passions. His areas of professional work have included improving the integration of primary care and mental health, improving healthcare quality and organizational performance, and the use of measurement and applied research in healthcare settings. His clinical interests include bariatric surgery, group psychotherapy, and treatment of schizophrenia. Husson’s Healthcare Studies major allows him to pull together these many areas of interest to help prepare the next generation of the healthcare workforce in an industry that provides endless academic and practical challenges.

Living in Hampden, with his wife Diana (also a psychologist) and 3 daughters, David also spends some of his time working for Hampden Psychological Consultation. An avid runner and not-quite-so-avid hiker, he spends what free time is left enjoying the many benefits of living in Maine.

Dr. Reed joined the School of Pharmacy, Husson University, as Professor & Chair of Pharmacy Practice on August 2, 2010. Immediately prior to this, Ron was in pharmaceutical industry research & development-scientific affairs for 9.5 years. He was an Associate Scientific Director of Neuroscience for the Abbott Global Pharmaceutical Research & Development. Prior to that, he spent approximately one year with GlaxoSmithKline.

Many years ago, Ron received his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati, and completed an ASHP-accredited residency in Clinical Pharmacy at the Cincinnati Veterans' Administration Hospital simultaneously with graduate school.

Ron began his career in clinical pharmacy hospital practice at the University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC), and after several years, switched to a full-time academic position, at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio. At Case Western Ron was an Assistant Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology and a Senior Instructor in the Department of Medicine (Pulmonary Division). He also served as Director of the Division of Clinical Research, Department of Neurology, CWRU, for 8 years, being Principal or Co-Investigator for over 80 clinical studies. Though-out his 22 year career at UHC/CWRU plus 9.5 years in the industry, Ron has authored/co-authored over 95 original manuscripts and abstracts in peer-reviewed medical and scientific literature. While with GSK, Ron was promoted to a national, ad-hoc "Train the Trainer" position. In 2004, he received Abbott's President's Award in recognition of his research work at Abbott. Ron has maintained long-standing memberships in many professional organizations, most notably including the American Epilepsy Society (AES), American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the College of Psychiatric & Neurologic Pharmacy (CPNP).

Ron is married to, Susan, BS, Chemistry, who is known for her masterful and creative house-working skills. He has three children: One daughter, Kaitlin, is a BSN RN (Cleveland, Ohio); his other daughter, Brittany, completed her PharmD degree recently and works at a local hospital in Cleveland; and son Brandon, MS, Aerospace Engineering, who claims that aerospace science has, "bigger, bad equations than anything pharmacists have seen in pharmacokinetics."

Ron spends any spare time reading history, studying chess, and playing with his devoted three Australian shepherds-- Piper, Bleu and Binx.

Dr. Dan Robinson was appointed in August 2010 as Fellow at Husson University as well as Professor of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy. Dr. Robinson also continues as Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy and Medicine at the University of Florida (UF) Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research where he founded the UF Family Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Service, UF Center for Computer Applications in Pharmacy, the Working Professional Doctor of Pharmacy (WPPD) Program, and Simkin Software Company. The WPPD program has graduated over 1200 Doctor of Pharmacy students in every state in the U.S. He also is a co-founder of the UF Center for Spirituality and Health. Dan served for 6 years as UF College of Pharmacy Executive Associate Dean.

Dan has published over 100 scientific publications and authored two healthcare books. He was named Teacher of the Year for the College of Medicine Family Practice Medical Group and has served as a Column Editor Editorial Board Member for Annals of Pharmacotherapy. Dan received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia in June 1969, his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati, and his Residency in Hospital Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacokinetics at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio in June 1975. Dan developed many internationally marketed programs for clinical pharmacokinetics, drug use evaluation, patient monitoring, nutritional assessment, and adverse drug reactions including a recent program for tracking patient medication adherence. The Simkin Clinical Pharmacokinetics Program served 525 hospitals for the purpose of individualizing each patient's dose of drugs with a narrow range between effectiveness and safety.

Dan enjoys honoring the sacredness in each person's life stories and goals so that each of us might enjoy a holistic integrated career and personal life. Dan began practicing and leading centering prayer within nature retreats in 1990 through the teachings of Thomas Keating. Dan completed a 3 year Franciscan Friar Ecumenical Program in June 2004 to become a Minister of Spiritual Direction for all faiths. Dan has led numerous men's and couples spiritual growth and life/career coaching retreats. He designed the introspection labyrinth for Sholom Park, Ocala, FL www.sholompark.org and has recently served on the Camp Weed Episcopal Retreat Board, the Florida Shade and Fresh Water Methodist Ministers Retreat Board, and the national Wounded Warriors Retreat Board. He is currently a board member for the Northeast Guild for Spiritual Formation (Bass Harbor, ME) and is Vice-Chair, Spiritual Directors International Coordinating Council. His goals involve a desire to serve others in the integration of spiritual care and health care through compassionate patient care, mentoring students and young faculty by helping each person identify their health care and career goals. Dan's passions also include leading pilgrimages to sacred places/thin spaces and designing distance education programs. He currently teaches Spirit within Life to occupational therapy and other health care professionals as well as an Individualizing Drug Dosage Design Course for 5th year doctor of pharmacy students. His clinical and research practice is at the Penobscot Native American Health Clinic, Indian Island of Old Town, Maine.
Dan's personal interests include hiking, kayaking, fly fishing, and golf.

Dr. Schwarcz received the Honors Bachelor of Science Degree with specialization in Athletic Training from York University, Toronto, Canada and the Master of Arts Degree in Physical Education with specialization in Athletic Training from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana. He completed the Certificate in Physical Therapy and the Ph.D. in Physical Education with emphasis in Adapted Physical Education, Sports Medicine, Anatomy and Exercise Physiology at the University of Iowa. Art went on to complete the Certificate in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Part I from the Norwegian Board of Examiners and has completed the course work for Part II. He is currently on the faculty of the Ola Grimsby Institute of Manual Therapy and taught for seven years in the Physical Therapy Program at Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is currently entering his fourteenth academic year as an associate professor in the Physical Therapy Program at Husson University. Art’s areas of teaching include musculoskeletal evaluation and therapeutic rehabilitation and advanced manual therapy courses.

Arthur Schwartz

Art's research is focused on the investigation of treatment techniques employed by orthopaedic physical therapists. Recent projects have examined the effects of eccentric exercise on joint range of motion and an exploration of knowledge and application in physical therapists of the specificity of exercise for tissue regeneration.

Recent Presentations

* Schwarcz, A. (2004). SI joint stability: Evaluation and treatment of muscular components. Ola Grimsby Institute's 13th Annual Competency Forum, San Francisco, CA, August, 2004.
* Schwarcz, A. (2004). To stretch or not to stretch? Myth vs. science. Ola Grimsby Institute's 12th Annual Competency Forum, Anchorage, AK, July, 2003.

Dr. Christine Selby received a Bachelor's of Arts in psychology from Carthage College (1992). From there, she pursued her combined interest in psychology and athletics (she was a competitive distance runner and still is an avid sports fan) by receiving a Master's of Science in Counseling and Psychological Services with an emphasis on Athletic Counseling from Springfield College (1994). Finally, Dr. Selby was awarded a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas (2000) where she minored in Marriage and Family Therapy and continued to conduct research in the area of Sport Psychology. She has taught at two different area colleges, including Husson, as an adjunct instructor since 2000 until the 2007-2008 academic year when she was hired as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Husson. Additionally, Dr. Selby works as a clinician at an area community mental health center where she works primarily with adults and has a specialty area in Eating Disorders.

Husson is a wonderful educational facility that offers a wide range of areas of study, but is small enough to allow for personal attention from professors if students avail themselves of that opportunity. My undergraduate education was at a college very similar to Husson and I still appreciate the opportunity I had to get to know my professors. One of my undergraduate professors became my professional and personal mentor and that relationship significantly influenced who I am, how I think, and my desire to teach. One of the most important things he attempted to instill in all of his students was the importance of self-examination ("The unexamined life is not worth living" ~Socrates). My own experience with self-examination (i.e., understanding who I am and why I do what I do) has led me to try to instill this skill in my students as it was instilled in me. I encourage my students, whether they are undergraduate or graduate students, to use what they are learning as an opportunity to learn about themselves. I frequently pose questions or statements to my classes about what they personally think about a topic area, how it might apply to them, or what their opinion is (including considering how they might vote in an election relevant to a topic area like assisted suicide). When we discuss "controversial" areas (e.g., Freud's theory of personality development, assisted suicide, etc.) I encourage students to put aside what they think they might know and allow for the possibility that our discussions just might change their minds - or at least get them thinking!

I also carry the value of self-examination to my work as a psychotherapist. Although there are varying degrees with which individuals are willing to or capable of engaging in this process, I encourage clients to at least think about what they are doing before they do it. For some this leads to further questions and areas of exploration and others become more intentional about their actions (rather than reflexive). For those who have an interest in becoming a mental health clinician, my theoretical orientation is eclectic. Eclecticism in this day and age is often considered "suspect" in terms of how a person practices eclecticism. I do not simply pick and choose from a "menu" of techniques. Rather, the theory behind my approach involves specific uses for the Person-Centered, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Psychodynamic approaches. In my opinion, this combination of approaches, used in an intentional and thoughtful way, allows for the greatest possibility of beneficial change.

I look forward to seeing you in class!

Ben is originally from England, where he completed his B.Sc. in Kinesiology. He received his M.A. in Motor Behavior and Biomechanics from the University of North Carolina and his Ph.D. in Motor Control/Learning from Penn State University. Prior to joining Husson, he was a Professor in the Kinesiology Department at Louisiana State University for eight years. He has an extensive research and consulting background in Motor Control/Learning and Biomechanics with over 90 published, peer-reviewed papers and abstracts. His current research focuses on the use of motor control and learning principles in treating clinical populations. Ben's areas of teaching expertise include Motor Control/Learning, Biomechanics, Anatomy, and Neuroscience.

At Husson, all P.T. students get the opportunity to engage in a rigorous scientific research project. If you're one of those people who like to ask "why" or "how" all the time, then Husson's the place for you.

Ben Sidaway

Ben has an extensive background in both applied and basic research in motor control, motor learning, and biomechanics. His current research focuses on the use of motor control and learning principles in treating clinical populations. In some of his most recent research, he has examined ways in which to improve gait and skill learning in people with Parkinson's disease.

Recent Publications

* Sidaway, B., Bates, J., Schlagenhaufer, J., Occhiogrosso, B., Wilkes, D. (2012). Interaction of feedback frequency and task difficulty in children's motor skill learning. Physical Therapy. 92(7), 948-57.
* Sidaway, B., Euloth, T., French, H., Piskura, M., Clancy, J., & Aide, A. (2012). Comparing the reliability of a trigonometrical technique to goniometry and inclinometry in measuring ankle dorsiflexion. Gait & Posture.
* Sidaway, B. Ahn, S., Boldeau, P., Griffin, S., Noyes, B., Pelletier, K. (2008). A Comparison of manual guidance and knowledge of results in the learning of a weight-bearing skill. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 32, 32-38.
* Sidaway, B., Anderson, J., Danielson, G., Martin, L., & Smith, G. (2006). Effects of long-term gait training using visual cues in an individual with Parkinson disease. Physical Therapy, 86:186-194. http://www.ptjournal.org/feb 2006
* Sidaway, B., August, R., York, R., & Mitchell, A. (2005). Effects of varying the frequency of intrinsic and extrinsic feedback on motor skill learning. Journal of Human Movement Studies.
* Sidaway, B., & Trzaska, A. (2005). Can mental practice increase the ankle dorsiflexor torque? Physical Therapy, 85, 1053-1060. http://www.ptjournal.org/oct2005
* Sidaway, B., Champagne, A., Daigle, K., Marcous, N., Nadeau, A., & Pelletier, E. (2004). The effect of cane length on the haptic perception of height. Disability and Rehabilitation, 24, 157-161.
* Cornwell, A., Nelson, A., & Sidaway, B. (2002). Acute effects of stretching on the neuromechanical properties of the triceps surae muscle complex. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 86, 428-434.
* Clark, R., & Sidaway, B. (2001). The influence of head orientation with respect to direction of travel during goal-directed walks without vision. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 42, 151-164.
* Cornwell, A., Nelson A., Heise G., & Sidaway B. (2001). Acute effects of passive muscle stretching on vertical jump performance. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 40: 307-324.
* Sidaway, B., Yook, D., & Fairweather, M. (2001). Visual and verbal guidance in the learning of a novel motor skill. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 40, 43-63.

Recent Presentations

* Sidaway, B., Bates, J., Schlagenhaufer, J., Occhiogrosso, B., Wilkes, D. Task complexity and KR frequency interact in children’s motor skill learning. Presented at the Annual NASPSPA conference, Honolulu, HI, June 2012. Published abstract: Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Vol. 32 (Suppl), 2012.
* Sidaway, B., Baughman, K., Jacques, S., Roundy, D., Stephens, R. Practice schedule effects in elderly individuals and in people with Parkinson’s disease. Presented at the Annual NASPSPA conference, Burlington, VT, June 2011. Published abstract: Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Vol. 31 (Suppl), 2011.
* Sidaway, B., McNitt-Gray, J. A biomechanical comparison of skilled and elite rugby kickers. Presented to Sportscotland, Murrayfield National Stadium, July 2009. Invited presentation.
* Kreider, C., Russell, D., Hale, B., & Sidaway, B.  The Influence of Surface Pattern on the Timing of Muscle Pre-activation in Landings. Presented at the Annual NASPSPA conference, Niagara, Canada.  June 2008. Published abstract: Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Vol. 28 (Suppl), 2008
* Sidaway, B. Are our athletes practicing the way they play? Transferring control and mechanics in motor skills.Understanding how skills are controlled: Implications for practice and transfer. Presented at the Scottish Institute of Sport’s inaugural High Performance Seminar. Edinburgh, Scotland. November, 2007. Invited key note address.
* Sidaway, B., Anderson, D. I., Matthew B, Chasse, J., Dunn, J., Govoni, A., McPherson, B., & Roy, K. The role of postural support in the control of kicking. Presented at the Annual NASPSPA conference, San Diego, CA, June 2007.
Published abstract: Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Vol. 27 (Suppl), 2007
* Chew-Bullock , T., Mayo, A., Schleihauf,  R. C., & Anderson, D. I., & Sidaway, B. One-legged postural stability predicts kicking velocity and accuracy. Presented at the Annual NASPSPA conference, San Diego, CA, June 2007.
Published abstract: Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Vol. 27 (Suppl), 2007
* Sidaway, B., Gordon, R., Hopkins, M., Kershaw, M., Maraen, C., & Wilkins, N. Random and blocked practice schedule effects on motor skill learning in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Presented at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting, Boston, MA, February, 2007.
* Anderson, D., Chew-Bullock , T., Kim, A., Mayo, A., & Sidaway, B. Do tests of one-legged balance predict kicking velocity? Presented at the annual NASPSPA conference, Denver, CO, June, 2006.
* Sidaway, B. Qualitative dynamics of behaviour: Insights into motor control from movement topology. Presented at the annual High Performance Seminar hosted by UK Sport in Birmingham, England, April, 2006. Invited presentation.
* Sidaway, B. Dynamic systems theory: A framework for the analysis of coordination in high performance athletes. Workshop conducted for physiotherapist and performance analysts working within the UK High Performance System. Sponsored by the Scottish Institute of Sport in Glasgow, Scotland, April, 2006. Invited presentation.
* Sidaway, B., Ahn, S., Boldeau, P., Griffin, S., Noyes, B., & Pelletier, K. A comparison of manual guidance and verbal feedback in the learning of a weight bearing skill. Presented at the annual NASPSPA conference, St Petersberg, FL, June, 2005.
* Sidaway, B., Russell, D., & Yook, D. Learning to reduce peak impact force during landings: The role of feedback frequency on kinetics and kinematics. Presented at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting, New Orleans, LA, February, 2005.
* Sidaway, B., Anderson, J., Danielson, G., Martin, L., & Smith, G. Changes in Parkinsonian gait as the result of long-term training with visual cues. Presented at the annual NASPSPA conference, Vancouver, Canada, June, 2004.
* Sidaway, B., Champagne, A., Daigle, K., Marcous, N., Nadeau, A., & Pelletier, E. The effect of cane length on the accuracy of height discrimination using haptic perception. Presented at the annual NASPSPA conference, Vancouver, Canada, June, 2004.
* Sidaway, B., & Robinson, A. Can mental practice increase dorsiflexion force? Presented at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting, Nashville, TN, February, 2004.
* Sidaway, B., August, R., York, R., & Mitchell, A. A comparison of intrinsic and extrinsic feedback frequencies in learning a motor skill. Presented at the annual NASPSPA conference, Savannah, GA, June, 2003.

With a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the Polish Academy of Sciences, Marek has done postdoctoral studies in Chemical Engineering at the California Institute Technology (as a Fulbright scholar), and Chemistry at Clarkson University. Marek was previously a visiting professor at the University of Kentucky and taught at Kentucky Wesleyan College and Brescia University. He was selected twice for Who's Who Among Americas Teachers. Marek is a member of the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers, American Association for Aerosol Research, American Chemical Society. He published over thirty papers on molecular processes involving very fine particles and interfaces.

When I moved to Maine, I became fascinated with marine environment, where atmosphere, land, and ocean converge. My professional interest has been attracted by such coastal aerosol phenomena as: fog, sea smoke, smog, haze and their health effects. My current research is devoted to microscopic phenomena playing an important role in natural cleansing of air by marine aerosols. I am a proponent of an active project-based science education; therefore my students have an opportunity to participate in research projects.

Rachelle Smith received both her B.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Maine, Orono. Rachelle teaches a variety of psychology courses and specializes in child development. Her dissertation centered on the development of recursive awareness of intentionality: The development of theory of mind across middle childhood. Her major areas of interest are cognitive, social, and emotional development and developmental biology. Rachelle has been the recipient of the Owen Aldis Award for her dissertation research and is a member of the International Society for Human Ethology and the Society for Research in Child Development.

As a new faculty member here at Husson University I am excited by the prospect of meeting and working with a diverse student population. I believe that to develop professional abilities, students must participate in the process and be active learners. This means that students must not only learn to listen, read, and write effectively, but also to think about new material and discover how it applies in their own lives. Psychology provides a wealth of opportunities for such self-exploration and I hope to assist students with this endeavor throughout my career here.