Mark A. Conlon

Mark A. Conlon serves as Assistant Professor of Education and is the Director of the Social Studies Certification program at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He is also University Supervisor for students seeking state certification in Secondary Education, Middle Level Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education.

Dr. Conlon received his BA in Social Sciences with a Secondary Social Studies Certification from Robert Morris University, his MA in American History and Government from Ashland University, and his PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership from Robert Morris University, where his dissertation covered the perceptions of secondary social studies teachers discussing political extremism in the classroom. He has a journal article in submission highlighting a portion of that dissertation, discussing safe practices for facilitating political discussions in any classroom, but with a particular focus on social studies. Dr. Conlon is also collaborating on a paper and conference presentation discussing how early childhood educators can use children’s literature to inspire service learning within their classrooms. Previous publications explored the political philosophy of the Antifederalist movement during the ratification debates in the states and several minor political parties in the United States.

Before joining the faculty at Pitt-Johnstown, Dr. Conlon taught a variety of social studies courses in grades 5-12 at public, private, and charter schools in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania from 2008-2021. Throughout his time in K-12 education, Dr. Conlon served on School Improvement Teams, acted as Faculty Senate Treasurer for several years, and worked on the West Virginia Education Association Legislative Committee, and Committees for District Attendance and Curriculum Adoption.
At Pitt-Johnstown, Dr. Conlon teaches Early Childhood, Secondary, and Middle Level Social Studies Methods courses, as well as courses on the History and Philosophy of Education. Also, Dr. Conlon is responsible for and supervising the Middle Level and Secondary Pre-Student Teaching Practicum for Social Studies and English Language Arts, and Field Practicum Courses for Early Childhood educators. Dr. Conlon also joined the faculty of the History Department at Pitt-Johnstown in the Fall of 2023 and looks forward to his first course offerings beginning in the Spring of 2024. Concurrently, he teaches a variety of government and history courses as an adjunct professor at West Virginia Northern Community College, working primarily with their early entrance college in high school courses, and government courses at Eastern Gateway Community College. Dr. Conlon also routinely assesses AP US History exams over the summer.

Since 2021, Dr. Conlon has served on the American Civic Education and Literacy Initiative Planning Committee and is presently working to expand professional development opportunities for teachers in American history and government and developing student activities and competitions as part of Pitt-Johnstown's effort to create a yearly “Democracy Bowl.” In preparation for the Democracy Bowl, Dr. Conlon is collaborating with local teachers and administrators, Pitt Johnstown Faculty, and outside organizations, such as the Bill of Rights Institute. Dr. Conlon is developing data collection instruments, standards, and parameters for several competitions for the Democracy Bowl and is presently working to create a new “track” for education majors of all disciplines to attain more expertise in American history and government via Pitt-Johnstown's American Democracy Scholar Certificate. Dr. Conlon also helps to develop the American Democracy Scholar Certificate program, helping to establish projects and other activities for the program’s practicum course. He also works on the University of Pittsburgh “Year of Discourse and Dialogue” Steering Committee. These combined efforts provide expertise and experience to further his professional development and research goals, and to impact the actions of university-wide initiatives centered upon skills learned in social studies. He has a busy conference presentation schedule for the 2023-2024 school year, which includes sessions at the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies Conference and the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Conference.