Wilkes University has announced the following faculty members have been promoted to the rank of full professor:
Edward Bednarz III was promoted to professor of mechanical engineering. Bednarz joined Wilkes University in 2013. A Wilkes alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and physics, Bednarz earned his master’s degree and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His research focuses on inverse problems in solid mechanics, particularly load identification using strain gauges. Bednarz has taught more than 300 class sections across 20 distinct courses ranging from first-year to graduate level. His classroom innovations, such as integrating hands-on design challenges, interdisciplinary projects and enhanced digital learning tools, have earned him the award for Innovative and Non-Traditional Teaching. Bednarz is also deeply invested in advising and mentoring, with a particular dedication to supporting transfer and non-traditional students.
Andrew Wilczak was promoted to professor of sociology and criminology. Wilczak joined Wilkes in 2012 as an assistant professor of criminology and sociology, earning tenure in 2018. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Dearborn, a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Eastern Michigan University and a doctorate in sociology from Bowling Green State University. Wilczak’s scholarly expertise is in the field of juvenile justice and the sociology of revolutions, and he has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles as well as a scholarly book. He received the Innovative and Non-Traditional Teaching award in 2013, as well as the Outstanding New Faculty award in 2015, and was nominated twice for the President’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship. Wilczak served as the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before being appointed associate provost in January 2025.
Grace (Ge) Xiao was promoted to professor of marketing. Xiao joined Wilkes University in 2008. She earned her doctorate in consumer sciences and her master’s degree in management information systems from Auburn University. Xiao’s research focuses on sustainable marketing and cross-cultural consumer behavior with an emphasis on ethical consumption, environmental sustainability and the circular economy. She has published 10 peer-reviewed articles in leading marketing journals. Xiao also works with nongovernmental organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank to support conservation initiatives. In addition to scholarship and teaching, she is committed to student mentoring and advising with special focus on first-generation, international and student-athlete populations. As a former department chair, Xiao led curriculum redesigns and faculty hiring, supporting her department’s growth and alignment with industry needs.
Wilkes University recently granted emeritus status to four professors as a mark of respect for their distinguished careers:
Sharon Cosgrove has been granted the status of emeritus professor of art. Cosgrove joined Wilkes in 1990, serving the University and its students for 34 years. Excelling as a studio art teacher in the Department of Integrative Media, Art and Design, Cosgrove specialized in painting and printmaking. She also taught Introduction to Art to several generations of Wilkes students as part of the general education curriculum. As an artist, Cosgrove has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally. Her work can be found in numerous private and public collections, including in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A major retrospective exhibition of Cosgrove’s artistic career will run this fall at the Everhart Museum in Scranton.
Gina Morrison has been granted the status of emeritus professor of global cultures. Morrison joined Wilkes in 1997, earning the rank of professor of global cultures in 2019. In February 2020, she became the adviser to the Wilkes Fulbright Program. Morrison has been a fierce advocate for diversity and a dedicated teacher and student mentor. Her academic scholarship culminated in her selection as a Fulbright Scholar to Malaysia. The award supported her work with a team at her host institution during the spring 2025 semester as they premiered her play, “The Women of Nusantara: Their Seen and Unseen Worlds,” at the International Women’s Conference.
Linda Paul has been granted the status of emeritus associate professor of philosophy. Paul has spent her entire career at Wilkes, joining the faculty in 1990. In that time, she has inspired generations of students, offering courses on a range of topics including Buddhist thought, applied ethics and animal rights. Paul has done work in the scholarship of teaching and in Buddhist philosophy, spending a sabbatical at the Plum Village Monastery where she studied with the internationally esteemed Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Linda Winkler has been granted the status of emeritus professor of anthropology. Since coming to Wilkes in 2010, Winkler has been dedicated to the advancement of global health, interdisciplinary education and impactful scholarship. Over the past 15 years, she has worked to develop study abroad and service-learning programs with an emphasis in East Africa. Her extensive scholarship includes collaborations with international colleagues and Wilkes students. She has worked on innovative and lifesaving public health projects, especially in the area of maternal and infant care.