Marian Court College names liberal arts chair, dean of admissions and criminal justice professor

Marian Court College has named Dr. Greg Walsh chair of the liberal arts department.

Walsh earned his Ph.D. in American History from Boston College in 2011, and graduated summa cum laude with a history degree from Providence College in 2000.

Walsh has earned numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Alfred E. Driscoll prize from the New Jersey Historical Commission for his dissertation, “Splintered Loyalties: The Revolutionary War in Essex County.” This prize is awarded only once every two years to the outstanding doctoral dissertation covering topics of New Jersey history. Walsh lives in Brighton.

The college also named Dr. Thomas Halloran dean of admissions. Halloran, a former English professor at Marian Court, earned his Ph.D. in English from Louisiana State University. A graduate of Swampscott High who lives in the town, Halloran earned his master’s degree in English from Mary Immaculate College in Ireland and his bachelor’s from Wheaton College.

Halloran also taught at two universities in France and at the University of Alaska. He is currently teaching English Composition I, a 3-credit course at Beverly High School, as part of Marian Court’s dual-enrollment program.

Marian Court College named Dr. Adam Stearn a professor in the criminal justice department. Stearn, who has a Ph.D. in Criminology and Justice Policy from Northeastern University, has taught at several colleges including Northeastern, Boston University and George Mason University. He earned his undergraduate degree at UMass Boston.

Stearn is working on developing a teacher’s edition for textbooks authored by noted criminologist and Northeastern professor Dr. Jamie Fox. Stearn has presented his research at the annual American Society of Criminology conference several times. His particular area of interest is juvenile delinquency. Stearn lives in Somerville.

Stearn is working to develop a satellite program with the Essex County Correctional Facility in Middleton. The program will allow ECCF employees and their families to work toward their bachelor’s degree by taking classes taught by Marian Court College professors. 

 Located in Swampscott, Marian Court College, a four-year, Catholic institution, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Marian Court offers a variety of associate degrees, as well as bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and business. For more information visit mariancourt.edu.