Meet the Instructors

Alexandra Varela has been an adjunct professor at Westminster College since 2015. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of New Orleans and received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Duquesne University. In addition, she has her NCC and LPC. Currently, she is a Psychotherapist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, along with being an adjunct professor at Westminster College and Duquesne University. Dr. Varela has given a few presentations in Florida and in Pennsylvania, along with a publication in the book Group work leadership instructor’s manual.

Alison Dubois has worked with children and adolescents across a number of environments ranging from therapeutic to educational for the past twenty years. She is currently the Director of the Graduate School at Westminster College. She teaches classes in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition, she has presented all over the country to educators and counselors about burnout, compassion fatigue, and trauma-informed care. Her research interests include the effects of trauma on a child's psychopathological development, the effects of burnout and compassion fatigue in education, and the effective treatment of challenging behaviors in the classroom. In early Fall of 2019, Dr. DuBois and Molly Mistretta, Ph.D. will have a book come out with Routledge entitled, Overcoming Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Schools: A Guide for Counselors, Administrators and Educators.

Charlene Endrizzi has been a professor at Westminster College since 1993. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Fresno Pacific University and completed her Ph.D. at the University of Arizona. She has also received her Reading Specialist Credential at Fresno Pacific University. In addition, Dr. Endrizzi has had a book published titled Becoming teammates: Teachers and families as literacy partners. Along with the book, Dr. Endrizzi has published many journal articles and book chapters, academic blogs/book dialogues, she has given many state conference presentations, state, local, and university conference presentations. She has also hosted numerous family literacy workshops with parents and professional development workshops. Her professional services include: conference proposals reviewer, board member, editor, reviewer, and panelist, committee work, education honor society advisor, program revision and review, and conference organizer.

George White has been an adjunct professor at Westminster College since 2012. He completed his undergraduate studies at Clarion State College, his graduate studies and his Doctor of Education at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. White has taught at Pennsylvania State University, Edinboro University, Slippery Rock University, and Clarion University before coming to Westminster. He is associated with the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum.

Gina Mackin has been an adjunct professor at Westminster College since 2018. She completed her undergraduate studies at Clarion University and completed her graduate studies in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, she is a qualified Licensed Social Worker and Clinical Social Worker in Pennsylvania. Currently, Gina is a President/Owner/Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Castle, Pennsylvania, along with being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Outpatient Therapist in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. Gina was also chosen for an Advanced Trauma Informed Care workshop. Along with this, Gina developed and presented at Autism Society of Americas National Conference on “Utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis Principles to Facilitate Social Skill Development in Adolescents.

Jennifer Toney has been an adjunct professor at Westminster College since 2015. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Gannon University and completed her Ph.D. at Kent State University. She has also earned her Certificate for K-12 Administration from California University of Pennsylvania. She has received a couple different licenses in Administrative I Principal K-12, Instructional II Early Childhood N-3rd, and Instructional II Elementary K-6th. Dr. Toney has written a chapter titled: Discovering and discussing tall tale elements through comics in the book Comic Connections. Also, Dr. Toney has given many different national presentations, state presentations, and local presentations ranging from Montana to Texas. Dr. Toney also belongs to the International Literacy Association, the Keystone state Reading Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, the International Writing Centers Association, and she is a Literacy Leadership Committee Member.

Karen Matis has been an adjunct professor at Westminster College since 2014. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Westminster College and completed her Doctor of Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has also earned certificates in Supervisory, Curriculum and Instruction K-12, Instructional II, Reading Specialist K-12, and Instructional II, Secondary English. Dr. Matis has received many honors, awards, and scholarships from: Alpha Alpha state chapter of DKG (three times), Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (twice), National Student Teaching and Supervision Conference, Industrial Information Institute for Education, Inc., Slippery Rock University, and Japan Fulbright Memorial Program.

Linda Domanski is an emerita professor at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania who is currently teaching as an adjunct in the School of Education and Graduate Department. She has nearly 40 years of experience in the fields of special and elementary education, teaching. In the fall of 1996, she came to Westminster College after completing her doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to 1996, she was an educator in local K-12 schools, serving students in both general and special education. Since then, she has taught Educational Psychology, Special Education Foundations, Assessment and Legal Issues, and both Low and High Incidence Disabilities to undergraduates, as well as teaching Human Development, Special Education, and Legal Issues and Assessment to graduate students.

Melinda Wise currently serves as a Part Time Counselor in the Wellness Center at Westminster College since 2018. She completed her undergraduate studies at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and her graduate studies in Master of Social Service Administration at Case Western Reserve University. She is also licensed in social work in Pennsylvania. She currently serves as a part time counselor at Westminster, as well as a counselor in Seneca, Pennsylvania. Melinda has also worked as a counselor in Grove City, Pennsylvania, as well as Hermitage, Pennsylvania. In addition, she has served as a Behavior Specialist Consultant and Mobile Therapist in West Middlesex, and an Mental Health Counselor and Drug and Alcohol Specialist in Grove City, Pennsylvania, as well as Erie, Pennsylvania.

Michele McClelland has been an adjunct professor at Westminster College since 2013. She has completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Michele serves as a School Counselor for Laurel Middle-High School and also as an adjunct professor at Westminster College. She previously was an adjunct graduate professor at Slippery Rock University, as well as a School Counselor. Michele is a member of the American School Counselor Association, the Pennsylvania School Counselor Association, the President of Lawrence County Secondary School Counselor Association, and the Pennsylvania State Education Association/National Education Association.

Dr. Patrick J. Mannarino has served as an adjunct professor at Westminster since 2014. He completed his graduate and undergraduate studies at Slippery Rock University. He received his Principal Certificate from Youngstown State University and his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh. Finally, he earned his Doctor of Education in Administration & Policy Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout his career, Dr. Mannarino has served as Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principal, and Assistant Principal at North Hills School District. He also held the position of Dean of Students and Assistant Athletic Administrator at Blackhawk School District. In addition, Dr. Mannarino is a member of numerous associations and programs outside of the schools, these include the A.W. Beattie Career Center, the Forum for Western Pennsylvania School Superintendents, the National Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, School Superintendents Association, and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.

Rene Pico has been an associate professor of science and English Language Learner methods for the School of Education, along with occasionally teaching graduate courses at Westminster College since about 2016. He completed his undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Pico worked at Carlow University for 17 years, as a STEM and ELL educator. Before working at Carlow University, Dr. Pico worked for the University of Puerto Rico as an educator in the Teacher Preparation Program. During his time at UPR, he moved to the Central Administration, where he served as Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator for the Scope, Sequence & Coordination Project (NSTA) and the Statewide Systemic Initiative (NSF).

Suzanne Semivan has been a professor at Westminster College since 2014. She completed her undergraduate and her Master of Education at Westminster, she completed her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Youngstown State University and completed her Ph.D. at the University of Akron. She also has her Ohio Professional Clinical Counselor License. Currently, Dr. Semivan holds her own private practice in Youngstown, Ohio. She also participated as a Clinical Services Outpatient Therapist, a Counselor/Director, an Internship Supervisor, a Case Manager, a School-Based Therapist, and an In-Home Family Therapist.