Patricia Behre, Associate Professor of History

Dr. Patricia Behre received her Ph.D. from Yale University and has been a member of the Fairfield History Department since 1991. She has research specialties in Early Modern French history and Jewish-Christian relations. Outside of the academic setting, she enjoys visiting her home town of New Orleans, following sports teams from New Orleans, and telling people where to eat in New Orleans.

Robert Epstein, Associate Professor of English

Professor Epstein received his PhD from Princeton University and joined the Fairfield University English Department in 1998. His primary research and teaching interests are in Chaucer and medieval English literature, but he also teaches classes on Renaissance literature, Celtic myths and legends, and the historical representation of Eve, as well as fairy tales and folklore. In his spare time he enjoys reading and he is an aficionado of audiobooks. He lives in Fairfield with his wife and two sons.

Olivia Harriott, Associate Professor of Biology

Professor Harriott received her Ph. D. in microbiology in 1994 from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. She was a postdoctoral research fellow at Rutgers University before joining the faculty at Fairfield University in 1997. Professor Harriott teaches courses in general microbiology, bacterial pathogenesis and DNA science. In addition to teaching, Prof. Harriott maintains an active research lab where she trains undergraduates in environmental microbiology research.

Leeah Joo, Part-time Professor of Studio Art

Professor Leeah Joo received her MFA from the Yale School of Art and has been a member of Fairfield's Studio Art department since 2012. Her paintings and drawings focus on Korean folktale and the Asian-American experience. She teaches traditional concepts and methods in oil painting.When not in her studio or classroom, she enjoys going to museums and plays.She lives in CT with her husband and two children.

Philip J. Lane, Chair and Associate Professor of Economics

Professor Philip Lane received his Ph.D. from Tufts University in 1983 and has been teaching at Fairfield University since 1981. He studies financial markets and institutions with a focus on community banks. He continues to work with the community bankers through the Stonier School of Banking of the American Bankers Association. He has been named teacher and advisor of the year by his students at Fairfield University. He has two daughters who are both teaching and coaching lacrosse. He is a practicing golfer and skier who enjoys community service through his local Rotary Club as well as the Knights of Columbus.

Ioanna Opidee, part-time professor of English

Professor Opidee has been teaching at Fairfield University since 2008. During that time, she earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Fairfield. She also holds an MA in English from the University of Massachusetts Boston, as well as a BA in English from Boston College. Her work has appeared in several magazines and literary journals including Lumina, Drunken Boat, Serendipity, Folio, and New Haven, and she is currently working on a novel and a collection of essays. She has also served as nonfiction co-editor and editor-in-chief of Mason's Road, the online literary journal sponsored by Fairfield University's low-residency MFA in Creative Writing.

Margo Ramlal-Nankoe, Assistant Professor of Sociology

Professor Ramlal-Nankoe received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Binghamton University where she studied with Immanuel Wallerstein. She joined the Fairfield Sociology and Anthropology department in 2011.She has lived for a substantial amount of time in three continents: South America/Caribbean, Europe, and the United States. Her research, teaching, and publications focus on the welfare state, and human services, globalization, global Inequality, the Caribbean, as well as race, gender, and ethnicity. She enjoys music, film, museums, service to the community, interreligious dialogue, soccer, biking, walking, reading, cooking dishes from different parts of the world, dining with family and friends, and working on projects with students.

James Simon, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of English

Professor James Simon received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University and has been a member of Fairfield’s English Department since 1997. His research specialty is political and environmental reporting. Outside of the academic setting, he enjoys trying to set the world record for the most classic rock songs ever collected by one person on iTunes (26,000 and counting).

Brian Torff, Professor of Music

Professor Brian Torff has been teaching Jazz, Rock, and World Music at Fairfield University since 1993. His band, The Phantom Pluckers is a dynamic four-piece rock band that combines fresh, original songwriting with high musicianship. Bassist, vocalist, and composer Brian Torff leads Phantom Pluckers using his extensive jazz background to craft tight arrangements for vocals, guitar, saxophone, bass and drums. Formed in 2012, the band has played numerous shows in the Northeast, recorded an EP and has released live performance material on YouTube. This new band is very different from most indie bands with its tightly scored sound that incorporates blues, rock, world music and jazz styles. (photo by Jack Beggs)