10-11 Annual Report College of Liberal Arts and Sciences College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Table of Contents Executive Summary Message From the Dean 1 New Programs 2 College Strategic Planning 3 College at a Glance Dean’s Office 5 Department Contacts 6 New Faculty 7 Student Enrollment 10 Grants and Gifts 11 Faculty Highlights 12 College Initiatives 13 Select Events 14 of Contents Table Program Profiles American Studies 15 Biology 16 Chemistry and Biochemistry 20 Computer Science 28 English 39 Foreign Languages 44 Geography and Anthropology 50 History 57 Law and Justice Studies 65 Liberal Studies: Math and Science 71 Liberal Studies: Humanities and Social Sciences 72 Mathematics 73 Philosophy and Religion 82 Physics and Astronomy 85 Political Science 98 Psychology 102 Sociology 112 Comprehensive Strategic Plan 123 Annual Report 10-11 Executive Summary Parviz Ansari Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences I am pleased to present the 2010-11 Annual Report of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This report is a collection of the achievements of the academic departments and special programs within the College from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. At the completion of my second year as the Dean of CLAS at Rowan University, I am proud to present the many exciting initiatives of the College. During the summer of 2011, we finalized the goals, objectives and action steps of the College-wide Strategic Plan. Inaugurated in the Fall 2009 semester, the strategic planning process has been a collective effort of CLAS faculty and administration. Throughout the past year, the College has progressed in its strategic biomedical, environmental, and public policy initiatives through faculty hiring, curricular development, and research planning. Program consolidation and a reorganization of the Dean’s Team, framed within the strategic plan and to be implemented in the current fiscal year, will serve to strengthen the College’s offerings and create opportunities for advancement. Moreover, the College has worked to increase awareness of our faculty, student and alumni accomplishments through enhancements to our website, social media applications and targeted publications. My thanks to everyone who has participated in the development and preparation of this Annual Report. Parviz Ansari Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 01 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences New Major Degree Programs Academic Year 2011-2012 • Accelerated BA/MA Dual Degree and an MA in History (Spring’11); • Accelerated BA/MA in Law and Justice Studies and Criminal Justice (Fall’11); • Sequence A in Africana Studies for the Liberal Studies: Humanities/Social Sciences major (Fall’11); • Sequence A in Geography for the Liberal Studies: Humanities/Social Sciences major (Fall’11); • Post-baccalaureate Certificate program in Psychology (Fall’11); • BA in Physics (starts Spring’12); • BS in Planning (starts Spring’12); • BS in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) (starts Spring’12); Summary Executive • BA in Applied Geographic Knowledge and Skills (starts Spring’12); • BA in Integrated Studies in Geography and Environment (starts Spring’12); • Sequence A in American Studies for the Liberal Studies: Humanities/Social Sciences major (starts Spring’12). New Minors Academic Year 2011-2012 • Business Spanish (Fall’11); • German (Fall’11); • Geographic Information Systems (starts Spring’12); • Planning (starts Spring’12); New Concentrations Academic Year 2011-2012 • Geographic Inquiries into Global Issues (starts Spring’12); • Applied Geographic Knowledge and Skills (starts Spring’12). Annual Report 10-11 02 College Strategic Planning College Strategic Planning In 2009, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences initiated its comprehensive 5-year strategic planning. Lead by a dedicated team of faculty, staff and administration of the College, the 2010-2011 academic year marked the adoption of the first formal strategic plan in the College’s history. The strategic planning efforts identified goals and objectives for the five main areas of development: undergraduate education, graduation education, faculty and staff enrichment, infrastructure and budgeting, and localization/globalization. The CLAS faculty met during a Mini-Summit in October 28, 2010 to discuss the progress of the strategic planning efforts originally begun in the previous academic year. The group brainstormed about the directions and possibilities for the College in the future. Soon after the summit, the Executive Committee spearheaded the efforts in compiling ideas and suggestions from the goal committees, resulting in the creation of a unified plan for the College’s future steps. New Mission and Vision Statements emerged along with a collective articulation of the College’s values. During the year of 2011-2012 the College will engage in prioritizing the goals and objectives resulting in the implementation of the plan. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Strategic Plan Mission The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences affirms the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences as the core of liberal education and the foundation of professional preparation. As the largest and most diverse academic unit of Rowan University, the College is committed to excellence in instruction, research, and scholarship. Its disciplines promote extensive interaction between faculty and students, attention to individual development of critical and creative thinking, the building of interdisciplinary communities through partnerships both internal and external, and the development of new knowledge through research and creative activities. The College plays an essential role in Rowan’s mission: to educate students who remain lifelong learners and ethically responsible citizens, sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and engaged in advancing our global society. Values The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences values the following: • Collaborative learning; • Active, interdisciplinary and experiential learning; • Liberal education based on principles of ethical and social responsibility. Vision The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences aspires to be a premier student-centered college recognized as one of the best among its peers nationwide and a model for displaying the value of liberal education. 03 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences College Strategic Goals Undergraduate Education Graduate Education • Improve learning outcome assessments. • Enhance and strategically expand graduate • Create interdisciplinary education connecting all programs. clusters of the College. • Develop partnerships with an increased utilization of the Camden Campus. Faculty and Staff Enrichment Goals • Develop non-traditional undergraduate and • Enhance the commitment of the College to alternative methods of delivery. academic quality and integrity by focusing on faculty- and staff-related issues. Infrastructure and Budgeting Localization/Globalization • Develop and fund new academic and • Incorporate study abroad programs in our Planning Strategic College entrepreneurial programs. education. • Promote external grant activities. • Improve internationalization in our curriculum • Increase foundation and corporate funding. and cultural activities. • Establish ongoing fundraising initiatives to • Develop new strategic partnerships with increase available resources. universities abroad and with selected high schools • Improve the quality and number of students and and community colleges. their retention rates. • Promote student and faculty engagement in civic • Promote the College through online and print services in local areas. publications and other means. • Improve our town/gown relationship. Annual Report 10-11 04 College at a Glance 2010 - 2011 Office of the Dean Parviz Ansari Cindy Vitto Kristen DiNovi Alison Krufka Dean Associate Dean Assistant Dean Dean’s Fellow for [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Asssessment [email protected] DJ Angelone Dorie Gilchrist Aimee Burgin Francine Knight Dean’s Fellow for Coordinator, Program Coordinator and Secretary Research Exploratory Studies Advisor, Liberal Studies: [email protected] [email protected] Program Humanities/Soc. Science [email protected] [email protected] Dottie Mastranduono Christine DiBlasi Secretary Secretary, [email protected] Interdisciplinary Studies [email protected] 2011 - 2012 Office of the Dean Parviz Ansari Ieva Zake Tricia Yurak Janet Lindman Dean Associate Dean for Assistant Dean for Assistant Dean for [email protected] Academic Affairs Underaduate and Graduate Assessment and [email protected] Students Planning [email protected] [email protected] Greg Caputo Gloria Sanders Cindy Vitto Tomas Varela Assistant Dean for Director of Finance and Senior Fellow Health Professions Advisor Research and Grants Administration [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Dottie Mastranduono Christine DiBlasi Aimee Burgin Francine Knight Secretary Secretary, Program Coordinator and Secretary [email protected] Interdisciplinary Studies Advisor, Liberal Studies: [email protected] [email protected] Humanities/Soc. Science [email protected] Rose Attanasi Secretary to the Dean [email protected] 05 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 2011 - 2012 Department Information Biological Sciences Chemistry & Biochemistry Computer Science Chair: Terry O’Brien Chair: Catherine Yang Chair: Stephen Hartley Secretary: Patricia Lee Milano Secretary: Kathleen Monahan Secretary: Debra Coughlin Ext: 4833 Ext: 4505 Ext: 4805 English Foreign Languages & Literatures Geography &