Learning Center Staff

Dr. Hatzes earned her BA in Art and Photography from the University of Maryland in Baltimore County. During one of her many epiphanies, she decided to change careers. After earning an M.A. in Special Education from McDaniel College, she worked as a learning support teacher for 9 years in Gettysburg and Indiana, PA. 

When increasing numbers of her students with learning disabilities started attending college, she decided that she would like to work with students in a post-secondary setting. She then ended her career as a high school teacher to enter a doctoral program at the University of Connecticut where the focus was on disability issues in higher education. She earned her doctorate in educational psychology in 1996 and has worked as Learning Center Director at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Penn State Mont Alto, and Shippensburg University. In her spare time she continues to draw, paint, and take photographs. She also helped to establish a literacy program, The Burundi Education Project, in Burundi with one of her former students at Penn State. She lives in Fairfield, PA with her husband, Max.

Mr. Grabosky received his A.A. degree in Liberal Arts from SUNY Morrisville and went on to receive a B.A. in English and M.A. in English/Creative Writing at Binghamton University. Mr. Grabosky is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Administration and Leadership Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to becoming the Assistant Director of the Learning Center at Shippensburg University, Mr. Grabosky worked as an Academic Tutor/Coordinator of the Test Administration Service at SUNY Cortland. He also taught English at Jamestown Community College, including courses in Composition, Literature, Creative Writing and Business Writing.

Mr. Grabosky and his wife, Tomoko, live in Carlisle, PA. He spends his free time writing poetry, fishing, and landscaping.

Mrs Karen Johnson

Associate Director of The Learning Center

Mrs. Johnson completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Souther Mississippi in Long Beach Mississippi, in elementary education in 1983.  After moving to Pennsylvania, she earned her Master of Education degree with a Reading Specialist certification from Penn State University at The Capital College campus.  Currently, she is finishing up her doctoral work at Liberty University and plans on graduating in the spring of 2010. 

She has enjoyed a wide range of teaching experiences that includes teaching elementary students in the traditional classroom, working as a tutor at Huntington Learning Center, giving educational therapy, and running her own tutoring business.  Most recently, she has taught Reading and English courses at Harrisburg Area Community College and York College and worked as a writing tutor at the York College Writing Center.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, decorating and participating in service-orientated activities.  She lives in Dover, Pennsylvania with her husband, Dave and her daughter, Jessica, as well as with two dogs, two cats and a horse.

Mr. Juarez was born and raised in central California. He earned a B.A. in English and History from California State University, Fresno and completed his M.A. in English at Shippensburg University.

Prior to joining the Learning Center, Mr. Juarez worked at numerous colleges and universities, including Fresno State, University of Washington, Harrisburg Area Community College, and Penn State Harrisburg. He has taught remedial writing and has worked in several Learning Centers, including as the Learning Center Coordinator at HACC. Mr. Juarez has also tutored with various programs at Fresno State and the University of Washington. 

Mr. Juarez and his wife, Sharon Stockton, live in Carlisle, PA, and have three children, Eugene, Cristina, and Katherine. He enjoys reading, writing, gardening, and is an avid film buff.

Ms. Miner is a graduate of Chambersburg High School and a life-long resident of Chambersburg, PA, where she lives with her husband, Dane, and her dog, Heidi. She has worked as a teaching assistant for 10 years in the ESL department for the Chambersburg Area School District. During those 10 years, she also coached The Chambersburg Indoor Color Guard who, in 2000, were named East Coast Champions. Under her direction, the Color Guard then advanced to the World Championships several years and advanced to the finals twice.

After joining the Shippensburg University staff, Kelly served for 2 years on the Shippensburg Association of Educational Office Professionals Committee and is currently a member of the Shippensburg University Clerical Staff Development Committee. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting her granddaughter Allison, grandson Sawyer and going to the beach as much as possible. She recently travelled to Anchorage with her husband. Kelly enjoys working in the Learning Center because of the friendly atmosphere and it gives her a chance to connect with students, which she has missed after leaving the high school.