Among McDaniel’s eight new faculty members are professors who have taught in countries around the world, conducted research at NIH, counseled college students and led corporations through financial quagmires.

Daria Buese joins the College as assistant professor of Education and graduate coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction. Previously, she was a lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and a research associate for the High Quality Teaching in Mathematics and Reading Study, both at the University of Maryland. Prior to earning her doctorate, Buese was a public school teacher in Washington for nearly 15 years. Buese earned her doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Maryland’s Department of Education Policy and Leadership, a master’s in teaching from Lewis and Clark College, and a bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

Spencer Hamblen joins the College as assistant professor of Mathematics. Most recently, he studied algebraic number theory, notably the Galois Representations, and its link with arithmetic geometry while on a postdoctoral fellowship at Queens University. Additionally, Hamblen’s research focuses on computational number theory and commutative algebra. He earned his doctorate in Mathematics at Cornell University in 2005, and his bachelor’s degree from Amherst College.

Holly McCartney Chalk, assistant professor of Psychology, is a clinical psychologist who
researches how people cope with chronic stress or illness. She has taught at Columbus State Community College and Ohio State University and, as a counseling intern at Miami University Student Counseling, treated people for a number of concerns including mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders and grief issues.  Chalk earned her doctorate and master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at The Ohio State University, and her bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.

Susan Parrish, assistant professor of Biology, is a molecularist who studies questions concerning cellular RNA regulatory mechanisms. Most recently, she conducted postdoctoral research at the National Institutes of Health on this topic, while on a fellowship award for research excellence. Parrish has taught at Howard Community College and at Johns Hopkins, where she earned her doctorate in Biology in 2002. She earned a bachelor’s in Biology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Sara Raley, assistant professor of Sociology, studies the areas of work and gender. As a demographer, she has strong training in quantitative methodology. Raley has published work in prominent journals such as Annual Review of Sociology and the Journal of Marriage and Family. Raley earned her doctorate and master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics and a second bachelor’s in Business Marketing from the University of Maryland.

Julie Routzahn, CPA and assistant professor of Accounting in the Department of Economics and Business Administration, most recently taught at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa. She brings to the Hill a wealth of professional experience. As the former controller of Stulz Air Technology Systems, she was responsible for the company’s financial statements and corporate finance activities. She supervised the accounting department through a cash crisis, a fraud audit, due diligence, an asset sale and a merger. Routzahn is pursuing her doctorate in Economics from The American University. She earned a master’s degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Maryland Smith School of Business. Routzahn earned her bachelor’s degree at McDaniel College.

Victoria Kane Russell joins the College as assistant professor of Education in Special Education and graduate coordinator of Special Education. Russell’s research interests focus on the development of special education teachers and their socialization to different levels of practice. Most recently, she taught elementary education and special education at Towson University. Russell was also the social studies curriculum coordinator at Connections Academy in Baltimore, where she designed and managed K-10 social studies curriculum in a virtual public school setting. She earned her doctorate in Special Education from The George Washington University, a master’s degree in Special Education and a second master’s in History from The College of William and Mary, and her bachelor’s degree from Loyola University – New Orleans.

Robert Trader joins the College as assistant professor of Communication. He studies new media, instructional communication, message design, theory construction, speech communication and visual communication. Most recently, he taught Web publishing and design at the University of Kentucky. Trader also taught English as a Second Language for 12 years in Japan, for three years in the U.S, and for one year in Mexico. He earned a doctorate in Communication and master’s degree in Information Technology at the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree from Miami University.