Jeff Larkin on Finding a Career in Nature—Meet Our Faculty

A summer job in college turned out to be more than a way for Jeff Larkin to earn some cash. It introduced him to a career in conservation biology. Learn more about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Crystal Machado on Being Picked to Teach—Meet Our Faculty

At first, Crystal Machado thought she should avoid teaching and should study business. But soon after earning her first college degree, she started listening to the voices that said otherwise. Learn more in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Veronica Paz on the Language of Business—Meet Our Faculty

For Veronica Paz, accounting is more than numbers at the bottom of a ledger. It’s a language that explains in great detail what happened and why. Learn more about her in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Justin Fair on Chemical Bonds—Meet Our Faculty

As a child, Justin Fair learned that chemistry has many practical applications, including in national defense. He used his knowledge to serve his country. Now he shares that expertise with students. Learn more in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Lydia Rodríguez on the Best of Both Worlds—Meet Our Faculty

She probably had no way of knowing it at the time, but Lydia Rodríguez’s childhood set her up for the career she now has. Learn more about this Department of Foreign Languages professor in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Alida Merlo on Learning by Teaching—Meet Our Faculty

Alida Merlo’s first job was as a juvenile probation officer, but her thirst to know more led her to a career teaching criminology at IUP. Learn more about the 2020-21 Distinguished University Professor in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Zach Collins on the Steady Climb to Proficiency—Meet Our Faculty

Zach Collins knows that nobody picks up an instrument for the first time and is a virtuoso. It takes time and consistent effort, and that’s what he enjoys about teaching. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Leo Yan on Answering Life’s Big Questions—Meet Our Faculty

Why are we here? What’s the meaning of life? These are questions Leo Yan tackles every day with students in the philosophy classes he teaches. Learn more about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Christian Vaccaro on Finding Your Purpose

Whether you know it or not, if you are curious about people, you are a sociologist. Christian Vaccaro turned his curiosity into a career in IUP’s Department of Sociology. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Geoffrey Tickell on the ‘Light-Bulb Moment’—Meet Our Faculty

For Geoffrey Tickell, a faculty member in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, the best part of teaching comes when students grasp something they had struggled with before. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Dan Lee on Diving into Criminal Behavior

Dan Lee enjoys a good crime story. But what really interests him is the motivation behind the crime, and he shares that enthusiasm for learning with his students every day. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Andrea Palmiotto on the Bones of a Career: Meet Our Faculty

It wasn’t until she got to college that Andrea Palmiotto found what she wanted to do with her life. Once she discovered anthropology, she made it her life’s work. Learn about her in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Charles McCreary on Learning Culture through Language—Meet Our Faculty

Charles McCreary began studying French when he was 12. Today, as a faculty member in IUP’s Department of Foreign Languages, he uses that knowledge to share cultures from other countries. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Zach Cheever on Finding Family through Music—Meet Our Faculty

Zach Cheever knows what it’s like to find your people. It happened when he first got involved in music, and it continues as director of the IUP Marching Band. Learn about him in this installment of Meet Our Faculty.

Annah Hill on Helping through Communication—Meet Our Faculty

Annah Hill always knew she wanted to be a helper. Now a faculty member in the Department of Communication Disorders, Special Education, and Disability Services, she shares that passion. In this installment of Meet Our Faculty, meet Annah Hill.

Julie Ankrum on Teaching the Next Generation of Teachers—Meet Our Faculty

Julie Ankrum started her career by teaching kindergarten. Now she’s teaching the teachers who might go on to work in elementary and high schools. Although the students she works with have changed, her passion for teaching literacy has not.