Social Work Department Faculty & Staff

The social work curriculum is taught by faculty members who have completed graduate education from accredited schools of social work. They are recognized academicians, professional practitioners and researchers who bring a broad range of experiences to the classroom which include work in public welfare, aging, United Way Administration, addictions, vocational rehabilitation, and child welfare, disabilities, and mental health.

DEPARTMENT CHAIR
John Vafeas

John Vafeas, LSW, DSW

Department Chair

MSW Program Director
Old Main 324 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4239
Fax: 610-683-4383

vafeas@kutztown.edu

  • University of Pennsylvania, D.S.W.
  • University of Pennsylvania, M.S.W.
  • Winthrop University, B.A.
  • KATEE, Heraklion Crete, Greece, Social Work Diploma

Program Directors
Janice A Gasker

Janice A. Gasker, DSW, LCSW, ACSW

Professor
BSW Program Director
Old Main 326 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4291
Fax: 610-683-4383
gasker@kutztown.edu

  • University of Pennsylvania, D.S.W.
  • Marywood University, M.S.W.
  • Cedar Crest College, B.A.
Sharon C. Lyter

Sharon C. Lyter, LCSW, Ph.D.

Professor, DSW Co-Program Director
Community Forum Chair, Direct Practice Sequence Chair
Principal Investigator, Institute for Social Work in Mental Health and Professional Wellness

Old Main 328 B-wing
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4932
Fax: 610-683-4383
lyter@kutztown.edu

  • Rutgers University, Ph.D.
  • Temple University, M.S.W.
  • East Stroudsburg University, B.A.

STAFF
Andrea Snyder

Andrea Snyder

Department Secretary
Old Main 339 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4235
Fax: 610-683-4383
asnyder@kutztown.edu

Mary J Bononno

Mary J Bononno, MBA

Management Technician
Old Main 351 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4105
Fax: 610-683-4383
bononno@kutztown.edu

Faculty
William F. Bender

William F. Bender, MSW, ACSW, LSW

Instructor
Old Main 336 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4887
Fax: 610-683-4383
bender@kutztown.edu

  • University of Maryland School of Social Work, M.S.W.
  • Pennsylvania State University, B.A.
Leslie M. Chaundy

Leslie M. Chaundy, LCSW, Psy.D, NCSP, ABSNP

Assistant Professor
Old Main 348 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4210
Fax: 610-683-4383
chaundy@kutztown.edu    

  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Psy.D
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ed.S
  • Marywood University, M.S.W.
  • Wesley College, B.A.
John Conahan

John Conahan, Ph.D., LCSW, CADC

Associate Professor
Old Main 350 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Tel. (610) 683 1560
Fax (610) 683-4383
conahan@kutztown.edu

  • Marywood University, Ph.D.
  • Marywood University, M.S.W.
  • Belknap College, B.S.
Lydia DeBiase

Lydia DeBiase, MSW, LCSW

Instructor
Old Main 348 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4210
Fax: 610-683-4383
debiase@kutztown.edu

  • Widener University, Ph.D. Candidate
  • Widener University, M.S.W.
  • Kutztown University, B.S.W.
Edward P. Hanna

Edward P. Hanna, MSW, DSW, ACSW, LCSW

Assistant Professor
Old Main 340
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4271
Fax: 610-683-4383
ehanna@kutztown.edu

  • University of Pennsylvania, D.S.W.
  • University of Pennsylvania, M.S.W.
  • Colby College, B.S.
Christopher Harris, Ph.D.

Christopher Harris, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Old Main 356
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4429 
Fax: 610-683-4383
harris@kutztown.edu   

  • Widener University, Ph.D.
  • Widener University, MSW
  • St. Vincent College, B.S.
Yoon Mi Kim, Ph.D.

Yoon Mi Kim, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Old Main 329 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-5826 
Fax: 610-683-4383
yokim@kutztown.edu

  • University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D.
  • California State University, LA, M.S.W.
  • SungKyunKwan University, South Korea, B.A.
George M. Kovarie, M.S.W.

George M. Kovarie, M.S.W.

Instructor
Old Main 333 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-788-3208 
Fax: 610-683-4383
kovarie@kutztown.edu

  • Marywood School of Social Work, M.S.W.
  • Kutztown State College, B.A.
Heather LaBarre

Heather LaBarre, LCSW, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Old Main 344 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4236
Fax: 610-683-4383
labarre@kutztown.edu     

  • Marywood University, Ph.D.
  • Kutztown University, M.S.W.
  • Bloomsburg University, B.A. 
Ahyoung Lee

Ahyoung Lee, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Old Main 342 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4119
Fax: 610-683-4383
alee@kutztown.edu

  • University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D.
  • University of Chicago, M.A.
  • Ewha Women's University, South Korea, B.A.
Photo Not available

Julie A. Lewellyn, PhD., MSW, LCSW

Assistant Professor
Old Main 325
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4343
Fax: 610-683-4383
lewellyn@kutztown.edu  

  • Marywood University, PhD.
  • Marywood University, MSW
  • Bloomsburg University, BA
Tim Seip

Tim Seip, MSW, LSW

Instructor
Old Main 346
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-5817
Fax: 610-683-4383
seip@kutztown.edu

  • Marywood University, M.S.W.
  • Mansfield University, B.A.
Yasoda Sharma

Yasoda Sharma, MSW, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Old Main 331 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4328
Fax: 610-683-4383
sharma@kutztown.edu

  • University of Texas at Arlington, Ph.D.
  • Banaras Hindu University, India, M.S.W.
  • Bangalore University, India, B.A.
Photo Not Available

Amy E. Stein, MSW, LCSW, Ph.D. Candidate

Instructor
Old Main 354 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4308
Fax: 610-683-4383
astein@kutztown.edu

  • Bryn Mawr College, Ph.D. Candidate
  • Rutgers University, M.S.W.
  • College of New Jersey, B.A.
Stephen Stoeffler

Stephen Stoeffler, Ph.D., LSW

Assistant Professor
Old Main 334
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4361
Fax: 610-683-4383
stoeffler@kutztown.edu 

  • Widener University, Ph.D.
  • Temple University, MSW
  • Shippensburg University, BSW
Juliana Svistova

Juliana Svistova, MSW, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Old Main 327 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4330
Fax: 610-683-4383
svistova@kutztown.edu 

  • University at Albany, State University of New York, Ph.D.
  • University at Albany, State University of New York, M.S.W.
  • University of Latvia, B.S.W. 
Fang-Hsun Wei, MS, Ph.D.

Fang-Hsun Wei, MS, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Old Main 338 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4935
Fax: 610-683-4383
wei@kutztown.edu

  • University of Texas at Arlington, Ph.D
  • Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, MS--Social Work
  • Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, BS
Mary Rita Weller, Ph.D., LSW

Mary Rita Weller, Ph.D., LSW

Assistant Professor
Old Main 330 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 484-646-4270
Fax: 610-683-4383
weller@kutztown.edu

  • Widener University, Ph.D.
  • Temple University, M.S.W.
  • State University College of NY, B.A.
Barth Yeboah, DSW

Barth Yeboah, DSW

Professor
Old Main 332 
Kutztown, PA 19530 
Phone: 610-683-4292
Fax: 610-683-4383
yeboah@kutztown.edu

  • University of Pennsylvania, D.S.W.
  • University of Delhi, M.S.W.
  • Jamia Millia Islamia, B.S.W.