Business Division
Mrs. Bettyann Karr
Professor Bettyann Karr is Chairperson of the Accounting, Business, and Office Technology Division at Lackawanna College. Mrs. Karr is an Lackawanna College graduate with an A.S. degree in Accounting. She obtained a B.S. degree in Business Education from Bloomsburg University and an M.S. degree in Business Education from Marywood University. She has, in addition, attended Penn State and Marywood universities for seminars, workshops and conferences related to computer technology.
Mrs. Karr has taught in the Business Department at Freedom High School, Bethlehem, and in the Weekender Program at Keystone College. At Lackawanna College she currently teaches Principles of Accounting I, Introduction to Computer Applications, Math of Finance, Basic Math Skills, and Medical Terminology and Transcription. She serves on the Faculty Affairs Committee as well.
Mrs. Karr is a member of the National Business Education Association, National Education Association, Pennsylvania State Education Association, and the Lackawanna College Educational Association. She is also treasurer of Troop 73 Boy Scout Committee.
She and her husband, David, have three children, Caryn, David, and Kevin. In her spare time, Mrs. Karr enjoys reading mystery novels, cooking and shopping for bargains.
Mrs. Marian Wasilchak
Marian Wasilchak, a member in the Business Division since 1971, attended Shippensburg University and received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in business education from Marywood University.
A full professor at Lackawanna College, she teaches courses in the Office Technology Curriculum, as well as computer applications, business communications, and math.
She participated for several years in the Tech-Prep consortium involving school-to-work programs. She also has attended various seminars and workshops on updating software applications in computer courses. She currently serves on the College Programs Committee and has chaired several faculty committees over her career. She has been named an "Outstanding Educator" and is included in "Who’s Who Among Women in Education".
She is a member of the National Business Education Association, National Education Association, and Pennsylvania State Education Association. She enjoys drawing, painting, antiques, and walking.
Mr. Vince E. Byrne
Vincent E. Byrne, Associate Professor of Accounting and Economics, first taught for Lackawanna College in 1974 while pursuing his M.B.A. in Economics and Finance at the University of Scranton.
Appointed to the full time faculty in 1978, Professor Byrne has taught Accounting, Economics, Management, Marketing, Statistics, Labor Relations and many other courses at Lackawanna College.
He has also served as a Lecturer in Economics, Statistics and Management at Wilkes University, the University of Scranton, Keystone College and Luzerne County Community College.
He is the author of five (5) textbooks in Management and Economics. He also serves as a judge for the ?Small Business of the Year Award? sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
He was recently chosen by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to write questions for the Uniform Examination for Certified Public Accountants.
In addition to his teaching duties, Professor Byrne has served the people in his community as Chairman of the Board of Auditors of Scott Township (elected 1992), as Township Manager (appointed 1994) and as a coach and administrator for a variety of youth organizations.
For the past twenty years, Mr. Byrne has also been active in his consulting and accounting business serving municipalities, businesses and individuals in the areas of tax planning, grant writing and financial consulting.
He is a member of the American Accounting Association and the National Association of Tax Practitioners.
Ms. Linda A. Pryal
Ms. Linda Pryal, an Associate Professor of Business who brings a global perspective to her work, earned her MBA from Marywood College with a concentration in international business. She also attended Thames University in London and L'Universite’ Laval, Quebec, Canada, where she studied commercial French. Ms. Pryal is currently attending McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She is studying for a Diploma in E-commerce.
Now a full-time tenured instructor of business at Lackawanna College, Ms. Pryal has also taught at Marywood University, Keystone College and Penn State. She currently teaches Marketing, Principles of Management, Human Resources and International Business.
Prior to becoming a full time instructor, Ms. Pryal worked in management for Fortune 500 companies, including Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and Ford Motor Company (Tractor Division).
She holds several certificates in various aspects of international business from the World Trade Institute in New York City. She is active in several organizations in Lackawanna County, and has served as advisor to Phi Beta Lambda, a national business organization for students at Lackawanna College. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, biking, and collecting miniature hand-made items.
Mr. Joseph Gilroy
Mr. Joseph Gilroy has returned to Lackawanna after a successful thirty-five year business career. Mr. Gilroy has worked in upper management positions for several major corporations traveling extensively throughout North America. During this time he was vice-president of a regional company and then CEO of his own corporation.
Joe is a native Scrantonian. He graduated from Lackawanna in 1967 and after completing his military service continued his education at the University of Scranton and at Marywood. He graduated in 1975 with a degree in Business Management. In addition, he took advanced management courses at Penn State University and Northwestern University, becoming certified as a Total Quality Management Instructor.
Mr. Gilroy has taught at Lackawanna’s main campus and satellite centers since the late 1970’s. He began teaching courses in Business Law I and Small Business Management, among others, and currently, is an instructor in Marketing, Human Resource Management and Sport in Society. Mr. Gilroy says, "I love the opportunity to return to Lackawanna on a more permanent basis to share my knowledge and experience with my students, and am grateful that at the same time I continue to learn from them as well".
Mr. Gilroy remains active in his community, having served as an officer in the Factoryville Men’s Civic Club, and past president and board member of the Christy Mathewson Little League in Factoryville. He loves coaching, and for the past twenty years has volunteered his time in this capacity for both Little League and Big League teams.
Mr. Gilroy has been married for thirty-five years. He and his wife, Margaret, have two sons, Michael and Marty. They reside in Wyoming County.
Deborah Prazych
Debbie Prazych is an Assistant Professor in the Math/Science and Business Divisions at Lackawanna College. Prior to this position, she served as the Mathematics Specialist in the Academic Improvement Center. She currently teaches Introduction to Algebra, College Algebra, Math Reasoning, Introduction to Computer Applications, Advanced Computer Applications and Excel Spreadsheets. Mrs. Prazych received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Scranton. She has received certificates for training seminars in information technology and has attended, workshops and conferences relating to developmental education, college mathematics and computer technology.
Mrs. Prazych has taught in the Mathematics Department in the Scranton and Abington Heights school districts, in the Continuing Education Department at Marywood University and in the Mathematics/Science division at Keystone College.
Outside of the academic world, she previously worked as an Information Systems Consultant and Systems Analyst in the insurance business.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Prazych serves on the Academic Standards and Online Advisory Committees. She is a member of PADE (Pennsylvania Association for Developmental Educators), NADE(National Association for Developmental Educators), (NCTM) National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, (MAA) Mathematical Association of America, and the Northeastern PA Consortium of Mathematics Professors.
In her spare time, Mrs. Prazych enjoys golf, shopping and fitness classes. She resides in Clarks Summit with her husband Jerry.
