Kevin T. Brady, Ph.D. has founded and serves as President of the American Institute for History Education (AIHE). Dr. Brady directs and services roughly 50 Teaching American History grant projects, conducts teacher workshops and colloquia for the Institute, serves as editor and project manager of the NJ Italian, Italian-American inclusion curriculum for the State of New Jersey and writes curricula for national organizations.

Dr. Brady has served as an assistant professor of education at Georgian Court University and as the Director of High School Operations at the Rutgers/LEAP Academy University High School. He had also served as Director of the Rutgers University Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership’s Institute for Best Practices and Innovations in Urban Education at Rutgers University, Camden, prior to his appointment to LEAP.

Previously, Dr. Brady held the position of Vice President of Education Programs at the Bill of Rights Institute in Washington , DC . He authored and directed the production of the Bill of Rights and You: Teacher’s Guide, numerous historical and educational articles, lessons, curricula, and newsletters. He also coordinated the content of the Institute’s interactive educational website. Additionally, Dr. Brady designed and facilitated teacher seminars and teacher workshops across the nation. He created and ran the Bill of Rights Institute’s Summer Institute for Teachers at George Mason University, School of Law.

Dr. Brady taught Social Studies in both New Jersey and Philadelphia . He has planned, produced, and taught courses in many subject areas, including U. S. History, Western Civilization, World History, Ethnic Studies, Law, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, and Philosophy. In addition to teaching high school, he served as an adjunct professor of history at Temple University, Camden County College and Cumberland County College . On the collegiate level, Dr. Brady has taught U. S. History and World History, as well as Western Civilization, Irish/Irish-American History, and various Education courses.

Dr. Brady helped generate the New Jersey Social Studies Curriculum Frameworks for the Core Content Standards. He also contributed to, helped to produce, and edited the guidelines and the historical outline for the New Jersey Social Studies High School Proficiency Assessments and the Frameworks’ historical outline. Presently, Dr. Brady sits on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Council for the Social Studies and the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Council of History Education.

Dr. Brady received both his Doctorate and Masters Degree in history from Temple University. He earned his Bachelors Degree, with high honors, from the University of Scranton, where he majored in history, with minors in philosophy and theology.

Born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, author, educator, and distinguished lecturer, Dr. Yohuru Williams, has worked with more than forty school districts on Teaching American History Grants around the nation from Alabama to Alaska.  He is one of AIHE's most requested presenters.

Dr. Williams is currently Associate Professor of History and Co-Director of Black Studies at Fairfield University. He received his Ph.D. from Howard University in 1998.

Dr. Williams is the author of Black Politics/White Power: Civil Rights Black Power and Black Panthers in New Haven (Brandywine Press, 2000) and A Constant Struggle: African-American History from 1865 to the Present Documents and Essays (Kendall Hunt, 2002). His most recent book, In Search of the Black Panther, which he co-edited with Jama Lazerow of Wheelock College, was published in 2006 by Duke University Press. He also served as general editor for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's 2002 and 2003 Black History Month publications, The Color Line Revisited (Tapestry Press, 2002) and The Souls of Black Folks: Centennial Reflections (Africa World Press, 2003). Dr. Williams served as an advisor on the popular civil rights reader Putting the Movement Back into teaching Civil Rights.

Dr. Williams' scholarly articles have appeared in The Black Scholar, The Journal of Black Studies, Pennsylvania History, Delaware History, and the Black History Bulletin. He has another forthcoming book from Duke University Press on the Black Panther Party which he also co-edited with Jama Lazerow of Wheelock College entitled Liberated Territory: toward a Local History of the Black Panther Party. Dr. Williams is also presently finishing up a single authored book entitled Six Degrees of Segregation: Lynching, Capital Punishment and Jim Crow Justice 1865-1930.

Marnie Meyer grew up in South Jersey and graduated with a BA in English from Rowan College of NJ.  After spending nearly 10 years as an office manager, she started her own business as a freelance bookkeeper and provided business management, bookkeeping, and payroll services for a number of small businesses in the South Jersey area.

Marnie began working as the Administrative Director for the Institute on a full time basis in June of 2006, and as such, she overseas the daily operations of the AIHE office.

 Dr. Bill Ross is a veteran teacher with over 30 years experience at the middle school, high school, college and graduate levels. As the Director of Professional Development Services for The National Council for History Education, he has been involved in professional development for over eighty Teaching American History Grant programs in 28 states. 

Bill received a doctorate in curriculum and instruction/social studies education from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1990. His dissertation topic dealt with utilizing local history to embellish macro-level American history. Bill's articles, publications and presentations have centered on teaching techniques for the history and geography classroom. His major research interests include local history use in the classroom, oral history, mnemonic devices, humor in the classroom, chronology improvement in students, military history and the relationship between geography and history.  Bill, the 1994 Ohio High School History Teacher of the Year, is an Ohio native and Marine Corps veteran.

CICERO: History Beyond the Textbook™ is an interactive website that provides teachers a multitude of professional development vehicles offering both substantive historical content and superior methods and formulas to bring historical content into the classroom.

Mr. Anthony Fitzpatrick is a veteran teacher and supervisor born and raised in Haddon Township, NJ.  As a teacher, Mr. Fitzpatrick taught courses in United States, World, and European History to students that ranged in ability levels from special needs to Advanced Placement.  As a supervisor, he chaired regional curriculum alignment committees, observed and coached effective teaching strategies, and in-serviced educators on incorporating technology into their classrooms.   

Mr. Fitzpatrick earned a Bachelor's Degree in History from Rowan University and a Master's in Educational Administration from Rowan.  He currently resides in Collingswood, NJ.

Larry Greene received his Ph.D. in 1979 from Columbia University. He is Professor of History at Seton Hall University. He is presently the Chair of the Board of the New Jersey (State) Historical Commission. Greene specializes in American History and teaches courses in the areas of the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era, African American History, and the World War II period. He is the co-author of the African American Curriculum Guide and co-editor of Slavery: Its Origins and Legacy. During the 2005-2006 academic year he was a Fulbright fellow at the University of Muenster in Germany where he was a co-organizer of the international conference, "Crossovers: African Americans and Germany." Professor Greene has held research grants from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and NEH Summer Grants. He is presently working on two books: Disturbing Images, Conflicting Perceptions: The Third Reich Press and the African American Press and Harlem Expatriates in Europe: 1900-1960. He previously served as the chair of the History Department and Director of the Multicultural Program at Seton Hall University. He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of African American History (formerly the Journal of Negro History). His articles on various aspects of Harlem life and personalities have appeared in Prospects: An Annual of American Cultural Studies, Telos: A Quarterly Journal of Critical Thought, Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance, and Afro-Americans in New York Life and History.

 Robert Longo is a veteran teacher and supervisor of Social Studies who has taught 6 th grade through college level, teaching almost all the courses in the Social Studies curriculum, from AP level students to at-risk students in an alternative high school program. As a supervisor he has been active in professional development of teachers and in curriculum design from grades k-12. In one of his teaching assignments, when he could not find a textbook that worked for his course, he wrote his own, liberally interspersed with relevant primary source documents. While at Sparta High School, Mr. Longo succeeded in getting his department’s program recognized by the State of New Jersey as a Holocaust Education Demonstration Site. As co-president of the school’s Technology Committee, he alsowas apresenter at several statewide workshops for teachers. No stranger to historic sites, Mr. Longo has organized numerous field trips to sites throughout the northeast for his classes and for tour groups of visiting students from Europe, Asia and Latin America.

A native of New Jersey, Mr. Longo now lives with his family in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Zahniser has been involved in computer technology for well over 25 years. After graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1986 with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Mr. Zahniser joined a fast growing upstart called Sun Microsystems. During his time at Sun, Mr. Zahniser saw the evolution of the desktop computer and the beginnings of today’s ubiquitous Internet. Following a 7-year consulting career in Sun's Professional Services Organization, Mr. Zahniser left to focus on providing Internet-based solutions to the online community. After his regionally-based company was sold to a global systems integrator in 2000, Mr. Zahniser remained on as a consultant focused on highly-available business solutions. In 2006, Mr. Zahniser received his Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, the information security industry’s premier security certification. Mr. Zahniser started as a consultant with AIHE in 2007 and came on board full-time early in 2008. Mr. Zahniser brings to AIHE a strong background in open systems and business solutions. With his security background, Mr. Zahniser is committed to ensuring the security and privacy of data collected as a result of our various online products such as CiceroHistory.com.

Ken Gavin joined the staff at the American Institute for History Education in January of 2007 and serves as Director of Fellowship Programs. Ken came to the Institute after working as a public relations and institutional advancement professional for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary for six years. In those roles he acted as a liaison with local and national media outlets and took a lead role in various fundraising initiatives.

Ken is also an active living historian serving with Company C, 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, a Philadelphia-based Civil War reenactment unit that participates in numerous educational programs each year. He is also the current Commander of Anna M. Ross Camp 1, Department of Pennsylvania, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, which is a descendents organization dedicated to historic preservation and commemoration of veterans.

Originally from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Ken is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of La Salle University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minors in American History and Spanish.

Matthew Galella joined the staff at the American Institute for History Education in September 2007 following a career in the newspaper and publishing industries.

During his 20 years in newspapers, Mr. Galella served as a reporter, copy editor, layout editor, winter sports columnist and assistant sports editor. He worked for the Ocean County (N.J.) Observer for five years and then spent 15 years at The News Journal in Wilmington, Del. During that time, he was selected for a five-month loanership at USA TODAY as a copy editor.

Mr. Galella also worked for nine years as a managing editor and team director for StayWell Custom Communications in Yardley, Pa. In those roles, he oversaw staff and served hospital and managed care clients in producing and publishing their quarterly health and wellness newsletters.

Mr. Galella, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland, resides in Mantua, N.J., with his wife and two children.

Bob Shamy has devoted 39 years to public school education in New Jersey. He spent the first 32 years as a teacher in grades 4-12, with most of that time devoted to teaching anthropology, archaeology, and social psychology to high school students, and the last 7 years as the District Supervisor for Social Studies and Media with East Brunswick Public Schools. He has served on numerous state committees and advisory boards working on state standards and social studies related projects. He has received three Fulbright Fellowships to study in China, India and Japan, in addition to having worked on archaeological sites in Lebanon and the United States.

In addition to being named Middlesex County Teacher of the Year, Bob has won many awards for teaching and curriculum development. Bob is now the Director of Professional Development Services with the American Institute for History Education.

Laureen M. Hungo, a certified elementary and early childhood teacher, comes to the American Institute for History Education with 13 years of teaching experience. Some of her previous teaching experiences include Woodland Country Day School in Bridgeton, N.J.; Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Boonton, N.J.; Holding Hands Family Care Center in Mullica Hill, N.J.; and Children’s Garden in Sparta, N.J. Laureen has served on several committees such as Long Range Planning, Science, and Library Committees. She has fulfilled many roles as Kindergarten Coordinator and Lead Teacher with administrative duties. She also aided in the process for Middle States re-accreditation of her school.

Laureen began writing lesson material for AIHE’s Liberty CD-ROM series as an Outsource Writer and later became AIHE’s Instructional Design and Curriculum Editor. She continues to write teaching material for AIHE’s signature product CICERO: History Beyond the Textbook^TM, an online teaching history resource. She leads the structuring and review process for AIHE’s Outsource Writers’ work and is dedicated to creating a strong social studies curriculum and program for elementary teachers.

Through AIHE, Laureen is a nationally and internationally published author of elementary level history materials. Her work can be found in the New Jersey Italian and Italian American Heritage Commission’s curriculum on Italian and American societies and the New Jersey Network’s program Ten Crucial Days, on the Battles of Princeton and Trenton.

Laureen is the owner and president of Concepts in Education LLC, which offers elementary level curriculum consulting, teacher workshops, and supplemental tutoring for students. She has also authored a series of historical children’s books and accompanying teacher manuals. Her books include George Washington’s Journal, My Friend: Benjamin Franklin, Dear Mr. Hamilton, and Living with the Adams Family.

Laureen resides in New Jersey with her husband, Jack, and their children.  

Winnie grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Winnie comes to AIHE with over thirty years of experience working in accounting departments at various businesses.

Jackie joins the American Institute for History Education with over 15 years of experience in the administration and human resources fields. For 10 years she worked as an employee consultant in Philadelphia. Most recently, she has been involved with a full range of generalist duties as well as recruitment. Her employee consultant experience helps her better communicate with colleagues and clients alike.

Jackie was born and raised in the South Jersey area, where she continues to live with her two daughters.

Stepfon Wallace was born and raised in Southern New Jersey.  He serves as an Education Programs Associate for the American Institute for History Education.  He received his B.A. in History in the Fall of 2007.  He was brought onto the AIHE staff as a Writer in September of 2007, and was brought on to his current full-time position in the Products Department in January of 2008.  He interned with the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, where he spent the semester cataloguing memorabilia for the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers.  While he continues to write on the CICERO project he has recently begun working on the new AIHE project Amistad.

Mr. Riess is a South Jersey native, having graduated in 2004 from Eastern Regional High School. Following high school. Mr. Riess graduated from a regional technical institute where he polished his web development and graphics skills, as well as his overall knowledge of computer systems. Mr. Riess has designed and programmed many websites, and prides himself on creating solutions that are user friendly, efficient and pleasing to view.

Marjory Tuff grew up in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and attended Pennsauken Schools before graduating in 1998. She has always loved history, writing and research. She pursued her love of history at Rowan University, where she is scheduled to receive a B.A. in History with a concentration in African-American Studies in the summer of 2008. Marjory is looking forward to contributing to the ongoing writing and research at the American Institute for History Education.

Marjory, who lives in Merchantville, N.J., also enjoys working in the education field. While attending Rowan, she obtained a certification to substitute teach in Camden and Burlington counties. She finds substituting very fulfilling and hopes to touch the lives of students and inspire them to reach for their dreams and goals through her writing and personal experiences.

Jeannie Bray was born and raised in South Jersey. She earned her associate's degree from Gloucester County College, in Deptford, N.J., and is currently working on her bachelor's degree at Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J.

Jeannie started with the American Institute for History Education in 2007 during an internship where she worked on the CICERO: History Beyond the Textbook™ project. In that role she helped write and edit materials for CICERO. She rejoined AIHE in our Fellowship Program, helping to make our outreach programs and trips for teachers successful.

Jeannie has worked for four years in a local public school. This experience has provided her with the background to understand many of the needs our teachers face in educating our children.

Linda Cullison joined the American Institute for History Education (AIHE) as an administrative associate in the summer of 2008. She comes to AIHE with more than 11 years of experience working as a national account manager. Linda’s service in this capacity has enabled her to understand and meet the demands and needs of customers. This experience also allows her to aid in the working relationship between AIHE and its customers.

A native Philadelphian, Linda resides in Woolwich Township, N.J., with her husband and three children.

Mr. Nick DiGregory serves as a Colloquia Site Coordinator for the American Institute for History Education (AIHE).Before joining AIHE; Mr. DiGregory was employed as an instructional supervisor of social studies at Delsea Regional High School District in Franklinville, New Jersey. Mr. DiGregory was also the project director for the Ben Franklin Liberty Fellowship grant, issued by the U.S. Department of Education in conjunction with Teaching of American History initiative. Mr. DiGregory has also served as the instructional supervisor for the English, fine and performing arts, world language, and business departments. Before working in administration, Mr. DiGregory taught social studies and history courses at Delsea Regional High School. He has served as a consultant for the New Jersey Social Studies High School Proficiency Assessment Committee. Mr. DiGregory has also served as a consultant to the Bill of Rights Institute headquartered in Washington, D.C. He has also been an Advanced Placement reader for the College Board. Currently, Mr. DiGregory is the vice president of the New Jersey Council for the Social Studies.

Mr. DiGregory holds Bachelors degree in Social Studies education from East Stroudsburg University, a Master's degree in History from West Chester University, and a Masters degree in the Science of Instruction, from Drexel University. Mr. DiGregory was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society as a result of his graduate work in history. He has been listed in the U.S. Achievement Academy as an All American Scholar. Mr. DiGregory has also been listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and Who's Who in American Education.

Mr. Stephen Sokolewicz comes to the American Institute for History Education (AIHE) with 14 years in education.  Steve began his career as a history teacher in the CliftonPublic School system.  After mastering the traditional pedagogical offerings at Clifton, the opportunity to work at the Bergen Academies in Hackensack presented itself.  While expanding his professional craft, Mr. Sokolewicz obtained an MA in educational administration which led him to Jersey City as a District Supervisor of Social Studies and West Essex as Assistant Principal.

In addition to classroom responsibilities, Steve undertook various extra-curricular assignments as they related to the total educational experience.  From coaching to Student Council and Yearbook Advisorships Mr. Sokolewicz firmly believes that children best learn when provided every opportunity to showcase their individual talents.  That thought process surely helped as Mr. Sokolewicz successfully obtained the Teaching American History grant for two districts.

Finally, Mr. Sokolewicz looks forward to creating an environment that will challenge everyone to be the very best they can.  Everyone must have the opportunity to offer suggestions as well as learn the necessary information that will be used for all to excel.

It is an honor to work with the educators at AIHE.  A productive relationship in which both sides will strive to succeed at education's most important goal—creating productive members of our great society—can be achieved.

Michael B. O’Connell, EdD serves as the Project Director for The James Madison Liberty Fellowship Grant. The grant was awarded to Toms River Regional Schools in July of 2006 and will run until June of 2009. Toms River was awarded just under one million dollars for the three-year period.

Recently retired as the Curriculum Coordinator for the Toms River Regional Schools, Dr. O’Connell spent the past 31 years serving public education as a school principal, social studies supervisor, reading specialist, and classroom teacher.

Currently, Dr. O’Connell is an Adjunct Professor of Graduate Studies in the Ed Leadership Departments of both Kean University and New Jersey City University. In addition, he also serves as an Adjunct Professor of History in the Social Science Department of Ocean County College.

Dr. O’Connell is a frequent presenter both locally and regionally. He serves as a member of the New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey Council, Ocean County Education Commission, The College Board NJP20 Coalition, The College Board Major School Summit Panel and Northeast Summit Group, Kean University Middle School Council, and the Challenger Mission Council. Additionally, Dr. O’Connell was an original member/writer of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Social Studies.

Joe Polcha is a Northeast Pennsylvania native, recently relocating to New Jersey . He attended Scranton Technical High School (business/vocational course) and Lackawanna County Area Vocational Technical School . Continuing education at Star Technical Institute (Computer operation and business applications) as well as Pennsylvania State University and N.E.P.R.I.C. business development centers for business training and credits. Joe recently attended the University of Scranton SBDC to start an independent construction business that he operates on off hours.

Joe has worked for two fortune 500 companies. He serves at at MACtac Scranton facility (a Bemis Company) as Medical Systems Quality Technician and Quality Specialist. Prior to that, he worked as a CNC press brake Operator, a Department Group Leader, and as an independent training consultant for the Suckle Corporation/Global Metal Forms LLC of PA.

While in Northeast Pennsylvania , Joe also worked part time with Josh Jessey Contracting, gaining more experience in the contracting field. He also own owned his own home improvement and repair business for two years.