Faculty promotions at Penn State Scranton

headshots of Xialing Lin and Frank Sorokach

Penn State Scranton Chancellor Marwan Wafa has announced the promotions of two faculty members at the campus. Xialing Lin, Ph.D., is now associate professor of corporate communication and Frank Sorokach, M.B.A. is assistant teaching professor of business and economics.

Credit: Penn State

DUNMORE, Pa. – Penn State Scranton Chancellor Marwan Wafa has announced the promotions of two faculty members at the campus. Xialing Lin, Ph.D., is now associate professor of corporate communication and Frank Sorokach, M.B.A. is assistant teaching professor of business and economics.

Lin began her career working at Penn State Scranton in 2016 as one of the first faculty members hired when the corporate communication degree program was established at the campus. Since then, she has designed six different courses for that program ranging from synchronous in-person to asynchronous online classes, introductory classes to advanced levels, and helped deliver a popular, multi-campus program.  

Besides enhancing student retention, recruitment, and learning outcomes, Lin also has a passion for strategic communications. “And, I want to help more undergraduates build their research interests as well,” said Lin.

Lin has been a part of the campus’ Undergraduate Research Committee and an adviser for the Undergraduate Student Honors Options. She has also served as the campus representative on the University College Faculty Council and recently began serving as chair of the Campus Faculty Senate for 2022-23.

Lin said she is committed to seeking ways to improve communication for educational interests.

Lin’s passion for communication is also reflected in her continual service in the profession. She has served as an ad hoc reviewer for 10 different academic journals and on two communication journal editorial boards, and is currently the secretary of the Communication and Technology Interest Group at the Central States Communication Association.

“Moving to NEPA was a new life experience, and the more I learned about local people, the more I appreciated the mixed cultures, values, as well as the change in seasons,” Lin said. She also expressed appreciation for the support she has received from senior faculty, staff peers and students, which has helped her grow in both the corporate communication discipline and within the campus community.

Lin, a risk and crisis communication media effect researcher and international scholar, is also affiliated with faculty at the Communication and Social Robotics Laboratory from Western Michigan University. “I am passionate about looking forward to collaborating with more scholars across disciplines, institutions and countries.”

Sorokach began teaching at Penn State Scranton in 2012 and currently teaches microeconomics, macroeconomics, Intro to Management Information Systems and the Business Internship Prep Class at the campus. In addition, he teaches Contemporary Skills for Business Professionals and Negotiation Skills for Penn State’s World Campus, Penn State’s nationally recognized online campus.

Throughout his time at Penn State Scranton, Sorokach has worked closely with the campus’ Business Club, collaborated with students on more than 10 undergraduate research projects, served on various committees and worked in a consultative manner with area businesses.

He has worked with the Scranton LaunchBox, a business pre-incubator in South Scranton that provides free support, expertise and business resources to local prospective entrepreneurs, since its inception in 2018 and currently serves as its education director.

Sorokach has also been involved in other forms of regional economic development activity throughout most of his time at Penn State and he resides in Dunmore.