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 2021-22 academic year, 9 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.
Diana Betz, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted
Associate Professor of Psychology
Research Interests
I am a social psychologist studying stereotyping and prejudice. I have researched stereotypes’ effects on women’s self-views, consequences of telling prejudiced jokes, and predictors of effective conversations about prejudice.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- Psychology 418 and 419
- Social Psychology
Recent/Noteworthy Publications or Presentations
- Betz, D. E., & DiDonato, T. E.. (2020). Is it sexy to be sexist? How disparaging humor affects romantic attraction. Personal Relationships, 27(4), 732-759. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pere.12346
- Betz, D. E., Sabik, N., & Ramsey, L. R. (2019). Ideal comparisons: Body ideals harm women's body image through social comparison. Body Image, 29, 100-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.03.004
- Betz, D. E. & Ramsey, L. R. (2017). Should women be “All About That Bass?”: Diverse body-ideal messages & women’s body image. Body Image, 22, 18-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.04.004
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- Chairing the Psychology Department Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- Helping to plan Teaching Enhancement Workshops as part of the Committee for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), Grant-In-Aid, “Defensiveness and Self-Affirmation in Reactions to Information about Sexual Assault” ($2000), 2018
- Loyola University Maryland, Summer Research Grant, “The Roles of Social Comparison and Critical Media Assessment in Reactions to Diverse Body-Ideals” ($4000), 2017
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
The most rewarding part of my job is the intersection between scholarship and teaching. I study stereotyping and prejudice, and so teaching courses on those topics hardly feels like work at all. I am energized by students who are also passionate about this corner of psychology. I love discussing scientific findings and their relevance to current events and historical injustices. I also love the challenge of weaving these topics into less expected places, and the thrill of a student teaching me something I don’t know, knowing I’ll get the chance to pass along their wisdom to future classes.
Hung-bin Ding, Ph.D.
Promoted
Professor of Management
Research Interests
I am interested in family business and entrepreneurial activities in general. Some of my recent projects focus on family office, inclusion in family business, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- MG407 Managing Corporate Strategy
- MG402 Strategic Management
- MG709 Strategic Management
Recent/Noteworthy Publications or Presentations
- Ding, H.B., Trevenyo-Rodriguez, R.N, Hahn, K., and Gallo, M.A. (accepted) Creating Dynasties: Women Inclusion in Single Family Offices Around the World. in Rosa Nelly Trevinyo-Rodríguez & Miguel Ángel Gallo (ed.), The Power of Inclusion in Family Business, Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing.
- Sustainability in undergraduate business education: Developing young talents for our sustainable future (MED/ONE/SIM co-sponsored symposium in the 2020 Academy of Management Conference)
- Zhang, Jason, Q., Zhu, Hong, & Ding, H.B. 2013. Board Composition and Corporate Social Responsibility: An Empirical Investigation in the Post Sarbanes-Oxley Era, Journal of Business Ethics 114(3):381-392.
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- To Loyola: Chair, Diversity Designation Course, Equity and Diversity Fellow 10/2020-7/2021
- To Profession: Program co-chair, 2017 IFERA Global Conference, Taiwan 2016 - 2017
- To community: President and Co-founder, Taiwan Sister Cities Corp. 05/2020 - present
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- Taiwan Fellowship 2018, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
When I joined Loyola many years ago, the university was about to launch the “Magis” campaign. It means “more” or “better.” The campaign is long gone but I think we are indeed an institution living up to this aspiration of constant self-improvements. Many universities probably emphasize similar ideas, but we, the people of Loyola, really take it to heart and make serious efforts to improve in any possible way. We don’t always get things right the first time, but we learn from our mistakes and try again. It’s an ultimate learning by doing environment.
Jessica Locke, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Research Interests
I specialize in Buddhist ethics, social philosophy, and moral psychology, as well as cross-cultural philosophy.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- Asian Thought
- Justice and Mass Incarceration, co-taught with Rev. Scott Adams
- Buddhist Moral Psychology
Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations
- “The Teaching on the Causes and Results of Good and Ill” (legs nyes kyi rgyu dang ’bras bu bstan pa’i mdo), sūtra translation from Classical Tibetan with the Yangdar Translation Group (84,000 Project: Translating the Words of the Buddha, forthcoming in 2022)
- “In It Together: Theorizing Collective Karma through Transformative Justice (Journal of Speculative Philosophy, 2021)
- “The Groundlessness of Philosophy: Critiquing the Identity of a Discipline,” coauthored with David Peña-Guzmán(philoSOPHIA: A Journal of Transcontinental Feminism, 2021)
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- Faculty Evaluation Committee, 2020-present
- Equity and Inclusion Faculty Fellows, 2020-2021
- Faculty member of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative, 2014-2018
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- 84,0000 Project Translation Grant for the Yangdar Translation Group, Spring 2020
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Research Stay Grant for research at the Institut für Philosophie at the Universität Hildesheim, Spring 2020
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
As a product of Jesuit higher education myself, coming to Loyola in many ways felt like coming “home.” I am thrilled to be a part of an institution that centers care for the whole person and the mandate of being “men and women for (and with) others.” Educating students toward Ignatian citizenship is something I am honored to prioritize in my work, and I am grateful to have brilliant colleagues who practice transformative scholarship and pedagogy with such creativity and skill.
Theresa Nguyen, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research Interests
My current research uses lipid biochemistry techniques to find novel probiotic microorganisms capable of naturally lowering cholesterol levels. My lab was the first to show that actively growing M. purpureus, a fungi used to make red yeast rice and statin drugs, can remove cholesterol under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- CH/BL 431 - Biochemistry I
- CH 101/102 - General Chemistry series
- CH 434 - Biochemistry II Lab
Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations
- Nguyen, T.P.T.; *Garrahan, M.A.; *Nance, S.A.; *Seeger, C.E.; *Wong, C. (2020) Assimilation of Cholesterol by Monascus purpureus. J. Fungi. 6, 352.
*undergraduate researchers at Loyola
- Eisenberg-Bord, M, Tsui, H.S., Antunes, D., Fernández-del-Río, L., Bradley, M.C., Dunn, C.D., Nguyen, T.P.T., Rapaport, D., Clarke, C.F., and Schuldiner, M. (2019). “The Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Encounter Structure Complex Coordinates Coenzyme Q Biosynthesis.” Contact. 2, 2515256418825409.
- He, C.H., Black, D.S., Nguyen, T.P.T., Srinivasan, C., Clarke, C.F. (2015). Yeast Coq9 controls deamination of coenzyme Q intermediates that derive from para-aminobenzoic acid. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1851(9):1227-39.
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- Served as a faculty mentor to the student organizations Asian Cultural Alliance, the Society for Underrepresented Pre-Health Students, Sister-to-Sister, and the ALANA Mentorship Program.
- Wrote 381 recommendation letters for 236 student requests in 6 years, including 66 pre-health letters.
- Represented Chemistry & Biochemistry department in 13 open houses or majors exploration events.
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- Loyola Summer Research Grant (2016, 2019)
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
The scientist and teacher I am today was formed by my own Jesuit education. I remember what it’s like to find yourself supported and challenged by people who inspire and love you. I hope to continue being that for our students, celebrating each student as they become scientists led by integrity, rooted in wonder, and inspired by example to give back to society what they have received so abundantly at Loyola.
Meghan Page, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Research Interests
My work in philosophy of science focuses on the relationship between historical reconstructions of past climates and our ability to understand the present climate crisis. I also work in philosophy of religion where I use scientific conceptual frameworks to elucidate, extend or challenge prevailing philosophical models of concepts like faith and divine creativity.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- Philosophy and Science
- Environmental Ethics
Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations
- The Role of Methodological Actualism in Historical Science, Philosophy of Science
- Creativity in Creation, Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- First person to secure funding for dependent care stipends for workshop participants from John Templeton Foundation.
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- Building Foundations in Science-Engaged Theology, $1.4 million, John Templeton Foundation
- Visiting Fellow at the University of Notre Dame (South Bend)
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
One of the most rewarding things about working at Loyola University Maryland is the supportive community of scholars and teachers I am privileged to call colleagues. Not only has my teaching been positively shaped through learning the exciting and innovative practices of other instructors at Loyola, but given my interdisciplinary work, I am grateful for the excellent conversation partners I have found throughout the University.
Andrew Ross, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted
Associate Professor of History
Research Interests
My research lies at the intersection of urban history and the history of sexuality, with a particular emphasis on prostitution and homosexuality in nineteenth-century Paris. I am interested in the ways sexual practices deemed “deviant” nonetheless shaped urban life.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- Sex and the City
- Global Histories of Sexuality
- Making of the Modern World: Europe
Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations
- Public City/Public Sex: Homosexuality, Prostitution, and Urban Culture in Nineteenth-Century Paris (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2019)
- “Sex in the Archives: Homosexuality, Prostitution, and the Archives de la Préfecture de Police de Paris,” French Historical Studies 40.2 (2017): 267-290
- “Serving Sex: Playing with Prostitution in the Brasseries à femmes of Late Nineteenth-Century Paris,” Journal of the History of Sexuality 24.2 (2015): 288-313
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- Vice President, Western Society for French History (2022)
- Associate Director, Loyola University Maryland Honors Program (2021-Present)
- Interim Director, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Loyola University Maryland (2020-2021)
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- Honorary Mention, Eugen Weber Book Prize in French History
- Nomination for NEH Summer Stipend, Loyola University Maryland, 2020 and 2021
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
My students are the most rewarding thing about working at Loyola. Seeing them work out their views of the world, develop as writers and communicators, and consider their future plans makes entering the classroom an exciting adventure. I enjoy bringing new topics and themes to Loyola history classes, which help students work out the relationship between the classroom and the larger political and social world in which we work. The classroom, to me, is not a bubble separated from our community, but rather an integral space for becoming fully a part of it.
Jeremy Schwartz, Ph.D.
Promoted
Professor of Economics
Research Interests
My research focus is on labor economics, specifically the optimal design of unemployment insurance and business cycle dynamics. I have also leveraged my econometric and computational skills to explore rental housing regulation and the audit market.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- Economics of Race and Inequality
- Labor Economics
- Macroeconomic Principles
Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations
- Samuel, A., J.S. Schwartz, and K. Tan (2020). Licensing and the Informal Sector in Rental Housing Markets: Theory and Evidence. Contemporary Economic Policy.
- Schwartz, J. (2019). Job Competition, Human Capital, and the Lock-in Effect: Can Unemployment Insurance Efficiently Allocate Human Capital. B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics. 20(1).
- Samuel, A. and J.S. Schwartz (2019), Product market competition's effect on earnings management when audit quality is endogenous: Theory and Evidence. Review of Law and Economics. 15(3).
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee
- Chair of Diversity Sub Committee
- Assistant Baltimore’s Department of Housing in analyzing its new landlord licensing requirement.
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- 2019-22, High-Impact Practices Faculty Fellow, Loyola University Maryland
- 2016, Co-PI for Major Instrument Grant, National Science Foundation
- 2012, Early Career Research Grant, WE Upjohn Institute
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
The most significant aspect of life at Loyola is being part of a small close-knit community, working towards providing a high-quality liberal arts education. It is rewarding to work at a university where we can get to know our students on an individual basis inside and outside of the classroom. At Loyola, I am fortunate to work in an extremely collegial department where we assist each other in improving our teaching and research, and I am fortunate to work in a school and university where we all work together to continue to build upon Loyola’s successes.
Nicole Shoenberger, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted
Associate Professor of Sociology
Research Interests
I am generally interested in why people commit both deviant and criminogenic behavior. To examine this, I have focused on the application of criminological theories in explaining criminality, as well as, why individuals desist from crime.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- Sociological Analysis of Serial and Mass Murder
- Criminal Justice
- Juvenile Delinquency
Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations
- Publication: Shoenberger, N. (2021). Applying Routine Activity Theory: A Case Study of the Sonja Farak Drug Scandal. Journal of Social Sciences, 9(10), 118-129.
- Publication: Rosen, N. & Shoenberger, N. (2021). Words Speak Louder Than Actions: The Connection Between Gendered Language and Bullying Behavior. The Journal of Social Sciences, 9, 197-214.
- Presentation: Shoenberger, N. “Opportunity and Criminality,” Messina Common Text Panel, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD, September 3, 2021.
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
Baltimore community: Research mentor for a high school student enrolled in The Ingenuity Project at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. I get the opportunity to mentor advanced high school students in statistical methods.
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
The most rewarding aspect of my job is working with students in and outside the classroom. I have had the opportunity to work with multiple students on research projects, and I am always amazed at their curiosity and drive to seek answers for social issues that affect modern society.
Christopher Thompson, Ph.D.
Promoted
Professor of Biology
Research Interests
I study how cells interact with one another and their environment. Specifically, I am interested in how to augment our immune system and its interactions with bacteria as well as the role the bacteria could play in forensic entomology.
Favorite Courses Taught at Loyola
- Cell Biology
- Bioterrorism
Recent Noteworthy Publications/Presentations
- Christopher Thompson. Cutting-Edge Microscopy Systems as Remote Teaching and Research Tools for Undergraduate Students. 2021. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 22(1)
- Christopher Thompson, Joseph Sanchez, Michael Smith, Judy Costello, Amrita Madabushi, Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer, Rommel Miranda, Brian Gaines, Kathleen Kennedy, Michael Tangrea, and David Rivers. Improving Undergraduate Life Science Education for the Biosciences Workforce: Overcoming the Disconnect Between Educators and Industry. CBE-Life Sciences. 2018.
- Rachel Scheraga, Christopher Thompson, Mohan Tulapurkar, Ashish Nagarsekar, Mark Cowan, Ratnakar Potla, Junfeng Sun, Rongman Cai, Carolea Logun, James Shelhamer, Ishwar Singh, Irina Luzina, Sergei Atamas, and Jeffrey Hasday. 2016. Activation of Heat Shock Response Augments Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 Expression in Wounded Lung Epithelium. American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 311(5):L941-L955
Most Significant Service to Loyola, Your Professional, and/or Baltimore Community
- Director of the Microscopy Core Faculty
- Member of the Pre-Health Committee
- Honor Council
Grants/Fellowships Awarded
- Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (Maryland, Commerce Dept.) - $500,000 (2020)
- Major Research Instrumentation (National Science Foundation) - $273,698.00 “MRI Acquisition: Development of a Multi-Institution Microscopy Core Facility at Loyola
- University Maryland: Acquisition of a Confocal Microscope” (2012)
What is Significant or Rewarding about Loyola
I love the interplay of my teaching, research, and service. Being able to take topics from the classroom, expand upon them with novel research, and disseminate that information for the betterment of society is incredibly rewarding. Involving our exceptional students in each of those aspects while also helping them to navigate their paths through academics, ethical dilemmas, challenges, and opportunities is central to my personal mission and brings me great joy.
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