Bitonte College honors a dozen alumni, faculty, staff
A dozen alumni, faculty and staff are being honored by the Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte College of Health and Human Services at Youngstown State University:
Antoinette Rabel, MS, FNP-BC, earned a bachelor’s of science degree from the YSU and a master’s in Nursing from Georgetown University in the Family Nurse Practitioner track. She is an associate investigator and FNP in the Clinical Endocrine Section at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. She currently investigates the biological factors mediating health disparities in diabetes mellitus. After graduating from Georgetown, she joined the NIH and has conducted multiple studies in rare lung diseases, red blood cell disorders and obesity. Before joining the NIH, she had extensive experience as a staff RN, working in Level 1 trauma centers.
Dr. Adam Kagarise, graduated from Austintown Fitch High School in 2006 and from YSU’s Physical Therapy program in 2014, at which time he started his own physical therapy outpatient practice with a heavy focus on orthopedic manual therapy, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and worker’s compensation. He later worked in the geriatric setting, becoming therapy director at Austinwood’s Skilled Nursing facility and therapy home health coordinator. He has mentored 10 YSU PT students in the past 3 years.
Jessica Williams earned bachelor’s and master’s of Social Work degrees from YSU in 2015 and 2019, respectively. At YSU, Williams was a desk attendant and resident assistant, a peer mentor in the Summer Bridge Program and Upward Bound and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Golden Key International Honor Society. Williams is now an assessment supervisor at Trumbull County Children Services. She mentors University Partnership Interns from YSU and is a member of the Trauma Informed Committee of Trumbull County and the board for COMPASS Family and Community Services.
Jennifer Pieren earned an associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene and a bachelor’s in Allied Health from YSU, followed by a master’s in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Dentistry. She was awarded a Rinehart Foundation Grant to complete a study regarding the attitudes and use of automated external defibrillators in dentistry. Pieren is currently an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven in Connecticut and a part-time faculty member at YSU, receiving both the YSU Part-time Teaching Excellence Award and the Dental Hygiene Faculty Recognition Award. She also recently served as interim program director of the dental hygiene program at YSU. Pieren is a presenter for the American Dental Hygienists’ Association National Board Review and presents courses and research at national, regional and local events. She has served as an editorial board member and a journal referee for dental hygiene publications and is co-editor of the textbook, Darby and Walsh Dental Hygiene: Theory and Practice.
Ronald E. Klingle is a 1965 graduate of Hickory High School in Hermitage, Pa., and holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from YSU in 1970. Klingle was an environmental engineer for Sawhill Tubular Division of Cyclops Corp, then became regional head of Industrial Treatment and Disposal Operations for Browning Ferris Industries and later he founded American Waste Services Inc. He eventually purchased Avalon Lakes Golf Course, consolidating his interests into Avalon Holdings Corp. In 2014, Avalon Holdings established the First Annual “Freedom Warrior Golf Outing” to support the local veterans, raising nearly $1 million dollars. Klingle also hosts the YSU ROTC Golf Outing at the Avalon Golf Course, raising tens of thousands of dollars every year for the YSU ROTC Program.
Shelly Feiwell earned a bachelor’s degree in Allied Health at YSU in 2017, a master’s in Adult Learning and Development in 2020 from Cleveland State University and a graduate certificate in Online Teaching, also from CSU. She completed both degrees while working full-time as director of the Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary Program at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. In 22 years as a dental educator, Feiwell has taught restorative dentistry to over 800 dental assistants and hygienists. She is also a member of the Commission on Dental Testing in Ohio, past president of the Ohio Dental Expanded Function Association, and serves as an EFDA representative on the CWRU SoDM alumni board.
David Bobby, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from YSU, started his correctional career in 1987 as a van driver at the Community Corrections Association in Youngstown. He then became a corrections officer for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department and the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, then became a case manager at the Trumbull Correctional Institution. After serving as unit manager, warden’s assistant and deputy warden, Bobby was named warden of the Belmont Correctional Institution. Bobby has also been the warden at the Trumbull Correctional Institution and the Ohio State Penitentiary, retiring in January 2021. After two weeks of retirement, he accepted his current position as warden at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center in Youngstown.
Dennis Morawski worked as a professional social worker for 10 years prior to joining YSU’s Department of Social Work as an assistant professor. At YSU, he contributed to the initial Council on Social Work Education accreditation of the BSW program and the development of the MSW program and accreditation. He also contributed to the development of YSU’s BSW program offerings at Lorain Community College, Lakeland Community College, Stark State College and Butler Community College, and was instrumental in the expansion of the MSW program at Lakeland and Lorain Community colleges.
Dr. Tammy King launched her career at YSU in 1996 as a faculty member in Criminal Justice, becoming department chair two years later. During her tenure, the department grew in size and expanded its programming, including the addition of the Peace Officer Training Academy, Interactive Distance Learning completion program the baccalaureate degree in Forensic Science. In 2009, she advanced to the position of associate dean for the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, retiring from that position in July 2021. In her career, King obtained 16 funded grants, produced more than 80 scholarly works and received two Distinguished Professor Awards. She also is a distinguished member of Phi Kappa Phi and the recipient of several awards, including the Special Recognition Award from the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center, the Special Recognition Award from the Center for Women's Studies at YSU, the Watson Award and Chairperson Leadership Award, Volunteer of the Year for Disaster Services for the American Red Cross and the 2000 Peace Award by the Youngstown Mayor's Task Force on Crime and Violence Prevention, among others. In 2019, King received the Athena Award from the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
Steve Katros' administrative professional career collectively amounts to more than 25 years. Before coming to YSU in 1993, Katros worked for the Youngstown Area Board of Realtors, Dollar Savings and Trust Co., Phar-Mor, Ohio Edison Eastern Area Dispatching Office through Callos Ryan Temporary Agency and the ACLD Learning Center. Early in his career at YSU, he held various intermittent positions in Geological and Environmental Sciences, Business Information Systems, Counseling and Testing, Career Services, Management, Engineering and Technology, General Counsel before landing a position as a secretary in the Williamson College of Business Administration Undergraduate Advisement Center. Steve held several other full-time positions in the Center for Student Progress, Sociology and Anthropology, and the STEM College before transferring to the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services in April 2008, where he serves as the academic operations specialist to the dean. He earned his AAS Degree in Information Technology and a bachelor of General Studies degree in 2016.
Lonnie Gentry has been a noteworthy employee at YSU for more than 30 years, starting as a groundskeeper and transitioning into a management position for the YSU Pete and Penny’s apparel stores. In 2001, Lonnie became facilities manager for the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Science and quickly moved up in ranks to where his current position as an academic operations specialist 2. He also devoted more than 20 years of service in the ACE union, as vice president, treasurer, grievance officer, as well as, an NEOEA representative and on the ACE Executive Board. He currently assists in the Department of Health Professions.
Darlene Aliberti began her career at YSU in 2012 in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, also worked in the Beeghly College of Education and the College of Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics, and is now in the Department of Criminal Justice and Consumer Sciences. Prior to her work at YSU, she was employed by Schiavoni, Schiavoni, Bush & Muldowney Co., L.P.A. for 22 years. She is a member of the Student Conduct Board and also serves as a Title IX Advisor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from YSU and is now pursuing a master’s degree, also in Criminal Justice.