SUMMER 2004 DYSONnews A Publication of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University Dyson College Welcomes New Dean, Nira Herrmann

n innovative leader and educator, the college’s thoughtful faculty to identify and new dean of the Dyson College, Nira develop those possibilities that will enhance AHerrmann possesses an eclectic scientif- the college’s position as a leading educational ic and administrative background. She joins institution in the liberal arts.” Pace from Drexel University, Philadelphia, A true believer in collaboration and con- INSIDE Pennsylvania, where she served as department sensus building, Herrmann plans to work with head and professor in the department of mathe- the Dyson faculty on the multidisciplinary matics and computer science. endeavors outlined in Pace’s Strategic Plan. Environmental Center Hosts Herrmann’s “With its compre- Dyson’s liberal KEEP Art and Poetry Contest accomplishments “ hensive academic are many.As arts programs are offerings and highly Brontë Conference Draws Record department head, wonderfully diverse accomplished facul- Crowd at Westchester Campus she oversaw a sig- ty, Dyson is in an nificant increase in and reside in an excellent position to Eighth Annual Dyson Distinguished undergraduate eclectic environment contribute to the enrollment in success of the Strate- Achievement Awards Benefit mathematics and that is rich in gic Plan,” she says. Dinner a Smashing Success computer science, possibilities. Collaboration that created a student ” leads to success is a An Evening of Three Short resource center to improve retention, and initi- key motivating factor for Herrmann.“I enjoy Plays by ated innovative math and science curricula working with people, whether faculty, staff, or through course redesign and new programs. She students, not only to see them succeed indi- Amy Lee ’04, Fulbright has given numerous presentations on her vidually, but also to create something that is Scholarship Winner research and curricular innovations and pub- bigger than what any one person can accom- lished the results in refereed journals. In plish alone.” addition, she coordinated the development of Herrmann views learning as a lifelong initiatives for research in a variety of science- endeavor.“If we convey to our students a related areas such as bioinformatics, respect and passion for learning in its broadest nanoscience, and proteomics, and supported form, and that ‘lifelong learning’ is not a faculty research groups in fields such as applied cliché, but an important part of life, then artificial intelligence, combinatorics and discrete we’ve done our job. Students are a vital part mathematics, software engineering, and human- of the community of scholars, and Dyson will computer interactions. continue to build upon its tradition of pro- Photo : Michael Divito Herrmann founded the first departmental viding a nurturing, welcoming community external advisory board in the College of Arts for its students and faculty.” Donald Trump; Bonnie Fuller, American Media, Inc.; and President and Mrs. Caputo and Sciences.The board, composed of alumni, She includes alumni in that community. at the Eighth Annual Dyson Distinguished Achieve- academic, and industry leaders, advised the “Alumni are a continuing and essential part ment Awards Benefit Dinner department on curricular issues and research of the Dyson community.We’re here if they directions.The recipient of numerous awards need us for lifelong learning—and we want and fellowships, Herrmann was instrumental to meet their needs.Alumni are extremely in winning nearly $1,000,000 worth of inspiring role models for our current stu- secured endowed funds and grants to support dents.Through mentoring, they help her research and educational activities. During undergraduates to see career paths and pro- her tenure, research support for department vide them invaluable advice as they progress faculty increased by several million. in their professional lives.” Enthusiastic about Dyson’s potential for Herrmann received her bachelor’s in math- Dyson College of Arts and Sciences growth, Herrmann says,“Dyson’s liberal arts ematics with distinction in general scholarship Where creative minds, programs are wonderfully diverse and reside from the University of California, Berkeley, critical thinkers, and in an eclectic environment that is rich in pos- and earned an MS and PhD in statistics from sibilities. I look forward to working with the instinctive leaders are made. Continued on page 3 Environmental Center Hosts Brontë Conference Draws KEEP Art and Poetry Contest Record Crowd at Westchester middle school students get involved in protect- Westchester Campus ing Kensico Reservoir Watershed Prominent Brontë scholars ow can you get a community as keynoters and presenters excited about water quality pro- Htection? One of the many his spring Pace hosted “The Brontës things that Dyson’s Environmental Cen- and Their World,” one of the largest ter director,Angelo Spillo, does is get TBrontë conferences ever held in the people in Westchester involved in activi- United States.“We had 106 participants and ties that make them aware of how they 31 scholars and presenters from prestigious can safeguard the high quality of the institutions such as Oxford University, Rice Kensico Reservoir watershed. University, Queens University in Canada, Spillo is cochair of the Kensico Envi- Emory University, and the College of William ronmental Enhancement Program Angelo Spillo (top) and student award winners and Mary, just to name a few,” says English (KEEP), whose primary mission is to edu- Professor Dorothee von Huene Greenberg. cate the communities in the Kensico dents lays an important foundation of Why the big interest in the Brontës? “The watershed about the importance of pro- awareness with residents early in life,” says Brontës’ work continues to fascinate and tecting water quality. By educating the Spillo.This year, 70 students from the inspire people today in a profound way. It’s people who live and work in the 13- Westlake and Crittenden middle schools because of the depth of passion in their square-mile watershed about how their participated in the contest.They, their work—a passion that is very much relevant in daily activities affect water quality, KEEP teachers, and parents attended the award today’s world,” says Greenberg. works to protect the watershed and reser- ceremony in May at the Pleasantville cam- Leading Brontë scholars delivered the two voir from pollution. pus, where their work was displayed and keynote addresses. Lyndall Gordon, author of KEEP’s outreach to winners received their cer- Since KEEP’s major focus is on Charlotte Brontë:A Passionate Life, discussed the community starts “ tificates.The keynote “The Brontës and Passion.” Richard Dunn, at a young age.With educating the public about water- speaker was Charles Sturck- editor of five Norton Critical Editions of Jane the City shed protection, this contest en, director Eyre and Wuthering Heights, spoke on “Texts Department of Envi- of Public Affairs for DEP. and Contexts: Meeting the Needs of Today’s ronmental Protection involving middle school students Pace students also benefit Brontë Readers.” (DEP) and Pace, they lays an important foundation of from Spillo’s connection to cosponsor an art and KEEP with internships they poetry contest for awareness with residents early in provide. In a recent summer watershed middle life. internship, environmental school students to ” studies major Tanya encourage classroom discussion of water Rodriguez surveyed and digitally mapped conservation and water quality protection storm water infrastructure and septic sys- issues.The five towns in the watershed are tems in the Kensico watershed and New Castle, North Castle, Mount Pleasant, prepared a digital database and map of the Harrison, and Greenwich, Connecticut. septic systems. “Since KEEP’s major focus is on educat- Spillo reports that KEEP will begin ing the public about watershed protection, a lecture series this fall, hosted by Pace, Left to right: Lyndall Gordon, Richard Dunn, and this contest involving middle school stu- focusing on topics such as a protected Theresa Connors and high quality water supply, specifically designed for outreach to the community Greenberg, who directs the women’s and DYSONnews and for college students. In another gender studies program at the Pleasantville initiative, Spillo participates on a KEEP campus, coordinated the event with English EDITOR committee in conjunction with the Angela Nally Professor Bette Kirschstein. Cosponsors Westchester County Water Advisory included the American Brontë Society, the Dyson News is published Committee (WAC) 7 that will clean New York Regional Brontë Society, Dyson four times each year in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. up the Bronx River, which flows into College of Arts and Sciences, the Women’s the Long Island Sound.Their goal is to CHANGE OF ADDRESS and Gender Studies Program, and the English Office of Alumni Relations improve the river water quality to a level Department of Pace. One Pace Plaza where trout can survive there again. New York, NY 10038-1598 If you would like to learn more about If you would like more information upcoming literary conferences, contact Profes- To submit ideas or comments, contact about the Environmental Center, KEEP,or Angela Nally, at (212) 346-1505 sor Greenberg at [email protected]. or [email protected]. any other environmental issue, please con- Alumni and students are welcome! ■ tact Angelo Spillo at [email protected].■ 2 Eighth Annual Dyson Distinguished Achievement Awards Benefit Dinner a Smashing Success Record funds raised for Dyson College Scholarship Fund

his year’s Dyson Distinguished Trump presented the award for distinguished recognition of her 40 years of distinguished Achievements Awards Benefit Dinner leadership in business and industry to alumnus leadership at the Joffrey. For his outstanding Twas a signal event in more ways than David Pecker ’72, chairman, president, and work as an investigative reporter with the one. Quintessential New Yorker Donald CEO of American Media, Inc.The two are Wall Street Journal, Dyson alumnus Charles W. Trump attended the benefit, which earned a longtime friends and business associates. Gasparino ’85 was honored.Two distin- record $138,500 in support of the Dyson Edith D’Addario, director of the Joffrey guished Dyson faculty members, Professor of College Scholarship Fund. Ballet School, was special guest honoree in Fine Arts Janetta Rebold Benton, and Profes- sor of Philosophy Harold Brown, were honored as well. Held at the trendy Tribeca Rooftop in , the event was attended by more than 250 people who were entertained by the performing arts department cast of

hts Michael Divito Photos: students who performed “A Grand Night for Singing,” and by a pair of Joffrey Ballet School students with excerpts from “Presley Pas de Deux.” We sincerely thank all of Dyson’s support- ers for their generous contributions to the Dyson Acting Dean Roberts, D. Pecker ’72, E. D’Addario, C. Gasparino ’85, J. Rebold Benton, President Caputo, and H. Brown Scholarship Fund and for making this event the most success- An Evening with Tony Kushner ful in its Benefit reading supports Dyson College Scholarships history. ■

n an evening of rare performance that the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; two Tony Donald Trump and David Pecker ’72 benefited Dyson College’s undergraduate Awards for Best Play; two Obie Awards for Istudents, a cast of stars from several of Best Play; a Whiting Writer’s Fellowship; and playwright Tony Kushner’s most highly an Arts Awards from the American Academy acclaimed shows read from a series of his of Arts and Letters.At this year’s commence- short works this spring. ment ceremony in New York City, Pace New Dean Continued from page 1 Performers included Kushner stalwarts awarded Kushner an honorary Doctor of Stanford University. She spent eight years Academy Award-winner Marcia Gay Harden Letters degree. conducting epidemiological research and ( on Broadway), Linda To view the photo gallery, please visit teaching at the University of Pennsylvania’s Emond (Homebody/Kabul), Geoffrey Wright www.pace.edu/alumni and click on Items of medical school and at its Wharton School of (Angels in America on Broadway and HBO), Interest. ■ Business. She completed a second master’s Ben Shenkman (), and degree in computer science at Rutgers prior Rita Wolf (Homebody/Kabul). to joining the faculty at Drexel. Scenes were read from three A devotee of the performing arts, Her- short plays: East Coast Ode to rmann took dance, piano, and flute lessons Howard Jarvis;Terminating, or through college and enjoys concerts, muse- Sonnet LXXV or “Las meine ums, and reading a broad range of fiction and Schmerzen nicht verloren nonfiction. Her husband,Ted H.Szatrowski, sein” or Ambivalence; and Only is a faculty member at Rutgers. Her younger We Who Guard the Mystery daughter is a recent graduate from New York Shall Be Unhappy,a work in University, and her elder daughter is a law progress. student at Northwestern University. Kushner is the recipient of If you would like to contact Dean Her- numerous awards, including Professor Raskin, Tony Kushner, Professor Srebnick, and Professor Raubichek rmann, e-mail her at [email protected]. ■ 3 DYSONnews NON-PROFIT ORG. Dyson College of Arts and Sciences U.S. POSTAGE One Pace Plaza PAID New York, NY 10038-1598 PACE UNIVERSITY

he festivities! in t Jo

New York City Campus and Pleasantville Campus Save these Dates—October 22–24, 2004 For more information,contact the Office of Student Affairs at (914) 773-3999

or e-mail [email protected] • www.pace.edu/universityfest

hearing from her from South Korea. South from her from hearing In recognition of her research, she became an became she research, her of recognition In

■ community and take Korean history courses. history Korean take and community

bright Scholarship and look forward to forward look and Scholarship bright College Society of Fellows annual meeting. annual Fellows of Society College

Lee also plans to establish a book club for the for club book a establish to plans also Lee

congratulate Lee on winning the Ful- the winning on Lee congratulate We ashington University and at the Dyson the at and University ashington W

more about America.” While in South Korea, South in While America.” about more

law school when she returns next year. next returns she when school law Association annual conference at George at conference annual Association

them develop their English skills and learn and skills English their develop them

take the LSAT exam, and plans on attending on plans and exam, LSAT the take “Korean War Brides,” at the Asian Studies Asian the at Brides,” War “Korean

oung Koreans in a positive way by helping by way positive a in Koreans oung y

Before leaving for South Korea, Lee will Lee Korea, South for leaving Before She presented her senior history thesis, history senior her presented She

culture. And I will have the chance to impact to chance the have will I And culture.

onderful experience,” Lee says. Lee experience,” onderful w classes in the evening. the in classes

tunity to learn more about one another’s one about more learn to tunity

about their lives directly from them. It was a was It them. from directly lives their about while attending Pace full-time, taking all her all taking full-time, Pace attending while

es both Americans and Koreans the oppor- the Koreans and Americans both es v gi

to Korean War brides. I wanted to learn more learn to wanted I brides. War Korean to Minor. Notably, Lee worked a full-time job full-time a worked Lee Notably, Minor.

“This assistantship is important because it because important is assistantship “This

outcasts and because there is a stigma attached stigma a is there because and outcasts Prize for Best Women’s and Gender Studies Gender and Women’s Best for Prize

enthusiastically looking forward to her trip. her to forward looking enthusiastically

them because they were always considered always were they because them the Marilyn Thornton Williams Memorial Williams Thornton Marilyn the

n oe’ n edrsuymnr is minor, study gender and women’s a and

orld of these women.“I was interested in interested was women.“I these of orld w etsAadfrAaei xelne and Excellence; Academic for Award ment’s

Lee, who graduated with a BA in history in BA a with graduated who Lee,

ork, she had entrée to the very private very the to entrée had she ork, Y Achievement Award; the History Depart- History the Award; Achievement

or high school students. school high or

omnt ntetw fWlkl,New Wallkill, of town the in community Memorial Scholarship; Dyson Dean’s Dyson Scholarship; Memorial rd Fo T.

English to approximately 250 Korean middle Korean 250 approximately to English

complete. Because Lee grew up in a Korean a in up grew Lee Because complete. scholarships and awards: Dyson College Ben College Dyson awards: and scholarships

bright Scholarship, where she will teach will she where Scholarship, bright

to America when their husbands’ service was service husbands’ their when America to raduate students and has earned numerous earned has and students raduate g

ear on an English Teaching Assistantship Ful- Assistantship Teaching English an on ear y

vicemen deployed in Korea and immigrated and Korea in deployed vicemen been one of Dyson College’s stellar under- stellar College’s Dyson of one been

will be going to South Korea this July for one for July this Korea South to going be will

men who married American military ser- military American married who men wo an fluently. She has She fluently. an

e,ti ersDsnFlrgtwne.Lee winner. Fulbright Dyson year’s this Lee,

“I

or her thesis, Lee interviewed Korean interviewed Lee thesis, her or F six, Lee speaks Kore- speaks Lee six,

that I won the Fulbright,” says Amy says Fulbright,” the won I that

fellow in the Society of Fellows. of Society the in fellow the US at the age of age the at US the

en taken aback when I learned I when aback taken en ev

national Honor Society and was inducted as a as inducted was and Society Honor national who immigrated to immigrated who

as really excited and honored— and excited really as w

honorary member of the Golden Key Inter- Key Golden the of member honorary A native of Korea of native A

”

Will teach English to South Korean students Korean South to English teach Will

them develop their English skills and learn more about America. about more learn and skills English their develop them “

Scholarship Winner Winner Scholarship I will have the chance to impact young Koreans in a positive way by helping by way positive a in Koreans young impact to chance the have will I

Amy Lee ’04, Fulbright ’04, Lee Amy student spotlight