Westminster College Adds Six New Full-Time Faculty

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College recently added six new full-time faculty.

Dr. Kristin Butterworth, visiting assistant professor of chemistry, earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Geneva College and master's and Ph.D. in physical chemistry from University at Buffalo, State University of New York. She has experience as a teaching assistant and graduate researcher at the University at Buffalo. She participated in a research program in solid state chemistry and materials at University at Binghamton and was an organic chemistry student laboratory assistant at Geneva College. She can be reached at (724) 946-6299 or email.

John Garrison, assistant professor and assistant librarian, earned an undergraduate degree in history from the College of Wooster and a master's in library and information science from the University of Michigan School of Information. He comes to Westminster from the University of Michigan Taubman Health Sciences Library, where he conducted reference services, participated in research guide development, and designed and taught a workshop for the citation and abstract database Scopus. In addition, he has an undergraduate minor in Chinese and studied abroad in Xi'an, China.  He can be reached at (724) 946-7329 or email.

Tina Keller, lecturer of education, earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Messiah College and a master's in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in children's literature from Pennsylvania State University. She has taught second grade, third grade, ESL K-12 and adult ESL. Her area of expertise includes AIMSweb, rigor and relevance, standard aligned systems, differentiated instruction, reading apprenticeship, and response to instruction and intervention. Additional areas of expertise include progress monitoring, literacy, formative assessment, data driven decision making, children's literature, and common core standards. She can be reached at (724) 946-6034 or email.

Dr. Sararose Lynch, assistant professor of education, earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics and secondary mathematics education from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a master's in rehabilitation counseling and Ed.D in curriculum and instruction from West Virginia University. She comes to Westminster College from Allegany College of Maryland, where she taught as an adjunct instructor of mathematics for elementary education majors. She also has experience as a graduate assistant in the department of special education at West Virginia University and a disability coordinator intern at Fairmont State University. Her K-12 public education experience includes serving as a mathematics and gifted education teacher, emotional and behavioral support special education teacher and as a transition counselor at the Maryland State Department of Education. She can be reached at (724) 946-6039 or email.

Diana Reed moved from head teacher at the Westminster College Preschool Lab to lecturer of education. She has been with Westminster since 1990 and earned her undergraduate degree in communication arts/literature from Grove City College and a master's in teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. Reed, an early childhood education expert, has led 16 workshops throughout the region and written numerous articles for "The Giant Encylopedia of Science Activities." She can be reached at (724) 946-6039 or email.

Dr. Rena Zito, assistant professor of sociology, earned undergraduate degrees in sociology and psychology from the University of Rhode Island and master's and Ph.D. in sociology from North Carolina State University. She has experience teaching sociology and criminology courses at North Carolina State University. She co-authored "Early Victimization Theories," which was featured in The Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention. In 2003 she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island. She can be reached at (724) 946-6302.

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