Department Chairs
Mar 2, 2026 9:00 AM
Education Professions
Dr. Janet A. Mattern is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Professions at Frostburg State University. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, a M.Ed. in Mathematics Education, and an Ed.D. in Special Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. With over three decades of experience in early childhood and elementary education, she focuses her research on learning, early intervention, teacher effectiveness, and digital literacy. She has been recognized with FSU’s President’s Distinguished Faculty Award for her contributions to teaching and scholarship.
Kinesiology & Recreation and Parks Management
Dr. Jackie Durst is the Department Chair of Kinesiology & Recreation and Parks Management, Associate Professor, and Athletic Training Program Director at Frostburg State University. She holds a Doctor of Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and athletic training degrees from California University of Pennsylvania and Frostburg State University. Her professional and research interests include athletic training leadership and administration, orthopedic assessment, gait analysis, and athletic training education pedagogy. Dr. Durst is dedicated to advancing the athletic training profession and preparing future practitioners for success.
Nursing
Dr. Kara Platt is the Chair and Associate Professor of Nursing at Frostburg State University and coordinator of the graduate nursing program. A founding member of the department, she began her career in labor and delivery and later earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Johns Hopkins University. She teaches undergraduate, graduate, and MBA healthcare leadership courses and collaborates internationally to support emerging nursing programs. Drawing on her own online learning experience, Dr. Platt is dedicated to mentoring students and supporting their success as they move into professional practice.
Physician Assistant Medicine
Dr. Laurarose Dunn-O’Farrell is the Program Director, Chair, and Assistant Professor at Frostburg State University. A Maryland native, she is completing a DMSc and PhD in Health Professions Education and holds degrees in physician assistant studies and applied psychology. She serves as President-Elect of the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants and on the Board Advisory Council for Maryland’s Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care initiative. She was the first PA in Maryland authorized to conduct psychiatric evaluations and telemental health appointments, and her work focuses on clinical leadership, education, and promoting equity and well-being.
Psychology and Social Work
Dr. Erica Hoy Kennedy is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology and Social Work at Frostburg State University. She earned her B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on animal learning and cognition, physiological psychology, and research methods, with particular emphasis on analogical reasoning in nonhuman animals, including capuchin monkeys and chimpanzees. Dr. Kennedy’s work has contributed to understanding the cognitive abilities of nonhuman primates and the mechanisms underlying learning and reasoning. In her role as department chair, she oversees academic programs, faculty, and research initiatives.