Faculty and Staff
Department Chair | Dept. Administrative Aides | Full-time Faculty | Part-time Faculty
Department Chair
Email: andrew.herst@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-3945
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS-136
Biography
Professor Herst earned his B.S. and M.S. in Psychology from the University of Maryland at College Park. His primary research interests include eye movements and visual perception in general (which covers motion perception & 3D space perception). Professor Herst’s teaching interests include PSYC 102, Learning Communities, and Statistics.
Department Administrative Aides
Full-time Faculty
Email: maria.sprehn@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7484
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 188
Biography
Dr. Sprehn focuses on engaging students with current issues in anthropology and incorporates her anthropological research and field experience into her teaching. She received her PhD and MA degree in anthropology from the University of New Mexico and her BA in anthropology from the George Washington University. Dr. Sprehn joined the department full time in August 2008 but began teaching anthropology part-time at Montgomery College in 1997. Her current research focuses on oral history and Latin@ culture in the Washington, DC area. In 2014, she co-authored a book on Latinos in the area, Latinos in the Washington Metro Area. She has conducted fieldwork in various locations including Spain and Mexico. She has also led museum collection-based projects including an online exhibit for the Smithsonian about textiles from the North American Southwest. She has written about and contributed to museum exhibits about prehistoric Mexico's Casas Grandes pottery.Educational Background
BA, Anthropology, George Washington University
MA, Anthropology, University of New Mexico
PhD, Anthropology, University of New Mexico
Email: sonja.fisher@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-6012
Office Location: Germantown Campus, GT 223
Office Hours: M 2:00 - 4:00 pm; Tu 11:00 am-12:30pm; Th 11:00am-12:30pm
Biography
Sonja Fisher teaches and coordinates the Elementary and Secondary Education AAT programs.
She also co-leads the CREATE education student cohort program. Prior to teaching
at MC, she taught in public schools and served as a consultant to public and private
schools on a range of topics, including special education compliance; identification
of, and supports for children with disabilities; and building intra- and inter- institutional
collaborative networks.
Educational Background
BS, Education, University of Virginia
MS, Special Education, University of Virginia
Email: barbara.marshall@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7761
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 231
Biography
Dede Marshall worked in the Early Childhood Education field for 20 years prior to
teaching at Montgomery College. She has an MEd in early childhood special education
from George Mason University, and a BA in psychology from William Woods University.
She has taught children, from infancy through five in addition to directing child
development centers and creating new programs and centers. She began teaching at Montgomery
College in 2010 and loves teaching college students who will become teachers themselves.
When she is not working, you can find Professor Marshall in the garden, biking, or
hiking with her two Border Collies.
Educational Background
BA, William Woods University, Psychology
MA, Education – George Mason University, Early Childhood Special Education
Email: sean.fay@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7479
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 204
Office Hours: M 8:30-11:30 am; W 4:15-6:15 pm; Advising Hours: W 9:00-11:30 am
Biography
Professor Fay received a juris doctorate degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, a master of arts degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Marist College. Prior to attending law school, Professor Fay worked in law enforcement as both a police officer and a probation and parole agent in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Professor Fay began his teaching career as an adjunct professor with the Montgomery College Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice in 2005. He worked as a full-time professor for the Department of Public Safety and Law at Prince George’s Community College before returning to Montgomery College in 2008. Professor Fay is licensed to practice law in both Maryland and the District of Columbia.Educational Background
BS, Criminal Justice, Marist College
MA, Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Maryland
J.D. Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Email: joanne.bagshaw@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-1977
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 225
Biography
Dr. Bagshaw is a professor at Montgomery College, and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Maryland and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York. She has a PhD in general psychology from Capella University, an MA in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a BA in psychology from Long Island University/Southampton Campus. In addition to teaching full-time at MC, she maintains a part-time psychotherapy practice focusing on treating trauma, and working with individuals going through life transitions. Her research interests are in mindfulness and contemplative pedagogy. Dr. Bagshaw loves to travel and can be found having fun with her daughter, Ava.Educational Background
BA, Long Island University, Southampton
MA, Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
PhD, General Psychology, Capella University
Email: melissa.mcceney@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7829
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 184
Biography
Dr. McCeney completed her BA degree in psychology at The University of Central Oklahoma
before earning her PhD in medical psychology from The Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Her research interests involve health-related
behaviors throughout the lifespan with a particular emphasis on preventive behaviors
(e.g., exercise and eating behavior.) She teaches Introductory Psychology, Psychology
of Human Sexuality, Social Psychology, Child Psychology, and Human Growth and Development.
Dr. McCeney is also the mom of three daughters and a competitive west coast swing
dancer.
Educational Background
A.A. Psychology, Oklahoma City Community College
BA, Psychology, University of Central Oklahoma
MS, Medical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
PhD, Medical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Email: brett.pelham@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7733
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 221
Office Hours: M,W 8:00-9:00am & 12:00-1:00pm, Tu,Th 8:30-9:00am
Biography
Dr. Pelham studies social cognition, the self, and decision-making, with an emphasis
on culture, gender, stereotypes, implicit belief systems, and social inequality. He
is the author of three textbooks on topics that include statistics, research methods,
and evolutionary psychology. He is currently working on a text in introductory psychology.
Educational Background
BS, Interdisciplinary Studies (Social & Physical Sciences), Berry College
PhD, Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
Email: rachel.sullivan@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7738
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 108
Biography
Dr. Sullivan earned her BA at the University of Detroit Mercy, her MA at Bowling Green State University, and her PhD at the University of Connecticut. Her dissertation explored how contemporary colorblind racism affects family approval of black white interracial cohabitation and marriage, and her teaching interests focus on race, African American studies, family, gender, and sexuality. She enjoys teaching the diverse students of Montgomery College through interactive lectures that make sociology relevant to everyday life. When she’s not teaching, she’s spending time with her twin sons and her daughter, or she’s involved in social justice activism.Educational Background
BA, Sociology and History, University of Detroit Mercy
MA, Sociology, Bowling Green State University
PhD, Sociology, University of Connecticut
Email: daniel.wilson@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-6917
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 219
Biography
Professor Wilson received his B.A. degree from the University of California at Santa
Cruz, his M.S. in Sociology from the University of Oregon, and has completed his comprehensive exams
for a doctoral degree in Sociology from the University of Oregon. Professor Wilson
has taught at San Diego State University, Lane Community College, and the University
of Oregon. Much of his research and courses have focused on issues of social psychology,
the sociology of science and technology, environmental politics, and sociological
theory. Before becoming interested in higher education, Professor Wilson worked as
a science teacher at the middle-school level in Salinas, CA. His teaching style stresses
bringing students into scholarly debates at a level, which is personal and familiar.
He currently teaches Introductory Sociology, Social Problems, Globalization, Sociology
of Personality, and the Sociology of Sport. Professor Wilson joined Montgomery College
in August 2006. He was department chair on the Rockville campus from 2012-2017 before
returning to full-time faculty at Germantown. His hobbies include music, camping,
biking, surfing (when available), tacos (is that a hobby?), pugs, and watching Chargers/Duck football.
Educational Background
BA, Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz
MS, Sociology, University of Oregon
Part-time Faculty
Email: thomas.colligan@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-6934
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 185
Office Hours: By appointment
Educational Background
BA, Psychology, University of Maryland College ParkMSW, University of Maryland at Baltimore
MBA, Frostburg State University
Email: karen.malaska@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-6934
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 185
Office Hours: By appointment
Educational Background
BS, Elementary Education, University of Maryland, College ParkMEd, Educational Technology, University of Maryland University College
Email: Alison.melley@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-6934
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 185
Office Hours: By appointment
Biography
Alison’s background is in Clinical Psychology, having earned her doctorate in 2003. Her professional and personal experience since then has included work in foster care, parenting, homelessness, resilience, and early intervention. She began teaching psychology part-time in Germantown in 2012 and her interests have expanded to diversity and inclusion as well as cognitive development and education across the lifespan. She is also an embedded academic coach in the ATPA program and is involved in program research at the Center for Early Education. She is married and has five children ranging in age from four to eighteen, and enjoys competing in the sport of triathlon.Educational Background
BA, Psychology, Loyola University of Maryland
MA, Clinical Psychology, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Virginia