| April 18, 2007 | Vol 8. No. 11 |
First Annual Dean’s Award Ceremony Held at Canisius
The first annual Canisius College Dean’s Award Ceremony to honor outstanding faculty in the School of Education and Human Services will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents Robert M. Bennett will speak at the event and also receive the college’s first Educational Leadership Award.
“This is an opportunity for me to publicly recognize outstanding faculty for their valuable contributions to the college in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service,” said Margaret C. McCarthy, PhD, dean of the School of Education and Human Services. “There are so many deserving individuals; I wish it were possible to honor them all.”
James Sylvis, PhD, associate professor of physical education and health, will receive the Faculty Teaching Award; Mary E. Shea, PhD, professor of graduate education and leadership and director of the Literacy Program, will receive the Faculty Scholarship Award; and Martha Mercantini, adjunct professor of education, will receive the Adjunct Teaching Award. Michele A. Marable, PhD, associate professor of education, will receive the Service Award.
Canisius will also celebrate its partnership with the Sweet Home Central School district with the presentation of the Community Partnership Award to Superintendent Geoffrey M. Hicks, his teachers and staff members.
Department of Public Safety Receives Homeland Security Grant
The Canisius College Department of Public Safety recently received its third Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grant, worth $15,712, will be used to purchase an MX-2 Thermal Imager, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced in March.
The equipment detects body heat and can be used for search and rescue, fugitive searches, vehicle tracking, marine and ground surveillance and perimeter searches.
"I am proud that our Public Safety Department has received this award," says Gary Everett, director of public safety at Canisius College. "I believe it speaks highly of our department's professionalism and commitment to training."
Everett says the department will receive the equipment in June 2007 after completion of a training course.
The college's first two grants were used to purchase hazmat suits and night vision goggles. Eleven emergency response agencies from across Western New York received more than $205,000 in federal funding to purchase specialized equipment.
Public Safety Trains Chartwells Staff in RAD
Officer Sue D’Archangelo and Lt. John Hach from the Department of Public Safety recently trained several members of the Chartwells staff in Rape Aggression Defense Systems (RAD). The four-session RAD training course took place at Demerly Hall. The RAD approach to personal safety education embodies a practice of threat avoidance strategies and real-world assault resistance tactics for women. Chartwells employees who completed the course include: Suzette Warnes, Martha Brown, Rose Sperandeo, Barbara Penrod and Nanette Aurington. In addition, Nancy Dusza, secretary for public safety and Judy Bruce, secretary for the dean of students, took the course.
Canisius Psychology Major Awarded Psi Chi Research Grant
(l-r) Ashley A. Smigelski '07 and Susan Putnam, PhD, associate professor of psychology in Dr. Putnam's research laboratory. Putnam presented a $1,500 check to Smigelski for her research.
Ashley A. Smigelski '07, a senior psychology major, received a Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant. The grant was awarded based on her research study entitled "Salivary Cortisol Levels in Children Diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder," which she conducts under the guidance of Susan Putnam, PhD, associate professor of psychology.
The prestigious grant includes a $1,500 award and is presented to only ten students nationwide. Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, was founded in 1929 to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship, and advance the science of psychology.
Jahn is Student Employee of the Year
From left to right: Jim Jones, director, career center; Eileen Abbatoy, assistant director, career center, Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, chair and professor of communication studies; Kirsten A. Jahn '08, Mark Dzielski, coordinator of event management and Mike Odojewski, assistant director, event management.
Kirsten A. Jahn '08 is the recipient of this year's Canisius College Career Center Student Employee of the Year Award. Jahn, who worked in the Department of Communication Studies and with the Department of Event Management, was nominated by Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, chair and professor of communication studies; and Mark Dzielski, coordinator of event management. She accepted her award at a luncheon at Shanghai Reds Restaurant in Buffalo.
The award, sponsored by the Western New York Association of College Career Centers, honors students during National Student Employment Month, recognizes students' work and academic achievements.
Canisius Students Receive Accolades
The guidance and personalized attention of our faculty has paid off for our students, who have recently won numerous national awards and competitions. Click the links below for more information:
SIFE Team Advances to National Competition
French Major Wins Regional Essay Award
Student Wins Outstanding Senior in French Award
Finance Team Presents at International Conference
Canisius Repeats as CASE Study Champion
Economics/Finance Major Wins Top Honors