Nine Doctoral Students to Attend East Stroudsburg University Commencement Ceremony

Nine doctoral students will be present as they’re awarded their degrees during the graduate commencement exercise at East Stroudsburg University on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in Koehler Fieldhouse. Three doctoral candidates will process to receive a Doctorate of Education in administration and leadership studies, and six candidates will receive a Doctorate of Health Sciences. ESU will confer 14 doctoral degrees in total to candidates who completed their programs in December 2022 and May 2023.

Doctor of Education

Karen Ann Bagnini has been a social worker-supervisor and creative arts therapist practicing in public schools since 1998. The NYU Silver School of Social Work welcomed her as an adjunct faculty member in 2016. Currently, she is an assistant director of clinical services with Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Port Washington, N.Y.; Western Massachusetts; and Pike County Pa. are her home-places. Bagnini is indescribably grateful for the experience of being a student of motherhood with an insightful, graduating high school senior. Her husband, Barry is a public high school music teacher. She credits her parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins for accompanying her on this journey along with their discoveries, recipes, ways of being, differences, devotions to learning, and struggles.

James D. Ware is a 22-year-veteran English teacher at North High School, in the East Stroudsburg Area School District, where he teaches Advanced Placement, honors, and college preparatory senior English courses. Ware is also adviser of the school’s National Honor Society chapter. He focused his research on pedagogical techniques and frameworks to instruct academically advanced high school senior students in writing. Throughout his doctoral studies, Ware has created a research-based writing program specifically designed for the academically advanced seniors whom he teaches. He capitalizes on the cross-modal benefits from having students engage in both reading and writing as complementary communicative processes; additionally, he increases student engagement and motivation by incorporating culturally relevant resources into his instruction and writing program. Ware has a Master of Arts degree in professional and digital media writing from East Stroudsburg University.

Joshua Ziatyk is currently an assistant superintendent for the Easton Area School District. After studying abroad in Valladolid, Spain, and in Costa Rica, Ziatyk graduated from Kutztown University with a degree in secondary education with a Spanish concentration. He spent the majority of his teaching career in the Parkland School District as a high school Spanish teacher. He holds a Master of Education degree in educational leadership with principal certification from Wilkes University. Upon the transition to school administration, he served as a high school assistant principal for his alma mater, Emmaus High School, and as a high school principal for the Brandywine Heights Area School District. Ziatyk currently resides within the East Penn School District with his wife Victoria, his son Zachary, and his daughter Chelsea, and is extremely proud of all of them and appreciates all of the support they have provided over the years.

Doctorate of Health Sciences

Elizabeth Agutu Otieno-Bryant is married and has three children. She started her education in the U.S. in 2004 at Northampton Community College where she graduated with an associate degree in social work in 2006. While at NCC, she attained a certificate in leadership program, funded by the MET Foundation, which prepared her to be a leader in her community. She graduated from East Stroudsburg University with her bachelor’s degree with a concentration in community health in 2008, and received her master’s degree in public health in 2010. She was inspired to return to ESU to pursue a doctoral degree in health sciences with a concentration in health management and administration in fall 2019 after a life-changing event. She began her employment with the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) as a community liaison in 2019, transitioned to comprehensive health services (formerly known as aids activity office) and is currently a medical case manager. She is also the founder of John Agutu Abando Charitable International Organization, Inc (JAACOI) and chief executive officer of Community Resources for Human Services, L.L.C in Bethlehem, Pa. She served as the chairlady of the Kenyan Community in the Northeast (K.C.N.E.) a non-profit Organization in Allentown from 2015 to 2021 and continues to serve as a board member.

Megan E. Rudelitsch started her education at Lehigh Carbon Community College where she graduated with an associate degree in criminal justice administration. While attending LCCC, she also obtained a dual associate with core classes in business management. She graduated from Kutztown University with her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration with a concentration in sociology in 2003. She went on to obtain an additional year certification in drug and alcohol education in 2004 and received her master’s degrees in public health and health education in 2013 and 2018 from East Stroudsburg University. While working in research administration for the University of North Florida, she pursued additional course work in business management. However, she returned to ESU to pursue a doctoral degree in health science with a concentration in health management and administration in fall 2019 after traveling back home to help her mother transition into retirement. Rudelitsch’s professional accomplishments include patient care as she worked in healthcare as a skilled technician and clinical research coordinator as well as in regulatory, compliance, research administration and now, study start-up and site activation. Currently, she works for a biotech company integrated site services department as well as a part-time fitness instructor. She is also a volunteer/advocate for her company’s health and wellness department. Rudelitsch is registered with the Yoga Alliance as a certified yoga instructor and hoping to obtain her RYT 500. Megan is a first-generation graduate. Currently, she resides in Florida.

Mark Takacs is from Easton, Pa. and has earned each of his three degrees from East Stroudsburg University. He was employed at Bloomsburg University as an instructor in exercise science since August 2018, and recently accepted a tenure track position at DeSales University in the Sport & Exercise Physiology Department beginning in January 2023.

Tanya Vietta Thompson was born in Bronx, N.Y. and moved to East Stroudsburg, Pa. in 1992. She graduated from East Stroudsburg University with her master’s degree in biology. She was always encouraged and inspired by her parents, John A. Thompson Sr. & Estella A. Thompson, to continue her education. Her family includes mom Estella, brother John, nephews Jayln, Brayden, and Cameron, and nieces Jordyn and Aspen. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years. She is also the founder of The John A. Thompson Sr. Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps sickle cell anemia patients and caregivers.  She loves to travel, maintain a 75-gallon saltwater aquarium, and watch her nieces and nephews grow up. She is also the co-founder of T&E designs with her cousin Erica Karim. She dedicates this degree to her father John A. Thompson Sr., hoping that he is smiling down at her.

Brandon Wallick is originally from Bristol, Pa., a small town outside of Philadelphia. He currently resides in the Lehigh Valley with his girlfriend Megan and his two cats, Theo and Cleo. Wallick received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and master’s degree in clinical exercise physiology from East Stroudsburg University. As a current St. Luke’s employee, he is applying his knowledge as an exercise physiologist by performing various stress tests for inpatient and outpatient clientele of all ages to analyze and determine those at risk for heart disease. In his free time, he is a South Mountain Community Fitness member who attends and instructs group classes. He enjoys sharing time with family and friends outside of the gym and work. Wallick is passionate about his continued growth and hopes to reach his highest potential as a clinician.

Andrea Wilson grew up in a very close-knit community in Guyana, South America where she taught English and implemented a community reading room and provided out-of-school time programs that included elements of art such as dance and poetry. She relocated to the island of St. Lucia and became head of the English department at a high school build specifically to inspire and support student from low-income, high gang activity neighborhoods. Andrea immigrated to the U.S. and earned her master’s degree from Seton Hall University. She also became a certified medical assistant and worked in urgent care and surgical settings. She is currently the education director at Casa Guadalupe Center, a nonprofit organization that provides extensive support to underserved families in Allentown, Pa. Andrea resides in Phillipsburg, N.J. with her two children, Montell and Alazniae, and their dog Apollo.

For more information about the doctoral program, including applying for admission/acceptance, contact Kevin Quintero, associate director of graduate and extended studies at (570) 422-3890 or kquintero@esu.edu.

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