TC FALL/WINTER 2012 Today The Magazine of Teachers College, Columbia University Wellness in a Thinking Wo r l d Teachers College explores the mind-body connection BRINGING BODY AND SOUL TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY WHY CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP DEPENDS ON STUDENT HEALTH GETTING KIDS TO LIKE GYM CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE IN DEAF EDUCATION PRESIDENT’S LETTER liver an outstanding, comprehensive competition. With childhood obesity education reflecting our knowledge and diabetes threatening the nation’s and experience in teaching, learning future, their work argues powerfully and child development. for a reconsideration of gym, recess This issue of TC Today taps that and other endangered activities. same source and grows out of our Beyond these more traditional belief that being “comprehensive” areas of health, you’ll read about – in education or any other area of our new Spirituality and Mind/ development – means addressing Body Institute, founded by psychol- physical health and its connections to ogist Lisa Miller, who has helped intellectual and emotional well-being. establish meditation, mindfulness Of course, the mind-body con- and prayer as a legitimate focus of n my elevator speech about nection has been remarked upon psychological inquiry. Supported Teachers College, I remind throughout human history, from by Goldman Sachs Gives at the people that TC has long stood Scripture (“Do you not know that direction of Phil Armstrong, a Gold- for educating children through your body is a temple?”) to the Iron man Sachs partner, Lisa and her a rich array of academic and non- Chef, recycling the epicure Brillat- students are using these techniques I academic programs that meet their Savarin (“Tell me what you eat, and I to help New York City’s homeless intellectual and developmental needs. will tell you what you are”). But today, children attain and maintain emo- This past September, we stood science is revealing precisely how our tional health. tall indeed as we celebrated the minds are inextricably linked with These stories illustrate how our arrival of the Teachers College our physical selves. health care system can deliver more Community School (TCCS) at its TC health education professor for less. They also suggest ways permanent home in West Harlem. Charles Basch has underscored that each of us can take control of our The ceremony brought together link in his remarkable crusade to own health. For example, in reading parents, teachers, community board document how seven major health about health education professor and members, TC faculty and staff, and conditions are hindering the academ- Deputy Provost John Allegrante’s representatives from the New York City Department of Education and The mind-body connection has been Columbia University. Their joy and pride were evident as first graders remarked upon, from Scripture to the Iron Chef. sang “What a Wonderful World” and But today, science is revealing precisely how TCCS Founding Principal Jeanene Worrell-Breeden spoke of building our minds are linked with our physical selves. the school of her dreams. Virtually from the moment I ic achievement of low-income and research on using positive thinking to became TC’s President, one of our minority students. Chuck has worked help patients manage chronic illness, board members and staunchest tirelessly to bring this information you’ll meet an elderly woman who supporters, E. John Rosenwald, to audiences ranging from White recalls how researchers urged her to has challenged me to conceive and House officials to community groups. take advantage, in exercising, of her execute big and bold ideas about the Several states have adopted many two-story home. future of the College. TCCS, which of his recommendations for using Following her lead, I’m inclined counts John as a leading benefactor, schools to provide students with to adjust my TC elevator speech enables us to demonstrate one of our coordinated health care. along similar lines: Instead of using biggest and boldest ideas: University Even as many districts cut school the elevator, let’s all take the stairs. partnerships with local schools and physical education programs, Ste- AFTERNOON IN communities can bring about lasting, phen Silverman, Carol Ewing Garber MORNINGSIDE cost-effective improvement to urban and other TC faculty are champion- A tranquil vista, just beyond TC’s doors. public education. At TCCS, you will ing a new approach to youth fitness S find our faculty and students working that emphasizes enjoyment and Photograph by UDIO ST with parents, teachers and staff to de- lifelong athletic skill-building over susan fuhrman (ph.d. ’77) Elizabeth Weinberg LOFI LOFI www.tc.edu/tctoday FALL/WINTER 2012 1 alumni focus Wellness TC in a 66 A VERY Patient Today Thinking Wo r l d Advocate The magazine of Teachers College is Raising a child with autism was produced by the Office of Development hard, but getting the nation to and External Affairs at Teachers College, Columbia University. understand the disorder really required Ruth Christ Sullivan to Suzanne M. Murphy vice president, take the long view development features & external affairs (Ed.M., Organization 67 PUTTING HER BEST & Leadership, 1999; Fall/WinterFOOT FORwaRD M.A., 1996) As both a dancer and a scientist, BODY AND SOUL James L. Gardner Elizabeth Coker Girón explores associate vice @tc the ties between imagination and president, external affairs 14 How Faith Heals 4 First Editions movement TC is offering the Ivy League’s Leadership guides for nurses and TC TODAY staff first master’s degree program in the rest of us, by Elaine LaMonica 68 A FENCER WITH spirituality and psychology Rigolosi; Building Mathematics Joe Levine AN EDGE executive director, Learning Communities, by Erica Walker Her familiarity with other cultures external affairs 20 The Power of Positive helped Olympian Maya Lawrence Sheryl Hoffman Patients 6 News in London director, As America ages, people need to TC’s new public school finds a external affairs think positively to better manage permanent home; the College hosts a 69 RUNNING THE NUMBERS Jeff Glendenning creative director their own care major conference on teacher prep; Alumna and new faculty member and more Sonali Rajan uses statistics to Paul Acquaro director, identify programs that address office of the tc web SOUND MIND, SOUND body 12 Essays overall health in a synergistic way (M.A., Instructional Barbara Wallace on a new paradigm Technology, 2004) for understanding health disparities; 70 HELPING ALL WOMEN Patricia Lamiell director, 26 Randi Wolf on building trust to Head Games WE HAVE LIFTOFF The Teachers College Community School is TO Have IT ALL media relations Welcome to “the New Gym,” launched in its permanent home. conduct health education As the new leader of the nation’s Matthew Vincent where kids hold group oldest YWCA, Danielle Moss associate web editor discussions and use iPads, and Lee is reaching out to overcome Hua-Chu Yen teachers ponder the role of race, disparities for women at all levels web development 57 alumni news specialist gender and body type 42 Eating Smarter friend of tc When patients relearn the 71 UP ON THE ROOF Kalena Rosario 32 Taking Student seemingly innate act of 58 Alumni Association Nate Wight and his students are administrative assistant Health to Scale swallowing, their brains change – 54 Not Very Tall, 59 Alumni Awards creating an environmental literacy Rebecca Chad, Chuck Basch says we won’t and their lives can too lab atop their school in the Heather Smitelli but Bigger Than Life 61 Class Notes editorial assistants close the achievement gap until E. John Rosenwald Jr. is a South Bronx we attend to student health. 64 In Memoriam Urania Mylonas 46 A Community fount of wisdom and force of contributing writer He has a plan of Healing nature who can prod institutions 72 LOOKING KIDS IN THE Kee eun Lee Lena Verdeli has brought a to reinvent themselves EYE, EVERY DAY contributing designer 38 Cutting Through talking cure to people living in the The late educator, counselor TC Today, Fall 2012 Volume 37, Number 1 the Noise most adverse circumstances THE JOY OF GIVING and philanthropist Betty Fairfax Copyright 2012 by Teachers College, Columbia University TC’s Deaf/Hard of Hearing Thanking and celebrating major believed in involving herself in program poses the big questions 50 students’ lives TC Today is published twice per year by As Nurses Go, So Goes donors to Teachers College: Teachers College, Columbia University. about assistive technologies Health Care Evalyn Edwards Milman (M.A. ’64), Articles may be reprinted with the per- mission of the Office of External Affairs. Current TC faculty and legendary page 7; Joyce B. Cowin (M.A. ’52), alumnae weigh in on why Please send alumni class notes, letters page 8; Sue Ann Weinberg to the editor, address changes and other nursing education is more correspondence to: Y JEFF GLENDENNING JEFF Y (Ed.D. ’97), page 11; Marla Schaefer B TC Today Office of External Affairs, 525 important than ever H P (M.A. ’03), page 19 W. 120th St., Box 306, New York, NY 10027, 212-678-3412, [email protected] on the cover: OGRA T www.tc.edu/tctoday Photograph by Elizabeth Weinberg PHO 2 FALL/WINTER 2012 www.tc.edu/tctoday 2012www.tc.edu/tctoday FALL/WINTER 2012 3 First Editions Members of the TC Community in Print @tc On Management – Changing the Odds Bedside and Lakeside for Math Success Leadership guides for nurses and the rest of us Why math communities are critically important for supporting student achievement two new books by Elaine La Monica in building mathematics learning Rigolosi, Professor of Education Communities: Improving Outcomes in and Director of TC’s Executive Urban High Schools (Teachers College Program in Nursing, could not seem Press), Erica Walker, TC Associate more different.