Professional Programs

Dr. Caron earned a Ph.D. from the University of Victoria, M.Ed. from Western Washington University, Professional Development Teacher training from Simon Fraser University, and B.A. from Carleton University.

Before entering higher education, Dr. Caron taught ESL in Rwanda, Guadalajara, and Shanghai, PRC. He comes to Elmira College with several years’ experience teaching Reading Research, Children’s Literature, Portfolio Assessment, Language Arts and Assessment at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the Department of Teacher Education Dr. Caron teaches courses in literacy education, acquisition, assessment, and intervention. His research interests include literacy teaching and learning, uses of children’s literature in teaching reading, and Native American studies and culture.

Recent publications include “Teacher Educators Teaching and Learning Together” JOLT, 2011,“Teaching writing as a con-artist: When is a writing problem Not?” in College Teaching, summer, 2008, and “Teaching multiplication facts: the easy way!” published in the Clearing House, Summer, 2007, and the short story, Win or Lose in Dark Valentine, I (2) 2010.

Dr. Cook earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester in 2011. She holds both a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Nazareth College of Rochester, New York. She was employed by the Canandaigua City School District for twenty-three years as a high school science teacher, K-6 Lead teacher in science and health education, and served as the Primary School Assistant Principal for more than five years. Dr. Cook joined the Education faculty here at Elmira College this summer as an Assistant Professor of Adolescence Education.

She teaches coursework in the Foundations of Education, Curriculum Design and Instruction for Adolescent Education, and Methodologies of Teaching for Adolescence Education. Her academic research interests include classroom management with a focus on how to engage boys in a standards-based curriculum, issues of poverty in suburban school settings, and differentiating instruction at the secondary level. She is also looking forward to her work as an advisor and is very interested in providing workshops for student teachers to help them interviewing skills.

Dr. Donohue-Smith earned the Ph.D. in Human Development (Developmental Psychology) from Cornell University.  She holds a Master's Degree in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Colorado and a BSN in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania.   She had previously been a Ph.D. candidate in English Literature at the University of California-Berkeley, having earned a BA in English Literature from Pennsylvania State University. After having extensive experience working in a variety in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, Dr. Donohue-Smith joined the Human Services faculty in 1994. 

At Elmira College, she teaches a variety of courses dealing with the delivery of human services, such as Family Assessment, Services for Families with Young Children, Services for Children and Youth, and Program Planning and Evaluation.  Her academic research interests include the representation of social issues in literature for children and the use of literature in teaching social sciences.

Professor Gillis holds a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northeastern University and a Master's degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing from Syracuse University.  In addition, Prof. Gillis holds a Bachelor’s degree in ministry — with an emphasis in Christian counseling — and is also a licensed pastor.  She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Ministry - Christian Counseling Psychology. 

Besides courses in Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Theory, Professor Gillis also teaches courses at Elmira College in End-of-Life Issues and Introductory Psychology.  Her passion is mentoring young people.  She serves as advisor to the campus Christian Fellowship group.

Phyllis Holtgrewe has been a member of the Elmira College faculty for more than 30 years.  She earned her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from Ithaca College and her Bachelor's degree in Child Development from Cornell University.  She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association, the New York State License in Speech-Language Pathology and the New York State Teaching Certificate. 

She teaches courses in language development, phonology and articulation, diagnosis, and school services.  In addition, she supervises on-campus clinical experiences and student teaching experiences of Elmira College speech and hearing students.  She is Director of the Elmira College Speech and Hearing Clinic which operates to provide learning opportunities for speech and hearing students and diagnostic and therapeutic services to members of the Elmira community.

Dr. Johnson earned the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from the University of Florida in 2000.   His Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology were earned at The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College). He joined the Elmira faculty in July, 2007.

His undergraduate teaching interests include Introduction to Audiology, Clinical Practice in Audiology, and Seminar in Audiology: Advanced Topics.

He serves as a Doctoral Course Facilitator for the University of Florida Distance Learning Program. His research interests are in the areas of noise control, hearing loss prevention, and ethics in clinical practice.

Dr. Kulago earned her Ph.D. and M.S.Ed. in Curriculum Studies from Purdue University. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. She taught 5th grade on the Navajo (Diné) Reservation where she is originally from. She also loved coaching high school volleyball and softball.

Her research focus is on Diné youth and their perspectives on “community”. Other research interests include indigenous methodologies, community and school partnerships, cross-cultural/multicultural experiences for pre-service teachers, and other issues regarding Native American communities.

Dr. Kulago teaches in the Childhood Education program. She teaches Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in Childhood Education for Social Studies and the Arts, and Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in Childhood Education for Science, Mathematics and Technology. She enjoys teaching and learning from the Elmira College students and community.

Sydney Peck is a doctoral candidate in Nursing at Texas Woman's University where she also received a graduate certificate in Women's Studies. Her master's degree in Nursing Education with a clinical focus of community health was completed at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She holds a BSN from Langston University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

Prior to coming to Elmira College she has taught in both bachelor's and associate's degree programs in Oklahoma. She has also worked in a variety of clinical settings including pediatrics, asthma management, benchmarking, health informatics, health promotion, correctional nursing, and hospice. Her doctoral research focus is on patient experiences of establishing trust with healthcare providers. She has also completed interdisciplinary research in adolescent suicidal language use on social networks.

Dr. Schoener joined the faculty in 1987.  She earned the MS in Nursing from Syracuse University and earned the Doctorate in Nursing Science from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. Dr. Schoener holds National League for Nursing certification as a nurse educator.

Her research interests are clinical teaching and learning. At Elmira College she is coordinator for the Nursing Field Experience, the capstone experience, and also teaches Perspective of Professional Nursing Care.

Dr. Schoener has held leadership positions in a number of professional organizations. She currently serves on the New York State Nurses Association Peer Review Team for the approval of Continuing Education programs and is a site visitor for the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission for nurse education programs.  Dr. Schoener is president of Rho Gamma, Elmira College’s Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Denise Talenti received her undergraduate degree from Alfred University,and her graduate degree from Syracuse University with a concentration in Maternal/Child nursing clinical nurse specialist, her midwifery certificate from Case Western University in Cleveland Ohio.

Prior to coming on board full time with Elmira College she worked as a Nurse Midwife and has taught nursing at Mansfield University and part time with Elmira. She is a member of the Women's studies major and has a special interest in "GirlTalk" a program for young girls regarding the changes associated with puberty, which she has "revived".

She currently , in conjunction with Dr. Bizote, is involved in research regarding MRSA inoculation in nursing students.

In her "free" time she enjoys quilting and reading.

 

Professor Thornton is a New York State Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who also holds teacher certification in New York State.  She earned the Master of Science degree in Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped from Ithaca College.  She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), holds ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence, and is the recipient of two Awards for Continuing Education presented by ASHA. 

She has published book reviews for ASHA, Choice Publications, and Disabilities Studies Quarterly (DSQ) and has participated in the process of test standardization. 

Professor Thornton teaches courses in Language Disorders, Anatomy and Physiology, Neurogenic Communication Disorders, Aural Rehabilitation, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication.  In addition to her teaching duties, Professor Thornton supervises in the Elmira College Speech and Hearing Clinic and administers speech-language evaluations.

Professor Thornton is approved by the NYS Department of Health to deliver speech and language services to Early Intervention (EI) and Preschool children.

Professor Volino teaches courses in medical surgical nursing, fundamental skills, and critical care nursing, as well as a course in pharmacology and pathophysiology. 

Before Elmira College, she worked in the medical-surgical and critical care areas as a Registered Nurse. Her research areas include adult health and chronic illness.  She has published several reviews in CHOICE magazine and has presented at a Rho Gamma Research Symposium on smoking cessation and also on stress among nursing students.

Professor Volino is faculty advisor to the Nursing Club and participates in many club activities and educational trips.  She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the National League for Nursing, having earned the Master's of Science in Nursing from Syracuse University and the undergraduate degree from Mansfield University.

Along with her role at Elmira College, Professor Volino is wife to a very supportive husband and the busy mother of four very active school-age children.  She also serves as a Girl Scout leader.

Professor Wheaton earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the State University of New York at Albany.  She did graduate study at Brooklyn College and the State University College at Geneseo, where she earned the Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology. 

After professional employment as a Speech Pathologist for the New York City Board of Education, the Association for Retarded Citizens, and the Corning School District, Professor Wheaton came to Elmira College where she teaches such courses as Introduction to Communication Disorders, Principles of Phonetics, Stuttering and Seminar in Speech-Language Pathology.  She coordinates the Speech-Language Disabilities major, which is the teacher certification route in Speech and Hearing.  

She has presented at conferences of the Eastern Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) and is also co-author of a journal article on gestures that was published in The American Journal of Psychology.