Faculty Senate

Dr. Lisa Wisniewski is a professor of Sociology at Goodwin University. Lisa completed her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focused on Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford in 2017. Her research has focused on immigrant students, first-generation college students, and effective teaching practices using Universal Design for Learning. Dr. Wisniewski presents regionally, nationally, and internationally. Most recently she served as the State Chair for the Connecticut American Council on Education Women’s Network. Her work in the community focused on the immigrant experience has led to invitations to the White House and the Polish Consulate of New York City. As an advocate for college access for first-generation students, she has worked with several groups and organizations throughout Connecticut to support students navigate the college process. Lisa created and hosts a lecture series called Community Conversations that began the conversation on the war in Ukraine and presents lectures on immigration, citizenship, democracy, social issues, and globalization that has garnered a national and international audience. In addition, she serves as the host of Goodwin Teaches: Universal Design for Learning Stories in Higher Education podcast.

Dr. Parth M. Desai is the program director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Goodwin University and an associate professor within the School of Nursing & Health Professions. Dr. Desai recently graduated from the Universal Design for Learning Institute and is now a Senior Teaching Fellow. He completed his terminal degree from Chatham University obtaining his doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Dr. Desai completed his masters and undergraduate education in occupational therapy at Boston University. He has been practicing as a occupational therapist since 2008. He has advanced his academic career from an adjunct instructor in 2015 to now program director as of 2019. He has focused his time on curricular development and enhancement with the focus on transitioning dedicated students to robust healthcare clinicians. Dr. Desai has presented on Mindfulness within the Classroom at New England’s Education Assessment Network. He is proud to be employed at Goodwin University as he clearly demonstrates a passion in providing the highest level of education to his students represented by receiving the University’s Make a Different Award in 2017. Dr. Desai still practices as a dedicated occupational therapist and has earned his master certification in manual therapy allowing him to practice and provide therapy in a niche specialization of pain mitigation. He enjoys spending time coaching his son and daughter’s soccer teams as well as traveling with them and the love of his life.

Moriah Maresh is an assistant professor of English at Goodwin University. She is a proud Buckeye, having earned her BA in English with a minor in Creative Writing from The Ohio State University. After returning to Connecticut, she pursued her MA in English at Central Connecticut State University, where, through the lens of Structuralism and Levi-Strauss’s Culinary Triangle, she explored the oft-ignored cultural, psychological, religious, and theoretical implications of food’s role in literary works. Recently, she completed the MFA Creative Writing program at Fairfield University. She entered the program with an interest only in fantasy but ended up graduating as a published nonfiction writer. Her creative nonfiction can be found in Helix Literary Magazine and the Connecticut Literary Anthology. In addition, Moriah has served as an editor for the EL&LE global conference, and her academic writing has been published internationally. Her current projects include a fantasy novel, a collection of nonfiction essays, and an exploration of incorporating Food Studies into academic pedagogy. Outside the office, Moriah enjoys expanding a fledgling farm with her husband and their beehives, German Shepard, and mini horse.

Robert LeGary Jr., Ed.D., is director of the Master of Education in Teacher Leadership joint degree program at Goodwin University and University of Bridgeport, an associate professor of education, and a senior teaching fellow. He earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Hartford and holds a master’s degree from Stony Brook University. For 20 years, Rob has served as a school administrator and program developer in the special education space. Rob also has taught, developed courses, and co-facilitated professional learning in higher education since 2003. He has published his scholarship in peer-reviewed and national journals and online publications while presenting his work on UDL practice at national and regional conferences. He has co-facilitated various faculty professional learning sessions focused on UDL implementation at Goodwin University, University of Bridgeport, Johnson and Wales University, and Harford Community College. He currently serves on the New Student Orientation, Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Team, F.I.R.S.T. (student retention), UDL Podcast Project, UDL 2024 Conference Planning, and multiple faculty search committees. Additionally, Rob volunteers as an ESOL literacy tutor at Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford, serves on the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) Advisory Council for Board Certifications, and is on the editorial board as an article reviewer for two peer-reviewed journals focused on special education research and scholarship.

Pam has been a nurse since 1980, dedicating the majority of her career to home care nursing, a specialization that allowed her to merge her deep affection for the elderly with her passion for teaching. In 2006, one year after obtaining her master’s degree in Nursing Education from the University of Hartford, she achieved her lifelong dream by securing a position as a teacher in the Nursing associate degree program at Goodwin University. She firmly upholds the belief that learning is a personal transaction, fostering connections between the learner and the facilitator, as well as between the learner and the subject matter. Her educational philosophy centers on nurturing curiosity, cultivating a positive self-concept, respecting individuality and freedom of choice, and, most importantly, assuming the role of a facilitator rather than an authority figure. Teaching senior nursing students has been both a challenge and a source of immense joy for her, and she intends to continue this fulfilling endeavor for many years to come.