STEM Faculty
Janice Avery
Faculty - Mathematics
B.S., Tuskegee University
M.A., University of Georgia
Janice Avery has taught mathematics for 26 years. Prior to teaching at Harford Community College, she taught middle school, high school, and college mathematics courses in Georgia, Germany, Mississippi, Hawaii, Alabama, and Virginia. She was an adjunct faculty member at HCC prior to joining as a term faculty member in 2004. To date, Janice Avery has taught fundamentals of mathematics, introductory algebra, intermediate algebra, combined algebra, contemporary mathematics, college algebra, and precalculus.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2640
Email: JAvery@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/javery/
John Bray
Mathematics Faculty
B.S., University of Scranton
M.S., Pennsylvania State Univ
John Bray was an adjunct instructor at HCC for more than eight years before joining STEM as a full-time faculty member. His prior experiences include a 22-year career as a commissioned officer in the US Army. His assignments included serving as a research officer at the Defense Logistics Agency, a commander of a logistics support battalion in Europe, and an instructor and assistant professor of mathematics at the US Military Academy.
For eight years, John was Chair of the Mathematics Department of Broward College in Fort Lauderdale and adjunct professor at several universities in the South Florida region. He was also a senior analyst for OptiMetrics, a defense contractor in the Bel Air area, for which he is still a part-time employee.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2543
Email: JBray@Harford.edu
Jerome Brown
Faculty - Mathematics and Computer Science
B.S., Lincoln University-PA
M.S., Univ Maryland College Park
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2125
Email: JeBrown@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/JeBrown/
Michele Catterton
Faculty - Mathematics
B.S., Towson University
M.S., McDaniel College
Michele Catterton began teaching mathematics at Harford Community College part time in 1999. In 2002, she became a full-time instructor in the Educational and Transitional Studies division. Prior to HCC, Mrs. Catterton taught middle school and high school mathematics and also served as math department chair for several years at the middle school level. Her primary teaching responsibilities include Concepts in Math, a required course for education majors, and Introductory Statistics. Along with the traditional face-to-face classes, Mrs. Catterton has also been actively teaching a hybrid format for both of these courses.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2643
Email: MCattert@harford.edu
Gene Cooper
Physics Faculty
B.S., SUNY - Fredonia
Ph.D., University of Virginia-Main
Presently a full-time STEM instructor at HCC, Dr. Cooper has more than23 years of experience as an adjunct math and physics instructor at the college. He also served as a research physicist for 27 years at the U. S. Army Research Laboratory, where his research focused on projectile stability for the design of projectiles with liquid payloads and the controlled flight characteristics building analytic/numeric models to bridge technological gaps. He has more than 70 publications in refereed journals, symposiums, and government documents. Dr. Cooper is a Senior Member American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers and Sigma XI.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2031
Email: GCooper@Harford.edu
Jim D'Amario
Professor of Physics, Astronomy and Physical Science
B.S., Loyola University Maryland
M.S., University of Toledo
G.C.E.R.T., Johns Hopkins Univ
James D'Amario has extensive experience teaching Astronomy, Earth Science and Physics. His teaching experience includes working at the University of Toledo and St. Francis University. Additional experiences include working in journalism and science laboratories.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2255
Email: JDamario@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/JDamario/
Mark Dencler
Faculty - CIS
B.S., Towson University
M.S., Towson University
Mark Dencler co-authored a scholarly article entitled "Comparison of Shape-Based and Stroke-Based Methods for Segmenting Handwritten Chinese Characters." He has performed scholarly research in the areas of distributed computing, radar profile analysis, computer-aided visual pattern recognition, handwriting analysis, and war game simulation.
Mark specializes in computer programming languages and is fluent in C/C++, Java, Visual Basic, Python, and a wide variety of web-based technologies. His fields of interest include computational theory, algorithm analysis, game design, software security, mobile application development, language theory and web design. He has had prior work experience at HCC as a professional tutor and adjunct faculty for the STEM division. He has also worked at National Security Agency and Aberdeen Proving Grounds in software- related positions.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2439
Email: MDencler@harford.edu
Christopher Gordon
Assistant Professor
B.S., Muhlenberg College
M.S., Univ South Carolina-Columbia
While earning his master's degree, Christopher's research was focused on developing various laser-based chemical sensors for a myriad of uses. He is currently working toward his Ed.D. in science education. His research interests pertain to inquiry-based teaching pedagogies and the effects they have on students' academic self-concept
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2166
Email: ChGordon@Harford.edu
Bob Greger
Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science
B.S., St Francis College
M.S., Pennsylvania State Univ
Bob Greger has taught computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics since coming to Harford Community College in 1968. He has also obtained a certificate in Computer Science from Clarkson University.
Bob has been active on a number of committees and is currently the Sunshine Fund committee officer. He is active in St. Joan of Arc Church and St. Margaret Church and sings with the Irishmen's Chorale.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2274
Email: RGreger@harford.edu
Floyd Grimm
Professor of Biology
B.S., Bloomsburg Univ of Penn
M.Ed., Bloomsburg Univ of Penn
Prior to joining the HCC faculty in 1968, Professor Grimm taught biology and general science at Sherwood High School in Montgomery County Maryland. His primary teaching responsibilities at Harford have included microbiology and general biology. In addition to teaching in the STEM Division, he designed, implemented and serves as Program Director for the distance learning Histotechnology Certificate Program, which provides students around the world with the opportunity to become certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Since joining the faculty, Professor Grimm has been awarded research and training grants from the National Science Foundation, Maryland Division the American Cancer Society, Exxon Educational Foundation, Maryland State Department of Education, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act. The author of numerous publications, he has served as President of the Harford County Chapter of the American Cancer Society and Chair of the Public Education Committee for the Maryland Division of the American Cancer Society. He is a member of the National Association of Biology Teachers, National Society for Histotechnology. Professor Grimm has also served on the Program Accreditation Committee of the National Accrediting Commission for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2372
Email: FGrimm@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/FGrimm/
Laurie Host
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., Salisbury University
Ph.D., Univ Maryland Baltimore
After earning her Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology in 2007, Dr. Host joined the faculty at HCC, where she has taught courses in general biology and biotechnology. Her love for teaching arose during graduate school when she became an adjunct professor in biology, nutrition, and human anatomy and physiologyat CCBC and UMBC.
Dr. Host is an active member of the National Association of Biology Teachers, serving on their History Committee. She has been published in The American Biology Teacher, and independent research she completed with her biotechnology students has been published in GenBank, a database of DNA sequence information maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2306
Email: LHost@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/lhost
Tami Imbierowicz
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., Towson University
M.S., Towson University
Professor Imbierowicz teaches courses in biology, environmental science, and ecology. She serves as Co-chair of the HCC Sustainability Committee, advancing the green campus initiatives, and works with regional colleges and universities to develop sustainability and energy literacy curriculum. Prior to joining the faculty in 2001, Professor Imbierowicz was employed as a natural resource specialist with Baltimore County Environmental Protection, as well as an educator at the Maryland Science Center and National Aquarium in Baltimore.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2122
Email: TImbiero@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/TImbiero/
Steven Iwanowski
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Lebanon Valley College
M.S., Univ Maryland College Park
Steven Iwanowski has been interested in chemistry and science since the seventh grade. He loves exploring how matter behaves within the universe from the chemistry that occurs in stars down to the reactions happening when a cake is baked. He tries to pass this passion on to his students, making as many connections to everyday life as possible.
After a brief stint as an instructor at the University of Maryland, Steven got a job at the American Chemical Society in the Education Division. He returned to teaching in fall 2006, when he started at HCC. He enjoys his work tremendously and is always happy to talk chemistry with anyone.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2250
Email: SIwanows@harford.edu
Chris Jones
Assistant Professor, Transitional Mathematics
B.S., Towson University
M.S., Towson University
Chris Jones has been a faculty member in the Educational and Transitional Studies Division since 2006. He has instructed a wide variety of mathematics courses at Harford, including pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, statistics (both general and honors), finite mathematics, calculus, discrete mathematics, and scientific engineering and computation. Jones has given presentations on methods of student engagement, assessment, and retention at the state and local levels. In 2011, Jones received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award. In 2013, Jones was one of two Harford recipients of the John and Suanne Roueche Leadership Award.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2055
Email: CJones@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/cjones/
Supawan King
Associate Professor of Mathematics
B.S., Prince of Songkla Unv Thailand
M.A., University of Montana
Ph.D., University of Montana
Supawan King began her teaching career in 1994 at Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai, Thailand. After receiving her doctorate degree, she returned to Prince of Songkla University and taught both undergraduate and graduate levels. For family reasons, she moved to Bel Air, Maryland, and joined Harford Community College in 2005 as an Instructional Support Specialist for the Math Center. Prior to joining the STEM Division in August 2007, she also served as an adjunct faculty member for the Educational Transitional Studies Division.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2601
Email: SKing@harford.edu
Stan Kollar
Professor of Environmental Science
A.A., Cuyahoga Comm College
B.A., Univ of California Los Angeles
M.A., Univ of California Los Angeles
Professor Kollar spent his earlier years on the south shore of Lake Erie, in Northeast Ohio. After 3 years in the United States Army, he attended Cuyahoga Community College and then the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees, in Environmental and Systematic Biology, and Plant Ecology.
His professional interests include water quality and the health of Chesapeake Bay, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), renewable energy, scientific literacy, climate change, and sustainable living.He has conducted research into restoration of the Chesapeake using SAV, the water quality of the Bush River watershed and passive solar construction.
His personal interests are broad, ranging from hiking, skiing and snorkeling, to horticulture, photography, art, music and travel.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2283
Email: SKollar@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/SKollar/default.htm
Jennifer La Fleur
Assistant Professor
A.A., Harford Comm College
B.S., Towson University
M.S., Towson University
Jennifer La Fleur has been part of the HCC faculty since 2007. She started as an adjunct professor before becoming a full-time professor in 2012. Jennifer is a lifelong Harford county resident and graduate of HCC.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2646
Email: JLaFleur@Harford.edu
Carol Mueller
Faculty - Mathematics
A.A., College of DuPage
B.Ed., Univ Arkansas Fayetteville
M.Ed., Univ Arkansas Fayetteville
Ph.D., Univ Arkansas Fayetteville
Dr. Carol Mueller has been teaching at Harford Community College since 2008. She teaches for both Educational and Transitional Studies and the STEM divisions. Dr. Mueller teaches a wide variety of courses including all of the transitional math courses, Earth science, and statistics. She taught geology at the University of Arkansas and both math and science in private and public schools before coming to HCC. She has presented at many local, state and national venues on a variety of topics including geology, teaching and learning, philosophy of science and assessment.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2023
Email: CMueller@harford.edu
Yussef Noorisa
Professor of Engineering
M.S., University of Delaware
Ph.D., University of Delaware
Yussef was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. His professional experiences consist of a few years of work in engineering companies and many years of college teaching in Iran and the United States. From fall 1971 to summer 1973 he was an assistant professor and mechanics department chair in Science and Technology College at a four-year engineering school in Tehran. From fall 1973 to summer 1979 he worked as an associate professor and Science Department Chair at AIT. He left Iran after the 1979 revolution and started to teach in the Engineering Program at HCC.
As part of his professional development, Yussef has furthered his knowledge in finite element analyses of engineering components. He continues to teach various engineering courses at HCC and help get students ready for successful transfers to four-year engineering schools.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2243
Email: YNoorisa@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/YNoorisa/
Lynne Petzold
Faculty - Mathematics
B.S., Miami University-Ohio
M.Ed., Towson University
Lynne Petzold's first teaching assignment was teaching seventh grade math at North Harford Middle School, where she taught for five years.
Lynne returned to adjunct teaching in fall 2001 and joined the HCC faculty full time 2004, where she has been teaching all ranges of algebra ever since.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2642
Email: LPetzold@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/LPetzold/
Wendy Rappazzo
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., University of Delaware
B.S., SUNY - Cortland
M.S., Towson University
M.S., University of Delaware
Wendy Rappazzo is from the Finger Lakes area of New York, but has been a Maryland "native" for 20 years. Her primary teaching responsibilities are anatomy and physiology, and biology for health professionals. She has served as the coordinator of the anatomy and physiology courses, created the BIO 119 course, and the first online biology course in Maryland. She is the author for the textbook Biochemistry and Cell Biology, co-author of the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Laboratory Manual, and has published several learning activities through the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society and the American Physiological Society.
Professor Rappazzo also works with Carnegie Mellon University to develop online anatomy and physiology courses delivered nationwide. She is the co-chair of the STEM Outreach Committee and volunteers with several STEM outreach activities in Harford County elementary, middle, and high schools. She is an active member of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Curriculum Committee, which has created standards and goals for anatomy and physiology courses at two- and four-year schools.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2336
Email: WRappazzo@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/WRappazzo/index.html
Sal Rodano
Professor of Physics and Physical Science
B.S., Millersville University
M.A., The College of New Jersey
Prior to joining the HCC faculty in 1968, Professor Rodano served in the United States Air Force. He later taught physics and chemistry at Bensalem High School in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. His primary teaching responsibilities at Harford have included Physics, Physical Science, and Earth& Space Science. In addition to teaching in the STEM division, he designed and implemented several new course offerings. Professor Rodano served as Chairman of the Science Department for two years. He serves as liaison for the Observatory at Harford Community College.
Professor Rodano has published numerous professional articles. He has been awarded educational grants from the National Science Foundation and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act. The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development recognized Professor Rodano as an outstanding educator. He has worked in the aerospace and defense industries and is a member of the National Association of Physics Teachers, American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Education Association, and the American Geological Society.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2254
Email: SRodano@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/SRodano/
Fari Sami
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., Intl - National Univ of Iran
M.S., Univ of Missouri-St Louis
Fary Sami's teaching career began in 1988 at Michigan Technological University on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She relocated to Maryland in 1992, and enjoys living here mainly because she is close to two large cities, Baltimore and D.C. This is specifically appealing to her because of all the cultures featured, as well as the abundance of fine arts.
Fary joined HCC in 1995 as a full-time math professor. Some of her hobbies include working out, skiing, listening to music, hiking, playing golf, visiting art museums, and traveling. She has discovered that there is a close relation between math, art, and beauty and tries to help others appreciate the beauty of mathematics. Her teaching philosophy is to create an environment conducive to learning.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2490
Email: FSami@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/FSami/
Scott Schaeffer
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., West Chester University
D.C., Palmer School of Chiropractic
Dr. Scott Schaeffer joined the HCC faculty in 2007 and regularly teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology, The Human Body in Health and Disease, and Nutrition for the STEM division. He also teaches Medical Terminology and Ethics and is the faculty liaison to the Nursing and Allied Health Division, serving on the Medical Assisting Advisory Board. Dr. Schaeffer is a supporter of International Education at HCC and accompanied his Nutrition class to Belize in winter 2011.In addition to teaching credit classes at HCC, Dr. Schaeffer also coordinates the anatomy and physiology modules for the non-credit Histotechnology Certificate Program.
Dr. Schaeffer is a recognized educational leader in his field. He has served as the primary subject matter expert in the development of award-winning Anatomy and Health & Wellness web-based educational products for A.D.A.M., Inc. He was a contributing author for EMC/Paradigm Publishing's Applied Anatomy & Physiology, A Case Study Approach, Workbook and Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition. He most recently authored the A.D.A.M. Interactive Anatomy Student Lab Guide, 4th Edition for WoltersKlurer Publishing.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2032
Email: SSchaeffer@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/SSchaeffer/
Terry Surasky
Faculty - Mathematics
B.S., Towson University
M.Ed., Loyola University Maryland
Terry Surasky has taught mathematics at HCC since 1999. She is a lifelong resident of Harford County and has previously taught for the Harford County Public School system.
Contact:
Phone: 443-412-2088
Email: TSurasky@harford.edu
Faculty Webpage: http://ww2.harford.edu/faculty/TSurasky/