Faculty talks part of Wilkes installation

WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University will be showcasing five faculty members and their contributions during the Presidential Installation Week.

The Faculty Scholarship Showcase is one of the events planned for the installation of the institution's sixth president, Patrick F. Leahy.

Leahy will be installed as Wilkes' president during a ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday in the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre. The Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis., be the keynote speaker.

Faculty members from each of the university's academic departments will present written research presentations during the Faculty Scholarship Showcase at 3 p.m. Friday in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, Wilkes-Barre. The showcase is free and open to the public.

Gregory Harms, assistant professor from the College of Science and Engineering, and associate director of the Bioengineering Graduate Program, will present "Revelations Through Image Resolution: Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy and Sheet Illumination Microscopy." These techniques are necessary to the molecular understanding of life and disease. He will also offer a characterization of designs of new materials and systems.

Elizabeth Johnson, assistant professor from the School of Education, will discuss the rapidly growing trend of using quantitative methodologies and complex computer simulation studies in her discussion of "The Role of Statistics in Educational Research."

Justin Matus, associated professor in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, will present, "An Analysis of Technology Enhanced Pedagogy and Learning: Student Response Systems (Clickers) – Tool or Toy?" Matus's research stresses the importance of effectively using educational tools while implementing the latest instructional technology.

Diane Wenger, associate professor in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, inspired by early American culture and history, her presentation is titled "From Single Brother to Celebrated Snuff Maker: The Story Behind Demuth's Tobacco Shop."

Eric Wright, associated professor in the Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing, will be examining the relationship between not taking chronic medications as prescribed versus poorer health conditions and higher health care costs through his research "Improving Health Through Patient Engagement."