Meet the Faculty

We are in process of hiring full-time and adjunct professors. However, the following are some of the full-time and adjunct MCNY faculty who may be teaching courses in the new Master of Science in Education – Mathematics 7-12 program:

Dehlly Porras (Bachelor in Mathematics and Statistics, Universidad Nacional de Columbia; MA, the College of New Jersey; Ed. D., Teacher's College, Columbia University)

For 31 years Dr. Porras has been a mathematics educator and/or academic administrator in charge of teacher preparation programs at SUNY Hudson Valley Community College (NY) and Raritan Valley Community College (NJ). She began her mathematics teaching career by teaching high school students in Columbia. She received a doctorate in Mathematics Education at Teacher’s College. Previously, she has served as an adjunct professor in mathematics and statistics at CUNY LaGuardia Community College, Professor in mathematics and mathematics education at the CUNY Graduate Center, Grades 7-12 mathematics instructor at the Knowledge Points Learning Center, and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Raritan Valley Community College. At Raritan Valley Community College, Dr. Porras oversaw the NCATE accreditation review and supervised student teachers. At the CUNY Graduate Center, she provided in-service training for K-12 NYC mathematics teachers. Dr. Porras was a co-author of the textbooks, An Introduction to Algebra: A workbook for Reading, Writing, and Thinking about Mathematics, and The Impact of Incorporating Technology in the Classroom. Presently, she is teaching a mathematics course in the Master of Science in Childhood Education program.

Doru Tsaganea (MA, University of Bucharest, Academy of Economic Studies; MA, City University of New York, Graduate Center; PhD, University of Bucharest, Academy of Economic Studies; PhD, City University of New York, Graduate Center) ext. 2410

Dr. Tsaganea has taught the two courses in mathematics and the social sciences since 2004, and three courses on applied statistics offered by the Audrey Cohen School. Prior to joining the faculty as an associate professor, he taught a wide variety of courses in two areas: mathematical modeling in economics; and international relations and security. In the first area, he taught advanced mathematical theories and mathematical models of optimal economic growth. In the second area, he taught: international relations theories; globalization; geo-politics and geo-strategy; international political economy; and contemporary international conflicts. Dr. Tsaganea’s research is interdisciplinary. He uses high level mathematical theories and models for explaining complex political, strategic and economic problems. Two of his articles were published by the Journal of the World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics. He is a member of the International Studies Association, and has presented a significant number of his research papers at its conventions. Dr. Tsaganea received two successive one year Fulbright grants at the senior level for developing courses in the area of international relations and international security in Romanian universities. He was also the recipient of a one year Civic Education Project/Soros Foundation grant for consolidating what he had initiated as a Fulbright professor.

Roberta Newton (BA, University of California-Santa Barbara; Ed.D, Teachers College, Columbia University) ext. 2406

Dr. Newton began her teaching career as a certified bilingual elementary school teacher in southern California. She received a B.A. from the University of California-Santa Barbara, an Ed.M. in Curriculum and Teaching at California Lutheran University, and an Ed.D. from Teachers College Columbia University for her dissertation titled, The Racialized Experiences of Pre-service Teachers of Color at a Predominantly White University. She previously served as an adjunct instructor of various teacher education courses at Teachers College, York College, Mercy College, as well as an online course instructor for Cambridge College. Currently, she is also a curriculum grant consultant for New York City, Newark, Clifton and Patterson, NJ school districts. Dr. Newton is joining the full-time faculty as an assistant professor in the Master of Science in Education program.

Steven Cresap (BA, Cornell University; PhD, Cornell University) ext. 2409

For over two decades Dr. Steven Cresap served as faculty and administrator at MCNY. As an assistant professor, his concentrations include values clarification, critical thinking, rhetoric, ethics, and introductory world civilization. Dr. Cresap also leads master's seminars in philosophy. Prior to coming to MCNY, Dr. Cresap served as a researcher and role player at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City, where he created and performed the character "Jonah Fidd", a 19th-century sailor. He has written for numerous publications, specializing in the interaction between aesthetic experience and moral behavior. Recent publications include: "Is Lookism Unjust?" for The Journal of Libertarian Studies (2005) and "Hegemonic Visualism" for Radical Pedagogy (2005), both in collaboration with Prof. Louis Tietje. In 1999 Dr. Cresap received an N.E.H. Fellowship for the New Media Classroom ("Crossing Urban Borders") at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. He is currently working on a monograph about the aesthetic value of terror.

Grace ("Jinx") Roosevelt (BA, Barnard College; MA and Ed.D, Teachers College, Columbia University) ext. 2422

For the past 30 years, Dr. Roosevelt’s research interests have spanned the fields of educational philosophy and political theory. Her doctoral dissertation was published as a book, Reading Rousseau in the Nuclear Age (1990), and she has published articles in The Journal of Aesthetic Education, History of Education Quarterly, Pensee Libre, History of Political Thought, Imprints Academic, European Journal of Political Theory, Teachers College Record, Encounter: Education for Meaning and Social Justice and the Encyclopedia of Philosophy Supplement. At MCNY, she has taught both in the undergraduate Human Services program and in the Masters in Childhood Education program, focusing on Values Dimension courses and on first semester and fourth semester Purpose seminars. In addition to being an associate professor, Dr. Roosevelt’s service to the college includes initiating and coordinating the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence program of Dr. Tuntufye Mwamwenda (2000-2001), chairing the Curriculum Committee of the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education (2005-2006), and helping to launch the new Title V Learning Enhancement Center (2006).

Loren Weybright (BS, Manchester College; M.Ed. University of Illinois; EdD University of Illinois) ext. 2436

Dr. Weybright joined the MCNY faculty in 2004 as assistant professor in the M.S. in Childhood Education Program. Previously, he held faculty positions at Montclair State University, City College of New York, CUNY, and Fordham University at Lincoln Center. He taught in elementary schools in Brooklyn and in Illinois. His current research is on developing critical thinking and reflective practice among graduate education students, and in the assessment of college teaching. His publications and conference presentations are in the areas of critical thinking, helping caregivers and children cope with trauma and grief, and children’s play and development. Dr. Weybright is a member of both national and international professional associations involved in elementary and early childhood, as well as science education.

Irene Velazquez (BA, Bernard Baruch College; MA, Touro College)

Adjunct Professor Velazquez has taught two mathematics courses in the Master of Science in Childhood Education program. She is currently the Assistant Principal at the Island School (PS/MS 188) in Lower Manhattan. Previously, she was the Math Coach and an upper grades classroom teacher at both PS 110M and IS 271K.

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