The College of Education and Human Development proudly welcomes eleven faculty members for the 2019-2020 academic year. With research interests ranging from improving technology use in the classroom to the intersection of institutional effectiveness and student success, these faculty members are poised to make an impact in the College of Education and Human Development and across Temple University. Get to know them by reading their biographies below.
Crystal Austin, PhD
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Counseling Psychology
Dr. Austin received her PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Albany. She previously completed a doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship in Health Service Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and was an adjunct professor at Temple's College of Education and Human Development. Austin's research interests include exploration of intersecting identities, biracial identity experiences, race-based traumatic stress, and family of origin dynamics.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Austin:
"In research, teaching and training, I strive to approach participant, student and client care holistically and in a way that exercises cultural humility, curiosity, and respect. I believe that openness and flexibility is important to critical thinking overall, and particularly when learning about inherently imperfect theories in social science. Therefore, I encourage students to be aware of their biases and remain open to learning about all theories in order to be critical thinkers when constructing their personal philosophies of psychology."
Interesting Fact:
A true NYC person at heart, Austin does not have a driver's license.
Clymer Bardsley, JD
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Adult and Organizational Development
Prior to joining the College of Education and Human Development, Clymer Bardsley had an expansive career as an instructor at Teachers College at Columbia University and as an attorney. He received his JD in Law from Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law. Bardsley's research interests encompass psychology and the neuroscience of conflict.
What Students Can Learn from Professor Bardsley:
"Students can learn that at work and at home and out on the street if we have the skills to engage others constructively and with kindness and generosity, we can actually accomplish anything."
Interesting Fact:
Bardsley is a devoted Grateful Dead fan. Yes, a Dead Head.
Assistant Professor of Research, Special Education and the Institute on Disabilities
Dr. Burke received her PhD in special education with a minor in research design and analysis from the University of Kansas. Prior to receiving her doctorate, she was an elementary special education teacher in Philadelphia for several years. Her research interests include self-determination for students with and without disabilities and strengths-based inclusive education.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Burke:
"My goal is to support current and future teachers to utilize evidence-based practices for instruction while creating opportunities for students to develop skills associated with self-determination (for example, choice-making, decision making, problem-solving, and goal setting and attainment). When teaching, I strive to model the approaches I hope my students will utilize in their practice."
Interesting Fact:
Burke's dog, Harry, is named after her favorite movie, When Harry Met Sally.
Elizabeth Diamond, PhD
Associate Professor of Practice, Career and Technical Education
Dr. Diamond joins the College of Education and Human Development after receiving her PhD in career and technical education from Auburn University. Her research interests revolve around innovativeness and improving technology use in the classroom and industry credentialing of students while in high school.
What Can Students learn from Dr. Diamond:
"What I want my students to learn from me is the love for life-long learning. No matter who you are or what you do or don't do, being willing to and actually seeking out learning and education, about anything, and being open to new ideas, will only lift a person up."
Interesting Fact:
In addition to education, Diamond has a background in agriculture.
Jennifer Johnson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Higher Education
Dr. Johnson earned her PhD in higher education, student affairs, and international education policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. Johnson is an active scholar-practitioner in the fields of college access and student retention. A former Philadelphia middle school teacher with a background in science and mathematics, she spent several years working as a counselor and advisor for college access and success programs. Her research interests include pre-college access programs, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, and high-achieving students of color.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Johnson:
Given her experience as a higher education administrator and faculty member, students can learn about how to engage deeply in research in ways that inform the daily practice of higher education.
Interesting Fact:
Johnson is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Di Liu, EdD
Assistant Professor of Instruction, TESOL
Before joining Temple's College of Education and Human Development, Dr. Liu spent time at Boston University working toward his doctoral degree in developmental studies with a concentration on language and literacy and working as a lecturer. His current research interests include the cross-linguistic comparison of prosody (commonly referred to as the music of language), the cognitive influence of L1 and L2 prosody, as well as technology-enhanced language learning.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Liu:
"I have been dedicated to promoting equity and diversity in the academic society. With my multicultural and multilingual background, I would like to help our students gain a global vision. I would also like to cultivate students' ability to create a diverse classroom."
Interesting Fact:
Liu can sing "the wheels on the bus", his son's favorite song, for hours with different melodies.
Joseph Paris, EdD
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Higher Education
Dr. Paris joins the College of Education and Human Development faculty full time after serving as the college's Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Marketing and teaching as an adjunct professor. He received his PhD in higher education leadership from Temple University. Paris' research interests explore the intersection of institutional effectiveness and student success with a particular focus on college admissions processes, strategies, and policies.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Paris:
"My students can expect to learn about how institutions of higher education work and their critical role in promoting access and affordability in higher education. They'll gain insight into the organizational structures and theories that undergird the work of higher education institutions and professionals. I draw upon my professional experience and academic background to provide students with the knowledge they need to effectively implement what they learn in their place of employment."
Interesting Fact:
Paris used to be a vocalist for a heavy metal band and is an avid home brewer. He has also written scores for several short films, including a western.
Charles Price, PhD
Associate Professor, Adult and Organizational Development
Price received his PhD in anthropology from the City University of New York Graduate School. Before joining the faculty at the College of Education and Human Development, Dr. Price was a faculty member at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for 16 years. His research focuses on identity formation, life narrative genres, action research, community organizations and community organizing, people-centered community development, and social movements, with a geographic concentration on the United States and Jamaica. Price explores some of his research interests in his book, Becoming Rasta: The Origins of Rastafari Identity in Jamaica, and other publications.
What Can Students learn from Dr. Price:
"Students will learn from me how to think and talk intelligently about race, how to conceptually, theoretically, and practically approach community-based work, how to design and complete a qualitative research project focused on a person's life experience, and how to work collaboratively as teams composed of diverse individuals."
Interesting Fact:
During Price's youth, he made a living through farm work-including migrant farm work.
Jessica Reinhardt, PhD
Associate Professor of Practice, Human Development and Community Engagement
After serving as the Director of Clinical Experiences, Educational Services Clinic Director and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Denver, Dr. Reinhardt joins the College of Education and Human Development's faculty. She has a PhD in child, family, and school psychology from the University of Denver and her research interests are in graduate training, neurodevelopmental disorders, exercise as an adjunct treatment in childhood disorders and school mental health counseling.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Reinhardt:
"Students will learn how to have a courageous and reflective practice—to regularly and honestly appraise your skillset, identify areas of strength and areas needing development, and have the flexibility to meet the needs of our clients and the courage to improve."
Interesting Fact:
When Reinhardt was in middle school, she did a science project looking at moral development using Kohlberg's theory of moral development.
Ben Torsney, PhD
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Human Development and Community Engagement
Dr. Torsney joins the College of Education and Human Development teaching courses in data-driven decision making, human development and research methods. He received his PhD in educational psychology from Temple University. Prior to joining the College of Education and Human Development, Torsney completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University College Dublin (Ireland). His research is comprised of conducting descriptive studies assessing pre-service teachers' motivation and conducting an intervention assessing the engagement and motivation of middle school students in disadvantaged areas of Dublin, Ireland.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Torsney:
Dr. Torsney focuses heavily on real-world application of course content and hopes that his students will be able to transfer what they learn in the classroom to the real world.
Interesting Fact:
Torsney has a background working in the non-profit sector for community organizations in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Dan Walinsky, PhD
Associate Professor of Instruction, Counseling Psychology
Dr. Walinsky joins the College of Education and Human Development faculty after teaching psychology at Salem State University. He received his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of North Dakota. Walinsky's research focuses on the intersections of social justice and mental health. His primary interest is in supporting people with diverse sexual and gender identities in their own fulfillment in day-to-day life and at work.
What Students Can Learn from Dr. Walinsky:
"I hope that my students learn more about how they can integrate their own selves into their professional identities as counselors and counseling psychologists."
Interesting Fact:
Walinsky once won a Moth story slam on NPR.