Karen S. Wendling, Ph.D.
Karen Wendling (Chestnut Hill College class of 2003) earned her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While her graduate research focused on detecting gas-phase compounds that contribute to Global Warming using Mass Spectrometry, she has more recently worked with individual student interns to detect various compounds of interest including nicotine in e-juices used for vaping, cocaine contamination of circulating currency, and active ingredients in various herbal supplements. Dr. Wendling firmly believes in the benefits of a Chestnut Hill College education, focusing on hands-on instruction in the lab and direct mentoring in the classroom. Her pedagogical research studies how cognitive apprenticeship theory (CAT) can be applied to undergraduate laboratory learning. Dr. Wendling enjoys teaching a variety of courses at Chestnut Hill, including Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, and Principles of Chemistry. She is also the co-coordinator of the annual Harry Potter Academic Conference and continues to explore how science fiction and fantasy can be utilized to improve student learning outcomes.
Carolyn Albright, Ph.D.
Carrie Albright has worked for almost 20 years in higher education. With an educational background in exercise physiology and statistics, she has a strong interest in human physiology research. In the past, she has worked at various R2 level institutions where her research has focused on the biochemistry and pathophysiology of disease, more specifically on how exercise can prevent or treat cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Over time she developed a strong interest in teaching and made her way to smaller institutions where she could focus more on the classroom and student needs. Carrie was hired by Chestnut Hill College in 2016 to build and launch the exercise science and health sciences programs. In addition to her time in research and higher education, Carrie has also worked at a variety of wellness centers and hospitals on the east coast. She is also a reviewer for two international journals, Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise and the Journal of Visual Impaired and Blindness, as well as being a regular reviewer for exercise science textbook publications.
Dawn Schramm, M.S.
Dawn Schramm comes to Chestnut Hill College after spending 15 years in college athletics as a Head Athletic Trainer. She earned her MS degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania. She worked through Main Line Health at Riddle Memorial Hospital where she became the Program Coordinator for Athletic Training Outreach Services. As a head Athletic Trainer, she managed multiple facilities and a team of athletic trainers that collaborated with the sports medicine physicians to provide athletic health care to the university’s athletic programs Some of her responsibilities included maintaining detailed medical records for all participants, managing the university’s secondary insurance for student-athletes, creating and updating medical policies and procedures, budgeting supplies, facility development, supervising athletic training students along with practice and game coverage for many of the athletic teams. During her time as the head athletic trainer she was also a clinical instructor for the athletic training academic program.
Prior to starting at Chestnut Hill as a full-time instructor, she was an adjunct instructor at other regional institutions. She has taught a variety of in-person and online courses in biology and human movement since departments. Examples of other courses include Anatomy and Physiology Kinesiology, Pathology and Pharmacology, Therapeutic Modalities, and Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries. Dawn maintains her credentials to practice medicine through the state and the NATABOC to keep current on the trends in athletic medicine. Maintaining her license is important to her so she can stay up to date and better guide her students in both Exercise Science and Health Science Departments.
Michael Stilwell, B.A.
R. Michael Stilwell is the Student Success Advisor for the Center for Natural and Behavioral Sciences at Chestnut Hill College. Michael is from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, a town about thirty miles west of CHC, where he graduated Salutatorian of his high school class. Looking to explore more of the world, Michael went to South Carolina for his undergraduate studies at Furman University. During his time at Furman, he was lucky enough to study abroad at Bond University in Queensland, Australia. In 2020, he graduated from Furman University with his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. That following January, Michael began his work as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at Rainbow Elementary School in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. As an RBT, Michael worked with a wide range of elementary aged students with various socioeconomic and neurological backgrounds for almost two years. Wanting to work with an older population, Michael came to CHC to become the faculty advisor for the Psychology department which eventually grew into the position he currently holds. Michael is now enrolled in the graduate program at CHC seeking his Master of Science in Cybersecurity.
Michael loves anime, movies, reading, and writing. He also loves his two cats, Sunflower and Daisy, as well as his two dogs, Lilly and Leo. His door is open to anyone who may need help.
