Misericordia University Announces Promotion of Two Faculty Members to Professor

Misericordia University Announces Promotion of Two Faculty Members to Professor

DALLAS, Pa.—Misericordia University is pleased to announce the promotion of Maureen Romanow Pascal, DPT, from associate professor to full professor in the department of physical therapy and the promotion of Angela L. Asirvatham, Ph.D., from associate professor to full professor in the department of biology.  

Pascal, who has been with the university for more than 25 years, has served as an associate professor since 2004, teaching courses that include: Medical Conditions I, Movement Science II, Neuromuscular PT II and III, Patient-Client Management and Professional Issues VI. She developed an "Environmental Lifestyle Change" project in Medical Conditions I, prompting students to consider the health and environmental impact of their choices. This project was accepted for presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections in February 2025. Pascal also integrates service-learning into her classes, particularly through the student-run Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic on campus that provides them with hands-on experience with uninsured and underinsured clients. 

Pascal has published three research articles and one book chapter and has presented professionally dozens of times since earning tenure in 2005. She was the lead author on "A Falls Prevention Program for People After Stroke in Guyana: An International Collaboration," published in Physical Therapy, the APTA's competitive journal. This article marked the first journal publication by therapists living in Guyana, and the falls prevention program is now implemented nationwide. She also served as lead author for "Leadership Development of Rehabilitation Professionals in a Low Resource Country," published in Frontiers in Public Health, Health Policy, and Promotion, based on her work in Rwanda.  

Pascal's extensive service contributions include twice receiving the Pauly and Sidney Friedman Excellence in Service Award in 2008 and 2015. She has served for 20 years on the Faculty Senate, including two terms as chairperson. In her 23 years as director of the Pro Bono PT Clinic, she has supervised the delivery of approximately $100,000 in free physical therapy services annually to community members. Pascal co-founded the Black Student Union (BSU) in 2020, which was recognized as "Best Student Club" in 2021, creating a dedicated space for Black students and raising awareness of racial injustice.  

Additionally, Pascal is actively involved in Luzerne County elections, serving as a judge of elections since 2021, and has been nominated for Misericordia's MLK Visionary Award. 

Pascal holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Temple University, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in The Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania.  

Asirvatham, who has served as an associate professor since 2009, teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Organismal Structure and Function, General Physiology, Immunology, and Endocrinology. She also teaches graduate-level Pathophysiology courses for Physician Assistant students, applying her extensive knowledge in Veterinary Medicine and Physiology. 

An accomplished researcher, Asirvatham presented at numerous national and regional conferences, often in collaboration with undergraduate student researchers. Her research focuses on cell signaling mechanisms in Schwann cells and has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Immunology, Journal of Cellular Signaling and PLOS ONE. 

Asirvatham's research also delves into the impact of environmental pollutants, specifically bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), on the nervous system, with recent findings presented at the Meeting for the Association of Cell Biology in December of 2024.  

Asirvatham has contributed significantly to university life serving on multiple committees, including the Faculty Senate, Student Research Grant Committee and Academic Program Review Committee. She currently serves as director of the premed/pre-professional program. In 2012, she received the Judge Max and Tillie Rosenn Excellence in Teaching Award, an honor voted on by students. 

Beyond campus, she is active in both scientific and local communities, serving as a grant and manuscript reviewer, science fair judge, and long-time Sunday school teacher. 

Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in Physiology from Kent State University and a Master of Science in Reproductive Physiology from the University of Wyoming, along with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in India.