Faculty and Staff
Department Chair | Dept. Administrative Aides | Full-time Faculty | Part-time Faculty
Department Chair
Email: katya.salmi@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7480
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 231
Educational Background
BA, History and Anthropology, University of Toronto, CanadaMA, Human Rights, University College, London
PhD, Sociology, University of Sussex, UK
Department Administrative Aides
Email: Raana.Hughson@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5545
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, RC 200
Email: Christina.Roskovich@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5246
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 233
Full-time Faculty
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, RC 110A
Biography
Abdullah Alnassar is a Sociologist who earned his PhD from George Mason University, where his research focused on the intersection of race and religious identity. His work and teaching interests have since expanded to explore a wide range of social issues, including popular culture, media, inequality, and the ways social forces shape everyday life. Alongside his academic work, Dr. Alnassar has a strong background in workforce and career development, helping students connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world goals. He is passionate about making sociology practical, relevant, and accessible, and he encourages students to use sociological thinking both inside and outside the classroom to better understand society, navigate the workforce, and achieve their personal and professional goals.Education Background
PhD, George Mason University
Email: cassandra.carter@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5069
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 234
Biography
Cassandra (Carter) Tufly is an Associate Professor of Sociology whose work examines health equity, global social inequalities, and the role of food systems in shaping individual and community well-being. Her research and professional experience focus on how social, economic, and policy structures influence access to nutritious food, preventive care, and healthy lifestyles across diverse populations in the United States and globally. She brings applied experience from large-scale health and social policy initiatives into the classroom, emphasizing global perspectives, social determinants of health, and food as a lens for understanding inequality. Her teaching encourages students to connect sociological theory to real-world challenges related to health, wellness, movement and social justice. Professor Carter is committed to student-centered learning, community engagement, and preparing students for careers in public service, global health, and equity-focused fields.Educational Background
BA, Sociology, SUNY Albany
MA, Sociology, SUNY Albany
PhD, Sociology, SUNY Albany
Email: naliyah.kaya@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5774
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, RC 203C
Biography
In addition to being a public sociologist, Dr. Kaya is a spoken word poet, jewelry
maker, and mixed media artist. She centers her energy on the intersections of art
and activism (e.g., artivism) focusing on counter narratives, the self, multiraciality—specifically
mixed Middle Eastern & North African experiences, antiracism, leadership, ableism
& accessibility, and supporting justice-impacted community members.
Selected works include:
- “Existing In-Between: Embodying the Synergy of My Ancestors” in Multiracial Experiences in Higher Education: Contesting Knowledge, Honoring Voice, and Innovating Practice (2021).
- “Challenging and Changing Racial Categories? Interracial Marriage and Multiracial Americans” in Race and Ethnicity: Sociology in Action (2021).
Dr. Kaya organizes arts programming as a member of the Executive Committee for the
Critical Mixed Race Studies Association (CMRSA) and has served as a cultural consultant,
guest lecturer, and evaluator for multiple cross-cultural community-based art exhibits.
She previously served as the Coordinator for Multiracial & Native American/Indigenous
Student Involvement at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) where she continues
to teach TOTUS Spoken Word Experience for the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House in collaboration
with the Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy.
Educational Background
AAS, Shoreline Community CollegeBA, Sociology, Hampton University
MA, Sociology, George Mason University
PhD, Sociology, George Mason University
Email: daniel.santore@montgmerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5071
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 235
Biography
Dr. Santore received his Doctorate in Sociology and Master's degree in Women's Studies at SUNY- Albany, in New York. Dr. Santore has spent the past six years teaching Sociology, and has been at the Rockville Campus of Montgomery College since 2009. His teaching and research interests include sociological theory, gender, and families, and he has published several articles and essays on these topics. In addition to his regular classroom duties, Dr. Santore has worked with students as a personal and group tutor for introductory Sociology courses. Having just moved to Montgomery County, Dr. Santore has felt warmly welcomed by his students and colleagues at MC and enjoys being teased by students and faculty alike for his New York sports affiliations.Educational Background
BA, Sociology, University at Albany, S.U.N.Y.
MA, Women’s Studies, University at Albany, S.U.N.Y
PhD, Sociology, University at Albany, S.U.N.Y.
Email: Camille.Sola@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5899
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 230
Biography
Professor Camille Solá earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy & Administration from the George Washington University, and also holds an M.A. in Sociology as well as a B.A in Political Science from the University of Puerto Rico. Professor Solá is passionate about issues of social justice and has studied and researched various aspects of race in the Puerto Rican criminal justice system, and the racialization of political rhetoric in the run up to the Trump presidency. Professor Solá is interested in analyzing multiple forms of otherization and how these forces shape our opportunities, the institution and structures that define opportunity, and ultimately, us. Her goal in teaching sociology is to have students grasp the value of acquiring an in depth understanding of the role that social forces play in our everyday lives, and how this knowledge can be used to question and challenge inequitable social arrangements. Having students feel empowered to apply the information explored each semester to their lives is a fundamental priority of Professor Solá.Educational Background
BA, Political Science, University of Puerto RicoMA in Sociology, University of Puerto Rico
PhD, Public Policy & Administration, George Washington University
Email: tracie.witte@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-328-5429
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 229
Biography
Dr. Tracie Witte completed her doctoral dissertation at Rutgers University in 2013. Her research examined factors that impact the likelihood that states will pass medical marijuana legislation. Her previous research includes: looking at ways individuals used the internet as a tool for deliberative democracy after the September 11th tragedy, the portrayal of marijuana in news magazines, and topics of drug use and abuse, policy formation, crime and deviance, and media studies.Dr. Witte has taught at Rutgers University, Drew University, and Raritan Valley Community College. The classes she taught included: Introduction to Sociology, Contemporary Social Issues, Sociology of Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse, Sociology of Deviant Behavior, and Sociology of the Family.
Dr. Witte earned a 2003-2004 Harold Martin Eagleton Fellowship. The fellowship gives a select group of scholars an opportunity to further their interdisciplinary understanding of the practice of politics and public affairs, and connect that knowledge to a chosen field. She is passionate about teaching and the field of Sociology. She strives to create a sense of community in the classroom, where students become critically engaged not only with the course material, but also the world around them.
Educational Background
BA, Sociology, Skidmore CollegeMA, Sociology, Rutgers University
PhD, Sociology, Rutgers University
Email: kevin.gibbons@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7485
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 232
Biography
Dr. Kevin Gibbons has taught anthropology and archaeology at Montgomery College since 2019. He has also taught at American University and the University of Maryland.Dr. Gibbon’s research is as a zoo archaeologist, using animal remains from archaeological sites to address questions. Those questions are about breeding and improvement, economics of livestock husbandry, land degradation, and social inequality in post-medieval and early-modern Iceland. He did his research through the lens of historical ecology and human eco dynamics. Dr. Gibbons has done fieldwork in Iceland, the Caribbean, England, and the United States.
Dr. Gibbons views anthropology as a vital function in encouraging curiosity in the world and people around us. This happens by promoting critical thinking habits and nurturing students to be informed and empathetic global citizens. He frames his courses around environmental literacy and social and ecological resilience.
Educational Background
AA, Liberal Arts, Young Harris CollegeBA, Anthropology, University of Georgia
MSc, Environmental Archaeology & Palaeoeconomy, University of Sheffield
PhD, Anthropology, University of Maryland
Email: sean.fay@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-7479
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 204
Biography
Professor Sean Fay earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Prior to law school, he worked in law enforcement as a police officer and probation and parole agent in South Carolina. Professor Fay began his teaching career at Montgomery in 2005. He previously taught at the Department of Public Safety and Law at Prince George’s Community College. Professor Fay is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.Educational Background
BS, Criminal Justice, Marist CollegeMA, Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Maryland
JD, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Email: bridget.lowrie@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5143
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 227
Biography
Bridget (Wyant) Lowrie began teaching her teaching career in 2013 after practicing law for nearly ten years, including as a prosecutor in the Dorchester and Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Offices. Before becoming a prosecutor, she clerked for Judge Thomas C. Groton and Judge Theodore R. Eschenburg, Sr. in the Circuit Court for Worcester County.Bridget earned her Associate of Arts from Prince George’s Community College and then transferred to American University to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After working in the Government Affairs Office for Honda North America, she attended the University of Maryland School of Law. There, she was an associate editor of the Maryland Law Review and a Rosa Zetzer Fellow, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.
Active in civic organizations, Bridget has served on the boards of Second Wind, a halfway house for those struggling with addiction, and Mid-Shore Pro Bono. She is also a past president of the Dorchester County Bar Association and currently serves on the advisory board for Dorchester County Career and Technology Center’s Homeland Security program.
Educational Background
AA, Prince George’s Community CollegeBA, Political Science, American University
JD, University of Maryland School of Law
Email: Sonia.pruitt@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-4324
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 226
Biography
Sonia Pruitt is a retired captain of the Montgomery County Police Department. She holds a B.S. in criminal justice and an M.A. in forensic psychology. She is also the founder of the Black Police Experience, which aims to educate on the intersection of law enforcement and race. To give back to the community, Sonia sits on the board of directors of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, working toward criminal justice and police reform.Educational Background
BS, Criminal Justice, University of Maryland
MS, Forensic Psychology, Argosy University
Part-time Faculty
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, RC 111
Educational Background
BA, Sociology, University of Maryland Global CampusMA, Sociology, Arizona State University
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 224
Biography
Naaman Foster has been teaching at Montgomery College since August 2008. In addition to teaching, he has over 20 years of management and supervisory experience in project development. His areas of focus include programming, non-violence crisis intervention, and other areas of social service. Professor Foster also provides face-to-face and online instruction to medically-fragile students who no longer attend their regular MCPS school.Educational Background
BA, Sociology, College of IdahoMA, Guidance & Counseling, University of Idaho
MAT, Education, University of Idaho
Email: ann.johnson2@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5246
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 224
Biography
Dr. Ann Johnson began teaching Sociology at Montgomery College in 2015. Her academic
areas of focus include social justice and equity, health and wellness, sports, and
labor.
Dr. Johnson’s research includes the 1992 Los Angeles Police Department beating of
motorist Rodney King and its aftermath of civil unrest. Along with a research team
at George Mason University, she studied the jail aversion strategies of problem-solving
courts regarding use of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence.
Prior to a career in academia, Dr. Johnson worked in human services and community
mental health. She held a 5-year term as Chairperson of a Human Rights Committee in
the VA Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Her work in sociology
is informed by her scholarly pursuits, background in human services, and commitment
to individual and community advancement.
Educational Background
PhD, George Mason UniversityAnthropology
Office Location: Germantown Campus, HS 185
Biography
Lauren Bokor was initially inspired to study archaeology at Montgomery College. After transferring to the University of Maryland, she majored in Anthropology and minored in Archaeology. At the same time, she earned a certificate from Montgomery College in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems.Lauren spent two field seasons excavating Iron Age harbor sites in Sweden with Gotland Archaeological Field School. She then moved to Gotland to attend Uppsala University’s Archaeology graduate program. During that time, she also instructed at the field school and began a Cultural Resource Management internship. After completing her thesis, she stayed in Sweden to work in CRM and archaeological education.
In Maryland, Lauren has worked as an archaeology and museum educator in Montgomery County. She also returned to Montgomery College to study Science in Geography. Her research interests include Gotlandic archaeology, human geography and landscape use, North Atlantic prehistory and history, the re-use of ancient monuments and materials, and experimental archaeology. In 2025, she began teaching at MC, where her style is based on fostering curiosity, empathy, and enthusiasm.
Outside of the classroom, she can be found in the woods or on the water, exploring the places where nature and people interact. She also enjoys experimenting with past methods of textile production and agriculture.
Educational Background
AAS, Applied Geography, Montgomery CollegeBA, Anthropology, University of Maryland
MA, Archaeology, Uppsala University
Office Location: Germantown Campus
Biography
Dr. Joseph received her doctorate in anthropology from the University of Georgia and completed a two-year Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship from Brandeis University in demography. She also holds a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the Catholic University of America. Before teaching at Montgomery College's Rockville campus, Dr Joseph was an associate professor of anthropology at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to that, she held a full-time faculty position at Zayed University's Abu Dhabi campus where she taught major and elective courses in international studies for the culture and society concentration. Her research and teaching interests in anthropology range widely and include anthropological demography, social inequality, violence and sociality, and research methods and theory. She has published several articles in academic journals (American Anthropologist and Current Anthropology) and authored a monograph titled Fertile Bonds (2017, University Press of Florida).Educational Background
BA, Anthropology, University of Central Florida
MS, Library and Information Science, The Catholic University of America
PhD, Anthropology, University of Georgia
Email: ronald.nunn@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5246
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 224
Biography
Ronald Nunn’s first exposure to anthropology was as a high school student attending
a boarding school in the hills of South India. He did his undergrad in anthropology
at Auburn University in Alabama with a minor in agriculture. In 1981, he started his
graduate school at American University, where he received a Masters of Arts. He worked
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and then was hired to work in Kenya under
a USAID project to help computerize the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.
After the USAID contract ended he became a consultant and then an entrepreneur starting
a private computer business in Nairobi, Kenya.
In 1994 he started the first "commercial" e-mail service in Kenya known as ThornTree
Communications. In 1998,he began a business Known as "AnthroTours" in which he re-discovered
his interest in Archaeology taking tour groups to Koobie Fora on Lake Turkana in Northern
Kenya and to Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. In 2000, he returned to the United States
and began doing contract archaeology in the Washington D.C. Area. In 2003, he joined
the Montgomery College and continue teaching anthropology and archaeology in Montgomery
College students.
Educational Background
BA, Anthropology, Auburn University
MA, Anthropology, American University
Office Location: Germantown Campus
Biography
Dirk Parham is a cognitive scientist interested in how culture and the individual interact in a reciprocal cognitive dynamic. He began teaching at Montgomery College in 2020. He has also taught at the University of Maryland, Howard Community College, and State College of Florida. He is retired from the Air Force and his interests include travel, touching animals most people won't touch, good food, and scuba diving.Educational Background
AA, Computer and Information Sciences, Community College of the Air ForceBS, Psychology, University of Maryland
MA, Applied Anthropology, University of Maryland - University College
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 224
Biography
Tara Tetrault was awarded a Shoenberg Fellowship in 2023 for her research on 20th-century midwifery public laws. She is an archaeologist who has worked on many prehistoric and historic sites in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Tetrault has previously worked for the National Park Service, State Office of Archaeology in Maryland, D.C. State Historic Preservation Office, and local CRM organizations. She also consults with private archeology companies.For her Masters of Applied Anthropology degree, she completed an ethno-archaeology field project on Akan pottery villages in Ghana, West Africa. She earned a second degree in African American Archaeology and Material Culture and researched early 19th-century African American communities in Maryland. In 2021, she helped publish an Archaeology teaching module for MCPS middle schools.
Educational Background
MA, Anthropology, University of Maryland
Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, RC 111
Biography
Dr. Michel Tinguiri began teaching Anthropology at Montgomery College since 2010. He brings over 25 years of distinguished teaching and research experience. Dr. Tinguiri has authored five books and published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include social capital, displacement and resettlement, second language acquisition, the intersection of technology and humanities, as well as African cultures.Fluent in French, English, Spanish, and several African languages, Dr. Tinguiri brings international perspectives to his classroom instruction. As a visual artist, he incorporates creative methodologies into his anthropological pedagogy, enriching student understanding of cultural expression and human experience.
Educational Background
MA, Translation (French-English-Spanish), University of Ouagadougou - Burkina FasoMA, Linguistics, Syracuse University
PhD, Cultural Anthropology, American University
Professional Certificates
- University Teaching Certificate, Syracuse University
- MicroMasters Certificate/Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology, University of Maryland Global Campus
- Professional TESOL Certificate, Arizona State University
- MicroMasters Certificate in Project Management, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Professional Certificate in Leadership and Management in Education, University of Newcastle
- Certificate in Foundation of Generative AI, Udacity
Email: barbara.wolff@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5246
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 224
Biography
Barbara Wolff teaches Sociocultural Anthropology and Archaeology at MC. She earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology at Catholic University, specializing in the archaeology of Wari, the earliest empire in the Andes. She continues to investigate ancient urbanism and economic specialization as Co-Director of the Wari Urban Prehistory Project in Ayacucho, Peru, where she also works with fiber artisans to document fiber production and increase awareness of Andean fiber arts. Dr. Wolff has also worked as an applied anthropologist, international trade specialist and information systems requirements analyst at USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, and in museum collections management at the Smithsonian Institution. She grew up in Northern Virginia and is a roots music aficionado.Educational Background
BA, Anthropology, George Washington University
MA, Anthropology, Catholic University of America
PhD, Anthropology, Catholic University of America
Email: daniel.barnett@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5246
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 224
Biography
Dan Barnett was a criminal prosecutor for 30 years and has been teaching criminal
justice at Montgomery College for since 2007. As a prosecutor, Dan was a front-line
trial attorney handling cases involving homicide, domestic violence, home invasions,
armed robbery and more.
For 10 years, Dan led the largest team of prosecutors in Montgomery County and was
responsible for approximately 25,000 criminal cases per year. He then worked for the
Maryland Attorney General as lead prosecutor. While there, he held the secondary title
of director of their criminal division, focusing on public corruption, gun trafficking,
gang violence, Medicaid fraud, and environmental crimes. Dan was one of the first
prosecutors who was specially trained to handle domestic violence cases in Maryland.
He also successfully prosecuted one of the first defendants under the Maryland criminal
race hate statute. Dan helped establish Montgomery County Drug Court.
In 2014, Dan was appointed Deputy Attorney General. In that role, he led 1,000 public
servants responsible for consumer protection, criminal enforcement, securities violations,
and environmental prosecutions.
Educational Background
BA, Urban Studies, University of MarylandJD, American University