Education Faculty

Lynn Newman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education and Director of Education
Contact via email
(717) 264-4969

Lynn Newman, Ph.D., is the director of education and associate professor of education at Wison College. She has spent the past 30 years in the field of education in various capacities. Newman began her career teaching second, third, and fifth grades before becoming a primary reading specialist. Her dedication and hard work on her dissertation earned her recognition as a top ten finalist for the International Reading Association's Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award in 2007.

At Wilson College, Newman has created numerous degree and certification pathways in education. She also received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to support paraprofessionals in earning a bachelor’s degree in special education. She teaches courses in both the undergraduate and graduate education programs. While her primary focus is on literacy, she also enjoys teaching child development, cognition, and best practices in education.

Her hobbies include walking, shopping, and, of course, spending time with her family and friends.

Daniela DiGregorio, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Contact via email
(717) 262-4859

Daniela DiGregorio, Ph.D., is a dedicated multilingual educator, presenter, and researcher with over 25 years of experience. She has presented at many international conferences and published book chapters and articles on second language acquisition, teaching English learners, and education topics.

She has enjoyed teaching undergraduate and graduate students at Wilson College since 2018. Her courses include Educational Psychology, Teaching English Learners, Language and Culture, TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Instructional Methods and Assessment, TESOL Practicum, and Educational Perspectives. In April 2023, she received the Donald F. Bletz Award for Excellence in Teaching. In June 2023, she led a study abroad trip to the Czech Republic and Austria for students and the community. Currently, she serves on the IRB committee and faculty senate at Wilson College.

Prior to working at Wilson, she was an ESL Curriculum Specialist for Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19, where she administered the ESL Consortium Program, taught English language learners K-12, and provided professional development to school districts in Lackawanna County. Later, she worked in the North Pocono School District as an ESL Program Specialist. In addition, she taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Marywood University and Wilkes University.

DiGregorio earned a master’s in art education, ESL K-12 certification, and English 7-12 certification from Marywood University. In 2009, she completed a doctorate in TESOL and composition from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Beth

Beth Byers, M.Ed.
Teacher Certification Pathways Director
Contact via email
(717) 262-2009

Beth Byers, M.Ed., has been an educator for over 30 years. She began her career teaching first and second grade for seven years. After becoming a mother, she transitioned out of the elementary classroom and began working as an adjunct instructor in higher education, where she taught courses in early literacy and supervised student teachers in the field.

In 2014, she accepted a position as director of the Teacher Certification Pathways at Wilson College. Under her leadership, the program has grown exponentially, including the launch of an online pathway. As director, Byers plays a key role in student onboarding, completes transcript audits, and conducts intake interviews. She finds great fulfillment in guiding and supporting students as they embark on a new path toward a career in education.

Byers received her Bachelor of Science in elementary education and early childhood education, and a Master of Education as a reading specialist, both from Shippensburg University.

Amy Watson, Ed.D.
Coordinator of Field Experiences
Contact via email
(717) 264-4967

Amy Watson, Ed.D., coordinator of field experiences, has worked in various capacities in education for the past 20 years. She has taught middle school language arts and reading intervention, and served as a literacy coach, supporting students and educators across grade levels and content areas at the middle school level.

Her work in higher education includes teaching developmental literacy courses for adult learners, education courses for pre-service teachers, and graduate courses for in-service teachers. She also enjoys supervising and mentoring pre-service teachers during their practicum semesters in the field.

Passionate about the future of education, Watson collaborates with school districts across Pennsylvania and beyond in her role as coordinator of field experiences. She also serves on the board of directors and volunteers with the Franklin County Literacy Council.

Watson holds a Doctor of Education in reading and literacy from Capella University, a Master of Science in reading specialization from Hood College and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University.

Eric Michael, Ed.D.
Graduate Education Program Director
Contact via email
(717) 262-2045

Eric C. Michael, Ed.D., is the director of graduate education programs at Wilson College. He came to Wilson after 35 years of experience in public education, with a career that spanned a wide range of educational experiences. He served as a first-grade teacher, fifth-grade teacher, seventh-grade science teacher, Middle School Assistant Principal, High School Assistant and Principal, and Assistant Superintendent overseeing Curriculum and Instruction, Pupil Services, Special Education, Technology and Elementary and Secondary Services.

His higher education experience includes working as an adjunct professor at Wilson College, Duquesne University, Shippensburg University, and Wilkes University. He has presented nationally for the Pennsylvania Department of Education and at math, reading, and technology conventions.

Michael taught undergraduate and graduate courses and is currently overseeing the master’s and certification programs in the Wilson College Education Department, which include:

•    Master of Education
•    Master of Education in Educational Leadership
•    Master of Special Education
•    Master of Educational Technology
•    Master of Mass Customized Learning
•    Master in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
•    Principal’s Certification
•    Special Education Certification
•    Autism Endorsement
•    Online Instruction Endorsement (OIE)
•    English as a Second Language (ESL) Certification
•    Instructional Technology Specialist (ITS) Certification
•    Private School Certification

He remains active in the Chambersburg community by serving on the YMCA Board of Directors, as a Trustee on the Folium Inc. Board of Directors, and as a Paul Harris Fellow with the Chambersburg Rotary. Michael lives in Chambersburg with his wife Sharon.

Janet D. Foor, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Special Education
Contact via email
717-709-6232

Janet Foor, Ed.D., assistant professor of special education, has dedicated 41 years to the fields of special and general education, working in both the private and public sectors. She specializes in dyslexia, autism, and assistive technology, and teaches courses such as Students with Special Needs, Secondary Instructional Materials, Differentiated Instruction, Parent Conferencing and Collaboration, Early Intervention, and Instruction and Assessment for Students with Autism.

Throughout her career, Foor has held various roles including teacher, reading specialist, principal, director of special education, director of student services, and executive director of educational services. She has also worked at the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is currently an educational consultant with a law firm in Washington, D.C., representing students and their families. She also serves as a special education advocate for a variety of professional lobbying organizations in Pennsylvania.

Foor is a certified faculty member of the Glasser Institute of Choice Theory and has received numerous awards, including the Louise Howell ’38 Faculty Development Fund summer stipend. She has presented at various conferences, discussing topics such as artificial intelligence and ethics and post-secondary outcomes for students with autism and their families.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University with dual certification in elementary and special education, and a master’s in education as a reading specialist from McDaniel College. Foor earned a doctorate in education leadership from Gwynedd-Mercy University and holds a Principal K-12 Certification from Shippensburg University and a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Widener University.

Outside of her professional life, Foor enjoys gardening, cooking, and traveling, and lives in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, with her husband and their cats, Pete and Oliver. She also enjoys spending time with her grown children and three grandchildren: Zoe, Violet, and Jace.

Lori Frey, M.Ed.
Professor of Physical Education
Contact via email
(717) 264-2678

Lori Frey, M.Ed., has shown her commitment to academia for over 35 years through her involvement in the development of new majors at Wilson College, including exercise science, sport management, and health and physical education. She developed curricula and course designs for both in-person and online modes of delivery for each new major. Frey conducted applied research in teaching by creating, presenting, and publishing instructional material for sport management courses. She also advised and mentored students with honors projects that were submitted for publication.

In addition to teaching, Frey served as Wilson’s athletics director for 32 years. In this capacity, she successfully submitted grant applications and reviewed writings, projects, and professional presentations. During her tenure, Frey led the program through the College’s transition to co-education, seeing enrollment growth and program expansion. Renovation of the college’s main athletics facility, Gannett Memorial Field House, and construction of new athletics facilities including a baseball field, fitness center, softball field, soccer field, and recreation courts took place under Frey’s leadership.

Within athletic conferences, Frey served as commissioner, president, and held numerous leadership roles at the regional level. She also served as a collegiate coach, winning conference championships with numerous all-conference athletes under her helm. Formerly a Division I athlete, she still holds a passion for sports, fitness, and recreational activities, and she brings her vast array of experiences into the classroom through the content, delivery, enthusiasm, and expectations she has for her students.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Penn State University in health and physical education (now health and human development) and a master's degree from Slippery Rock University in athletics administration.