Loyola celebrates the attainments of its faculty members who were recently tenured and/or promoted, one of the most important career milestones in a faculty member's career.

During the 2022-23 academic year, 12 Loyola faculty members were tenured and/or promoted. Their accomplishments will continue to strengthen student learning experiences, and their scholarly contributions will continue to enrich human and universal understanding and experience.

The profiles of these distinguished faculty members, which follow, describe the faculty members' areas of expertise and give insight into their most significant and rewarding career dimensions.

• Amy Becker, Ph.D.
• Mavis Biss, Ph.D.
• Masudul Biswas, Ph.D.
• Tuugi Chuluun, Ph.D.
• Rebekah Eklund, Ph.D.
• Elizabeth Kennedy, J.D.
• John Peter (JP) Krahel, Ph.D.
• Megan Olsen, Ph.D.
• Rev. Jill Snodgrass, Ph.D.
• Ravi Srinivasan, Ph.D.
• Jennifer Watkinson, Ph.D.
• Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead, Ph.D.

Amy Becker, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Communication

Research Interests

My research focuses on four areas in the field of communication: (1) the effects of exposure and attention to political comedy and entertainment, (2) public opinion and citizen participation on controversial political issues, (3) new media and youth political engagement, and (4) public engagement with science.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• CM368: Entertainment, Media, and Politics
• CM203: Introduction to Communication 
• CM203T: Introduction to Communication (Messina Stories We Tell)

Recent/Noteworthy Publications or Presentations

• Becker, A. B. (2022). We like the boyfriend! The changing nature of political comedy, COVID-19, and interview conversations with Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mass Communication & Society, 25(1), 111-133. doi: 10.1080/15205436.2021.1921215
• Becker, A. B. (2021). Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Or is it? The effects of exposure to SNL parody on perceptions of The View. Journalism Studies, 22(8), 992-1009. doi: 10.1080/1461670X.2021.1910545 
• Becker, A. B. & Jones, P. E. (2021). Experience with discrimination, perceptions of difference, and the importance of gender conformity on support for transgender rights. Politics, Groups, and Identities, 9(5), 1051-1067. doi: 10.1080/21565503.2020.1743332

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Editor, International Journal of Public Opinion Research (2018-2021)
• Associate Department Chair, Department of Communication (2020-2022)

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Summer Research Grant, Research and Sabbatical Committee of Loyola University Maryland ($4,000 for Summer 2022 for a project entitled, “John Oliver as the (Un)likely pandemic fundraiser: Championing worthy causes and participation through satire”)
• Summer Research Grant, Research and Sabbatical Committee of Loyola University Maryland ($4,000 for Summer 2021 for a project entitled, “A Typology for the Study of Political Satire: A New Penultimate Framework”)
• Enhancing Classroom Teaching: Conferences Grant from the Center for the Humanities at Loyola University Maryland ($1,500 for Summer 2020 travel to AEJMC)

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

I really appreciate Loyola’s commitment to social justice, it’s focus on cura personalis, and the engaged community created among faculty, staff, and students. Loyola respects academic freedom and the pursuit of engaged scholarship all the while emphasizing innovative teaching and ongoing professional development in the classroom. I appreciate that my service to Loyola and also to my field and broader community is purpose driven and respected and valued by the university.

Mavis Biss, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Philosophy

Research Interests

Mavis Biss specializes in Kantian ethics and conceptions of moral creativity. Her current work focuses on moral self-development.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• Environmental Ethics
• Kant’s Revolutions
• “Truth, Love and Happiness: The Promises of Ancient Philosophy” (my version of PL201)

Recent/Noteworthy Publications or Presentations

• “Friendship, Trust and Moral Self-Perfection,” Philosophers’ Imprint vol. 19, no. 50, pp. 1-16, 2019.
• “Positive Morality and the Realization of Freedom in Kant’s Moral Philosophy,” European Journal of Philosophy vol. 27 (3), pp. 610-624, Sept. 2019 
• “On Trying Too Hard: A Kantian Interpretation of Misguided Moral Striving,” Journal of Philosophy of Education vol. 55, no. 6, pp. 966-976, 2021.

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Chair of the Committee for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning 
• Member of the Board of the Eastern Division of the North American Kant Society 

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• CFH Team-Teaching Grant (with Kerry Boeye, 2019) 
• CIC Institute Curricular Innovation Grant (2021)

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

I had the pleasure of sitting on stage at Loyola’s 2022 commencement ceremony, where I had a front row seat to the beautiful parade of new graduates. I was able to share a smile with the student who had given me a key with the word “INSPIRE” engraved on it at the end of her first philosophy class. I will never get tired of inspiring student with ideas. 

Although most of my scholarship is completed in solitude at my desk at home or in collaboration with members of my research groups who live in other cities and countries, some of my biggest cheerleaders are my colleagues at Loyola. It is a joy to have colleagues down the hall who read my works in progress and help celebrate my finished products. 

Masudul Biswas, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Communication

Research Interests

I have a wide range of research interests in media and communication. Majority of my recent studies are focused on diversity and representation in news media and diversity in communication and journalism education.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• Web I
• Stereotypes in U.S. Media
• Senior Capstone in Digital Media

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• Biswas, M., King, E., Newton, A., & Nguyen, N. (2022). Addressing diversity across communication curriculum: A case study. Teaching Journalism & Mass Communication, 12(1): 24 – 35.
• Biswas, M., Sipes, C., & Brost, L. (2021). "An analysis of general-audience and Black news sites’ coverage of African American issues during the COVID-19 pandemic." Newspaper Research Journal, 42(3):397-415. doi:10.1177/07395329211030625
• Biswas, M., and Kim, N. Y. (2020). "African-American Online Newspapers' Coverage of Policy Debate on the Affordable Care Act in 2017." Newspaper Research Journal, 41(3): 349 - 367.

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Inclusion & Equity Faculty Fellow in 2021 – 22. 
• Center for the Humanities Grant for Student Research Assistant in Spring 2022.

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

Loyola University Maryland allowed me to pursue my passions for three Ds – diversity, digital media and development. I am thankful to my students, colleagues and academic leadership at Loyola who have created a supportive environment for me to be innovative with teaching of inclusion in classrooms and to pursue my interests in ethnic news media research and a curriculum geared toward global development. Sabbatical in fall 2020, even during the pandemic, was very helpful for my research, which later became one book project under-contract and multiple peer-reviewed publications. I also was able to expand my leadership experience by leading program-wide initiatives in curriculum development and assessment. 

Tuugi Chuluun, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Finance

Research Interests

My research broadly focuses on the areas of corporate finance and international finance. More importantly, my research is interdisciplinary and centers on two main themes of networks and subjective wellbeing (i.e., happiness economics).

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• Global Financial Management
• Junior Analyst Class

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• “International Financial Management,” 9th edition (with Cheol Eun and Bruce Resnick), international finance textbook published by McGraw-Hill.
• “How White is the Global Elite? An Analysis of Race, Gender and Network Structure” (with Kevin Young, Seth Goldman, and Brendan O’Connor), Global Networks, 2021
• “Comparative Well-being of the Self-Employed and the Employed in the U.S.” (with Panka Bencsik), Small Business Economics, 2019

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Advising and mentoring students as an academic advisor, faculty moderator of the Financial Management Association’s Loyola Chapter, and advisor of the Path to Wall Street track
• Serving on the board of the Chartered Financial Analyst Society Baltimore in various roles since 2013, including its President during 2017-18. 

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Loyola University Maryland and Sellinger School Summer Research Grants

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

As an educator, scholar, and lifelong learner, I am fortunate to have been afforded opportunities at Loyola to grow and excel in teaching, research, and service and integrate them. This ability to interlace teaching, research, and service is what makes Loyola special.

Rebekah Eklund, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Theology

Research Interests

The four Gospels; the “reception history” of the New Testament (how biblical texts have been interpreted and applied throughout history; how sociocultural setting shapes interpretation and vice versa); and the Gospels and ethics.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• TH 362 Hope, Death, and the End of the World
• TH 244 Forgiveness and Reconciliation
• TH 306 Character Ethics: Becoming Good

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• The Beatitudes through the Ages. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2021.
• Practicing Lament. Cascade Companions series. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2021.
• “Octaves and Septenaries: Patristic Approaches to the Beatitudes in Medieval Life.” Studia Patristica 105 (2022): 79–94.

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• 2020–2023 Chair, Theology Department, Loyola University Maryland
• 2020–2021 Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Full-Time Non-Tenure Track Faculty Status
• 2019–2020 Co-Chair, Committee on the Enhancement of Teaching, Loyola University Maryland

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Summer Research Grant, Loyola University Maryland, 2020 (deferred until 2021)
• Summer Research Grant, Loyola University Maryland, 2019

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

Elizabeth Kennedy, J.D.

Promoted

Professor of Information Systems, Law and Operations

Research Interests

My research focuses on the advancement of workers’ rights and racial equity in the context of economic, social, technological, and climate change.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• Law, Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility
• The Legal Environment of Business 
• Ethics for Accounting Professionals

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• Equitable, Sustainable and Just: A Transition Framework, ARIZONA LAW REVIEW (2022)
• Can Data Drive Racial Equity? MIT SLOAN MANAGEMENT REVIEW (2021)

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• The Black Brain Trust (Baltimore), Peer Review Team
• Phi Beta Kappa, Epsilon of Maryland Chapter President
• Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Sellinger Summer Research Grant 
• CCSJ Community-Engaged Research Grant

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

The Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. described our world as one “with great global promises and countless tragic betrayals.” As a member of the Loyola faculty, I am privileged to be a member of an academic community in which we, along with our students, analyze, debate, and discern those promises, betrayals, and possibilities for individual and collective change. 

John Peter (JP) Krahel, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Accounting

Research Interests

I research social media risk and accounting standards.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• BH 200
• AC 201 (the honors and regular sections of Intro Financial Accounting)
• Independent Studies

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• Social Media and Enterprise Risk, with Brett Considine, Margarita Lenk, and Diane Janvrin. 2020. Strategic Finance.
• Continuous Risk Monitoring and Assessment: New Component of Continuous Assurance, with Daehyun Moon. 2020. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting.
• Social Technology: An Integrated Strategy and Risk Management Framework, with Brett Considine, Margarita Lenk, and Diane Janvrin. 2018. Journal of Information Systems.

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• I launched our VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) clinic at the Loyola Clinical Centers, teach financial literacy to both Loyola students and underprivileged youth, and have made over 75 TV, print, and web appearances.

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

Teaching is my heart. Getting published is nice, sure, but to know that you’ve changed the trajectory of someone’s life for the better through daily interactions, to know that your knowledge and guidance have made the world a brighter place for someone… That’s the magic. 

Megan Olsen, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Computer Science

Research Interests

My research focuses on improving modeling and simulation via improved validation, model development processes, and calibration. My goal is to enable researchers in other fields to be able to build more effective models so that they can study the pressing questions in their fields successfully.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• First course in the computer science major (CS151)
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CS484/CS737)
• Computer Science Capstone (CS496)

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• M. Olsen and H. Siegelmann. Multiscale Agent-based Model of Tumor Angiogenesis. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computational Science. July 2013.
• M. Olsen, M. Raunak. Increasing Validity of Simulation Models Through Metamorphic Testing. IEEE Transactions on Reliability. 68(1):91-108. March 2019.
• M. Olsen, M. Raunak. Quantitative Measurements of Model Credibility. Modeling Engineering for Simu-lation. L. Zhang, B.P. Zeigler, Y. LaiLi (editors). Elsevier, 2019.

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Computer Science department chair (2020-present)
• CPaMS Scholars Director (2018-present)
• Aspirations in Computing Maryland Affiliate founder and coordinator (2012-present), and member of national Aspirations in Computing Advisory Council (2017-2020)

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• NSF MRI (2016) titled "MRI: Acquisition of a Computing Cluster to Enable Transformative Research across Disciplines"- $280,120
• Baltimore Family League Grant for summer programs for Baltimore youth for Camp BaltiCode, in conjunction with Notre Dame of Maryland University (2016) - $4650
• NSF S-STEM for CPaMS Scholars program (became PI in third year of program, in 2018) - $565,495

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

Rev. Jill Snodgrass, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Theology

Research Interests

As a practical theologian and interdisciplinary scholar of the social sciences and humanities, particularly psychology and theology, my research focuses on spiritual care and counseling with traditionally marginalized populations. Most of my research utilizes qualitative research methods to uncover the lived experiences of spirituality and religion among traditionally marginalized populations, including female returning citizens (post-incarceration), Catholic women post-abortion, LGBTQ+ survivors of Christian nonsexual spiritual abuse, and more.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• TH 271D Spiritual and Theological Perspectives on Suffering
• TH 391D Class and Poverty in Bible, Theology, and the Real World
• TH 393D Theological Foundations of Social Justice

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• Carleton, T. C., & Snodgrass, J. L. (2023). Moral injury after abortion: Exploring the psychospiritual impact on Catholic women. Routledge.
• Snodgrass, J. L. (2019). Women leaving prison: Justice-seeking spiritual support for female returning citizens. Lexington Books. 
• Snodgrass, J. L. (Ed.). (2019). Navigating religious difference in spiritual care and counseling: Essays in Honor of Kathleen J. Greider. Claremont Press. 

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Faculty Representative for Graduate Programs to the Loyola Conference and Budget Committee
• Member, Pre-Health Committee at Loyola University Maryland
• Clinical Director, Center for Spiritual Support Training at Greater Baltimore Medical Center
• Former Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, Society for Pastoral Theology

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Taking Responsibility Grant, 2021-2022 ($40,000), Fordham University, Bronx, New York, Gina M. Magyar-Russell, Joe A. Stewart-Sicking, Rodney L. Parker, and Martin J. Burnham, grant collaborators
• Mission Advance Program (MAP) Grant, 2019-2020 ($15,000), ACPE (The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education), Atlanta, Georgia, Russell Siler-Jones, grant collaborator

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

In my life I strive to practice the wisdom of the prophet Micah, to “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). Working at Loyola University Maryland, a Jesuit, Catholic institution, has enabled me to practice this ethic within my teaching, research, and service. I am honored to journey alongside students and colleagues, of myriad religious locations, who are also committed to seeking justice and living with compassion. Serving in both the Pastoral Counseling and Theology Departments enriched my life as a scholar-activist in unique ways for which I am grateful.

Ravi Srinivasan, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Information Systems, Law and Operations

Research Interests

Innovation, Risk management and IT/SCM Linkages

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• OM330 – Operations and Supply chain Management
• OM334 – Global supply chain management
• GB701 – Operations Management and Process Strategies

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• Srinivasan, R., Jha, A. K., & Verma, N. K. (Forthcoming, 2022). To talk or not?: An Analysis of firm-initiated social media communication's impact on firm value preservation during a massive disruption across multiple firms and industries. Decision Sciences, 00, 1– 22.
  Srinivasan, R., Choo, A., Narayanan, S., Sarkar, S., & Tenhiälä, A. (2021). Knowledge sources, innovation objectives, and their impact on innovation performance: Quasi-replication of Leiponen and Helfat (2010). Strategic Management Journal, 42 (11), 2104– 2136.
  Choo, A., Narayanan, S., Srinivasan, R., & Sarkar, S. (2021). Introducing goods innovation, service innovation, or both? Investigating the tension in managing innovation revenue streams for manufacturing and service firms. Journal of Operations Management, 67(6), 704-728. 2022 Jack Meredith best paper award.

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Member – Loyola Conference, Budget committee and Executive committee on Governance
• Sellinger assembly chair
• Board member – Rebuilding Together Baltimore

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Sellinger summer research grant – 2018, 2022

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

I started at Loyola in 2012, and it continues to be a great place to work! The intellectual discussions with fellow faculty members, the continuing support to pursue scholarship, and an opportunity to teach bright and motivated students that call Loyola their home and alma mater make everyday fun and exciting! After serving on committees at various levels, I am convinced that the administrators are thoughtful and deliberate in their actions and are committed to making Loyola a sought-after place for students and a great place to work for faculty and staff. I am happy to call Loyola my home.

Jennifer Scaturo Watkinson, Ph.D., LCPC

Promoted

Professor of Education Specialties

Research Interests

At its core, my research attends to school counselor practice with current publications and circulated works addressing three areas: transformative leadership, school counselor preparation, and professional advocacy. I am engaged in a new research interest related to youth mental health, particularly examining student athletes’ experience in the college recruiting process.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• GC700 Introduction to School Counseling
• GC810 School Counselor as Leader
• GC701 Techniques in Counseling

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• Watkinson, J.S., Cicero, G. & Burton, E. (2021). Addressing anxiety: Practitioners’ examination of mindfulness in supervision. The Professional Counselor, 11(4), 459-474. doi:10.15241/jsw.11.4.459
• Shi, Q. & Watkinson, J.S., (2019). English language learners and school belonging: Implications for School Counselor Practice. Professional School Counselor, 22 (1a) 54-62 doi:10.1177/2156759X19834442
• Watkinson, J.S., Goodman-Scott, E., Martin, I & Biles, K. (2018). Phenomenological study of counselor educators’ experiences preparing pre-service school counselors. Counselor Education and Supervision, 57, 178-193 doi: 10.1002/ceas.12109

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Program Director of School Counseling
• Chair, SOE Faculty Council
• Editorial Review Board Member, Professional School Counselor

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• Watkinson, J. S. & Harford County Public Schools
  Principal Investigator. Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP)
  1.1 million – funded, 2013

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

I love my colleagues and students.

Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead, Ph.D.

Promoted

Professor of Communication

Research Interests

I believe that we have a responsibility to address and try to answer some of the most urgent questions facing our society today around economic, social, and medical injustice; racism and white supremacy; and, about the legacy and history of slavery. My research interests lie directly at the intersection of these questions.

Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola

• CM317 Social Media for Social Justice, Developed as a Diversity Course focusing on social justice (Originally offered as CM385 Black Lives Matter)
• CM385 Black Lives Matter, Special Topics Course that was designed as an interdisciplinary communications seminar.
• CM330D (formerly CM385D), Stereotypes in U.S. Film and Television, Diversity course Part of the African American and African history minor

Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations

• 2022 “Historical Trauma: Past Pains, Future Promise,” Black History Bulletin 85 #2 (2022)
• 2021 “It’s Mourning in America: Feminists Reflect on the Incredible Loss of Our Sista bell hooks,” Ms. (December 2021)
• 2021 “Never Postpone a Good Work,” Conversations in Jesuit Higher Education 60 (September 2021): 2-7.

Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community

• Loyola: Founding Director, The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore MD
• Community: Radio Host, Today with Dr. Kaye, WEAA 88.9 FM, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
• Profession: 2020-22 National President, National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA)

Grants/Fellowships Awarded

• 2022 PNC Bank, The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice Backpack Journalism Program for City Neighbors High School, $25,000
• 2022 Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB), Karson Institute’s Education Fellows Program, $3000
• 2022 Exelon Corporation, The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice’s Peace Symposium, $3000

What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola

My Nana once said that there are some days where you end up exactly where you chose to be and other days you end up just where you are. Thirteen years ago, I chose to come to Loyola and start my academic career. Along the way, I have been challenged to think deeper about who I am and who I want to be. It has been a rewarding experience and outside of meeting students and helping them along way, the most important part has been working with my colleagues to found and launch The Karson Institute for Race, Peace, & Social Justice.

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