New faculty at NOVA-Manassas

Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College welcomed nine new faculty members at the start of the fall 2015 semester in subjects ranging from Chemistry and Biology to English as a Second Language and Art.

Chhandashri “Babi” Bhattacharya is an associate professor of chemistry. Previously, she was a full-time faculty member at Indiana University Southeast for four years and an adjunct at NOVA last year. She earned a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Calcutta, India.

Assistant Professor of Biology Vijaya Gandreti brings more than five years of teaching experience and several years of professional experience working in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. She earned a master’s degree in bioinformatics from George Mason University and a master’s degree in microbiology from Osmania University in India. Gandreti and her husband, Savith, live in South Riding with their two children.

Assistant Professor of Psychology Christopher A. Hafen has been a NOVA adjunct for the last two years. Previously, he spent five years as a full-time research faculty member at the University of Virginia Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning and also taught in the Psychology Department. He earned a doctorate from Florida Atlantic University after a bachelor’s degree at San Jose State University. Hafen and his wife, Kelsey, live in Bristow with their dog, Trooper.

History instructor Rebecca Harris-Scott is a former NOVA adjunct and she has also taught at Germanna Community College and Montgomery Community College. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in history at Montana State University, she earned a master’s degree in world history from George Mason University. Harris-Scott and her husband, Steven, live in Centreville.

George Lekakis is teaching in the English as a Second Language Program. He has been a NOVA adjunct for two years and has also taught English as a second language for Manassas City Public Schools and New York City Public Schools. He holds a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) from Long Island University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from the University at Albany, State University of New York. Lekakis and his wife, Amy Feinour, live in Warrenton with their 1-year-old twins, Chase Alexander and Chesney James.

Matt Pinney is an assistant professor of studio art who brings teaching experience gained as an adjunct at NOVA’s Annandale and Woodbridge campuses. He has also taught at Anne Arundel Community College and is an instructor at The Art League at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. He earned a master’s degree in fine arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Indiana University. Pinney lives in Washington, D.C.

Other new faculty are Tetteh Addy (physics), Phillip Ciarniello (English) and Victoria Hill-Megginson (administration of justice).