| September 20, 2006 | Vol 8. No. 3 |
Annual Reception Awards Tenure and Promotions to 23 Faculty
(left to right) Frank Riga, PhD, Department of English professor emeritus; John Kalb, PhD, associate professor, Department of Biology; Mary O'Sullivan, PhD, professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; Robert Grebenok, PhD, professor, Department of Biology; Susan Putnam, PhD, associate professor, Department of Psychology; Barbara Burns, PhD, associate professor, Department of Education; Genevieve James, PhD, professor emeritus, Department of Modern Languages; David Dietz, PhD, professor emeritus, Department of Classics; Sara Morris, PhD, professor, Department of Biology.
(left to right) Michael Forest, PhD, associate professor, Department of Philosophy; Martha Dunkelman, PhD, professor, Department of Fine Arts; Joseph O'Donnell, PhD, associate professor, Department of Accounting; Rev. Michael Tunney, S.J., MS, MFA, professor, Department of Fine Arts; Paul Sauer, PhD, professor, Department of Management & Marketing; Joseph Grossi, Jr., PhD, associate professor, Department of English; and John Occhipinti, PhD, professor, Department of Political Science.
Twenty-three Canisius College faculty were honored at an annual ceremony held in the Bouwhuis Library on Friday, September 8. Hosted by Library and Information Services, the celebratory reception recognizes the achievements of the newly tenured and promoted professors. Each honoree is invited to dedicate a book of their choice to the library’s main collection, which includes a personal dedication by the respective faculty member on the inside cover. These 22 newly-dedicated books are on display on the first floor of the library. The newly tenured or promoted faculty are:
- Barbara A. Burns, PhD, Department of Education Granted tenure & promoted to associate professor
- David B. Dietz, PhD, Department of Classics Named professor emeritus
- Martha Dunkelman, PhD, Department of Fine Arts Promoted to professor
- Michael J. Forest, PhD, Department of Philosophy Granted tenure & promoted to associate professor
- Joseph G. Glynn, PhD, Department of Management & Marketing Named professor emeritus
- Robert J. Grebenok, PhD, Department of Biology Promoted to professor
- Joseph L. Grossi Jr., PhD, Department of English Granted tenure & promoted to associate professor
- Genevieve L. James, PhD, Department of Modern Languages Named professor emeritus
- John M. Kalb, PhD, Department of Biology Granted tenure & promoted to associate professor
- Sara R. Morris, PhD, Department of Biology Promoted to professor
- John D. Occhipinti, PhD, Department of Political Science Promotion to professor
- Joseph B. O’Donnell, PhD, Department of Accounting Granted tenure & promoted to associate professor
- Mary C. O’Sullivan, PhD, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Promoted to professor
- Efstratios Prassidis, PhD, Department of Mathematics & Statistics Promoted to Professor
- Susan Putnam, PhD, Department of Psychology Granted tenure & promoted to associate professor
- Frank P. Riga, PhD, Department of English professor emeritus
- Karl J. Schroeder, Department of Mathematics & Statistics professor emeritus
- Paul L. Sauer, PhD, Department of Management & Marketing Promoted to professor
- Mary E. Shea, PhD, Department of Graduate Education & Leadership Promoted to professor
- Daniel P. Starr, PhD, Department of History professor emeritus
- Joseph A. Tomasulo, PhD, Department of Biology professor emeritus
- Rev. Michael F. Tunney, S.J., Department of Fine Arts Promoted to professor
- Nancy V. Wallace, PhD, Department of Education Granted tenure & promoted to associate professor
How much do you know about the United States Constitution? True or false – The U.S. Constitution declares itself to be the “supreme law of the land.” If you answered true, you are correct. This question was one of 10 that appeared on a recent survey completed by more than 100 Canisius students in observance of Constitution Day. Fifty-six percent of the students answered the question correctly.
A new law championed by Senator Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) and signed into law by President George W. Bush in December of 2004 requires all schools and colleges that receive federal funding to teach about the U.S. Constitution on September 17, the day the document was adopted in 1787. This year Constitution Day was celebrated on Monday, September 18. The nation’s celebration included the annual recitation of the preamble by Gen. Colin Powell on Monday morning. The recitation was dedicated to, and in honor of, our military serving all over the world.
On campus, a power point presentation developed by Peter J. Galie, PhD, chair of the Political Science Department, which included questions and facts about the U.S. Constitution, was broadcast throughout campus from Friday, September 15 – Monday, September 18.
“I don’t consider these efforts simply an exercise to meet federal requirements,” noted Galie. “Anything we can do to promote knowledge and understanding of our Constitution is to the betterment of the country.”
Canisius freshmen political science and criminal justice students completed a 10-question survey to test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution. The students were also asked to indicate a way in which the Constitution has affected their lives.
Find out how much you know about the Constitution by completing the survey below. Select your answer by clicking the button for true or false. When you are finished, click the button below to find out the correct answers and also see how Canisius students fared.
1. The U.S. Constitution Provides For Three (3) Branches Of Government.
True False
2. The Liberties Contained In The U.S. Constitution Are Absolute.
True False
3. The U.S. Constitution Delares Itself To Be The “Supreme Law Of The Land.”
True False
4. The U.S. Congress Has The Sole Power To Amend The U.S. Constitution.
True False
5. The U.S. Constitution Provides For The General Relationship Among The States.
True False
6. Three-Fourths Of The States Are Required To Ratify An Amendment To The Constitution.
True False
7. The U.S. Constitution States That “All Men Are Created Equal.”
True False
8. The Text Of The U.S. Constitution Specifically Protects A Woman’s Right To Have An Abortion.
True False
9. Congressional Representatives Are Elected By The People.
True False
10. The U.S. Constitution States That Christianity Is The Official Religion Of The United States.
True False
College Closed for Columbus Day Holiday
The college will be closed, except for essential operating personnel, on Monday, October 9 in observance of the Columbus Day Holiday.
CANISIUS EVENTS
Second Annual Canisius College Writers Series
Come hear to the college's own authors read from their works at the Second Annual Canisius College Writers Series on Thursday, October 12 in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. The reception starts at 6 p.m., readings begin at 7 p.m. Featured writers include Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor of English; Sandra Cookson, PhD, chair and professor of English; Janet McNally, adjunct professor of English; and Barbara Porter, PhD, associate dean of arts and sciences. For more information, contact Eric Gansworth, professor of English at Ext. 2113 or send an E-mail to ganswore@canisius.edu.
ArtsCanisius Presents Informally Formal Concert
ArtsCanisius will present an Informally Formal Chamber Concert featuring Robert Hausmann, Buffalo Philharmonic cellist and Alfred B. Frenning, piano and cello, on Tuesday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. Tickets are $15 for general admission; $7 for students. For more information, contact the Fine Arts Department at Ext. 2542 or click here.
| Award Winning Filmmaker to Premiere Latest Film at Canisius Award-winning documentary filmmaker Gerard Straub will premiere his latest film, "Room at the Inn," at Canisius College on Thursday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Canisius College Office of Campus Ministry. For more information regarding the premiere, contact the Office of Campus Ministry at Ext. 2420 or click here. |
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President and CEO of Rich Products to Receive Business Executive of the Year Award
The Richard J. Wehle School of Business has named William G. Gisel Jr., president and CEO of Rich Products Corporation, its Business Executive of the Year. Gisel will receive his award at the school's 38th annual Business Awards Dinner on Tuesday, October 10 at 6 p.m. at Salvatore's Italian Gardens. For the past decade, Gisel has served as president of Rich's Food Group and chief operating officer. During his tenure, he helped direct the company's fortunes as it more than doubled its annual revenues to $2.5 billion. In August this year, Bob Rich Jr., chairman of the company, appointed Gisel his successor as president and chief executive officer of Rich Products Corporation.
Mary S. Martino MBA '83 will also be recognized at the Business Awards Dinner. The Canisius alumna, who is commissioner of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), will receive the Dr. Bernard L. Martin Award. Established in 1976 by the board of directors of the Canisius College Masters Business Alumni Association, the award recognizes a distinguished graduate of the college's graduate business programs -- someone who has excelled professionally and also provided significant service to the community.The Business Awards Dinner is sponsored by the Business Advisory Council to the Richard J. Wehle School of Business. For more information on the dinner or this year's recipients, click here.
Women's Leadership Conference
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| Siobhan Hardy |
To register on-line (credit card payments only) click here or call the Canisius College Center for Professional Development at (716) 862-4600. For more information, click here.
Mass of the Holy Spirit Ushers in Academic Year
Nearly 100 faculty members process across the Quad to the Mass of the Holy Spirit at Christ the King Chapel on Thursday, August 31. The Mass is an annual tradition to commemorate and bless the start of the academic year.
Chicken Barbeque
Katie Martoche, assistant director of campus programming and leadership development, Adam Hernandez '07 (aka "The Chicken") vice president for programming, Undergraduate Student Association, and Nicole Kolivas '05, graduate assistant in the Office of Campus Programming and Leadership Development, take a break from the chicken barbeque in the Quad after the Mass of the Holy Spirit on August 31. The event was sponsored by the Senate Programming Board (SPB).
Jewel Performs at Canisius College
More than 400 members of the college community enjoyed the sounds of three- time Grammy nominee Jewel who performed at Canisius in the Montante Cultural Center on September 7. The concert was sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Association.
CANISIUS KUDOS
National Science Foundation Supports Sheets’ Research
H. David Sheets, PhD, professor of physics, is a recipient of a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The three-year, $20,870 grant supports an interdisciplinary research project in which Sheets and paleontologists from three different universities will study the development of a select trilobite species (A. konincki). Trilobites are long-extinct, hard-shelled creatures that once existed in the Earth’s seas. Sheets’ will use the NSF grant to develop statistical tests and specialized software to examine several different hypotheses about the developmental process in A. konicki. The research aims to provide a better understanding of the species’ genetic mechanisms and its evolution.
Sheets will also present research at the 118th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America which will be held in Philadelphia, PA from October 22-25. Sheets presentation is entitled An Initial Approach to the Estimation of Uncertainty in Biodiversity Estimates Obtained From Composite Sections, With an Example from the Hirnantian Mass Extinction. Approximately 6,200 geologists are expected to attend the meeting.
Biology Course Selected as Best Practices
The Department of Biology Course Introduction to Cellular and Subcellular Biology (BIO 101) has been identified as one of the top examples of best practices in a national study of biology courses conducted by the Center for Educational Policy Research (CEPR) on behalf of the College Board. At Canisius, the course was collaboratively developed by the following faculty members: Robert J. Grebenok, PhD, associate professor of biology, Susan M. Aronica, PhD, associate professor of biology, Elizabeth Hogan, associate professor of biology, Barbara Hanson, associate professor of biology and John Kalb, assistant professor of biology.
The CEPR study sought to identify best practices in college courses that could inform the redesign of AP courses in biology. In addition to being designated a best practice course overall, BIO 101, specific elements of the course were designated by CEPR as exemplary.
Vehar to Perform New Works
Persis Parshall Vehar, Canisius College Composer-in-residence, will premiere several of her latest works this fall and winter. On September 28, flutist Carol Wincenc, soprano Laura Aikin and pianist Persis Vehar will premiere her song cycle, RADIANCE, for the Western New York AIDS Community Services Benefit sponsored by Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS in New York City. KADDISH – IN MEMORIAM of WARREN BENSON (for double choir) will premiere in Ithaca on October 8 when sung by the Ithaca College Choir, Dr. Lawrence Doebler, conductor. On December 2, the Alden, New York Ecumenical Choir will premiere a Christmas anthem, GLORIA, which was commissioned for Advent. Astiz Gives Presentation in Argentina
M. Fernanda Astiz, PhD, assistant professor of education, gave a presentation on the use of mixed research methodologies in comparative education studies for the Argentinean Comparative and International Education Society. Her presentation, entitled Metodolog Mixtas de Investigacin Educaciomparada, took place on May 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Astiz also recently published an article entitled “School Autonomy in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina: Evidence from Two School Districts” in the journal Comparative Education, Vol. 42 (2) pp. 203-223 (2006).