Misericordia University Announces Tenure and Promotion Awarded to Seven Faculty Members 

Misericordia University Announces Tenure and Promotion Awarded to Seven Faculty Members 

DALLAS, Pa. — Misericordia University (MU) announces the following seven faculty members have been awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of associate professor: John Ash, MHA, Ph.D. FACHE; Linda Auker, Ph.D.; Melissa Cencetti, PT, DPT, Ed.D.; Colleen Duffy, Ed.D.; Tif Mulally, Ph.D.; Mateusz Wosik, Ph.D.; and Roberta Yeager, D.Ed.   

This advancement recognizes their outstanding contributions across teaching, scholarship, professional development, and service, aligning with the university's four charisms: mercy, service, justice, and hospitality.  

John Ash, MHA, Ph.D. FACHE, an associate professor in the business department, serves as the healthcare administration program director and co-advisor of the Healthcare Management Association. He is widely published and has presented at numerous conferences and seminars.  

Ash emphasizes community service in healthcare and incorporates this practice into his Emergency Management for Healthcare Institutions and Healthcare Marketing classes and in his numerous professional presentations. He serves the community actively as a firefighter and paramedic and also volunteers for the American Heart Association and the Two Mountain District of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

In June of this year, Ash presented research he conducted with student Alexandra Snyder: “The Global Burden of Disease and Disability-adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and its Economic Impact on Society” at the PEA annual conference.  He also presented in March at the 2025 American College of Healthcare Executives' Annual Congress in Houston, discussing the effectiveness of telemedicine to help manage chronic disease and improve quality of life. His formidable work also includes a presentation at the World Hospital Congress in Barcelona in 2020.  

Ash brings real-world business and healthcare experience into the classroom, shaped by his position as president and CEO of EMS Management Systems, Inc. in Dallas, PA.   

Ash earned a Ph.D. in Health Services Administration from Waden University in Minneapolis, MN, a Master of Science in Health Care Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management.   

Linda Auker, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of biology and program director of environmental studies, is well respected in her field for her publications and presentations. She received the honor of MU’s Louis and Barbara Alesi Excellence in Scholarship Award in 2024.   

Included among five peer-reviewed articles Auker has published are “Ecography,” “Journal of Biological Systems,” “Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution,” and “Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology.” In 2023, Auker presented on the topic of freshwater mussel and invasive zebra mussel interactions at the Pennsylvania Academy of Science in Erie, PA at the Ecological Society. Her achievements in the field of biology also include presenting at the Ecological Society of America meeting in Portland, OR on the interactive tools she developed to help stakeholders and scientists more easily communicate about invasive species.    

Auker teaches a variety of biology and ecology courses including General Biology, Invasive Species, Community Ecology, Invertebrate Biology, and Scientific Writing. She also supervises student research projects, particularly those focused on invasive species ecology.   

Auker’s on-campus and off-campus contributions include chairing the Academic Technology Committee and serving a term on the Faculty Senate, as well as serving as thematic deputy editor-in-chief for marine invasions for the journal Management of Biological Invasions.  

Auker earned a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire, a Master of Science in Biological Oceanography from the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science/Biology from Long Island University –  Southampton College.  

Melissa Cencetti, PT, DPT, Ed.D. teaches a diverse array of physical therapy courses including Applied Physiology, Human Anatomy 1, Human Anatomy 2, Evidence Based Practice 1, Medical Conditions 2, and Integrated Clinical Experience 2.   

Since 2019, Cencetti authored and published the peer-reviewed articles: "Clinical Reasoning in PTA Students: A Survey of PTA Program Directors" and "What Methods are Being Used to Teach Clinical Reasoning in Physical Therapy Education and Are They Effective? A Systematic Review of Literature.” She has also presented at multiple national and international conferences, focusing on improving educational methods for physical therapists and the functional value of core exercise. Her ongoing research includes projects on perceived anxiety-increasing factors in Doctor of Physical Therapy Students and the effects of core strengthening programs.  

Cencetti ensures her teaching is informed by current clinical relevance, performing contract work for Therapy Source and seeing pediatric patients at Well Nurtured.   

Beyond her teaching and research, Cencetti is deeply involved in service to Misericordia University and the wider community. She has been chair of the Academic Program Review Committee and a member of the Institutional Review Board since 2022, playing a key role in assessment and research oversight. Her community engagement extends to volunteering at MU’s PT Department Pro Bono Clinic, the Meadows Skilled Nursing Facility, and speaking to area high school students.  

Cencetti earned an Ed.D. from Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA, a transitional DPT from Arcadia University in Glenside, PA where she also earned a Master of Science in physical therapy, and a Bachelor of Science from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA.    

Colleen Duffy, Ed.D. who has served as chair of the Teacher Education Department (TED) and director of Graduate Teacher Education programs since 2019, instructs both undergraduate and graduate students in a range of vital courses for aspiring teachers, including Differentiated Instruction, Methods of Teaching Middle Level English, Methods of Teaching Middle Level Social Studies, Reading in the Content Area, Student Teaching Seminar, and Student Teaching.   

Duffy has authored several peer-reviewed publications on flipped learning, STEM motivation, and international collaboration in teacher prep and she presents her findings at national and local conferences.   

At the university level, Duffy serves on the Dean's Advisory Committee, the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, and the General Education Committee. Beyond campus, she is an active participant in the Early Learning Network and a working member of the Future Educator Pipeline, seeking solutions to promote enrollment and equity in Pennsylvania's teacher preparation workforce.   

Duffy earned an Ed.D. in educational leadership: educational technology from Wilkes University where she also earned a Master of Science in education, and she earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in Pomona, NJ.   

Tif Mulally, Ph.D., program chair of exercise science and assistant professor, brings a diverse background in education, technology, and health sciences that has enriched her contributions at MU and presented opportunities to engage with pressing social issues such as human trafficking prevention—a topic she continues to research and write about.   

In 2022, she developed a new undergraduate course for the Teacher Education Department’s Special Education PK-12 program with the goal of helping students understand how to educate and the rationale behind various methods.  

Mulally published two articles that highlight significant societal issues and contributed to policy discussions at both state and federal levels: "The Root of Sexual Violence in Native Americans" and "The Economic, Cultural, and Epigenetic Impact of Sex Trafficking of Native American Women."  

She has presented at prestigious conferences including the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (iHSES) in San Francisco, CA: "An Experiential Journey: A Year of AI in My Classroom" and at the Critical Questions in Education Symposium in Pittsburgh, PA: "Beyond the Lecture Hall: Fostering Dialogue and Critical Thinking in a Polarized World"    

Mulally’s scholarly contributions are extensive, including serving as a conference proposal reviewer for the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE) Conference, acting as a book reviewer for "Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education in Pennsylvania" and continuing her role as a peer reviewer for the Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives Journal.  

Mulally earned a Ph.D. in Human Development/Health Promotion from Marywood University in Scranton, PA, a Master of Science in exercise science from East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA. and a Bachelor of Science in advertising and design from Franklin Pierce College/New Hampshire College.  

Mateusz Wosik, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology and program director of clinical laboratory science, has made significant achievements in teaching, research, and service since joining MU’s faculty in August 2019. Wosik is passionate about making science understandable and exciting for everyone. His engaging style of teaching and dedication to his students has earned him the Judge Max and Tillie Rosenn Excellence in Teaching Award at MU.  

In his research, Wosik is a paleontologist who studies ancient animals and fossils to understand evolution and biodiversity. He's published four articles in scientific journals and has involved many students in his research, giving them hands-on experience in areas like 3D modeling and bone analysis. His research has gained recognition within the paleontological community with his establishment of MU’s Paleontology and Evolutionary Anatomy Research Lab (PEARL).  

Wosik contributes greatly to Misericordia’s student community serving as adviser of the Biology Club and helping first-year students transition to college life. He successfully revitalized the Medical Laboratory Science program, which is now growing and contributing to university enrollment. He's also a key player in a grant initiative to help underrepresented minority students succeed in STEM fields.  

Additionally, he co-curated a science-art exhibit called "Lost Worlds: Microphotography of Extinct Species," which helps make complex scientific concepts accessible to the public.  

Wosik earned a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutinary Biology from the University of Toronto and he earned a Bachelor of Science from Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, IL.   

Roberta Yeager, Ed.D., associate professor of Teacher Education, has contributed greatly as a professor in the teacher education department at MU as evidenced by her receipt in 2024 of the Judge Max and Tillie Rosenn Excellence in Teaching Award.  

Yeager makes an impact on future educators through her teaching of Special Education and Exceptional Learners, Methods and Management/Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Inclusion Practices for Elementary, Middle and Secondary programs, Autism Spectrum Disorder, (ASD), High Incidence Methods, and Transition.   

Yeager authored one independent journal article and coauthored an article with colleague Mulally; both articles were peer reviewed and published at the international and state levels. Yeager also collaborated with colleague Duffy, coauthoring two book chapters. Additionally, Yeager has presented 11 times at local, regional, state, national and international peer-reviewed or juried conferences including the recent “Assessing Danielson's Fourth Domain through the Use of Mixed Reality Scenarios” at the PA Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators’ 53rd Annual Teacher Education Assembly in Harrisburg. Yeager received a D.Ed.: Teaching and Curriculum from the Northcentral University in San Diego, California; and a Master of Education in Special Education from Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA where she also earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education.