Athletics Team Memphis 12 Living History 10 Lessons from the 16 Edge of the World
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VOL. 25, NO. 1 SUMMER 2011 Study Abroad: Antarctica Lessons from the Edge of the World PresidentHalstead EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES – IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUT It’s hard to believe, but as I write this Our Strategic Plan, the next evolution As we continue moving toward our goal we have concluded our 175th Anniversary of our planning efforts, will take us into of being a nationally recognized master’s celebrations, and what a year it was! 2016. While the nuts and bolts of the plan institution focused on student success, the While we celebrated from Convocation may not seem very exciting, the expected featured articles in this issue remind us that through Commencement, we did have outcomes are! These include: we are indeed achieving our goal. Two several standout events associated with the • Better than predicted graduation rates wonderful examples are once-in-a-lifetime anniversary. From the year’s initial First opportunities for our students and faculty Friday’s alumni celebration on September • Better than predicated student that helped spread the good word about 1, to the official birthday party held during retention rates Brockport in Memphis, TN, and Antarctica, Homecoming Weekend, to the arts festival • More favorable responses to surveys of even if we couldn’t get a penguin to model a we called pARTy on April 1, to the 175th undergraduates and graduate students Golden Eagles’ t-shirt! Time Capsule dedication on April 28, the in terms of faculty advisement, engage- Later this fall, author and Professor 2010-11 academic year was filled with ment with faculty, and student life Temple Grandin, PhD will visit Brockport opportunities to celebrate our College’s • An outstanding reputation that leads and speak to students about her experiences history and accomplishments. other colleges to look to Brockport growing up with autism, and Marla Runyan, Now it’s on to year 176 and beyond! “best practices” a visually impaired Olympic athlete, will honor us as the keynote speaker at the So what can I share with you about • Improved performance on national College’s annual Diversity Conference — how we view a Brockport education in rankings this second decade of the 21st Century? more examples of life experiences that We have done a great job recruiting It’s about providing our students with we are providing for our students that will students with higher academic profiles, and extraordinary opportunities – both inside broaden their minds as well as enrich their have maintained that quality even in this and outside of the classroom. The past 10- intellect. current trend of declining population in 15 years have been transformational for the It is indeed an exciting time at Western New York. Our next phase – and College, and we don’t intend to stop now. Brockport, and we are truly energized one that we have built around our new by the high expectations we have set for On July 1, the College launched our new Strategic Plan – is to provide our students ourselves in order to provide the best Strategic Plan predicated on four important with an even richer educational experience. constructs: educational experience possible. I look In past issues of Kaleidoscope you have forward to sharing our milestones and 1. Academic Quality and Engagement learned about our Summer Undergraduate accomplishments with you in the future. Research Program (supported by our 2. Co-curricular and Support Programs Best wishes, Brockport Foundation), our Living/ 3. Learning Environment and Quality Learning Residential Communities, our of Place Washington Program, and several of our 4. Culture of Philanthropy and Alumni study abroad programs. These are prime Connectedness examples of ways Brockport students can John R. Halstead, PhD learn outside of the traditional classroom. President Features 2 Campus News 6 Academic News 12 8 Arts 16 10 Athletics Team Memphis 12 Living History 10 Lessons from the 16 Edge of the World 24 New Athletic Director 26 26 Donor News 28 Alumni Events 5 34 Class Notes Kaleidoscope Layout and Design Cover: photo of Sam Nicolosi Antarctica, taken during Vol. 25, No. 1 Summer 2011 Photography a visit by a Brockport James Dusen faculty member and Richard W. Black students. Circulation — 75,000 Contributors Study Abroad: Antarctica Lessons from the Publisher Mike Andriatch ’85 Edge of the World Roxanne Johnston John Boccacino Virginia Campbell ’89/’96 Executive Editorial Team John Follaco Darby Knox Darby Knox Send corrections or changes David Mihalyov ’87/’03 Joanna H. Kraus of address to: Brad Schreiber ’83/’85 David Mihalyov ’87/’03 Division of Advancement Managing Editor Mary E. McCrank ’06 350 New Campus Drive Mary E. McCrank ’06 Carolyn McMenemon ’13 Brockport, NY 14420 David Tyler (585) 395-2451 James Ver Steeg [email protected] M CAnewsPUS College Mourns the Loss of Two Beloved Faculty Members Stuart Appelle, PhD, passed away unexpectedly on June 27 and Jim Fatula, PhD passed away, also unexpectedly, on July 9. Stuart Appelle, professor of Jim Fatula, served as associate psychology, was honored this year for professor in the Department of Public 40 years of service to the College. He Administration since 1998, and was was 65. department chair from 2001 until 2010. Stuart served in many positions, He also had taught at the College as including chair of the Department an adjunct lecturer for six years prior of Psychology and as interim dean, to accepting the position of associate associate dean and dean of the School professor. He was 64. of Letters and Sciences. Most recently, With his dedication and hard work he was the dean of the School of Science and Mathematics the Public Administration program thrived under Jim’s and nominated to chair the Great Lakes Consortium. leadership. He excelled in the classroom and his students, The College was Stuart’s professional home and the only many of whom live and work in the Greater Rochester place of employment since he earned his PhD at George Area, thought very highly of him. He recruited an Washington University. He graduated from Mount Vernon excellent faculty, positioned the department for a successful High School, Pennsylvania State University, and then reaccreditation this coming year and gave generously of his completed his PhD in cognitive psychology, discovering the time through service to the College. “Oblique Effect,” still widely cited today. Jim was an active scholar whose published research He was widely published on topics including research on focused on issues in the areas of nonprofit management, the perception, the source of consciousness and applying the health care industry and social services. He also was a much scientific method to explain unidentified flying objects and sought after expert, called upon by the Rochester media, the abduction experience. He edited the Journal for UFO with more than 20 appearances on WXXI’s 1370 Connection Studies, the only objective scientific publication for UFO radio program, and numerous editorials and columns research. authored by him published in the Democrat and Chronicle and He was a member of the American Psychological Rochester Business Journal. Association, American Psychological Society, Psychonomic Prior to joining the Brockport faculty, Jim had a long Society and Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, career in the health care industry, including positions with as well as the Mutual UFO Network. He also was an the New York State Office of Health Systems Management, original member of Project Blue Book in Washington, DC. Rochester Area Hospitals Corp., and Monroe County Although accomplished in professional life, Stuart’s Medicap Plan, Inc. main focus was his family — his wife, Joan Sussman, Working in the community was a passion of Jim’s as children Rachel and Aaron and dog, Napoleon. Stuart he gave of himself to assist the United Way of Greater tackled all tasks with complete abandon and he loved life; Rochester in strategic planning and on issues of nonprofit meticulously researching and completing amazing projects sustainability as well as working with the Golisano with professional results: dry walling the inside of an entire Foundation on a policy paper regarding Medicaid spending house; tiling floors; building steps — no project was too on those with developmental disabilities. Jim worked with large for Stuart. He also was a self-taught expert skier, organizations that included the Children’s Institute, The boater, longtime tennis player, runner and friend to many. Rochester Area Community Foundation, Finger Lakes Stuart is predeceased by his mother, Gertrude Stein Appelle, Health Systems Agency, and The Advocacy Center. and his father, Ben. Along with his wife and children, Jim received his PhD in Philosophy from Fordham he is survived by his brother Gerald, sister-in-law Karen University in 1985, specializing in ethics and public policy. Sussman, niece Wendy, and nephews Andre and Will. He He received the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for will be deeply missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Excellence in Teaching in 2007. Jim is survived by his mother, several siblings and nieces and nephews. 2 Creating a Legacy A long-time College at Brockport paying it forward.” sons and daughters,” said Beers- tradition has been reborn. The Senior Class Gift project Wilson. “The cost for a parent to Throughout the 1990s, the graduating serves not one, but two missions submit a dedication message was $25. class would present a Senior Class — to support future students while Parents were happy to not only make Gift to the College, enhancing the engaging the College’s most recent the initial contribution, but many gave campus environment and establishing alumni, and to give parents and additional gifts as well. And when scholarships for future Brockport others the opportunity to be a part Commencement Day arrived, parents students. But for one reason and then of the experience.