Recently, he co-taught a section of Hon 1000: Research Seminar with Professor Darlene Russell, College of Education. The theme of the seminar was How can the themes of justice and equity in PK-12 public schools be integrated into the PK-12 educational experience? Additionally, he conducts outreach with schools and districts in northern New Jersey through the William Paterson Real Men Read program, virtual professional development sessions for K-12 teachers, and virtual library instruction sessions for K-12 students.
Neil holds a Bachelor's degree in History from King’s College, a Master's in Library Science from Clarion University, and a Master's of Education in Instructional Technology from Wilkes University. Prior to coming to the David and Lorraine Cheng Library, Neil spent 13 years working in public education for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District as a classroom teacher (STEM/Technology and Social Studies) and School Library Media Specialist K-12. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he worked for 11 years as a part-time Research & Scholarly Services Librarian at the University of Scranton.
Professional Interests
Neil has a true passion for information literacy and libraries, and looks forward to working with the faculty, staff, and students at William Paterson University.
His research interests center on literacy, male mentorship, community partnerships, virtual professional development, National History Day, libraries and mental health.
Other Interests
Real Men Read, male mentorship, libraries and literacy, school-academic library partnerships, online professional development, project-based learning, online teaching and learning.
Degrees
Specialization
Educational Leadership, Teacher Education Pre-K-12, Educational Technology
Licenses and Certifications
School Library Media Specialist,
Social Studies 7-12,
Representative Publications
Real Men Read – A Library Led Reading Initiative Program;
, College and Undergraduate Libraries;
2021
Power and Possibilities of Partnerships for Schools and Students ;
, Knowledge Quest;
Volume
Academic & School Library Partnerships: An Organizational Led Collaboration;
Cases on Establishing Effective Collaborations in Academic Libraries; IGI Global;
2022
Educational Technology and the Pre-K-12 Environment: Implications for Education Leaders, Pre-K-12 Teachers, and Students;
Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology; IGI Global;
2023
How Libraries Support the Mental Health and Wellness Needs of Communities and Library Workers ;
Perspectives and Considerations on Navigating the Mental Health Care System ; IGI Global;
2023
Representative Presentations
Virtual Library Outreach to Support the Virtual Teaching and Learning Experiences of Faculty and Students: Supporting Teachers and Students in a Local Public School District
Bridging the Gap: How Academic Librarians Can Support the Mental Health and Well-being of Both Our Students and Ourselves
College Readiness: Academic & School Library Partnerships, An Organizational Approach
Power and Possibilities of Partnerships for Schools and Students
Addressing Digital Equity at New Jersey Public Libraries
Awards and Honors
04/13/2021
12/05/2022
Media
There’s a hidden lesson in this Read Across America event at N.J. school
https://www.nj.com/news/2020/03/theres-a-hidden-lesson-in-this-read-across-america-event-at-nj-school.html
The article discusses the Real Men Read reading initiative started by the David and Lorraine Cheng Library. The kickoff for the event was during NEA's Read Across America Week March 2-6, 2020.
Fellowships, Grants and Research
Resources for Teaching and Supporting Literacy to be used by Pre-Service Teachers
Social Justice, equity, and antiracism in a Pre-K-12 curriculum Booklist
Bilingual Resources for Pre-Service Teachers
Resources for Literacy
Notable Courses Taught
HON 1000 – HONORS RESEARCH SEMINAR (1 Credit)
Theme: How can the themes of justice and equity in PK-12 public schools be integrated into the PK-12 educational experience?
