Social Sciences Faculty and Staff

Tara Parrello

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Coordinator of Criminal Justice

Phone: (845) 848-4097
Email: tara.parrello@duny.edu

Tara Parrello is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology and the Coordinator of Criminal Justice Studies. Dr. Parrello has earned two degrees from Fordham University, including a Ph.D. and a M.A. in Sociology. She completed her undergraduate studies at Manhattanville College, earning a B.A. in Sociology. Her areas of concentration include: criminology, gender, deviance, popular culture and body modification with a particular concentration in plastic surgery. Dr. Parrello has presented papers at national sociology and criminology conferences based on her dissertation, Look This Way: The Growth and Diversity of Plastic Surgery in Contemporary America and her research on juvenile crime and ethnic gangs.

Ilya Slavinski

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology

Phone: (845) 848-4067
Email: Ilya.Slavinski@duny.edu
Office Location: Social Sciences-Casey Hall

Dr. Ilya Slavinski completed his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, his Master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and his Doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2022, Dr. Slavinski joined Dominican University of New York as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology.

Dr. Slavinski’s work focuses on the state, the criminal legal system, and racial and class inequality. It examines relationships between the state and its subjects, concentrating on racialized punishment practices in misdemeanor courts. Through ethnography and in-depth interviews, his dissertation examined various ways in which the state extracts resources from vulnerable populations while deploying the rhetoric of rehabilitation.

His work is funded by the National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Award. He has presented at major conferences, including the American Sociological Association, Law and Society Association, and the American Society of Criminology.  He has articles published in the journals Social Problems, the Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, and the Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice.

Christopher G. Libertini

Assistant Professor of History and Director of the Social Sciences Division

Phone: (845) 848-4069
Email: christopher.libertini@duny.edu

Dr. Libertini has earned four degrees from Boston College, including a Ph.D. in Medieval History from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, a M.Ed. in Secondary Teaching from the Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the School of Management. His areas of concentration include Ancient and Medieval Europe with a particular concentration in the Crusades. Dr. Libertini has presented papers at international conferences based on his dissertation, “Decision at Damietta: The Transformation of the Crusades 1095-1221.” More recently, his research projects have focused on the legacy of crusading and the modern world. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Libertini serves the Dominican University community as the faculty advisor to the school’s Debating Society, which competes as a member of the Public Forum Debate League against other area colleges. He is also an officer in the United States Army Reserves and served on active duty for a homeland defense mission as part of Operation Noble Eagle II.

Scott E. White

Assistant Professor of History, History Internship Coordinator and College Archivist

Phone: (845) 848-4072
Email: scott.white@duny.edu

Kelly M. Johnson

Associate Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of Psychology


Phone: (845) 848-4074
Email: kelly.johnson@duny.edu

Dr. Johnson received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from University of Delaware, an M.A. in General Experimental Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and a B.S. in International Finance from University of Southern California. Her research interests involve Intergroup Relations, particularly as anxiety and control are involved, and more recently, the effect of re-testing on students’ retention of course material. Among the courses Dr. Johnson teaches are Psychological Statistics, Quantitative Research Methods, Experimental Psychology and Social Psychology.

David Chun

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Phone: (845) 848-4070
Email: david.chun@duny.edu

Dr. Chun received his B.S. in 2001 at Rutgers University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in 2010 at the University of California at Davis. His research interest primarily focuses on emotion, cognition, and their applications in attachment theory. In particular, he is interested in the cognitive processes underlying avoidant defenses and their impact on health and overall well-being. Dr. Chun teaches General Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Cultural Psychology.

Blair Hoplight

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Phone: (845) 848-4071
Email: blair.hoplight@duny.edu

Blair Hoplight received his BS in Biology, and a BA in Psychology from the State University of New York at Potsdam.  He received his Masters and Ph.D. in Bio Behavioral Sciences at the University of Connecticut at Storrs.  Currently his research includes studies of witness identification in lineups and the efficacy of games as learning and memory tools. Among the courses Dr. Hoplight teaches are Quantitative Research Methods, Psychology of Gender, Criminal Psychology and Senior Seminar for the Social Sciences. In addition, Dr. Hoplight coordinates the Psychology Club. 

Paul Bonk

Assistant Professor
of Political Science and Coordinator of Social Sciences

Phone: (845) 848-4073
Email: paul.bonk@duny.edu

Dr. Bonk received his Ph.D. in Comparative Politics from Rutgers University, an M.A. in International Relations from University of Toronto, and a B.A. in English Literature from University of Toronto. His research interests include ethnic conflict; economic development; African history, culture, and politics; and the historical evolution of the interstate system. Dr. Bonk teaches a range of courses, including the Origins of Modern Africa, World Politics, Introduction to Sociology, American National Government, and Global Interdependence.

Lisa Connolly

Administrative Assistant, Division of Social Sciences, IRB Assistant

Phone: (845) 848-4068
Email: lisa.connolly@duny.edu

Melody L. Hyppolite

Director of Field Education and Associate Professor of Social Work

Phone: (845) 848-4078
Email: melody.hyppolite@duny.edu

Melody L. Hyppolite, Ph.D., MSW, Assistant Professor earned her B.S. in Psychology, Kentucky Wesleyan College, her M.S.W. from Spalding University and parental characteristics,
Mental Health,
Poverty

Teaching areas include:
Research Methods, Macro Practice,
Social Work Practice,
Social Work Theory/HBSE

Lucinda Acquaye-Doyle

Director of Social Work Program and Associate Professor

Email: l.acquaye-doyle@duny.edu

Dr. Acquaye-Doyle joined the college in 2014 and was appointed Program Director of Social Work in 2016.  She received her B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, M.S.W. from Stony Brook University and a Ph.D. from the Howard University School of Social Work.  Her areas of specialization include Internationalizing Higher Education, International Experiential Learning with special emphasis on Social Work Education, International Social Work and Displaced Populations.  Dr. Acquaye-Doyle is a two-term appointed member of the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Council for Global Learning, Research, and Practice and is newly appointed to CSWE’s Council on Human Rights.

Dr. Acquaye-Doyle has research experience and interests in the areas of Attitudes toward Internationalization, Transformational Leadership, the Institutionalization of Experiential Learning Programs; African Immigrants and Mental Health; Study Abroad, Exchange and International Service Learning programs, Cultural Competency and Social Work Education.  Dr. Acquaye-Doyle has notable scholarly contributions to the field including domestic and international conference presentations, and articles published in peer reviewed journals; two of which appeared in the Journal on Social Work Education (Special Issue on HBCU’s and Special Issue on Globalization) and a book chapter which appears in NASW Press’ publication titled “Hope Matters: The Power of Social Work“.

Dr. Acquaye-Doyle focuses on macro practice and has extensive experience in international programs, program development and management, monitoring and evaluation.  Dr. Acquaye-Doyle has taught Research Methods for Social Work Professionals, Macro Practice, Women in the Contemporary Society: A Cross-Cultural Perspective, Social Movements and Social Justice, Introduction to Social Work, Social Work Policy, Child Welfare and the Law, Freshman Seminar, and International Service Learning courses.  She is currently the Faculty Advisor for the Social Work Club and serves on the college’s Freshman Directorate, Institutional Review Board, and Center for Instructional Excellence committees.

Maureen Aitchison

Social Work Program Staff & Teacher Education Administrative Assistant

Phone: (845) 848-4077
Email: maureen.aitchison@duny.edu