Meet the Faculty

Assistant Professor

ENHP Physical Therapy

Kevin Ball is shaping the future of physical therapy through his research and through his teaching. Ball is an assistant professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Hartford and director of the University’s new Human Performance Lab.

In the lab, he and his students use sophisticated cameras and computer equipment to measure and record every movement a person makes when they’re walking, running or jumping. “Even though a group of people might look the same to a casual observer, everyone has their own unique characteristics when they move,” Ball says. “When someone is injured, their body adapts and those characteristics change. The research we’re doing in the lab today helps us understand the impact of those changes on the entire body. We can then use this data to develop new tools that physical therapists can use in the future to help their patients recover faster and more fully.”

Ball is also building the future through his teaching. “At the University of Hartford, we give both undergraduate and graduate students a chance to work on advanced research projects that put them at the cutting edge of technology in the field,” he says. “We also give them extensive opportunities to work with patients one-on-one so they can apply everything they’ve learned to make their patients’ lives better every day.

“I appreciate technology, but I love teaching. I get a chill every time I watch my students walk across the stage at Commencement and get their degrees. I know how far they’ve come since their first day and I know they’re ready to change the world in their own way.”

Dept. Chair / Assistant Professor of Biology

Hillyer Mathematics & Science

Stephan Bullard has a unique bond with his students. “It was pretty common for me to get low scores in high school, because I just couldn’t connect with my teachers and I wasn’t interested in the material they wanted me to learn,” he says. He found his calling in college and went on to earn a Ph.D. in marine biology. “My mission today is to help my students do the same thing; find what they love and excel.”

Bullard is assistant professor of biology in Hillyer College, where students can earn as associate’s degree in a structured learning environment with small classes and caring advisors.

“I teach general biology, which is a required course, so my students aren’t always excited when they start classes,” Bullard notes. “I work very hard to make the classes fun and interesting and to give them a lifetime appreciation for biology and the other sciences.”

Bullard spends his summers and semester breaks helping to save the planet. He’s doing groundbreaking research on sea squirts, potentially dangerous marine animals that invade bays and harbors, killing massive amounts of vegetation and small marine life.

The work has major implications. “There are invasive creatures like this all over the world,” Bullard says, “from tropical rain forests to the Arctic Ocean. Understanding how they work and how we can prevent them from damaging ecosystems would be a major benefit to the planet.”

Bullard feels that his life is perfectly balanced at the University of Hartford. “I get tremendous support for my research and that’s very important to me. Still, teaching is my first love. Hillyer College is just the perfect size. I can get to know all of my students personally and help them make sense of their classes and their lives. This work is just as critical in making the world a better place.”

Professor

Barney Economics/Finance/Insurance

When students ask Susan Coleman how she came to join the faculty at the University of Hartford, her answer is refreshingly candid: “A window of opportunity opened in my life 19 years ago,” she says, “and I was pushed through it. I’ve loved every minute of my time here ever since.”

Coleman, professor of finance in the Barney School of Business, started her career working in high-powered financial firms in Manhattan. “New York is the center of the universe when it comes to finance, and it was tremendously exciting to work there,” she recalls. “But there are benefits here at the University that I couldn’t possibly get in that environment.”

First and foremost is the chance to work with students who are bright, talented and extremely capable. “My students are a true gift and a blessing,” Coleman says. “Nothing is more gratifying than knowing I’ve helped them achieve success in their careers and their lives.”

Coleman also has a major influence on the 3.5 million people who live and work in the state of Connecticut. She is a member of the Governor’s Economic Advisory Council, a group of eight leading economists who are crafting a strategic plan for the state’s future growth and development.

“This is a tremendously exciting project and it’s wonderful knowing your work will truly make a difference in people’s lives,” Coleman says.

“I’ve gotten tremendous support from the University for all my endeavors, in the classroom and the public sector. There’s no place else in the world that I’d rather be.”

Assistant Professor of Spanish

A&S Modern Languages & Cultures

Marco Cupolo, assistant professor of Spanish in the College of Arts and Sciences, is ushering in a new era in language programs at the University of Hartford. He’s teaching Spanish with a focus on Latin America rather than the traditional emphasis on Spain. He’s also giving students a deep appreciation for the politics, culture and economy of the region, which is undergoing an amazing transformation.

“There are more than 300 million people in the world today who speak Spanish,” Cupolo says. “Most of them are in Latin America, including 100 million Spanish-speaking people in Mexico alone. There’s also a very significant -- and fast growing -- Hispanic population in the United States, with deep roots in Latin America.”

Cupolo has a very different background from most language professors. He’s a social scientist by training and has written extensively on the politics, culture and economy of the region.

“It’s not enough to be able to speak a language; you also have to understand the context where that language is shaped and formed,” Cupolo says. He lived and taught in Mexico and Venezuela for 27 years before he came to Hartford, so he’s seen the transformation first hand.

“The nations of Latin America are becoming major players on the world stage,” Cupolo says, “with strong and growing economies, unique approaches to politics, and vibrant and exciting cultures.

“We’re not only preparing students to succeed in Latin America’s dynamic economic environment, we’re giving them a chance to lead richer, fuller lives by exposing them to a wide variety of different ideas and viewpoints.”

Assistant Professor

CETA Civil/Environ./Biomedical Engineering

Clara Fang, assistant professor of civil, environmental and biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, has an impressive portfolio.  She completed her undergraduate work in southern China; earned master’s degrees in Hong Kong and British Columbia; and received her Ph.D. from one of the most prestigious engineering schools in the United States.

“Being immersed in new cultures can be a very frightening experience,” Fang admits, “but it’s exhilarating at the same time.  I really enjoy working with people from different countries and discovering new strengths and abilities.”

Fang is a leading expert in the rapidly-developing field of intelligent transportation systems.  “Although it doesn’t seem like it when you’re sitting in a traffic jam, there’s a clear logic to the way traffic flows,” Fang says.

“We can simulate traffic flows in great detail on a computer, evaluate alternatives, and use advanced technology – like intelligent road signs and vehicle guidance systems – to relieve congestion and make traveling safer.”

Fang is currently working with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Research Council to improve transportation systems across the country. ”The University and College have been very supportive of my research, and I’m grateful for that,” Fang says.

She also gets her students involved in projects on the state and local level.  “The students have won praise for their work from community leaders and professional engineers and they feel great about being able to make a difference in the world,” Fang says.

“I’ve known that I wanted to be a university professor since I was in college, and now I get to live my dream every day.  I’m proud that I can help my students, who come from around the world, live their dreams as well.”

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Hillyer Social Science

When the subject is politics, it’s not uncommon to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television and find commentary or analysis from Bilal Sekou, assistant professor of political science in Hillyer College.

Sekou has been quoted in newspapers from the hometown Hartford Courant to the internationally respected New York Times; he has appeared on local TV and radio programs; and he’s a frequent guest on National Public Radio.

“I’ve been intrigued by politics for as long as I can remember,” Sekou says. “I grew up in a family and a community of activists and even as a youngster I saw first hand the amazing changes that committed people can make. My passion for the political process and my desire to be a force for change in my own right is stronger than ever today.”

Sekou’s influence starts in the classroom. “Even though we’ve made progress as a nation, people of color still face critical issues,” Sekou says, “like the persistence of poverty and failure of the public education system, which make it extremely difficult for them to succeed. We talk about these issues every day and I challenge my students to find their own ways to make a difference in the world.”

Sekou is clearly leading by example. “The University has a very long and very close relationship with the Hartford community,” he says, “and I’m actively involved with a number of groups who are making life better for people of color.”

“I have a complete sense of fulfillment as an activist and a teacher, and I can’t imagine a life that could be any better.”

Assistant Professor, Jazz Double Bass

Hartt Academic Studies

Nat Reeves, an assistant professor at The Hartt School, is a true legend in the world of jazz. He has played bass with all the great musicians of his generation, from Kenny Garrett and Pharoah Sanders to the late, great Jackie McLean, for whom the Jazz Institute at the University of Hartford is named. Reeves has appeared on more than 60 recordings and his live performances have mesmerized audiences around the globe.

“I didn’t start playing the bass until I was 16, which is later than a lot of other performers,” Reeves admits, “but I knew this was my gift and my calling. I’ve loved the musician’s life from the very beginning, and I still get a thrill out of performing today.”

Reeves’s extraordinary talents have taken him from his childhood home in Lynchburg, Virginia to exotic locations around the world. “I really enjoy playing for international audiences,” Reeves says. “They have a tremendous appreciation for jazz and a real affection for jazz musicians. I never get tired of seeing new places and meeting new people.”

Reeves has been sharing the fruits of his talent and experience with aspiring young musicians since he joined The Hartt School faculty in 1981. “I’ve had the privilege to teach some wonderful students who’ve gone on to enjoy extremely successful careers,” Reeves says. “Not only do they have amazing talent, they’re also good people, with a spirit and passion that makes other musicians want to work with them.

“I’m very fortunate to be part of the University of Hartford family. I have a chance to carry on a great American musical tradition as a performer and to nurture a new generation of musicians who will shape the future. You couldn’t ask for any more than that.”

Assistant Professor

Hartt Dance

“I had a wonderful teacher in high school whom I still think of as my ‘dance mother,’” says Katie Stevinson-Nollet, assistant professor of dance at The Hartt School. “Through her caring and her example, she gave birth to me as a dancer and truly changed my life. I’m grateful that I can now be a role model and inspiration for my own students at The Hartt School.”

Even though she started later than many other dancers, Stevinson-Nollet has won rave reviews around the world as a performer and choreographer. She also continues to shape the world of modern dance as director of her own company, the Full Force Dance Theatre, which recently became the company-in-residence at The Hartt School.

“This is the best of all worlds for both me and my students,” Stevinson-Nollet says. “I can satisfy my own creative needs as director of the company, and give my students a chance to perform in front of national and international audiences.”

Stevinson-Nollet has also been wonderfully creative in her approach to teaching. “The world of dance is changing dramatically,” she says. “You still have to be a great performer, but you also have to understand how the business works and how to take advantage of new technology to promote yourself.”

She personally developed two new courses at The Hartt School, one that focuses on technology and another that covers the business of dance. “The University has been tremendously supportive of all my work,” Stevinson-Nollet says. “We already have a successful history of launching dancers on successful careers in companies around the world. I can’t wait to see what dazzling heights our new generation of performers will reach.”

Assistant Professor

A&S English

Teresa Stores, associate professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, just finished her third novel, Backslide. “It’s like raising a child,” Stores says of the book, which was 10 years in the making. “You love the work dearly while you’re creating and shaping it, but you’re also relieved to see it go off into the world and do its own thing.”

Stores is an award-winning teacher who never seems to slow down. “I’m currently working on my first novel for young adults, wrapping up a collection of short stories, and writing poetry every time I have a spare moment,” she says.

Stores often gets up at 4 a.m. and writes for three or four hours before making the commute from her home in Vermont. But it’s well worth it. “Writing is a magical experience for me,” Stores says. “There’s nothing more amazing than creating an entire world, filled with fascinating people, from your own intellect and experience.” Stores is thrilled to share the magic with her students, showing each of them how to tap into their own imaginations and harness their own creative spirits.

She’s also constantly expanding the world of creative writing beyond the classroom. “We’ve brought in renowned speakers, organized provocative panel discussions and created interesting seminars with a wide range of participants and points of view,” Stores says.

“That’s one of the things I love about the University of Hartford. If you have a good idea, you can always find colleagues who share your excitement and who are willing and able to help you bring your idea to life. The University is already a leader in the visual and performing arts. My goal is to bring creative writing to that same level of recognized excellence.”

Assoc. Professor, Ceramics

Art Ceramics

Matt Towers, associate professor of ceramics in the Hartford Art School, is recognized around the world for his skill and vision as an artist. His work has been exhibited in galleries across the United States and is included in permanent collections in museums from Manhattan to China. He’s also a highly regarded teacher and a key member of the Art School faculty.

It took Towers a while to find his true calling. “I was a theatre major in college and spent 16 years in New York City trying to find my niche,” he says. “I finally realized that theatre just wasn’t right for me so I took an adult education course in ceramics, which I had been interested in since high school, and it truly changed my life.”

After completing graduate work in fine arts, Towers joined the Art School faculty and quickly established himself as an artist of note and an outstanding professor. “This is the perfect environment for me,” Towers says. “The University strongly supports all of my creative endeavors and I’ve grown tremendously as an artist since I’ve been here.

“But making art is a very solitary occupation, which is why teaching is so important to me. Teaching gives me a chance to flex my sharing muscles and to help students realize their own creative dreams.”

Towers feels the Hartford Art School is a perfect place for faculty and students. “We have all the resources of the largest and best ceramics departments in the nation, but our classes are small and professors are able to have close relationships with their students. Helping them grow from talented teenagers to capable, inspired artists is a work of art in its own right.”