Millersville University Faculty Emeriti 2024
Dr. John Wallace, Professor of Biology Emeritus
Dr. John R. Wallace is a Retired Professor of Entomology in the Department of Biology, former Director of the Center of Environmental Sciences and Co-Coordinator of the Watershed Education Training Institute at Millersville University, Millersville, PA. He is a Fellow with the American Association of Forensic Sciences and is Diplomate status with the American Board of Forensic Entomology as one of 20 Board Certified Forensic Entomologists in North America. He is the former President and Co-founder of the non-profit organization, North American Forensic Entomology Association (NAFEA) and past Chair of the American Board of Forensic Entomology.
Dr. Wallace is a medical entomologist who’s research interests focus on understanding the role of biting flies in disease ecology of such diseases as West Nile virus, and most notably the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of the mycobacterial organism, Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli Ulcer, a necrotic skin disease that affects people living around the equatorial regions of the world, specifically in West Africa and Australia. He has worked on Buruli Ulcer in Australia, Ghana and Benin (West Africa) and serves on the Buruli Ulcer Transmission Working Group for the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. His research lab addressed the biological and mechanical transmission of Buruli Ulcer through field survey work and the application of vector competency studies in the lab to reduce human disease as well as the development of a systems-based approach towards an integrative management and control program for these potential insect vectors. Dr. Wallace has worked extensively on the control of nuisance invasive arthropods such as blackflies in New Jersey as well as crayfish and brown widows in Pennsylvania. He and his thesis students have conducted many studies on stream ecology e.g., stream restoration, crayfish diversity, microplastic and forensic microbiome projects with collaborators at outside institutions. Dr. Wallace has and continues to serve as an expert witness in criminal and civil cases involving insects and other arthropods, working on more than sixty cases some having been recognized or highlighted on television programs such as Discovery, Animal Planet, Bones, and most recently, the NETFLIX series, Innocence Files.
Dr. Wallace received over $800,000 from Federal, State and local grants to study the population dynamics, surveillance and control of mosquitoes and black flies as it relates to arthropod-borne disease vector ecology, watershed ecological education and stream restoration ecology. Dr. Wallace has published more than 104 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, technical reports and other professional publications pertaining to mosquitoes and other aspects of medical and forensic entomology. In addition, Dr. Wallace has co-edited two books on Wildlife Forensics- Methods and Applications and Calliphoridae (Blow Flies):Biology, Behavior and Forensic Entomology.
As a professor, he taught courses at Millersville University in General Entomology, Ecology & Evolution, Aquatic Entomology, Stream Ecology, and a suite of other courses including Forensic Entomology and holds adjunct positions elsewhere in the country and world.
Dr. Delray Schultz, Professor of Mathematics Emeritus
Dr. Delray J. Schultz, Professor of Mathematics, retired after 31 years of dedicated teaching, scholarship, and service to Millersville University. During his tenure, Dr. Schultz demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving as the chair of the Mathematics Department for 11 years, assistant department chair for five years, and Interim Dean of the College of Science and Technology on two occasions, most recently in the 2021-22 academic year. His commitment to teaching was unwavering, as he enthusiastically taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics and statistics.
Dr. Schultz also played a pivotal role in mentoring and advising undergraduate mathematics majors and minors, guiding students through research projects, co-ops, and MU honors theses, and inspiring them to pursue advanced degrees in mathematics and statistics. His scholarly contributions include publishing refereed papers in the field of statistics, with a prolific record in the application of statistics to oncology. Dr. Schultz was deeply involved in curriculum development, particularly through his work with the Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics Program of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), ensuring the continual improvement of academic programs. He fulfilled numerous demanding responsibilities, including roles as mathematics placement coordinator, mathematics tutoring coordinator, and serving on various departmental committees, such as curriculum, student evaluation, faculty search, department evaluation, and promotion and tenure.
Dr. Schultz's service extended beyond the department, as he generously contributed to many university-wide committees, including the President’s Council, President’s Strategic Advisory Council, and numerous university and college advisory boards. His active participation in professional organizations, including the American Statistical Association (Harrisburg Chapter) and the Mathematical Association of America (EPADEL), further exemplified his dedication to the field.
Dr. Alex DeCaria, Professor of Earth Sciences Emeritus
Dr. Alex DeCaria retired in May 2023 after twenty-three years of distinguished teaching and service to Millersville University and the Department of Earth Sciences in the meteorology program.
Dr. DeCaria spent 11 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. After attending the Naval Postgraduate School for his masters degree he developed a strong desire to teach meteorology at the undergraduate level. In 1996 he resigned his commission as a lieutenant commander in order to earn a PhD at the University of Maryland and embark on a career in higher education. He was hired by Millersville University in 2000 and has taught introductory and advanced courses in meteorology. He also developed courses in numerical modeling and Python-language computer programming, as well as GIS for earth sciences majors and emergency management majors. He is the lead author of two textbooks, one on modeling, and one on Python programming, as well as several peer-reviewed articles. He also entertained his students by writing and performing song parodies related to their studies.
Dr. DeCaria has lived in Utah, California, Iceland, Florida, Guam, and Maryland before moving to Lancaster County. His wife Marcia is a retired naval meteorologist, and their two sons are both Millersville alums (Victor, mathematics '14; Michael, mathematics and physics, '18). Although they originally felt the tug to move West after retirement, Dr. DeCaria and his wife Marcia have put down roots in Lancaster County and are opting to remain and enjoy all that southeast Pennsylvania has to offer. In retirement Alex is a tax preparer for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and also drives cancer patients to their treatments as an American Cancer Society Road To Recovery volunteer.