The Seuss Spruce on a foggy fall morning (SUNY Geneseo photo/Keith Walters '11).
Get to know the faculty and staff who have recently joined Geneseo. This is part three in a continuing series welcoming the newest members of our family and introducing them to the campus. Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 Part 5
Usama Bhatti is a new adjunct lecturer in the psychology department. He has done research on the working alliance between therapists and clients and worked in geriatric cognitive neuro and social psychology, examining lucidity in terminal Alzheimer’s and dementia. He’s also researched quality of life interventions in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In addition to Geneseo, Bhatti has taught psychology, information technology, and sociology at Bryant and Stratton. He holds a BS in psychology from Fordham University and an MA in general psychology from Adelphi University. In his free time, Bhatti enjoys photography, mixed martial arts, and traveling (he had just started a European tour before COVID hit).
Barb Casavant is a new lecturer in organic chemistry for the chemistry department. Prior to joining Geneseo, she served three semesters as an adjunct professor at Erie Community College in Buffalo. Casavant holds a PhD in chemistry from SUNY University at Buffalo, and she enjoys golf, movies, and general hanging out in her spare time.
Jacquelyn Cox is a university-based teacher educator supervising student teachers in the School of Education. She comes to Geneseo after 33 years in the Rochester City School District as a classroom teacher, a literacy and instructional coach, and most recently as a principal. She’s interested in specialized teaching in literacy/workshop model, disproportionality, culturally responsive pedagogy, multi-tiered support systems, and restorative practice. Cox holds a BS in elementary education/early childhood education from SUNY Brockport, an MS in K–12 literacy from Nazareth College, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in school administration from SUNY Brockport. In her free time, she enjoys interior design, gardening, walking, and dancing.
Denise Irwin is an office assistant in Intercollegiate Athletics where she’s responsible for athletic equipment issue. Before joining Geneseo, she worked as a DSA and a DA1 at Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office residential. She’s no newcomer to the College, though: her daughters Jessica Irwin ’15 and Jamie-Lynn Irwin ’19 have both graduated from SUNY Geneseo. In her free time, Irwin enjoys knitting, baking, and gardening.
Irene Ketonen-Keating is a new adjunct lecturer in the anthropology department whose research interests are farming, bureaucracy, medical anthropology, the European Union, Ireland, and Finland. Prior to joining Geneseo, she served as a visiting assistant professor and adjunct lecturer at SUNY Brockport and an adjunct lecturer at the University at Buffalo. Her courses include, among others, Culture and Health, Global Issues, Language and Culture, and Anthropology of the Celtic Countries. Ketonen-Keating holds a PhD from the University at Buffalo, an MA from the University of Houston, and a BA from SUNY Brockport. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband Neal and children (Gabe, 7, and Katherine, 19 months).
Alana Tomer has joined the School of Education as a new student teacher supervisor specializing in elementary education and secondary social studies. She comes to Geneseo with more than 30 years of classroom experience, most of it teaching grade six in the Penfield Central School District. Tomer holds a BS and an MS in elementary education and is certified for elementary education and 7–12 social studies. She enjoys quilting, sewing, spending time with family.
Dan Tramte is a new adjunct instructor in the music department. His teaching area/research interests include electronic music, game audio, and music entrepreneurship. Before joining the faculty at Geneseo, he taught at Virginia Tech and Rochester Institute of Technology and served as a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University. Tramte holds a PhD in music composition and computer music media from the University of North Texas, as well as an MM in music composition and a BM in music performance, both from Bowling Green University. He enjoys spending his free time composing and producing music videos.
Julie Troman is the new coordinator of field placements in the School of Education. Her responsibilities include supporting teacher candidates in their initial block field placements, instructors with methods courses, and graduate assistants with communications, social media, and collaborative programs. Before relocating to NY in 2019, she spent 30 years as a public school teacher and principal in Ohio. Troman holds a BS in elementary education, an MA in educational administration, and a PhD in school leadership. In her free time, she enjoys reading, quilting, running, biking, swimming, and snowboarding, and she keeps humble by taking horseback riding lessons.
Jennifer Waddington ’97 is a visiting lecturer in the School of Education with teaching and research interests in special education. She has joined Geneseo after 24 years teaching K–12 special education, with instructional technology and instructional coaching experience as well. Most recently, she spent ten years as an adjunct instructor in Nazareth College’s graduate program. Waddington holds a BS in education/special education from SUNY Geneseo and an MEd in educational technology from Nazareth College. She enjoys spending free time with her son (18) and daughter (21) as well as hiking in the Adirondacks, biking, attending theater productions at RBTL, traveling, and exploring or taking in shows in new cities.