Behavioral and Social Sciences Faculty
Faculty members in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences are involved in clinical practice, research, and community service. USP students have the opportunity to work alongside them to gain valuable experience. You will benefit from the research expertise of your professors, who will encourage you to present your research at local and national meetings. You will also be able to learn about community health and social service organizations first hand.
The faculty’s areas of specialization include:
- Medical Anthropology
- Clinical/quantitative psychology
- Global Health
- Health Communication
- Health Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Clinical Neuropsychology
- Industrial/organizational Psychology
- Sociology
- Patient-Provider Communication
- Public Health
Claudia Parvanta, PhD
Professor of Anthropology
Chair, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences
c.parvan@usp.edu | 215.596.8920
Dr. Parvanta received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also received the MA and BA in Anthropology. Her research interests are health behavior, health communication, and health literacy.
Kelly Allison, PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor of Clinical Health Psychology
k.allison@usp.edu | 215.596.8927
Dr. Allison earned her PhD and MA at the Miami University of OH, and her BA from the University of Notre Dame. She oversees the graduate practicum in Health Psychology.
Elizabeth Amy Janke, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology
e.janke@usp.edu :| 215.596.8517
Joseph V. Lambert, PhD
Professor of Psychology
j.lamber@usp.edu | 215.596.8588
Dr. Lambert earned a PhD, MA and BA from Temple University. His research interests include classical conditioning of the immune system, depression and suicide prevention.
Kenneth Leibowitz, MA
Assistant Professor of Communication
Director, Special Assessment Projects
k.leibow@usp.edu | 215.596.8902
Mr. Leibowitz earned an MA from West Virginia University and a BA from Rutgers University. His expertise in patient counseling, and interpersonal communication are sought by health agencies, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies in the region.
Brad May , PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology and Communication
b.may@usp.edu | 215.596.8511
Dr. May earned his PhD from the U.S. International University, his MA from the New School in New York, and his BA from Bard College.
Stephen Moelter, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology
Director, Undergraduate Psychology Program
s.moelte@usp.edu | 215.596.7534
Dr. Moelter earned a PhD from Drexel University and a BS from Pennsylvania State University. He is a past president of the Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society (www.pns-pa.org) and is the Chair of the Education Committee of the National Academy of Neuropsychology (www.nanonline.org). His research focuses on understanding the cognitive changes associated with neurologic or psychiatric illness, especially dementia and schizophrenia. The Pennsylvania Department of Health, the National Institutes of Health, and VA Stars and Stripes Healthcare Network have supported his research.
Michelle Ramirez, MPH, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
m.ramire@usp.edu | 215.596.8548
Dr. Ramirez is a medical anthropologist who received her PhD from the University of Iowa , and her MPH from Portland State University in Portland , OR . She has conducted field work in many parts of Mexico and specializes in women’s health issues. Her research interests are in sexuality, gender, complementary and alternative medicine and cancer survivorship.
Linda Robinson, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Acting Director, Health Psychology Program
l.robinson@usp.edu | 215.596.8517
Dr. Robinson received her PhD and MS from Texas Christian University and her BS from Pennsylvania State University. She studies industrial and organizational psychology.
Joseph W. Ruane, PhD
Professor of Sociology and Health Policy
Vice Chair, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences
j.ruane@usp.edu | 215.596.8906
Dr. Ruane received his PhD from the University of Delaware, his MA
from Temple University, and his BA from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
His research interests are occupations and professions, urban issues
and policies, organizations, politics and healthcare, and mental health
policy.
Ralph M. Turner, PhD
Professor of Psychology
r.turner@usp.edu | 215.596.1136
Dr. Turner holds a PhD from Temple University and an MS and BS from Pennsylvania State University. He studies the suicidal-activation process in persons suffering from major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
Mei-Ling Wang, PhD
Associate Professor of Communication
m.wang@usp.edu | 215.895.1155
Dr. Wang earned her PhD from the University of Maryland, her MA from San Francisco State University and her BA from the National Taiwan University. She studies global health, social justice, and international communication.