Vol. 17 Number 2 Spring 2006 POST PRESS The Official Staff and Faculty Newsletter of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University DECADES OF DEDICATION m i K l u h C i u e H y b o t o Toni Check Srikumar Rao h P When switchboard operator Antoinette Check came to work at C.W. Post in 1966, neither the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library nor Humanities Hall had yet been built. Hillwood Commons, the Interfaith Center and Brookville Hall did not exist. Toni, as she is known to friends and colleagues, watched C.W. Post grow up. “The time went very fast,” she said after being honored for her 40 years of service. “I’ve loved every minute of it.” Check was among nearly 60 staff and faculty members honored for 15, 20, 30 or 40 years of service to C.W. Post on March 6. The list included Marketing Professor Srikumar Rao, who was profiled recently in TIME magazine; Alexander Dashnaw, the director of choral studies at C.W. Post and a world-renowned conductor; and lacrosse legend Tom Postel, who coached the Pioneers to a national championship in 1996 and who played for the world champion U.S. national team in 1974. Dr. Rao was profiled in TIME this April for his new book, “Are You Ready to Succeed?” and the Creativity and Personal Mastery course he has taught at C.W. Post, Columbia University and London Business School. “I believe that your life – both personal and professional – is far more within your control than you think,” Dr. Rao said. “It’s indeed possible to craft an ideal life.” Postel, a member of the inaugural class of the C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame and of the National Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame, plans to retire this year. Check, meanwhile, still fields the calls and sings in the Diocesan Choir of Rockville Centre. “I love the people. I love the students,” Check said. “They’re great.” Tom Postel For a complete list of honorees and photos, see pages 7-8. major; and Christopher Miller, a student at Vassar College and son of Katherine SPOTLIGHT Hill-Miller, dean of the C.W. Post ON College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. • On June 1, Athletic Director Vin • George Lindsay, happen when community members and Salamone will assume the new position general manager of organizers work with parents, youth, of full-time fundraiser for athletics in Tilles Center for educators and researchers to improve C.W. Post’s Office of Development the Performing urban public schools.” and Alumni Relations. Salamone was Arts, got a big appointed assistant athletic trainer at surprise March 11 • Associate Professor Manju Prasad- C.W. Post following his 1963 graduation – a reception Rao, head of the Instructional Media from the school, and rose through the celebrating his 25 Center in the library, was a guest ranks to athletics director in 1986. years of service at presenter in April at Suffolk County During his tenure, C.W. Post constructed George Lindsay Long Island’s Community College for “Indian Life the Pratt Recreation Center, established premier concert venue. The evening Through Indian Textiles: Meanings, the women’s soccer, lacrosse and featured a performance by Sir James Motifs and Cross Cultural Influences.” swimming programs, and launched the Galway, conductor and flute; Lady She explained how the sarees, temple C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame in Jeanne Galway, flute; and the Polish cloths and other fabrics on display 2005. Taking over as athletic director Symphony Orchestra. conveyed India’s many cultures and will be Bryan Collins, who also will illustrated its myths, legends and epics. continue as head football coach. Collins • John Philip Sousa’s name is An Indian classical dancer, singer and led the 2005 Pioneers to the NCAA synonymous with his genre – marching storyteller, Prasad-Rao also has Division II regional championship band music. Sousa’s 136 compositions presentations scheduled in the coming game. His career record at C.W. Post is constitute the core of today’s band weeks at the Jacques Marchais Museum 73-17. As A.D., he’ll oversee 17 NCAA repertoire and “The Stars and Stripes of Tibetan Art in Staten Island and Division II teams, 400 student-athletes Forever” is the single most popular piece the Wantagh and Port Washington and a coaching staff of 46. of band music. Media Arts Professor public libraries. Christopher F. Dodrill discussed Sousa’s • Dr. Pamela Lennox, associate provost professional achievements, from leading for campus services, won a Leadership the Marine Band to forming his own in Education Award from ExecuLeaders, Sousa Band, on Jan. 20 as part of the a networking organization for Long Post Library Association’s Friday Night Island business and community leaders, Programs. Sousa, also known as the “The in March. Dr. Lennox has won March King,” lived in Port Washington. numerous awards for her leadership in higher education and in the community. • Suzanne Nalbantian, professor of English, has been invited by some of Mark Pires (second from left) the nation’s most prestigious universities to speak about her book, “Memory in • Geography Professor Mark Pires led Literature: From Rousseau to a group of C.W. Post Honors students, Neuroscience.” This interdisciplinary faculty and guests on a two-week trip to work connects the humanities and the Senegal in January. The group visited sciences in a rare look at the way cities, villages and historic sites on Susan Zeig literature offers insight into the physical Africa’s west coast. Dr. Pires has been workings of the brain. She has addressed • Film Professor Susan Zeig is on visiting Africa since his days as an audiences at Yale, Stanford and sabbatical while producing a undergraduate at the University of Carnegie Mellon as well as scientists at documentary on public education. Vermont. Also on the trip were Cheryl Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Filming inside schools, community Halliburton-Beatty, associate professor scholars at the University of Pittsburgh, centers and homes in New York and of dance, and her son Kaliym; Vincent Indiana University and The University California, Professor Zeig’s film Wright, associate professor of art/music; Club in New York City. examines the effect of government- Haley Menard, a senior majoring in mandated improvements on student environmental chemistry; Christine performance. She said the documentary Santos, a senior journalism major; Bailey will show “the powerful changes that Stark, a sophomore arts management Post Press - 2 - Spring 2006 • Professor Donald Wilson of the Palmer School of Library and Information Science gave a well- received presentation on bibliotherapy at the Farmingdale Public Library on April 3. Bibliotherapy involves the use of literature to assist children, teens and young adults in overcoming the emotional turmoil related to real-life problems. Literature can serve as a From left: C.W. Post Psychology springboard for discussion and possible Professor John Neill, L.I. Brain Bee third resolution of these dilemmas. Wilson, place winner Gavin Lund of Comsewogue a school media expert, described High School, first place winner Emily Weil, bibliotherapy techniques and resources second place winner Varun Talakani of Ward Melville High School and C.W. Post for area librarians. Psychology Professor Grace Rossi. • Lee Kelly, • Once again, Long Island produced associate vice a top 10 finalist in the International president of Brain Bee at the University of human resources Maryland, and C.W. Post Psychology at Long Island Professors John Neill and Grace Rossi University Martin Tucker, left, publisher of deserve some of the credit. Dr. Neill and Center, has Confrontation Press, and Jeffrey Kane, Dr. Rossi organized the Long Island been appointed University vice president for academic Brain Bee, held in January at C.W. Post assistant provost affairs, at the book signing in March for “life after six years at Southampton College, for enrollment as a novice,” Dr. Kane’s volume of poetry. and conducted free Saturday morning Lee Kelly services at workshops so contestants could brush C.W. Post. As • University Vice President for up on their neuroscience. Long Island assistant to Gary R. Bergman, associate Academic Affairs Jeffrey Kane signed winner Emily Weil, a junior at provost for enrollment services, Kelly copies of his book, “life as a novice,” in Lynbrook High School, finished 9th will help oversee admissions, financial the Founders Room at Tilles Center for at the International Brain Bee in assistance, academic counseling, bursar, the Performing Arts in March. “life as a Baltimore in March. Long Island registrar, adult student services, English novice” is a volume of poetry inspired contestants have finished in the top Language Institute, the SCALE/ACE by the life and tragic death of Dr. Kane’s 10 at the international event each year program, and the summer, evening and son, Gabriel, in an automobile accident and won it twice. weekend programs. She has previously in 2003 at the age of 21. Poet and held the positions of interim provost at educator Judith Baumel calls Dr. Kane’s • Professor of Psychology Gerald Southampton College and acting director work “fierce, philosophical and lyrical.” Lachter, Associate Professor of of admissions and registrar at C.W. Post. “life as a novice” is published by Education Gavrielle Levine and Confrontation Press of Long Island Associate Professor of Biomedical • Donna Tuman, chair of the Art University. After publishing books on Sciences Seetha Tamma are the C.W. Department, was recently recognized for an occasional basis for many years, Post Campus winners of the 2006 David her important achievements in the field Confrontation Press has established a Newton Awards for Teaching of arts education. Dr. Tuman received regular book division.