A love of literacy and of sharing knowledge motivated Martha Waring-Chaffee, Ph.D., to become a professor.
She began at Cabrini College 1983 as an adjunct professor during the inaugural semester of the graduate program, and became a full-time faculty member in 1989. She now calls Cabrini her “home away from home.”
“Cabrini has brought richness to my life by creating strong opportunities to grow with others who share my love for the teaching and learning processes,” she says.
Since teaching her first Cabrini class, Waring-Chaffee has made her students’ success her first priority. Over the years, she has enriched her curriculum by developing a distinctive teaching process that helps students get the most out of her courses.
“My work is highly collaborative and constructivist,” she says. “Together, my students and I work to build on existing knowledge and to support one another through the inevitable 'muddlement' created when tackling tough concepts and making them one’s own.”
Waring-Chaffee received a doctoral degree in reading and language arts from the University of Pennsylvania, two master’s degrees (in education and reading) from West Chester University, and a bachelor’s degree in education from Lebanon Valley College. Throughout her teaching career, she has been active in organizations that improve education and literacy.
She has chaired review teams for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, led various staff development training sessions in area districts, and presented at national and state conferences in literacy and qualitative research processes.
Born and raised in Boyertown, Pa., Waring-Chaffee now lives in Barnegat Light, N.J., with her husband, Ron, and two sons, John and Steven. Her family is active in their faith community, serving as youth group advisors and collaborating with other members of the Church Council.
She also enjoys cultivating an herb garden, collecting cookbooks, and working on needlepoint designs.
Contact Information:
Martha B. Waring-Chaffee, Ph.D.
Professor, Graduate Education
Reading Specialist
Grace Hall, Room 208
610-902-8509
mbw722@cabrini.edu