Political Science

Joshua believes that students learn when they are engaged and active in the classroom. His teaching philosophy is one where he is facilitating a group discussion more than lecturing to a class. 

His area of academic focus and expertise include: forensic social work, social work practice with individuals and groups, and gerontology. At Lesley, he teaches the following courses: introduction to social work, social work policy, social work practice with groups, research methods, program evaluation, social work practice with individuals and families, community mental health, contemporary families, and human behavior and the social environment. In addition, Joshua will be developing a special topics course to be implemented in the Spring semester. Finally, he will be working with the faculty to explore the possibility of developing a social work program. 

Joshua holds a Master of Social Work and PhD in Social Work from the University of Alabama. 

Arlene retired in May 2018 after teaching at Lesley for 23 years. Her teaching and scholarship have been focused on examining sociology and feminist theory and pedagogy from a cross-cultural perspective.

Her areas of academic focus and expertise include: sociology, qualitative methodology and ethnography, diaspora and transnationality, gender and globalization, and film and advocacy. At Lesley, she has taught the following courses: Sociology of Family Gender and Globalization Global Social Change Film, Media and Advocacy Dimensions and Methods of Cultural Exploration II. 

Arlene holds a BA from Tufts University, and a MA and PhD from the University of California Los Angeles. 

Michael's areas of academic focus and expertise include: issues of inequality and justice, American political thought, U.S. republicanism, alternative visions of the American Dream, Abraham Lincoln, and Progressivism. At Lesley, he teaches the following courses: Introduction to Political Science, U.S. Politics, Contemporary Political Thought, Elections and Democracy, U.S. Constitutional Law, and HBO's "The Wire": The Politics of U.S. Urban Inequality. 

Michael holds a BS from Georgetown University and a PhD from the University of Minnesota. 

Kazuyo specializes in sociology of family, race and ethnic relations, and transnational studies. Her research examines the welfare of children and adoptive family formation, in particular how race influences U.S. parents' transnational adoption decisions and practices. 

Her areas of academic focus and expertise include: family formation, adoption, and race and ethnic relations. At Lesley, she teaches the following courses: Sociology of Family, Sociology of Aging, Transnational Family Formation, Race and Ethnic Relations, Race in a Global Perspective, and Research Methods. 

Kazuyo holds a BA and MA in East Asian Studies from the University of Minnesota at Twin Cities and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. 

Janel retired from Lesley in May 2018 after 28 years of service.  She always brought her extensive experience as a clinical social worker with individuals, families, and communities to her courses.

Her areas of academic focus and expertise include: social work, ethics, and cultural competence. At Lesley, she has taught the following courses: Concepts and Skills in Professional Practice, Introduction to Social Work, Case Management in Social Work and Counseling, Child Welfare: Challenges and Solutions, Contemporary Issues in Counseling and Human Services, Human Services Internship and Seminar, and Research Methods in Social Sciences. 

She holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a MSW and PhD from Simmons College, and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. 

Robin's areas of academic focus and expertise include: sociology and social policy. At Lesley, she teaches the following courses: Social Policy and Foundations and Systems in the Helping Professions. 

She holds a BA from the City College of City University of New York and a MA and PhD from the New School for Social Research. 

Amy Rutstein-Riley, PhD, MPH, is interim dean of the Graduate School of Education. She holds a joint appointment in the PhD Program in Educational Studies in the Graduate School of Education and the Social Science Division of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Amy teaches courses in medical sociology, women’s studies, girls’ studies, research methods, adult learning and development, and interdisciplinary inquiry.

Amy began and is the principal investigator of The Girlhood Project, which brings together undergraduate and adolescent girls to talk freely about identity, body image, critical media literacy, and relationship health. She serves as co-chair of the Lesley University Women’s Studies Steering Committee and the Women’s Center, and co-facilitates LEAD, leadership enrichment and development for women core faculty.

Amy is a recipient of the prestigious American Association of University Women's Community Action Grant, which provides funding for projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. The project, which she worked on with Lesley Associate Dean for Career and Community Service Alice Diamond, is entitled Girls, Media, and You!

Education

BA, Simmons College
MPH, Boston University School of Public Health
PhD, Lesley University

Leela's areas of academic focus and expertise include: globalization and transnational migration, media and expressive culture, critical race theory, race, nation, and gender, cultural anthropology, Caribbean studies, and South Asian diaspora studies. At Lesley, she teaches the following courses: Global Issues and Challenges, Cultural Anthropology, Research Methods in Social Sciences, Anthropology of the Caribbean, Globalization and Transnational Cultures, and Anthropology of Media. 

She holds a BA from Haverford College and a MA and PhD from the University of Texas, Austin. 

Sarah T. Romano is Assistant Professor of Political Science and Global Studies in the Social Science Division. Her research in Nicaragua and the U.S. examines how societal actors engage in environmental management and decision-making, with an emphasis on state-society relations and new forms of political engagement in public policy processes. She teaches in the areas of Latin American politics, international relations, social movements, globalization, politics of developing states, and environmental politics and policy.

Sarah holds a BA from the University of Puget Sound in Spanish and International Affairs and a PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in Politics and Latin American & Latino Studies.  Her personal website is: https://sarahtromano.org.