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N U M B E R 1 5 > W I N T E R 2 0 1 0T H E C O L L E G E ’ S M A G A Z I N E F O R A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S

CORPS VALUES

LIVING THE LITERARY LIFE

President Aaron Podolefsky takescharge at Buffalo State with anexpectation of excellence and animpressive record of attaining it.

SERVE, IMAGINE—The Promise of Buffalo State

CELEBRATE,

COLORFUL QUEUE. The academic procession,including delegates from more than 45 collegesand universities, marches to Rockwell Hall tocommence the formal inauguration of Dr. AaronPodolefsky. More than 800 people attended theceremonial installation of Buffalo State’s eighthpresident on October 29.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE FOX

Departments

From the President 2

Campus News 3

Donor Impact 20

Alumni News 30

Class Notes 35

In Memoriam 39

Cover Story

10 Celebrate, Serve, ImaginePresident Aaron Podolefsky brings to Buffalo State a passion and a forte for developing top-quality educational institutions thatstrengthen the economies, societies, and communities they serve.

Features9 Beyond WordsProfessor Emeritus Abel Fink spent 40 years encouraging students to think, write, and talk about what really matters to them. In his new book, Students Speak, Fink presents their best papers over four decades.

14 Corps ValuesMarch 2011 marks the 50-year anniversary of the Peace Corps, the American volunteer-service organization that promotes world peace through economic and social development, and Buffalo State volunteers have been there from the start.

18 Living the Literary LifeDistinguished Professor Ann C. Colley, two-time American Fulbright Senior Fellow and internationally renowned scholar of the Victorian era, finds comfort in writing and “a certain self-definition, an engagement with life.”

16

N UM B E R 1 5 > W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

THE COLLEGE ’S MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FR IENDS

“ ”page 28

ON THE COVER. Aaron Podolefsky, Buffalo State’s newly appointed president, in the campus’s Burchfield Penney Art Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE FOX

You have to be motivated by the desire tochange things for the better.

uffalo is a good place for new beginnings. There’s an energy to the city

that is unlike any other place I have lived—a real spirit of enthusiasm,

an almost tangible pulse of activity and enterprise. It’s also one of the

most friendly and welcoming communities I have ever experienced.

When my wife, Ronnie, and I were exploring Buffalo and the opportuni-

ties at Buffalo State College last spring, we quickly sensed that these were

communities of which we’d be fortunate to be a part. And after the SUNY

chancellor and Board of Trustees offered me the position of president at

Buffalo State, we were overjoyed at the prospect of moving from Central

Missouri to Western New York.

We have been here several months now, and already feel at home in

Buffalo and at Buffalo State. The college community has made us more than

welcome, and I have felt honored to join my new colleagues in their ennobling

work of providing a unique and transformative educational experience to

Buffalo State’s extraordinary students.

This work is not without its challenges, of course. Our ambitions still,

at times, outpace our resources. But the faculty, staff, and supporters of

Buffalo State are bound and determined to ensure that our students are

limited only by their imaginations, and

that our shared investment in their

individual successes reaps rich dividends.

Soon after I arrived on campus,

I began a sort of “listening tour”—

meeting with various members of the

Buffalo State and Buffalo communities

to get a sense of their hopes for the college’s future, as well as its present

challenges. These conversations have been tremendously helpful and have

informed my understanding of this great place and its amazing people.

Conversations with alumni are a crucial part of this “Buffalo State 101”

educational process. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible;

if you do not live in the greater Buffalo area, I hope you will be in touch

to share your thoughts on the college. You are one of Buffalo State’s greatest

natural resources—you are among its most vocal champions and ardent

supporters—and your perspective is invaluable to me.

I hope our paths will cross soon. Until then, here’s to new beginnings!

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR COLLEGE RELATIONSTimothy J. Walsh

EDITORNancy B. Paschke, ’87, ’05

ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNERLynda H. Donati

WRITERSSheri Bell-Rehwoldt • Phyllis A. Camesano • Jerod T. Dahlgren •Mary A. Durlak • Lisa Kane, ’89, ’97 • Brian C. Kantz •Nancy B. Paschke, ’87, ’05 • Judith A. Rucki, ’97 • Nanette Tramont •Jeffrey M. Ventura, ’99 • Timothy J. Walsh

ADMINISTRATIONAaron Podolefsky, Ph.D., PresidentDennis K. Ponton, Ph.D., ProvostVoldemar A. Innus, M.B.A., Vice President and Chief Information OfficerStanley Kardonsky, Ph.D., Vice President for Finance and ManagementSusanne P. Bair, P.E.D., Vice President for Institutional Advancement andExecutive Director of the Buffalo State College FoundationHal D. Payne, J.D., Vice President for Student AffairsDolores E. Battle, Ph.D., Senior Adviser to the President for Equity and Campus DiversityKevin J. Railey, Ph.D., Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate SchoolBenjamin C. Christy, A.Mus.D., Dean of the School of Arts and HumanitiesPaul G. Theobald, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the School of EducationMark W. Severson, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Natural and Social SciencesKevin F. Mulcahy, Ed.D., ’73, ’75, Interim Dean of the School of the ProfessionsScott L. Johnson, Ph.D., Dean of University College

COLLEGE COUNCILJohn T. Hoskins, Chair • Howard A. Zemsky, Vice Chair • William J. Bissett • James Brandys, ’71, ’73 • Melissa Brinson • Robert D. Bulman, ’84 • Charles J. Naughton, ’85 • Alphonso V. O’Neil-White •Gerald C. Saxe • Renea A. Johnson, Student Representative

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION BOARDLinda A. Dobmeier, ’71, Chair • Dorothy T. Ferguson, Vice Chair •Ross B. Kenzie, Vice Chair • Robert M. Zak, Treasurer • Anthony J. Baynes, ’79, Secretary • Susanne P. Bair • Timothy P. Balkin • Todd W. Brason, ’85 • Tim L. Brenner • Gary M. Brost • Gerald L. Cornish, ’90 •Jacqueline S. Culliton • Wanda M. Davis • James F. Dentinger •Rock D. Doyle, ’99 • Gretchen Fierle • Allen F. “Pete” Grum • Paul R. Hojnacki, ’84 • William N. Hudson Jr. • Stanley Kardonsky • Robert J. Lamendola, ’72 • Paul J. Lamparelli, ’82 • Cindy Abbott Letro •Jacqueline V. LoRusso, ’62, ’64 • Russell J. Maxwell • Thomas J. Murrer •Arthur F. D. Musarra • Aaron Podolefsky • Matthew E. Ryan, ’99 •Benjamin M. Zuffranieri, ’80 • Shelby K. Baldwin, Student Representative

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORSMatthew E. Ryan, ’99, President • Marsha D. Jackson, ’81, ’85, Vice President • Matthew A. Levin-Stankevich, ’07, Secretary • Kevin M. Trietley, ’92, Treasurer • Susanne P. Bair • Claudine M. Ewing, ’92 •William H. Graser, ’69 • Jennifer L. Heisey • Holly L. Hubert, ’88 • David A.Kopasz, ’93 • Stacy E. Lewis, ’01 • Stephen P. Lockhart, ’00 • Tamara L.McMillan, ’93 • Belle (Walls) Montree, ’77 • Bonnie Fay Northrop, ’63 •Richard J. Trigilio, ’90 • John W. Shankland, ’80 • Rita M. Zientek, ’90 •Sara P. Garfinkle, Student Representative

This publication is available in large print or other accessible formats upon request.Buffalo State College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution that subscribes to all federal, state, and SUNYlegal requirements and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, sex, ethnic-ity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status. Any violation ofthis policy should be reported to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, (716) 878-6210. It is thepolicy of Buffalo State College that no otherwise qualified person with a disability shall, solely by reason of the disability, beexcluded from participation in employment or access to programs of the college. 1011-09

Aaron Podolefsky, Ph.D.President, Buffalo State

2 Winter 2010

Number 15 > Winter 2010www.buffalostate.edu/1300elmwood

1300 Elmwood is produced by the College Relations Office

from the president

B

Conversations with alumni are a crucial part of this “Buffalo State 101” educational process.

Campuswide Project Celebrates‘Shared Humanity’Immaculée Ilibagiza, this year’s Bonnie and Vern L. Bullough Academic

Convocation speaker, gave the keynote address in September for the

Anne Frank Project 2010: Our Shared Humanity, a gathering of speakers,

artists, and writers that celebrates the life and wisdom of Anne Frank.

Ilibagiza, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, is a best-selling author,

internationally recognized speaker, former United Nations worker, and

founder of the Left to Tell Charitable Fund, which raises money for the

orphans of Rwanda.

In 1994, she and seven other women hid in the tiny bathroom of a local

pastor’s house for 91 days to escape the killing in Rwanda. Ilibagiza had

been a vibrant engineering student at the National University of

Rwanda; most of her family was brutally murdered in the genocide.

In 1998, she immigrated to the United States to begin a new life over-

seas. Her story, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan

Holocaust, was released in March 2006 (Hay House) and quickly made

the New York Times best-seller list. To date, more than 250,000 copies of

the book have been sold, and it has been translated into 15 languages.

The Anne Frank Project is an ongoing awareness initiative started in 2009

by the Theater Department to “discover solutions toward an elevated

human condition.” Events include workshops, panel discussions, and

theater and dance performances that examine genocide as a recurring

global tragedy.

This year’s featured speakers

also included Carl Wilkens,(center), the only American

to remain in Kigali, Rwanda,

once the genocide began in

1994, and Cherie R. Brown,(left), founder and executive

director of the National

Coalition Building Institute.

As head of the Adventist

Development and Relief

Agency in Rwanda, Wilkins chose to stay and help, preventing the

massacre of hundreds of children over the course of the genocide.

The National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) is an internationally

recognized organization dedicated to diversity training and grassroots

leadership. NCBI has trained more than 10,000 people to become

powerful resources for their communities—combating prejudice,

resolving intergroup conflict, and launching activist-based coalitions.

campusnews

A grant awarded to

Buffalo State by the

NASA Langley Research

Center aims to improve

Americans’ scientific

literacy by enhancing

middle and high school

science education.

The grant, developed

by alumna Catherine

Lange, ’77, ’89, assistant

professor of earth

sciences and science

education, and her

team, will develop an

integrated, user-friendly,

web-based resource to

support three areas

that are especially

challenging for teachers

of science in grades five

and up: earth motion

(the earth’s rotation

and revolution), map-

ping, and climate and

weather.

The Buffalo State team

of researchers includes

faculty members from

several departments as

well as principal investi-

gator Lin Chambers, a

scientist at Langley.

The team also includes

alumni Bernadette

Tomaselli, ’72, ’84, a

lecturer in the Earth

Sciences Department

and a longtime earth

science teacher, and

Kenneth Huff, ’92, ’97,

a middle school science

teacher in the

Williamsville School

District. Huff received

a Presidential Award

for Excellence in

Mathematics and

Science Teaching from

President George W.

Bush in 2006; Tomaselli

has been active at the

state level in developing

Regents exams and

science syllabi.

Also included in the

three-year, $650,000

project are a professor

from the University of

Wisconsin–Madison and

another from Kentucky

State University. Buffalo

State’s portion of the

grant is $270,355.

“It’s very exciting,” said

Lange. “This project

includes all relevant

areas of expertise,

thanks to the team

members’ willingness

to become involved.”

Buffalo State Wins NASA Grant

3Winter 2010

GO TO

for the latest campus developments.

www.buffalostate.edu/news

Buffalo State’s Communication Department has been award-ed full accreditation by the Accrediting Council on Educationin Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), makingthe college the only public institution in New York State tobe accredited in professional education for majors in jour-nalism, media production, and public communication.

The action, which was by unanimous vote at the council’sannual meeting in Washington, D.C., in May, places BuffaloState among the 15 percent of American colleges and uni-versities offering ACEJMC-accredited degrees in communi-cation. The department has held preliminary provisionalaccreditation since 2008. The ACEJMC is the national bodythat accredits professional programs in journalism, broad-casting, public relations, advertising, and related fields.

Just 112 colleges and universities nationwide hold ACEJMCaccreditation. Other ACEJMC-accredited schools in New YorkState are Hofstra, Iona, New York University, Syracuse, andthe Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

4 Winter 2010

Master Plan Provides Roadmap for the Future

A 15-month Facilities Master Plan effort at Buffalo State Collegeconcluded in October, with campus planners, led by FlynnBattaglia Architects, providing their recommendations for campusgrowth and change from 2013 to 2023 and beyond.From June 2009 to October 2010, planners worked to deter-

mine Buffalo State’s long-range site and facility needs by assessingthe condition and suitability of buildings; identifying needs relatedto infrastructure, circulation, and landscape; and calculating spacerequirements. The consultant team received extensive input fromcampus constituents and community members.

Goals for the Master Plan process were to:• Renew campus facilities to provide academic spaces supportive of programmatic needs and current pedagogy.

• Strengthen the quality of the campus experience indoors and outdoors through enhancements to campus open spaces and paths, as well as the addition of needed campus life space to support a student-oriented community of learning.

• Engage the communities around the campus by transform-ing neighborhood-facing edges into welcoming gateways through facility investments that support Buffalo State’s com-mitments to nearby neighborhoods, the city, and the region.

Final recommendations from the planners address key site andfacility needs identified through a comprehensive, five-phase planning process:• Renovation and upgrade of 14 campus buildings.• Construction of additional campus life space.• Construction of additional business and community engagement space.

• Construction of a new athletics stadium.• Provision of structured parking.• Construction of a campus operations center.• Power plant replacement.• Infrastructure, circulation, and landscape improvements.

The previous Master Plan, which launched in 1995, resulted inmajor campus improvements, including upgraded student diningfacilities; renovations to Campus House; expanded residence halls,including the conversion of Cassety Hall; an expanded campus book-store; relocation of the Great Lakes Center to the waterfront; redesignof the Student Union Quad; and construction start-up for the newscience and mathematics complex and the new technology building.The Facilities Master Plan process was driven by the State

University Construction Fund and guided by an executive com-mittee headed by Vice President for Finance and ManagementStanley Kardonsky and then-Interim Provost Kevin Railey. A 40-member advisory committee of faculty and staff members andbusiness and community leaders met regularly to provide input.

Please visit www.buffalostate.edu/facilitiesplan to review theplanners’ recommendations to the campus.

Communication Department Earns Full Accreditation

campusnews

College Bestows Two Honorary Degrees

Buffalo State awarded two SUNY honorary degrees during its

spring Commencement ceremonies in May: Alumna Judy L.Elliott, ’82, received the honorary doctor of humane letters, and

poet Sonia Sanchez was awarded the honorary doctor of letters.

Elliott is the chief academic officer of the Los

Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest

school district in the country. Most recently, she

was the chief of teaching and learning in the

Portland (Oregon) Public Schools, and prior to

that, an assistant superintendent of Long Beach

Unified School District in Long Beach, California.

Elliott was also a senior researcher at the National

Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota,

College of Education.

Sanchez is a poet, professor, and international

lecturer on black culture and literature, women’s

liberation, peace, and racial justice. She has written

more than 16 books, including Homecoming, I’ve

Been a Woman, Under a Soprano Sky, Wounded

in the House of a Friend, Like the Singing Coming

Off the Drums, and most recently, Shake Loose My

Skin. Her awards include a National Endowment

for the Arts grant, a PEW Fellowship in the Arts, the American

Book Award, and the Langston Hughes Poetry Award.

5Winter 2010

campusnews

SUNY Distinguished Teaching,Service Professors AppointedThe SUNY Board of Trustees in May approved theappointments of Susan M. Leist, professor of English,to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor,and David A. Carson, chair and professor of historyand social studies education, to the rank of SUNYDistinguished Service Professor.

Leist, who joined the Buffalo State faculty in 1991 after completing an Ed.D.in English education at the University ofVirginia, is an inspirational instructor inEnglish education, especially the teachingof language and writing. A former directorof both the Humanities Program and theCollege Writing Program, she is responsible

for the “Writing Across the Curriculum” guidelines atBuffalo State. She also teaches in the Honors andIntellectual Foundations programs.Leist teaches workshops for faculty to integrate writing

into their courses, strengthening learning foundations forstudents. Her book Writing to Learn in Higher Educationis considered a prominent resource in its field. Her literaryspecialty is British medieval and Renaissance literature. Shereceived the Buffalo State College President’s Award forExcellence in Teaching in 2001.

Carson, who arrived at Buffalo State in1983, has a long career of exemplary serviceto the college and at the SUNY-wide level.Now in his fourth term as a senator in theSUNY Faculty Senate, Carson has servedas co-chair for the Advisory Council onGeneral Education and as a member of theSUNY General Education Assessment

Review Group. He has served as an elected senator in theBuffalo State College Senate since 1998, and his commit-tee work, particularly in curriculum development and faculty control of the curriculum, is widely respected.Carson holds a Ph.D. from Texas Christian

University; his areas of expertise are American history,colonial and early American history, and the Americanpresidency. He received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1999. Distinguished professorships constitute the highest

rank bestowed on SUNY instructional faculty. The distinctions were officially acknowledged during the college’s Academic Convocation ceremony in September.

CLASS OF 2010

Athletics Hall of Fame Gail F. Maloney, one of the pioneers of women’s athletics at the college, led a class of seven into theBuffalo State Athletics Hall of Fame in September asan honorary member.

Maloney (second from left) served as Buffalo State’swomen’s basketball coach for 21 seasons from 1978 to2000, leading her teams to a record of 374-154 (.708),while winning seven SUNYAC championships and makingnine trips to the NCAA playoffs. She was named SUNY-AC Coach of the Year in 1984, 1989, and 1994 andCoach of the Year by the Converse Division III, DistrictII, and the New York State Women’s Collegiate AthleticAssociation. Maloney served as senior associate athleticsdirector from 2001 until her retirement in 2009.

Derek Baker, ’00 (foot-ball), Josh Becker, ’04(basketball), MaryKeddie, ’04 (hockey),Stephanie Menth, ’03(softball), Paul Meyer,’70 (soccer), and James

Oubre, ’75 (diving) joined Maloney in the class of 2010in the regular membership category.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in conjunction with Homecoming/Family Weekend festivities in September.

Center for Southeast Asia Established

Buffalo State College formally established the Center for Southeast

Asia in May. Under the direction of Kim Irvine, professor of geography

and planning, the center serves as a focal point for existing campus

efforts to address water resource management issues and promote

sustainable development in Southeast Asia.

“The center will make it easier to develop programmatic activities

for our students,” Irvine said, “and it will help us compete successfully

for funding.”

Irvine and his colleagues Professor Stephen Vermette and Associate

Professor Tao Tang have been involved in many projects in Southeast

Asia, including several in Cambodia. The center has existed under

the aegis of the SUNY Research Foundation at Buffalo State College

since 2008.

campusnews

6 Winter 2010

Two Receive Distinguished Alumnus AwardBuffalo State honored two of its most distinguished and dedicatedalumnae—community leader Linda A. Dobmeier, ’71, and educator and author Barbara Seals Nevergold, ’66—with theDistinguished Alumnus Award during this year’s Commencementceremonies in May.

Dobmeier has served as a member of theBuffalo State College Foundation Board ofDirectors, a member of its Executive Committee,and chair of its Nominating Committee. She waselected chair of the foundation board in 2007.Under her leadership, the foundation raised arecord $8 million in fiscal year 2007–2008.

During the economic downturn in 2008, the foundation wasable to maintain all student scholarships, and to take a lead role in the new student housing project. Dobmeier is also astrong supporter of the All College Honors Program and theBurchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State, which she has served as a member of its Board of Trustees. She is also a

member of the Peterson Society, the college’s honor society forsupporters who have made a planned gift to the college.

Nevergold, co-founder of theUncrowned Queens Institute for Researchand Education on Women Inc., is coeditor of the book Go, Tell Michelle: AfricanAmerican Women Write to the New First Lady,a collection of letters and poems offeringmessages of hope and advice to Michelle

Obama following the 2008 presidential election. Nevergold,who holds a Ph.D. in counseling education, has served on theboards of directors of many local organizations and has beenrecognized with many awards, including the Governor’s Womenof Excellence Award in Education for Go, Tell Michelle. She andher siblings established the Seals Family Memorial EndowedScholarship at Buffalo State. She has also memorialized her parents by planting two trees in their honor in Buffalo State’sMaud Gordon Holmes Arboretum.

New Leadership for Art ConservationPatrick Ravines was appointed director of Buffalo StateCollege’s renowned Art Conservation Department in July following a comprehensive international search, and Corina E.Rogge, Ph.D., was named Andrew W. Mellon AssistantProfessor in Conservation Science.

Ravines, who has more than 25 years’ experi-ence as a conservator, researcher, and administrator,previously served as senior project conservator andresearch fellow at the George Eastman House (GEH)International Museum of Photography and Film.He is the art conservation program’s fourth

director since its founding in 1970. Prior to hisposition at GEH, Ravines served as an Andrew W. MellonFellow in the Advanced Residency Program in PhotographConservation in Rochester, and for more than a decade as chiefof the Conservation Office at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa,Israel. He holds an M.S. in chemistry from the University ofWisconsin–Milwaukee and an M.L.S. and certificate in libraryand archives conservation from Columbia University. Hisresearch interests include surface metrology applied to artisticand historic works and cultural heritage. He is also interested innineteenth-century photographic processes.

Rogge comes to Buffalo State from Rice University in Houston, Texas, where she was the Wiess Instructor of Chemistry.She earned both her master of science anddoctoral degrees in chemistry from YaleUniversity, and performed postdoctoralresearch at the University of Wisconsin–

Madison and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Her research interests include the analysis of ethnographic and art materials, historical photographic techniques, and Egyptology.The Art Conservation Department at Buffalo State, offering

one of only three such accredited degree-granting programs inthe nation, trains conservators of fine art and material culturalheritage. Graduates are employed in many of the nation’s majormuseums and conservation institutions, including the NationalGallery of Art, the Library of Congress, the SmithsonianInstitution, the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museumof Art, and the Museum of Modern Art. The department is currently planning an expansion in Rockwell Hall, scheduledfor completion in 2012.

campusnews

7Winter 2010

Two Receive Chancellor’s Award Jill M. Norvilitis, associate professor of psychology, andMargaret E. Schrembs, secretary I in College Relations, havebeen honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence.

Norvilitis received the award for Excellencein Teaching in recognition of the outstandingskills she brings to her classroom. She hastaught 12 different courses and uses a varietyof techniques to ensure that her students areengaged and enthusiastic learners. Outside theclassroom, Norvilitis has directed more than

40 independent studies, chaired 11 honors thesis committees, andserved as an acclaimed mentor and adviser. She is a highly pro-ductive scholar with 20 publications in refereed journals and threepapers submitted for publications.

Schrembs received the award forExcellence in Classified Service. As the solesupport person for a staff of 15 in an officethat deals with campus emergencies, constantdeadlines, and demanding clients, Schrembshas demonstrated flexibility, discretion, and a willingness to reach the highest level of

achievement. She plays a prominent role in assisting public rela-tions staff by arranging meetings of the Media Alumni AdvisoryBoard, which includes top TV and print reporters. Her patience,diligence, and deep commitment to the mission of Buffalo Statemake Schrembs a key member of the College Relations team.

The college has addedfour new minor pro-grams to its curriculumover the past year. Thelegal studies minor,housed in the PoliticalScience Department, isdesigned to ensure thatstudents interested inattending law schoolare exposed to a varietyof subjects and achievea balance of education-al experiences.

The philosophyminor teaches studentsto recognize and evalu-ate arguments, thinkcritically, and commu-nicate their positioneffectively. “The minorcomplements anymajor on campus anddeepens students’understanding of otherdisciplines,” saidKimberly Blessing,associate professor and

department chair. “Itprovides a frameworkfor general educationand can help studentssee connections toother courses they’retaking.”The college’s envi-

ronment and society

minor emphasizes thestudy of history andcultural institutionsthat shape human-environment interaction.

Rooted in the traditionof environmental stud-ies, the minor is housedin the college’s SociologyDepartment but drawscourse offerings fromseveral academicdepartments. A new Asian

studies interdiscipli-nary minor, launchedthis fall, is designed toprovide students withthe knowledge and

experience necessary tosucceed in the emerg-ing global network.Asia, the largest conti-nent, is home to morethan half the world’speople. The rapiddevelopment of its twolargest countries, Chinaand India, is reshapinginternational politicsand economics.

New Minors Enhance Curriculum

College Offers First ProfessionalScience Master’s Program

Buffalo State has launched its first professional science

master’s (P.S.M.) degree program—the first and so far only

P.S.M. in applied mathematics and computation in New

York State.

P.S.M. programs are springing up across the country in

response to a need for employees with advanced training

in science or mathematics and management skills. The

new program, a master of science in professional applied

and computational mathematics (PACM), began accepting

applicants this semester.

The 30-credit-hour program includes courses in analytical

mathematical modeling, statistical data analysis, business

communication, project management, and operations

management. A capstone master’s project will include an

internship involving data collection, analysis, and synthesis

into an analytical mathematical model.

“Applied mathematics can help organizations gain the

maximum benefit from data,” said Joaquin Carbonara,

associate professor of mathematics and interim director

of the PACM. “Our goal is to provide employers in the

nonacademic sector with much-needed experts in applied

mathematics.” He said applied and computational mathe-

matics have broad uses across all the sciences, and can

act as a bridge to connect disciplines.

The PACM’s advisory board includes an interdisciplinary

group of faculty members and representatives from

business, industry, nonprofit organizations, and government

agencies.

campusnews

8 Winter 2010

PR Expert Speaks on Diversity in Communication

Ofield Dukes, an award-winning public relations practitioner whose clientshave included General Motors, Motown Records, AT&T, and the U.S.Department of the Treasury, spoke on campus in April.He discussed the implications of America’s increasing racial, ethnic, and

cultural diversity for businesses and nonprofit organizations, particularly forgraduating college seniors and professional communicators. “The Americanmarketplace is now more racially and culturally diverse than ever before,” hesaid. “Therefore, companies are aggressively developing policies and practicesof diversity as smart business strategies.”As president of the public relations firm Ofield Dukes & Associates, he

currently serves on the national board of the Public Relations Society ofAmerica. A 1958 journalism graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit,he captured three National Newspaper Publishers Association awards for editorial, column, and feature writing for the Michigan Chronicle in 1964. He joined the Johnson-Humphrey administration in 1964 as deputy directorof information for the President’s Committee on Equal EmploymentOpportunity, chaired by President Lyndon B. Johnson.In 1966, he was appointed to the staff of Vice President Hubert H.

Humphrey. He started his own public relations firm in 1969, with specializedexpertise in African American, African, and political affairs. Motown Recordsand Lever Brothers were his first clients, followed by corporations such asAT&T and Nabisco; entertainment companies such as CBS Records, Sony,and Warner Brothers; and federal agencies, including the U.S. Departmentsof Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor,Navy, and Treasury.Dukes has received numerous awards and was named one of the five

most effective communicators of the year in 2005 by PRWeek, a major publication in the public relations industry.

Online Postcard Exhibition Tells the Story of WWIAn online exhibition of 500 World War I postcards, includinghandwritten notes and historical commentary, has been developed for E. H. Butler Library’s website. Notes fromArmageddon provides an intimate glimpse into the emotions,culture, and politics of the era and a world at war.The exhibition was developed by Andrew Nicholls,

professor of history and social studies education, and MarcBayer, information systems librarian, from the collection ofRichard J. Whittington, a high school history teacher fromMidland, Ontario. First introduced in 1869, postcards reached peak popularity

during World War I, according to Nicholls. “They providedfast, inexpensive communication with the novelty of beingvisual,” he said. “Their popularity was also spurred by thegrowth of public education and increasing numbers of peoplewho could read and write.”

Theobald Named Interim Dean

Paul Theobald, Woods-Beals

Endowed Chair in Urban and Rural

Education, was appointed interim

dean of the School of Education

in July.

Theobald is a nationally recognized

expert on rural education and the

history of American education. He has published

widely and recently completed another book,

Education Now: How Rethinking America’s Past

Can Change Its Future (September 2009, Paradigm

Publishers), which received the 2010 Critics’ Choice

Award from the American Educational Studies

Association in November.

Before moving to Buffalo in 2004, he served as

dean of the School of Education and Counseling

at Nebraska’s Wayne State College. He holds a

doctorate in educational policy studies from the

University of Illinois and a master’s degree in

history from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

The Woods-Beals Endowed Chair in Urban and

Rural Education is funded through the generous

support of alumna Eleanore Woods Beals, a 1950

graduate and former teacher, and her husband

Vaughn Beals, former chair of Harley-Davidson Inc.

Nicholls and Bayer worked with Bruce Fox, campus pho-tographer and graphics coordinator, to put the collection into aformat that was universally accessible. The exhibition is avail-able at http://digitalcollections.buffalostate.edu/ww1postcards.

campusnews

9Winter 2010

During his 40 years at Buffalo StateCollege, Professor Emeritus Abel Finkcouldn’t bear to throw out a goodstudent paper. He asked his studentsto submit meaningful work, and in hisview, that effort deserved to be pre-served. So he filled boxes with papers.The boxes soon filled his office, then adepartment storeroom, and then aspare bedroom in his home.

Now, after countless hours of reviewby Fink, a sampling of those writingsfills Students Speak: Reactions to ClassExperiences at Buffalo State College,a handsome 174-page book jointlypublished in September by E. H. ButlerLibrary and the Monroe FordhamRegional History Center at BuffaloState College. Fink is justifiably proud.

“This book contains pure gold,” Finksaid with a smile as he held up themanuscript. “When you encouragestudents to write from the heart andwrite about what really matters tothem, they respond in ways you couldnot have imagined. Students Speak isevidence of that. On a personal level,this book is the story of my professionallife. I spent 40 years encouraging students to think and write and talkabout what really matters to them.”

Fink, who began his tenure at BuffaloState in 1956 after earning degrees in

human development and groupdynamics, taught in the college’sEducational Foundations Department.He immediately became known for hisinnovative teaching style. Never one torepeat the same lesson twice, Finkdecided that the traditional teacher-centered model of education wasn’tfor him. Instead, he asked his studentsto drive the discussion, while he actedas a facilitator.

“On the first day of each semester, I explained how my class would workand offered everyone an escape clause.If they didn’t want to actively partici-pate in group discussions, then theywere free to find another course,”Fink said. “But the students who didstay in the class found it very reward-ing, I think. They learned how toexpress their beliefs and how to listento and respect the beliefs of others.”

A student essay from 1985, which isincluded in Students Speak, eloquentlyexplains the effect of Fink’s methods:“All of our hopes and dreams andexpectations for the future were verymuch a part of what went on in ourclassroom; everything that is good,bad, and indifferent about humannature was right there in Room 110from seven-thirty to ten, and becamepart of our consciousness and discus-sion. It was there that we worked

within the realm of reallife, and real life was whatwe ultimately learned of.”

In addition to student writing, Students Speakincludes original photographs bySophie Hodorowicz Knab and cover artby Ralph Sirianni, ’78, ’92, both formerstudents of Fink’s. Selected sections ofFink’s classes were videotaped over theyears and are available from theArchives and Special CollectionsDepartment in E. H. Butler Library.

Butler Library and the MonroeFordham Center cooperatively publishbooks, brochures, and pamphlets oflocal interest. Last year, they releasedOne Long, Wild Conversation: SelectedLetters Between a Buffalo StateProfessor and His Student, a Writer, aninsightful compilation of correspon-dence between noted social critic andwriter Hank Nuwer, ’68, and FraserDrew, SUNY Distinguished TeachingProfessor Emeritus of English.

Students Speak in New Book from Library,Monroe Fordham Center

E. H. Butler Library unveiled its newest student facility

in August, the QuietQuad lab and StudyQuadlounge. The expanded area, which is open 24 hours

a day, seven days a week, features comfortable lounge

areas, quiet study spaces, computers and printers for

student use, an assistive technology center, and a

presentation room.

“This wonderful expansion is the direct result of

student feedback, which made it clear that our

students wanted more overall space, quiet study areas,

and a place to meet late at night,” said Maryruth

Glogowski, associate vice president for library and

instructional technology.

A well-lighted, secure entrance has also been added

to provide round-the-clock access to StudyQuad from

the library’s south side.

LibraryAdds

QuietQuad

10 Winter 2010

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

11Winter 2010

n a ceremony featuring original music, warm greetings from

community leaders, and enthusiastic applause from a capacity

audience, Aaron Podolefsky was formally installed as Buffalo

State College’s eighth president on Friday, October 29, 2010.

The historic rite, which was held on campus in the Performing

Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, was attended by more than 800

guests, including former presidents Muriel A. Howard and D.

Bruce Johnstone, SUNY Trustee Eunice Lewin, SUNY Chancellor

Nancy L. Zimpher, area leaders, students, faculty, and staff.

For his inaugural theme, Podolefsky selected “Celebrate,

Serve, Imagine: The Promise of Buffalo State” to honor the college’s

legacy, highlight its present role and successes, and envision its

bright future.

“No matter how much we have grown in enrollment, expanded

in mission, created new programs, and transformed how we teach

and research, our core purpose remains: Buffalo State continues to

be ‘the people’s university,’ to serve the public, and to act in its best

interest,” said Podolefsky in his inaugural remarks.

“Buffalo State is an institution that is devoted, first and foremost,

to serving its students and to supplying them with the knowledge,

values, and abilities they need to achieve personal and professional

success,” Podolefsky said. “As part of our public purpose, we have

I

“It is important and mutually beneficial that Buffalo

State serve the city and the metropolitan region by

enhancing economic growth and the quality of life.”

Photographs by Bruce Fox

a responsibility to be the institution that serves the city—from

educating its teachers, its politicians, its leaders in business and in the

arts to offering speech and hearing clinics and literacy services; to

volunteering hundreds of hours in local social service organizations;

to supporting entrepreneurs in starting new businesses.”

Podolefsky acknowledged the challenging economic times but

said he was “fired up,” and he encouraged audience members to

“audaciously imagine the future—confident in our ability to grow

ever greater.”

The formal ceremony included an academic procession;

original music written by J. Tomás Henriques, assistant professor

of music; and student performances from the college’s Wind

Ensemble, Philharmonia, Chamber Choir, and West African

Drumming Ensemble.

Friday’s event was preceded by a week of celebration, including

a Community Day Festival, a business leaders reception hosted by

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, the Buffalo State

Research and Creativity Fall Forum, a Student Bash, and the formal

opening of the new $5.3 million Student Union Quad.

1. Buffalo State’s eighth president, Aaron Podolefsky.

2. Student flag bearers led the inaugural procession into Rockwell Hall.

3. More than 800 guests filled the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall for the inauguration ceremony.

4. Byron W. Brown, ’83, mayor of the City of Buffalo, offered greetings to the president on behalf of the community.

5. Celebrating the formal investiture were (from left) Ronnie Podolefsky, wife of the president; Eunice A. Lewin, trustee of the State University of New York; Aaron Podolefsky, president; Nancy L. Zimpher, chancellor of the State University of New York; and Howard A. Zemsky, vice chair of the College Council (who also presided at the ceremony).

Read, view, or hear the complete inaugural address at http://president.buffalostate.edu/inauguration

CELEBRATE, SERVE, IMAGINE

12 Winter 2010

Inaugural Celebration The college community enjoyed a post-inaugural

reception at the Burchfield Penney ArtCenter (right) after a performance by the West African Drumming Ensembleclosed the formal ceremony (below).

A Conversation with Aaron PodolefskyWhat attracted you to the position of president of Buffalo State College?

I had spoken with a search consultant abouta school in another state when she calledme one day and said that she believed shehad just visited a school that was a perfectfit for me. She reflected on the people shehad met and the many interviews she’dconducted with people across campus whilecreating the college profile.

I read the profile for Buffalo State, andstudied everything I could find on the weband elsewhere—and I liked what I saw. Inparticular, I felt drawn to the college’s corevalues, the focus on serving students anddelivering the highest quality learning expe-rience while also caring about students’well-being. It also appeared that scholarshipand research were valued in a balanced waywith the teaching mission of the college.

My initial meeting with the search com-mittee reinforced everything I had expected.The college’s committee represented BuffaloState exceptionally well. They asked hard butfair questions, and they were genuinely inter-ested in what I had to say.

The campus interview went much thesame way. I liked the people, the philosophy,and the values of the college, and my wife,Ronnie, and I loved Buffalo. We hadexpressed our interest in urban architecture,and on the way to the airport, HowardZemsky, who is a member of the CollegeCouncil and who chaired the search com-mittee, took us on a two-hour tour ofBuffalo architecture that was just wonderful.

From the beginning, I was captivatedby the college and the city, and at each stepof the process, both Ronnie and I becamebigger and bigger fans—and nothing hasled me to change my mind yet!

How do you view the role of the college president? How would you characterizeyour leadership style?

Probably the best statement of the role ofthe president was composed by Clark Kerr,chancellor of the University of California,Berkeley, and president of the University ofCalifornia system, in his 1963 book, TheUses of the University:

“The university president in the UnitedStates is expected to be a friend to the students; a colleague of the faculty; a goodfellow with the alumni; a sound adminis-trator with the trustees; a good speaker withthe public; an astute bargainer with thefoundations and the federal agencies; apolitician with the state legislature; a friendof industry, labor, and agriculture; a per-suasive diplomat with donors; a championof education generally; a supporter of theprofessions (particularly law and medicine);a spokesman to the press; a scholar in hisown right; a public servant at the state andnational levels; a devotee of opera and foot-ball equally; a decent human being; a goodhusband and father; an active member of achurch. Above all, he must enjoy travelingin airplanes, eating his meals in public,and attending public ceremonies. No onecan be all of these things.”

Now, that statement is outdated in somecritical ways, but it gives a good sense of themany hats a college president must wear.And Kerr was probably right when he saidno one can wear them all at once. But I

think it is the role of the college presidentto strive to wear them all, to the best of hisor her ability, and always with the core mis-sion of the college in view.

As for my leadership style, I’d call itcollaborative above all else. I have had successin the past with a system of shared gover-nance, and I’m already working on creatingthat culture at Buffalo State. I feel stronglythat a community like this one functionsmost effectively and satisfyingly when all itsmembers feel their voices are being heard.

How do you see the role of the college in theBuffalo community, in the region, and inthe world?

It is important and mutually beneficial thatBuffalo State serve the city and the metro-politan region by enhancing economicgrowth and the quality of life. Being locatedin Buffalo’s cultural corridor provides specialand unique opportunities for the college to play a significant role. And we are alsofortunate to be adjacent to a wonderfullydiverse community with residents from manycountries and cultural backgrounds. I thinkfaculty, staff, and students alike benefit fromour campus’s setting in the heart of Buffalo,and all members of our campus communitycan and do contribute—through service-learning activities and through culturalofferings alike—to the health and vitality ofour broader Buffalo community.

Also, the vast majority of Buffalo Stategraduates—more than 70 percent—remainsright here in Western New York and con-tributes to its success. And of course ourgraduates hold important positions in publicand private service that have a broad impactbeyond Western New York and beyond ournation’s shores. The impact of our 90,000alums is incalculable!

13Winter 2010 13Winter 2010

Joining PresidentPodolefsky inthe President’sHouse on LincolnParkway is hiswife, attorney RonniePodolefsky.

Ms. Podolefsky, a specialist in civil rights, employmentlaw, and mediation, earned a bachelor’sdegree from Stony Brook Universityand a J.D. from the University of IowaCollege of Law. She has won manyawards for her writing and her workin civil rights, led numerous workshopsand served as an invited speaker atmany conferences and gatherings, andserved on a long list of local, state,and national boards.

Beyond her work as an attorney, Ms. Podolefsky has pursued a broadrange of enterprises and interests. She has worked as a public schoolteacher, a radiation safety officer, a legal consultant, and an adjunctinstructor. She has had an art glassbusiness, designing and building largecustom stained- and beveled-glasswindows for businesses and privateindividuals. She has baked bread for a local food co-op—up to 40 loaves a day in a tiny home kitchen. And she has designed and served as thegeneral contractor on two passive solarhomes, each over 3,000 square feet.

Along with their year-old son, Noah,Ms. Podolefsky accompanied PresidentPodolefsky on his field studies in thehighlands of Papua New Guinea in the 1970s. Up until just a few yearsago, Ms. Podolefsky raised dairy goatsfor milk and cheese, buying her firstmilk goat when she and PresidentPodolefsky moved to West Virginiawith Noah and newborn son Isaac.

Ms. Podolefsky is in the process ofmoving her legal practice fromWarrensburg, Missouri, to Buffalo, and continues to travel between thetwo cities frequently.

“I feel strongly that a community like this one functions most effectively and satisfyingly when all its members feel their voices are being heard.”

PRESIDENT AARON PODOLEFSKY

Ronnie Podolefsky

How do you view the president’s relationshipto the college’s alumni? How can BuffaloState alumni best support the mission of thecollege and ensure its continued success?

Alumni are a critically important con-stituency because, as I often say, we arejudged, in the end, not by the quality of ourbuildings but by the quality of our graduatesand their impact on the world. I havealready met many alums, and I can tell youthat Buffalo State has much to be proud of.I plan to continue to talk to as many alumnias possible, and I hope they will be in touchwith me when they have questions or—evenbetter—opportunities to offer our students.I hope Buffalo State alumni will stayengaged as active members in the life of thecollege, whether they visit our museum orlibrary, or attend performances on campus,or give of their time, talent, and treasure.

What is the biggest challenge facing college students today?

You know, I’m tempted to say “the econo-my”—it’s the first thing that comes tomind. But I think that is short-sighted. Yes,it is tougher to go to school and maybe verytough when students or their parents arehaving a hard time financially. And themarket for graduates is a bit down, butBuffalo State grads are still highly successfulin finding satisfying jobs—as teachers,mechanical engineers, social workers, muse-um curators, hospitality professionals, andin many other fields as well.

In the long term, I think the biggestchallenge has to do with the changingnature of careers. Increasingly, graduates findthat the skill sets needed for their jobschange far more often today than they everdid in the past. Jobs may disappear altogeth-er and new ones requiring different skillsopen as technology changes. It is increasing-ly important that in addition to the skillsrequired in their major program of study,students graduate with the abilities to think

critically and reflectively, to know how tolearn, to work well in groups, and to beadaptable and forward thinking. This, Ithink, is an important challenge. And it is achallenge for which one is best preparedwith a degree from a four-year comprehen-sive college or university, not highly special-ized training in a technique that will soonbe obsolete.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished reading David McCullough’sTruman, which is quite long but equallyengrossing. Having just moved here fromMissouri, I had the chance to visit theTruman library and many of the places inthe book where Truman spent his youth.Truman’s life and experience as president offerwonderful lessons, and I strongly recommendthe book. I also highly recommend KathrynStockett’s The Help, a historical fiction set inthe 1960s south.

I’m close to completing a book by DanielPink called Drive, which is about whatmotivates people, and which I think is espe-cially relevant in leading a large organization.Of course I probably like it because I tendto agree with the premise that intrinsicmotivations are far superior to extrinsic ones.I’ve also just finished a book titled Nudge,which has a lot to do with how and whypeople make decisions. These are fascinatingareas of economics and psychology.

What is something alumni might not knowabout you?

As an anthropologist, I lived for a time with my wife and year-old son in the New Guinea highlands. We met wonderfulpeople, and we had experiences that changedour lives. I encourage all students to travelabroad or in some way experience anotherculture—the more different from their ownthe better. And I encourage them to usethat experience to reflect on their own livesand values. �

14 Winter 2010

T

S Be-Rwol

Buffalo State says “send me!” to The Peace Corps

15Winter 2010

Cae P

Dubbed “Kennedy’s Great Experiment,” thePeace Corps traces its roots to when then-SenatorJohn F. Kennedy addressed a crowd of University of Michigan students during the last few weeks ofthe 1960 presidential campaign.Kennedy asked the students to help America

“in the cause of peace” by living and working indeveloping countries. Many of the studentsresponded with an immediate “Send me!”Ignoring detractors, Kennedy established the

Peace Corps by executive order—a risky move for any new president.Congress formally approved the legislation soon after, due in large partto exhaustive lobbying by the Corps’ first director, R. Sargent Shriver,Kennedy’s brother-in-law. Still, many people both in and outside of Washington doubted that

pampered Americans—accustomed to fast food, comfy beds, and air-conditioning—could survive even a week in bug-infested locales lackingrecognizable foods and indoor plumbing.To date, however, more than 200,000 Peace Corps volunteers have

proven the skeptics wrong, furthering the Corps’ unwavering agenda ofglobal friendship.Peace Corps recruiter James Kostenblatt visits the Buffalo State

campus at least twice a year to promote Peace Corps opportunities. Areturned volunteer himself, he is delighted that Buffalo State studentscontinue to show strong interest in joining the ranks. Lisa August associate director of the Career Development Center,

agrees. “We have consistently been getting 20 to 30 people at the informa-

tional meetings for the last three years. Both our current students andgraduates have been increasingly open to international experiences.”The reasons they explore the Peace Corps, she adds, are as diverse as

the student population itself. Some, like alumnus Ronald Peters, ’59, apply to see the world.

Others, like Jeannette Samter, ’88, seek a needed escape. And stillothers, like Danyl Cook, ’82, view the Peace Corps as a logical step intheir long-term commitment to volunteerism.But many, like current graduate student Jessica Wuerstle, ’11,

simply hope the experience will show them a next step.Wuerstle, 29, served as an agroforestry volunteer in the African

country of Gambia from 2003 to 2005. She hoped to find a career clearly carved out by the two years she spent working with farmers in

In March 2011, Peace Corps volunteers—including 117 Buffalo State alumni who have served to date—will

proudly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, an organization that has helped developing countries

around the globe move forward in education, the environment, health care, and business development.

the rural village of Njau. Instead, said Wuerstle, theexperience excavated her soul.“For most of the volunteers I know, the experience

was so much a part of our personal development. MyPeace Corps experience gave me an understanding ofmy strengths and weaknesses. And it gave me a confi-dence to face any new challenge, including coming toBuffalo on my own and enrolling at Buffalo State.”Though now fully immersed in her biology studies,

Wuerstle feels as closely bound to her experience as shedid the day she returned home more than five years ago. What ties her so closely are the Africans she now considers her

second family—the people who, from day one, welcomed her, loved her, protected her, as if she were one of their own.Though her command of the local language, Pulaar, has deteriorated,

Wuerstle said, returning for periodic visits, just to sit among the peopleas they laugh in the lazy evenings, will be enough to keep the communi-cation channels open.These lasting connections are just one “perk” of the Peace Corps

experience, said Kostenblatt. “Buffalo State students have no idea of theconnections they’re going to make. Or how much they will learn.”Ron Peters made a similar lifelong connection via the Peace Corps.

It was on assignment to the Philippines that he met Lilia, his wife of 44years. Now 72, Peters said he hoped the Peace Corps would offer a “dramatic”

change. By the time he graduated from Buffalo State in 1959 with hisdegree in elementary education, Peters had barely stepped out of Buffalo—though he had made it to Niagara Falls. Fueled by the travel tales ofboth his WWII-veteran uncles and his professors at Buffalo State, Petersyearned to travel far beyond American shores.Despite commitments to both the Reserves and an upcoming teaching

job, Peters applied, hoping he’d be accepted and sent to Africa. But whenhis Peace Corps telegram arrived from Shriver himself, it was an invitationto introduce a new science and English curriculum to elementary teachersin Casiguran, a municipality of Sorsogon Province in the Philippines.Disappointed, Peters sought the wisdom of his veteran uncle.“This is the chance of a lifetime, man,” bellowed the uncle. “Give me

that damn telegram; I’ll go in your place!”Peters chuckles, grateful that he heeded his uncle’s advice. Though

his Reserves unit was activated within weeks of his Peace Corps trainingstarting at Penn State, the reservists spent the next two years at a training

Photograph courtesy of the Peace Corps

16 Winter 2010

base in South Carolina—beforebeing sent home. “Those poor guys,”said Peters, “never got overseas.” Peters, the first Buffalo State

alumnus to serve in the Peace Corps,is still active with the Peace CorpsAlumni Foundation for PhilippineDevelopment. He went on to earnhis M.S. from Syracuse Universityand his Ph.D. from Michigan StateUniversity, both in education.

He said he is grateful to Buffalo State for his outstanding academic foundation, the chance for a fulfilling career, and anexpanded worldview that helped propel his initial partnership withthe Corps. “It is hard to contemplate what I would have done hadit not been for the Peace Corps,” he said, “but I am certain my lifewould not have been nearly so interesting.”Leaving Western New York far behind also motivated Jeannette

Samter to apply to the Peace Corps.She’d had enough of the cold, blustery winters, especially after

being stuck on the Father Baker Bridge for six long hours duringthe Blizzard of 1977.She also longed to gain some distance after her youngest daughter

lost her battle with cancer, despite years of tender care at Roswell Park.In 1980, at age 48, Samter began her Peace Corps assignment

at Masiamokeng, a junior and high school of about 1,000 studentsin the African country of Lesotho. Fortunately for Samter, who had difficulty with the national

language beyond a single memorized phrase that translated to “I’dlove to speak Sesotho, but it’s too difficult,” she was expected toteach her classes in English. Her language difficulties, she added,always made the locals laugh with her.Samter said she found her global sweet spot, courtesy of the

Peace Corps. She loved her assignment so much, in fact, that sheextended her two-year commitment to four.She cherished becoming known among the locals as “the

teacher who loves the kids,” because she refused to corporally pun-ish the students—a practice her fellow teachers regularly followedunder the school’s lingering British system.

“I wanted my legacy,” said Samter, “to be that the childrenwere treated with respect, were heard, and not hurt. I taught them,I fed them, and I bound up their wounds.”Samter also hated that the school’s philosophy was “to only

teach the students who rose to thetop, and to send the rest home.”When her assignment ended,

Samter hurried home to enroll atBuffalo State—in part becausethree of her daughters had attend-ed—to earn her teaching creden-tials so she could quickly return toAfrica. “I knew that Buffalo Statewould provide me with the educa-tion I needed,” Samter said.She returned to Masiamokeng

within three years, certificate in hand. She was delighted to findconsiderable success with one of the teaching tips she learned fromthe observation labs at Buffalo State: using games in the classroom.“The other teachers tried to get me fired,” Samter said gleefully.

“They didn’t like that the students were laughing. They said I was

playing with the students, not teaching. But my students learned!Eventually the other teachers began to see that my system worked.”In total, Samter, now 78, spent 22 years in Lesotho. Despite

now being hobbled by declining health, she yearns to return to herAfrican students. “Every day, when I got up, I knew that a lot ofchildren were going to have better lives,” said Samter. “It was anabsolute guarantee. And that made my life better.”That, said Buffalo State’s Lisa August, is what motivates her to

promote the Peace Corps to Buffalo State students as “the goldstandard of international service programs.”“I really like that people who served 20, 30, even 50 years ago

still have that passion. As a career counselor at heart, my job is tohelp people find that kind of passion in employmentpossibilities.”It’s a passion, adds

Kostenblatt, fueled by know-ing you did your best—evenon the days that threaten tooverwhelm you with doubtand frustration.Danyl Cook, 50, now a

successful artist and galleryowner, agrees. Volunteers, hesaid, when plopped into theforeign country in which they, for months, understand very little ofwhat’s being said or done, must choose to adapt. To open theirminds to the constant “surprises” waiting around every bend. Cook served in the Dominican Republic from 1991 to 1993,

in the tiny village of La Pascuala on the Samana Peninsula. Thoughnow a thriving tourist spot, Cook said in the early ’90s, Samana wasa place of “no electricity, no running water, and frequent thievery.”Cook’s task was to help fishermen, coconut farmers, and two

women’s groups in developing new business ventures. The numer-ous art classes he took at Buffalo State helped him to guide some ofthe women in creating jewel-ry they sold to the slighttourist trade. But it was hisBuffalo State degree thatgrabbed the interest of thePeace Corps.“When I decided to apply

to the Peace Corps, I thoughtit was my volunteer experi-ence that would get me in,”said Cook, “but it wasn’t. Itwas the business degree Iearned in ’82.”Though inspired by the

visual beauty surroundinghim, Cook admits to growingweary of the cockroaches, theparasites, the bouts of incredi-ble loneliness, and the hoursof waiting by the side of the road for a lift from a chicken truck. “But then you have sweet days,” he said, “where you look

around and think, ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.’The hardest part of the Peace Corps is coming back and looking atyour own culture with new eyes. You become a better person, butit’s really about becoming a better American.” �

Ron

Photograph courtesy of Ron Peters, ’59

Photograph courtesy of James Kostenblatt

Photograph courtesy of Jeannette Samter, ’88

Photograph courtesy of Danyl Cook, ’82

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17Winter 2010

Buffalo State Offers New Peace Minor

When Joseph Sperrazza,’74, ’87, took his daughter to visit the University ofMichigan, he insisted thatthe two sneak away beforethe start of her officialadmissions tour. “He rushedme to the steps of theMichigan Union and told me,‘This is it. This is the spotwhere John F. Kennedy gavehis speech proposing thePeace Corps,’” ChristineSperrazza Elliott recalled. “I knew, of course, that thatparticular speech had shapedmy dad’s life.”

Decades earlier, the elderSperrazza responded to JFK’scall to serve his country in thecause of peace. Sperrazzajoined the Peace Corps in 1967after graduating from college

Buffalo State Volunteer and Service-Learning Center

Joseph S. Sperrazza Endowed Scholarship

and spent two life-changing

years training teachers in the

Philippines. The biggest life-

changer: he met a teacher

in the program named Jojie

Gomez, who would eventu-

ally become his wife.

Upon returning to Buffalo,

Sperrazza earned his master’s

degree in secondary educa-

tion at Buffalo State and

went to work in the Buffalo

Public Schools. He later

obtained his certificate of

advanced study from Buffalo

State as well.

“His career as an English

teacher and administrator

was a logical extension of his

Peace Corps experience,”

Elliott explained. “He always

believed in the power of

words. He knew that by

helping disadvantaged people develop their ownvoice—whether they lived in a poor village in thePhilippines or in inner-cityBuffalo—you were helpingthem improve their lives.”

A father figure to many,Sperrazza particularly enjoyedwelcoming Peace Corps vet-erans back home. “We’d oftenhave recently returned volun-teers hanging out at ourhouse,” Elliott said. “My dadwould mentor them, encour-age them to pursue teachingjobs, even give them our fur-niture to outfit their homesor apartments.”

In 2003, the much-lovedSperrazza passed away at theage of 57, but his legacy ofgiving lives on. Today, the

Photograph of President Kennedy at the University of Michigan courtesy of the Peace Corps

Top: Joe Sperrazzabeing welcomed by the principal of his assigned school in 1967.Bottom: Sperrazza in the Philippines.Photographs courtesyof Christine SperrazzaElliott

Joseph S. SperrazzaEndowed Scholarship Fundprovides an annual schol-arship to a Buffalo Stateeducation student whodemonstrates a strongcommitment to communi-ty service.

With peace so needed around the globe, Buffalo State now offersa 21-credit-hour minor program in peace studies, formally titledthe Study of Understanding Community, Diversity, and Peace.

Housed within the Geography and Planning Department, thepeace minor draws course offerings from 23 academic depart-ments. The intent of the minor, said Jean F. Gounard, director ofthe International Student Affairs Office, is to provide studentswith the opportunity to examine human responsibility at all levels of community, specific to fostering and sustaining peacefulrelations, justice, and reconciliation.

Required coursework guides students in examining the inter-connectedness of all people—namely how they share basic needsand concerns. A field experience allows students to directlyapply classroom learning.

“We believe that an appreciation for the diversity of our local andglobal community will allow our students to be more understand-ing and productive members of society,” said Kim Irvine, professorof geography. “This is particularly important for Buffalo, since it ishome to a growing and vibrant refugee community that needssupport to adjust to many aspects of life in the U.S.”

Kelly Frothingham, associate professor and department chair,encourages Buffalo State students to consider the program.

“The peace minor can connect students to many exciting localand international opportunities that will allow them to seehow they fit into the global community.”

Since its launch in 2003, the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center(VSLC) at Buffalo State College has placed nearly 7,000 students inservice-learning opportunities—the equivalent of more than 110,000hours of community service.

Through partnerships with area nonprofits such as the AmericanRed Cross and Journey’s End Refugee Services, students have playeda major role in helping to better the lives of families throughoutWestern New York.

The program, said VSLC coordinator Laura Hill Rao, helps BuffaloState students to understand issues they may have little personalexperience with, including poverty, discrimination, and violence.

Buffalo State professors, she added, have welcomed the opportunityto blend classroom instruction with service hours because it addsvibrancy to the classroom—and reenergizes their commitment toteaching.

To date, 71 faculty members have participated in the Service-Learning Faculty Fellowship Program. In the spring 2010 semester,service-learning courses connected 668 students to 92 communitypartners throughout Western New York.

Students say the benefits of such classes include a broader under-standing of community issues, development of solid work skills such as public speaking and team building, and the satisfaction of giving back to the community.

“I frequently talk with students,” said Rao, “who are excited andpassionate about making a difference in their community.”

18 Winter 2010

facultyresearch

Industrial Revolution took hold, trans-forming culture, aesthetics, and daily life.In addition to the profound techno-

logical changes that occurred during this time, British rule extended aroundthe globe. “It was extraordinary,” saidColley, “the number of people around the world whose countries were part of,or ruled by, the British Empire: Canada,Australia, the Pacific Islands, parts ofAfrica and China, and India. Victoria wasthe queen of the richest, most powerfulnation on earth.”

With Victorians in the Mountains:Sinking the Sublime, SUNY

Distinguished Professor Ann C. Colleymakes her latest contribution to thescholarship of Victorian literature. Thisbook, her sixth, explores how the notionof the “sublime”—that which is awe-inspiring, exalted, and transcendent—changed during the Victorian period.The Victorian era takes its name

from Queen Victoria, who was born in1819, became queen of England in 1837,and died in 1901. During that time, the

By Mary A. Durlak

Literary Lifethe

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19Winter 2010

facultyresearch

Travel was easier because of the reachof the empire and the new steam-poweredtransportation technologies, so naturalphenomena that had inspired the literatureof an earlier era became accessible to manypeople. In Victorians in the Mountains,Colley explores the impact of that changeon the notion of the sublime, especially byexploring the Alpine writings of literarygiants John Ruskin, Gerard ManleyHopkins, and Robert Louis Stevenson.Colley, an internationally recognized

expert on the literature and culture ofnineteenth-century England, is widelyregarded as the world’s preeminentauthority on the works of Robert LouisStevenson. She is the sole author of sixcritically acclaimed and groundbreakingbooks published by academic presses inthe United States and England, and shewas invited to write the 2007–2008review of nineteenth-century studies forthe prestigious journal Studies in EnglishLiterature, an honor reserved for the topscholar in the field. While literature can serve as a way to

understand the culture of a particular timeand place, Colley chooses to look at theart of the writing itself as well. “Literarystudies are returning to thinking aboutform, aesthetics, and how writers expressthemselves,” she said. In her research, shedraws on literary forms beyond the noveland poetry, such as travel narratives.

the Victorian era?Why has Colley chosen to study

“I think that many people are drawn tostudy material that is part of their ownautobiography,” she said. Colley’s recol-lection of her childhood in Lancashire,England, includes certain Victorian motifsthat endured well into the twentieth century. However, perhaps her greatestinfluence was a National Endowment forthe Humanities award she received toattend a seminar, the Nineteenth-CenturyEpic, at the University of California atBerkeley in 1975.Colley’s scholarship has since taken

her to many places and areas of study. As a two-time American Fulbright SeniorFellow, she taught African American literature at the University of Warsaw in Poland and at the National TarasShevchenko University, in Kiev, Ukraine.Her many articles, reviews, and bookchapters have been critically acclaimed byscholars across the world; she serves on theModern Language Association’s executivecommittee for Victorian literature.Recently appointed to the rank of

SUNY Distinguished Professor—thehighest honor awarded to a professor inthe SUNY system—Colley has twicereceived the Buffalo State CollegePresident’s Award for Excellence inResearch, Scholarship, and Creativity, in 1991 and 1998, and the SUNYChancellor’s Recognition of Research and Scholarship in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences in 2002.“I’m never really content unless I

have a research project,” Colley said.When a subject intrigues her, sheimmerses herself in researching it. She

has spent countless hours in the archivesof libraries throughout Europe, especiallyin the United Kingdom. “Often you find the most interesting

material in the miscellaneous folder,” she said. “But it takes a lot of patience.”During the sabbatical in which sheresearched the material for Victorians inthe Mountains, she read six or seven hoursevery day except Sunday.As an idea for a book matures, Colley

often writes an essay and submits it to apeer-reviewed journal. “The response letsme know if the subject intrigues otherpeople,” she said. The fourth chapter ofVictorians in the Mountains was originallypublished as “John Ruskin: Climbing and the Vulnerable Eye,” in VictorianLiterature and Culture. The article wasnominated for the 2010 Donald GrayPrize for best essay published in the fieldof Victorian studies.Colley has been writing steadily

since she coauthored Starting with Poetry,a textbook, in 1973. “Writing is, for me,a process of discovery of ideas,” she said.She also finds comfort in writing, and “a certain self-definition, an engagementwith life.”Not surprisingly, she has already

begun to formulate ideas for her nextresearch project, which may explore portraiture and the perception of theindividual during the Victorian period.She will investigate the concepts furtherat Wolfson College, University ofCambridge, which has awarded her thetitle of visiting fellow for the spring 2011 semester. �

donorimpact

college. Since 1992, the Wendt Foundation hasawarded more than $1.3 million to Buffalo Statefor areas and programs such as Project Flight, theBurchfield Penney Art Center, the Andrew W.Mellon Endowed Chair campaign, the Center forExcellence in Urban and Rural Education, and therenovation of the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

M&T Bank was recognized for its continuedcommitment to Buffalo State, which began in1986 with a gift to the President’s HonorsScholarship Fund. Today, M&T Bank supportsnumerous programs and events, including thePerforming Arts Center’s Great Performers Series,the Golf and Tennis Scholarship Classic, theBuffalo State College Foundation ScholarshipGala, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Art Conservation Department Flourishesunder Mellon Grant

Earlier this year, Buffalo State College’s renownedArt Conservation Department successfully com-pleted the match portion of its Andrew W. MellonFoundation grant. The $2.65 million securedthrough the grant is being used to fund anendowed chair in conservation science, expandresearch opportunities, and purchase leading-edgescientific instrumentation. All of this has strength-ened the department’s reputation as a nationalleader in art conservation education.In July, the department named Corina E. Rogge,

Ph.D., as its new Andrew W. Mellon AssistantProfessor in Conservation Science. A highly decorat-ed young scientist, Rogge comes to Buffalo Statefrom Rice University in Houston, Texas, where shewas the Wiess Instructor of Chemistry (see page 6).“Corina Rogge is a wonderful addition to our

world-renowned staff,” said Patrick Ravines, depart-ment director. “We are also very appreciative of thecontinued support and generosity that allows us toexpand our curriculum and the opportunities weprovide our students.” Ravines joined the departmentin July after serving as senior project conservatorand research fellow at the George Eastman HouseInternational Museum of Photography and Film.Support from the Mellon Foundation has been

integral to the department’s recent growth. In 2006,the foundation awarded $1.5 million to the collegefor endowments and $150,000 for scientific equip-ment, provided that Buffalo State could raise an

Kenzie Scholars2010–2011 uThe Ross B. Kenzie FamilyPresidential ScholarshipFund provides an annual,renewable scholarship toacademically talentedminority students enteringBuffalo State College.Sponsored by Ross B. Kenzie(bottom right), vice chairof the Buffalo State CollegeFoundation Board ofDirectors, and his family,the fund was established toenhance diversity at thecollege. Preference is givento students seeking admis-sion to the All CollegeHonors Program. The current annual award of$2,220 is augmented withan additional $500 eachsemester one of the schol-arship recipients makes thedean’s list. Twenty-five stu-dents are currently funded.

Four Honored with Foundation Chair’s Award

The Buffalo State College Foundation Board ofDirectors acknowledged four exemplary donorswith the 2010 Chair’s Recognition Award duringits annual meeting in June.

George T. Hole, SUNY DistinguishedTeaching Professor of philosophy and humanities,and Edward O. Smith Jr., SUNY DistinguishedService Professor of history and social studies edu-cation, were honored for their outstanding philan-thropic initiatives at Buffalo State. Both esteemedfaculty members have an impressive record of sup-port for the college.Hole, a longtime supporter of Buffalo State

who received the President’s Award for Excellencein Academic Advisement in 1994, recentlyendowed the Dr. George T. Hole PhilosophyScholarship Fund for students. Smith, whose previous donations have includ-

ed endowments and works of art, recently made aplanned gift to establish the E. O. Smith Arts andHumanities Faculty Development Fund. Hereceived the President’s Award for Excellence inProfessional Service in 1988.The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation was recog-

nized for its generous and ongoing support of the

20 Winter 2010

Continued on page 22

Paul Brophydonorprofile

You never know

exactly what the

future holds, but

you should always be open

to the possibilities. Helen

(Brooks) Brophy, ’57,

taught her son, Paul, that

valuable life lesson—and

now Paul is passing it on

to first-generation college

students through the Helen

Brophy Scholarship Fund.

Paul recently established

the fund by directing a

$100,000 gift from his late

mother’s estate to Buffalo

State College.

“My mom was always

open to new experiences.

She loved learning, and she

wasn’t afraid to try new

things,” Paul said fondly

about Helen, who passed

away in May 2009 at the

age of 87. “This scholarship

fund, named in her honor,

is a way to let that spirit

live on.”

Helen’s entry into the

college in 1939 was all

about being open to life’s

possibilities. When a friend

invited Helen to accompa-

ny her to the entrance

exam for moral support,

Helen agreed. When Helen

was asked by college offi-

cials if she, too, would like

to take the exam, she said

yes. And when Helen was

then offered a state-funded

scholarship to the school,

she signed her father’s

signature on the dotted line

(he didn’t think it was

necessary for girls to attend

college) and secured a spot

in the freshman class.

On campus, Helen dis-

tinguished herself in aca-

demics, earning member-

ship in the Kappa Delta Pi

and Nu Lambda Sigma

honorary fraternities. “I

also found out later that

Helen had joined the

Alpha Sigma Tau sorority

at the college,” said her

younger sister, Jeanette

Levin, laughing. “She was

too modest to brag about

her achievements. That

was the beautiful thing

about Helen: she had a

very sweet and quiet and

modest side, but she also

did what she wanted to

do in life.”

Just four credits short of

graduation, Helen did

what she needed to do in

1943. She left school to

follow her husband, James,

to New Jersey, where he

had found work in support

of the war effort.

“She wanted to follow

my father during World

War II, but she was also

determined to finish her

degree someday,” said

Paul, who works as a real

estate development con-

sultant in California. “So she

brought my sister, Judy,

and me back to Buffalo

during the summer of

1957 and took the last

two classes she needed to

graduate.”

With her degree in

hand, Helen became a

state employment service

counselor. Later, she

earned her master’s degree

and spent the next 20

years of her career as a

school psychologist, mak-

ing a difference in the lives

of countless children.

“My mother knew the

value of a liberal arts edu-

cation, and she absolutely

loved to share that with

others. From taking our

daughters to their first

Broadway musicals and

the museums of New York

City to organizing a book

club at her local library,

she shared that passion,”

Paul said. “This gift gives

us a tremendous sense of

satisfaction. My mother

always wanted to help

future students at Buffalo

State, just as the citizens of

New York provided her

with opportunities 70

years ago that would

never have been available

otherwise.”

“My mother

knew the value

of a liberal arts

education.”

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Paul Brophy

To make your gift, contact the Buffalo State College Foundation at

(716) 878-5536bscfoundation@buffalostate.eduwww.buffalostate.edu/giving

Join in!

21Winter 2010

donorimpact

22 Winter 2010

scope has diverse applications in both organic andinorganic materials science and will be used by faculty scientists for teaching, treatment support,and expanded independent research opportunities.The department is currently planning an

expansion in Rockwell Hall, scheduled to be completed in 2012.

Buffalo State Annual Fund Surpasses Goal

The 2009–2010 Annual Fund soared past its$400,000 goal this year, with 421 first-time donorsleading the way. More than $511,000 was raisedfrom Buffalo State alumni and friends in the fiscalyear that ended June 30.Six hundred sixty faculty and staff members

donated more than $186,000 for Buffalo State students, the most in the college’s history. A newstudent-fundraising initiative, Bengals Out ShowingSupport, or B.O.S.S, started by current students,will distribute four $250 textbook awards to fellowstudents in need of support.The Annual Fund at Buffalo State is the easiest,

most direct way to support students. Whether bymail, phone, or e-mail, every gift to the AnnualFund makes a difference in students’ lives. Join in. Make your secure gift online today at www.buffalostate.edu/makeagift.

A Smart Investment

Morolayo Olaofe, a biology major in the All CollegeHonors Program, was finishing a successful firstsemester at Buffalo State when a $900 gap in herfinancial aid award created an unexpected obstacle.As a high-achieving student, Olaofe receives a

number of scholarships, including the All CollegeHonors, Provost’s, and Dr. Anna P. Burrell scholar-ships. But Olaofe is one of four children, andalthough her family has a strong commitment toeducation, they simply could not rework theirfinances to cover this additional expense.When Karen Penfold, ’69, heard of Olaofe’s

plight, she immediately came forward to help closethe deficit, ensuring that this promising youngstudent could continue her studies at BuffaloState. Olaofe was ecstatic.“I cannot express how grateful I was to receive

Ms. Penfold’s gift,” she said. “I realized how luckyI was to be presented with such an opportunity.”Many more opportunities lie ahead for Olaofe,

additional $1 million in matching funds by March2010. The foundation also underwrote the salaryfor one of the department’s conservation scientistsfrom 2003 to 2008.“The successful completion of fundraising for this

Mellon challenge grant is a good reason to celebratewidely with the alumni, colleagues, family, friends,supporters, and many more contributors in this majoraccomplishment,” Ravines said. “This is wonderfulrecognition of the program’s growth and future.”Foundations from the Western New York area

contributed the majority of the matching fundsfor the latest Mellon award. The John R. OisheiFoundation and Samuel H. Kress Foundationdonated $100,000 each, while additional gifts wereprovided by the Fidelity Foundation, the MargaretL. Wendt Foundation, the Thaw Charitable Trust,Golden Artist Colors Inc., the Western New YorkFoundation, the Ross B. Kenzie Family Foundation,the Little-Kittinger Foundation, the Mulroy FamilyFoundation, the Max and Victoria DreyfusFoundation, and numerous alumni and friends ofthe college. The National Endowment for theHumanities also generously contributed to the effort.Mellon grant funds have allowed the department

to purchase several advanced pieces of equipment,including a Raman microscope, an RK250 micro-scope stage, and a Nicolet 6700 FT-IR spectrometer.Raman microspectroscopy has become one of thepremier analytical techniques for the in situ, non-destructive study of artists’ materials. The micro-

Distinguished DonorSociety CelebratesGivingqA new event, theDistinguished DonorSociety Dinner, combinedthe annual recognition ceremonies of the college’stop supporters—thePresident’s Circle and thePeterson Society—into asingle event. The President’sCircle honors those whohave made annual gifts of $1,500 or more to the college in 2009–2010. The Peterson Society is thecollege’s honor society forthose who have made a giftto Buffalo State in their willsor through other estate-planning techniques. Thisyear’s event was held at theBuffalo Club in September.

The Peterson Societywelcomed 17 new membersthis year during a specialinduction ceremony at thehome of James, ’71, ’73,and Joy Brandys in August.

Continued from page 20

donorimpact

23Winter 2010

a first-generation college student who hopes topursue a career in medicine. “I would love toattend a graduate school that offers both medicaland law degrees together,” she said. “I am thinkingabout becoming an obstetrician, a pediatrician, anepidemiologist, or getting involved in publichealth in the third world.“Thanks to Ms. Penfold’s gift, I can begin the

semester able to concentrate on my classes and nothave an outstanding bill hanging over my head.”

Zemsky Receives Service Award

Howard Zemsky, vice chair of theBuffalo State College Council,received the Buffalo State President’sDistinguished Service Award in Mayfor his outstanding contributions tothe college and community.

Zemsky is managing partner of the LarkinDevelopment Co., developers of commercial realestate in Buffalo; Niagara’s Finest Inns, a group ofboutique hotels and restaurants in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario; and Taurus Partners LLC, a privateequity firm in Buffalo. His service to Buffalo Stateincludes membership on the College Council since2004—as vice chair since 2008—and co-chair-manship of the Buffalo State College FoundationScholarship Gala for the last three years.Zemsky also chaired the Buffalo State College

Presidential Search Advisory Committee, whichresulted in the appointment of President AaronPodolefsky in July.

Advisory Group Funds TFA Scholarships

Enthusiasts of Buffalo State’s television and film arts(TFA) program have provided students with schol-arships and unique internship experiences, completewith industry access and networking in New York,

Toronto, and Los Angeles, according to JeffHirschberg, associate professor and director of theTFA program. Hirschberg serves as liaison to thestrategic advisory group responsible for the support.Advisory committee chair James Brandys, ’71,

’73, and members Joe and Roseann Berardi; Gary and Willow Brost; and Sharon, ’77, and Paul Catalano donated $1,500 each to fund sum-mer internships for TFA students. Interns workedat major entertainment studios such as NBCUniversal, 20th Century Fox, Lions GateEntertainment, EMI/Capitol Records, VH1,Cartoon Network, and Disney.Students and committee members also recently

enjoyed weekend trips to New York City andToronto. In the Big Apple, the group attended acocktail party at the home of Buffalo State alumnusand Emmy Award–winning writer-producer TomFontana, ’73, and a broadcast of Saturday NightLive. In September, the group took in the famedToronto International Film Festival.“We are very grateful for the generosity of the

local advisory committee,” said Hirschberg. “Wehope to increase the number of these opportunitiesover the next few years.”To learn more about the TFA program

or advisory committee, contact Hirschberg athirschjn@buffalostate.edu.

Scholarship ClassicRaises $75,000p

The 13th annual Golf andTennis Scholarship Classicat the Brookfield CountryClub in September raisedmore than $75,000 tobenefit the All CollegeHonors Program. Themen’s winning foursomeconsisted of ScottMcNiven, Art Muldoon,Pat Pacitti, and MichaelSchaefer from DelawareInvestments; the women’swinning team was madeup of Christine Augustine,Rebecca McCauley, NancyPaslaqua, and Mary PatSchreck from MerrillLynch. Provost DennisPonton and his wife, Libby,each won first place in themen’s and women’s tenniscompetitions.

(From left) Paul and Sharon Catalano, Gary andWillow Brost, Dean of Arts and Humanities BenChristy, Joe and Roseann Berardi, Jeff Hirschberg, andSusan Christy, at NBC Universal Studios in New York.

donorimpact

24 Winter 2010

Wegmans Scholarships Add Up

Since 1996, Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has pro-vided $1.9 million in scholarship money to morethan 600 Buffalo State College students. Thosescholarships were granted through the company’scompetitive Scholarship Program.“The Scholarship Program really speaks to

our mission as a company. We want to see ouremployees pursue their educational goals, and we want to help them succeed,” said LynneMoore, Wegman’s human resources manager.

The Rochester-based grocery chain is regularly recognized by Fortune magazine as one of thenation’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”The Wegmans scholarship provides up to $1,500

a year per student and is renewable every year forfour years, or a maximum of $6,000. To be consid-ered, employees must be in good standing at schooland at work. Applicants must maintain a cumulativegrade point average of 2.0 or higher and work atleast 300 hours a year, which allows even part-timeand seasonal employees to be eligible.

Buffalo State College celebrated the opening of

its new Dr. Margaret E. Bacon, ’41, Student Art

Gallery in Upton Hall on October 25. Bacon, a

longtime supporter of the college, recently

donated $300,000 to furnish the first-floor space,

which will be devoted exclusively to the display

of student art. In addition, a portion of the funds

from the gift will be used to bring noted artists

to campus to share their insights with students.

“I took a tour of the Art Department, heard

about all of the great things that are happening

here, and decided that an art gallery would be a

wonderful thing for the students,” said Bacon,

who celebrated her 90th birthday in August. “This

gallery provides an opportunity for students to

really broaden their experience. They can see each

other’s finished work in a formal setting and find

out how their art fits into the larger world of art.”

After graduating from Buffalo State with a

degree in art education, Bacon went on to

become one of the first women to receive a

doctorate in education from the University at

Buffalo. She spent much of her professional

career as a faculty member in the Art

Department at Daemen College, including

serving as department chair.

Bacon and her late husband, Paul, ’42, are the

generous benefactors of the Drs. Paul A. and

Margaret Eschner Bacon Endowed Scholarship

Fund and the Drs. Paul and Margaret Bacon and

Family Athletics Rehabilitation Room. Margaret

Bacon is also a member of the Peterson Society.

“I’m particularly honored that this new gallery is

located next to the Czurles-Nelson Gallery in

Upton Hall,” Bacon said. “I was one of Dr. Stanley

Czurles’s art education students at Buffalo State.

Seeing his name reminds me that my husband and

I both gained so much out of our Buffalo State

educations. When we graduated, we both felt

prepared to do anything. I hope this new gallery

helps give today’s students that same feeling.”

Consider making a bequest to the Buffalo State College Foundation.

Your gift will be used to meet the college’s most urgent needs, which always support the heart of Buffalo State’s mission: to empower a diverse population of students to succeed as citizens of a challenging world.

Talk to your financial adviser to see if this is rightfor you. Then call us.

Buffalo State College Foundation

Loraine YatesSenior Development andPlanned Giving Officer

(716) 878-5536

www.buffalostate.edu/giving

“I am only one, but still I am one.I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.”

Edward Everett Hale

Dr. Margaret E.Bacon, ’41, andstudents at theBacon StudentArt Galleryopening inOctober.

College Dedicates Bacon Art Gallery

25Winter 2010

Daigi-Ann Thompson andChristopher Stowellscholarshipprofile

Buffalo State’s Theater Department offers a diverse program

that touches all aspects of theater. And that diversity

allowed two students on different career tracks to win

scholarships by encouraging them to explore their talents.

Daigi-Ann Thompson, ’12, a sophomore from the Bronx,

receives the Jerry McGuire Theater Scholarship in Acting, and

Christopher Stowell, ’13, a sophomore from Watertown,

receives the Fay Northrop Theater Scholarship in Design.

McGuire and Northrop, ’64, ’77, husband and wife, fund

the scholarships through the Sterling Scholarship program,

which provides annual awards of $1,000 to $1,500 a year

for three years. The program was established in 2007 to

allow donors to support individual students pursuing a

degree in the School of Arts and Humanities. Students

are chosen by department faculty.

Thompson, who eventually would like to teach acting,

originally wanted to become an attorney—even attending

the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice. But

after joining City at Peace (now the Possibility Project), a

youth-development organization that uses the performing

arts to teach multicultural understanding

and nonviolence, and participating in an

off-Broadway musical written by students

based on their life experiences, Thompson

realized that theater can be as powerful a

catalyst for change as law.

Her enthusiasm for the craft has paid off.

She earned the lead role in the college’s

Jerry McGuire Theater Scholarship in ActingFay Northrop Theater Scholarship in Design

production of In the Blood,

a modern-day version of

The Scarlet Letter, last year.

Stowell, who knew from an

early age that theater

would be his life’s work,

acted and did lighting

design in high school pro-

ductions. At Buffalo State,

he turned his interest to

sound design after getting a job running a sound board

for the college’s production of Anything Goes last spring.

“I still have a passion to act,” Stowell said. “Here, I could

do that one semester and then technical theater another.

I really like the fact that I can do everything here. My

long-term goal is to form a theater that will allow kids to

get on stage in an easy environment, as a place to grow.”

Buffalo State’s Theater Department fosters a similar environ-

ment, one that allows students to grow and realize their

full potential to change their communities and their world.

Northrop, who learned of the scholarship program from

Drew Kahn, professor and department chair, said she

appreciates the faculty’s interest in the students they

choose, and credits the faculty for helping the students

develop into successful people.

“They have a wonderful program that’s really

spectacular,” she said.

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“We’re proud to have a particularly strong partnership with Buffalo State,” Moore said. “OurAmherst Street store is right in Buff State’s backyard.Many of that store’s employees are current studentsor alumni. We also have a great synergy with thecollege through our work with Campus House.”Scott Watterson, ’00, is one of the Scholarship

Program’s many success stories. An 18-yearemployee of the company, Watterson combinedhis scholarship with income from his job to payhis entire college tuition bill. Watterson also com-pleted the Wegmans management intern programwhile studying at Buffalo State and is now the

manager of the Wegmans store in West Seneca.An interior design major, Watterson said he

uses the lessons he learned at Buffalo State everyday. “Interior design requires you to sell yourself;to sell your idea; work with a team; think aboutmerchandising, use of space, and design; and tohave an eye for detail. Whether it’s incorporatingdesign elements into a break room to improveemployee morale or completing major resets—where the store is rearranged—to enable bettercustomer service or sales, there’s always a crossoverbetween what I learned at Buff State and what Ido at work each day.”

Christopher Stowell andFay Northrop

“They have

a wonderful

program

that’s really

spectacular.”

Daigi-Ann Thompsonand Jerry McGuire

Just two years out of Buffalo State’s master’s degreeprogram in physics education, Maurice Hayon, ’08,

alumniprofile

PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG LEVERE

“Student-centered

teaching works better

than any other kind.”

26 Winter 2010

isn’t the only one who has reaped its many benefits.His students have profited, as well.At Baldwin Senior High School on Long Island,

where Hayon has taught since 2004, a dozen of hisstudents who have been inducted into the school’sNational Honor Society have formally recognized his influence as a teacher during their induction ceremonies—an influence Hayon credits to theteaching methods he learned in Buffalo State’s program. Another of his college-bound students hashonored him as the teacher who has had the mostpositive impact on his life at the school district’sannual In Recognition of Excellence dinner.In 2009, Hayon was one of only 10 educators to

be honored with a Distinguished Teacher Award fromthe Harvard Club of Long Island—nominated byformer student and Harvard graduate Rahul Prabhakar.In his nomination, Prabhakar acknowledged “the

profound impact [Hayon] has on his current studentsevery year. Their enthusiastic questioning and partici-pation is an influence and a testament to his teachingability.”That teaching ability was honed and refined by

the techniques and methods Hayon learned atBuffalo State, particularly in PHY 510: Process Skillsin Physics Teaching.

“Physics 510 had to be, out of all the classes I’vetaken at Buff State, the best,” he said. “Because we were all either current physics teachers or looking fora degree in physics ed, we’d start out with a problem,we’d figure out a way to solve it, and then we’d explainhow we did it. Statistics show student-centered teach-ing works better than any other kind.”After graduating from Hofstra University with a

B.A. in physics and minors in math and secondaryeducation, Hayon began his career at Baldwin SeniorHigh. He wanted to find a master’s degree programthat would enhance his effectiveness in the classroom.As he researched physics education programs in the NewYork City area, he found that most taught higher-levelphysics for half the program’s credits and educationtheory for the other, which wasn’t the focus he want-ed. Then he looked at Buffalo State.“Buffalo State offered a program that was specifi-

cally designed for high school physics teachers, whichis very rare to find,” he said. “As a high school physicsteacher, I didn’t want to take Ph.D.-level courses.There are really no direct applications from upper-levelphysics to the high school classroom. I also didn’twant to learn more education theory because I feltlike I had enough during my undergraduate studies.“At Buffalo State, we built apparatuses for demon-

stration or laboratory use; we worked on how we caneliminate common high school physics misconceptions;and we learned, used, and practiced the successfullyproven method of modeling to better instruct ourstudents in the high school physics classroom.”Those lessons have paid off for both teacher and

students.“Probably the most rewarding occurrence,” Hayon

said, “is when kids come back from college and tellyou how much of a difference you made in their lives,especially the quiet ones. You could be teaching themthe entire year wondering ‘Am I getting through tothem?’ And when they come back and tell you youactually made a difference in their lives, it’s just anamazing feeling.” �

alumniprofile

He recognized that new

technology was going

to forever change the

way people worked.

27Winter 2010

When George Lukowicz, ’63,decided he wanted to teach,he knew education would transform his life. Hecredits Buffalo State with laying the foundation forhis success, but in ways he never expected.“I wanted to become an industrial arts teacher

and did two stints as a student teacher. That helpedme learn how to deal with kids, peers, and superiors.Both situations were great. I was lucky,” he said.He still remembers his supervising professor, the

late Leonard Poleszak, as being particularly influen-tial. “I had Professor Poleszak for one or two educa-tion classes. He was a good mentor who taught mehow to do things better. I was learning a lot!”By the time he graduated, the Vietnam War was

escalating, and Lukowicz felt compelled to serve hiscountry. Accepted as an officer training candidate, hewas commissioned as a second lieutenant in the AirForce. For the next four years, Lukowicz served inthe Strategic Air Command, attaining the rank ofcaptain.“I made a decision to go into the military with

the thought of a career but later changed my mind. Ifelt business was a better path for me, rather thanteaching or serving in the military. I never regrettedmy decision.“Those were the days when you went to work for

a company and remained until you retired,”Lukowicz recalled. “In 1968, I started with the NewYork Federal Reserve, where I stayed for 25 years.”During this time he also earned his M.B.A. fromAdelphi University on Long Island.He recognized that new technology was going to

forever change the way people worked, though at thetime, “computers were in their infancy; there were nosuch things as desktops or laptops.”Lukowicz became responsible for the Federal

Reserve Bank of New York’s computer systems at atime when a computer “took up an entire room.”After running the data center operations at NewYork, which included a contingency center inUpstate New York, he joined the Federal ReserveBank of Richmond as a vice president. Over the course of a 34-year career, he engaged

in groundbreaking work, including a project thatbrought accolades to Lukowicz and his staff fromAlan Greenspan, then chairman of the Board ofGovernors of the Federal Reserve System.

“I oversaw the consolidation of all computer sys-tems and equipment across the 12 Federal ReserveBanks,” he explained, “and formed an automationcompany within the Federal Reserve Bank ofRichmond that offered computer processing servicesto the banks.”Always looking toward the future, Lukowicz said

he is eager to return to Buffalo State for his 50threunion. “When we went back for my 45th reunion,I could not believe the changes to the campus. Icould make out the old quad, but the campus is justamazing today and is still growing.”Retired since 2002, Lukowicz is busy with his

family in Brentwood, California, where he and hiswife enjoy traveling, golfing, and making their ownwine. Yet he has never forgotten his alma mater andremains a staunch supporter through his generousgifts to the Annual Fund at Buffalo State.“I donate because I believe the college helped me

get started in my career,” he said. “I feel it does anexcellent job in preparing young people for thefuture. Buffalo State certainly did it for me!” �

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE COOK

alumniprofile

28 Winter 2010

has had something to do with it. Just a generation ortwo ago, American society still clung to some notionsthat, in retrospect, seem more suited for the Dark Ages.One of those antiquated ideas was that high-poweredprofessions were not appropriate for women. Menwere welcome to be lawyers and doctors and CEOs,but not women.Fortunately, ordinary notions like those crumble

when extraordinary individuals decide to use theirtalent and determination to change things. Lamm,now one of the most powerful attorneys in the coun-try, has done just that.“As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a

lawyer,” Lamm said. “I knew that I wanted to make adifference, and I knew that I could make a differencegiven the chance.”This year, Legal Times named Lamm one of its

prestigious “Visionaries for 2010.” In 2007, theNational Law Journal named her one of the “50 MostInfluential Women in America.”In August, Lamm wrapped up a successful year as

president of the American Bar Association. The ABAis the largest voluntary professional association in theworld, representing nearly half a million members,and Lamm was only the fourth woman to lead thegroup in its 132-year history.

As president, she led the effort to analyze infor-mation from the ABA’s nationwide hearings on diversity. The published report, “Next Steps,” withcompanion podcasts, includes specific recommenda-tions for promoting diversity—racial, ethnic, gender,disability, sexual orientation—and eliminating biasthroughout the profession.She also appointed commissions to examine two

timely concerns: the impact of the global economiccrisis on the legal profession, and the ethical issuesrelating to lawyers’ use of technology.“We want to make sure that lawyers who practice

online are doing so in a manner consistent with standardpractices,” Lamm said. “We also want to make sure thatthe public is educated about virtual law firms, especiallyin regard to the crucial issue of confidentiality.”Last year, Lamm worked full time both for the ABA

and as a partner and international arbitration, litigation,and trade lawyer in the Washington, D.C., office of theglobal law firm White & Case LLP. “I’d say I put inabout 2,000 hours on each job,” she said, “and thou-sands of miles in travel. The thing is, I thoroughlyenjoy working. I really enjoy the intellectual challenge.”Lamm initially enrolled at Buffalo State with the

idea of becoming a teacher, at the encouragement of herfather. As graduation approached, however, she recog-nized her true calling and applied to—and was acceptedat—the University of Miami (Florida) School of Law.“I loved my time at Buffalo State,” Lamm said.

“It provided an excellent foundation for my career.Majoring in education and minoring in English, I learned how to write and analyze writing, andappreciate other perspectives and cultures.“Being trained as a teacher has been invaluable to my

law career. There is a significant amount of teaching skillneeded in law. You have to be precise when conveying thefacts, and you have to be able to clearly explain your caseto judges. And, in both law and teaching, you have to bemotivated by the desire to change things for the better.”Lamm visited Buffalo State in October to present

the Continuing Legal Education seminar “The Role ofLawyers in Today’s Changing World” in the BurchfieldPenney Art Center. She also met with pre-law and mocktrial students during an informal Q&A luncheon inCleveland Hall (left), where she discussed contemporarylegal issues, legal careers, and applying to law school. �

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE FOX

A lot has changed for the better over the past 40 years, and Carolyn Lamm, ’70,

“You have to be

motivated by the

desire to change

things for the better.”

29Winter 2010

alumniprofile

When Ed Sontag, ’64, ’67, began his teaching career,special education classes were almost always held inseparate rooms, far away from the rest of the school.Sometimes those separate rooms were located in

separate buildings. For three years, Sontag taught ajunior high special ed class in the school garage. That’sright, the garage. “Left out in the cold, literally andfiguratively,” he recalled.Fortunately, Sontag’s career heated up—he went on

to become a school district administrator, high-rankinggovernment official, professor, consultant, and pow-erful advocate of inclusion—and things changed forthe better in the field of special education, too.Today, Sontag is “mostly retired,” but still promotes

the integration of people with disabilities into schoolsand society as a whole. “I am a strong advocate ofintegration and inclusion. I believe that it is a basiccivil-rights issue,” said Sontag, who helped found TASH(formerly known as the Association for the SeverelyHandicapped), a leading international disabilities-rightsorganization. “We need to fully integrate society, andif we can start by doing that in the schools, I amconvinced that the rest will follow.”Sontag’s path to the forefront of special education

reform began at Buffalo State College. While workingas a janitor by day and attending Buffalo Evening HighSchool at night, Sontag was approached by his principal,who asked him if he had ever considered going to col-lege. Until that point, he hadn’t. With a little encour-agement, Sontag applied to Buffalo State and receiveda $50 scholarship that covered the cost of tuition.“Going to Buffalo State really changed my life,”

said Sontag, who lost both of his parents at a youngage and lived by himself at the YMCA for a year whilecompleting school. “I had a wonderful career atBuffalo State. I had lost my parents, but I don’t lookback on it as a sad time. My college years really pointedme in the right direction. I became the president of thefreshman class, and I enrolled in the second or thirdclass ever offered by Hank Mann after he started theexceptional education program.”After graduation, Sontag taught for several years

at local schools while earning his master’s degree fromBuffalo State. He then ventured off to Syracuse

University for his doctorate, determined to make hismark in special education as an administrator.“After I received my doctorate from Syracuse, I

went to a conference in Atlantic City and met thesuperintendent of schools from Madison, Wisconsin,”Sontag said. “Special education was a relatively newand growing field back then, so educators withadvanced degrees and classroom experience definitelyhad opportunities and upward mobility.” Sontag washired on the spot as the Madison Public SchoolDistrict’s coordinator of special education.He didn’t know it at the time, but his progressive

work in Wisconsin would be a stepping stone to aseries of important national education policy positions.At the U.S. Department of Education, Sontag servedas director of special education. At the Department ofthe Interior, he was the primary adviser on educationissues. And at the Department of Health and HumanServices, Sontag directed the day-to-day operations ofthe department as its assistant secretary for administra-tion and management. He capped his career as the sen-ior adviser and acting deputy director for the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention.“I saw a lot of things change in education during

the course of my career,” Sontag said. “The one thingthat always remained the same, though, is that Americaneeds great teachers. I’m very proud that BuffaloState is a recognized leader in special education andthat this school prepares the type of teachers thatAmerica needs.” �

“I am a strong

advocate of integration

and inclusion.”

30 Winter 2010

Matthew Ryan, ’99President, Buffalo State Alumni Association

The Alumni Association looksmuch different today than it didjust a few years back. Joining theboard of directors back in 2004,and now having the distinct

honor to serve as president of the board, I have madesome observations:

Alumni Connections We have an amazing number of fantastic alumni. Nothing new there. The difference,though, is how we are connecting with them. Newevents such as the wine tasting and the very successfulAll ’80s Reunion, which took place in May, and newcommunication methods, such as the online community,are making a big impact.

Alumni Association Leadership At every level, we havenew faces. We are thrilled to have hired very talentedstaff this year, adding Director Jennifer Heisey andAssistant Director Landrum Beard. They have bothcome in with extraordinary vision.

New Space The Alumni Association Office has movedfrom its former location in Cleveland Hall 305 toCleveland Hall 319. This new, larger inviting space is agreat reflection of a renewed commitment to providingBuffalo State alumni with fantastic resources and connections to the college. Stop by and see the space.It is there for you!

Strategic Plan With new programs, new contact methods, new leadership, and new space, you mighthave guessed that we are harnessing great resources to take our alumni operations to the next level. To see this executed effectively, the board of directors has worked out a strategic plan. This will help us with defined goals, steps to achievement, and effectivemonitoring of progress.

It is an exciting time to be a Buffalo State College alum-nus. To show my pride, and to attempt to identify fellowalumni, I am issuing the “Orange Friday Challenge.” Ihave committed to wearing an orange tie every Fridayfor my entire term as president of the board. With myoffice in downtown Buffalo, my hope is to see all otheralumni join me by wearing orange on Fridays. Whetherit be a tie, a pin, or any other Buffalo State orange iden-tifier, let it identify your pride on Fridays. We are great innumbers and spirit; let’s make it show!

CHANGES COME,

BENGAL ORANGE

REMAINS

alumninews

Heisey Appointed Alumni Affairs DirectorJennifer L. Heisey was appointeddirector of alumni affairs for BuffaloState in June.

Heisey comesto the college afterfive years at theUniversity ofCincinnati, whereshe served as direc-

tor and chief operating officer of theUniversity of Cincinnati AlumniAssociation (UCAA) for the last twoyears. There she oversaw all programsand services for Cincinnati’s morethan 230,000 living alumni. As the chief strategist for the

UCAA, Heisey managed an operat-ing budget of roughly $2.4 millionand participated in establishing university-wide goals for the institu-tion’s alumni relations priorities. A member of the invitation-

only Council of Alumni AssociationExecutives (CAAE), Heisey has also served on the Council for the

Advancement and Support ofEducation (CASE) District V boardof directors. Previously, Heisey spent four

years at Ohio University, primarilyas the director of outreach andengagement for the Ohio AlumniAssociation.She also held positions outside

of academia as a Xerox sales agentand as a sales and marketing spe-cialist for Epic International, a premium promotional sales andmarketing company.Heisey received her bachelor’s

degree in sociology from theUniversity of Cincinnati, a salestraining certificate from XeroxDocument University, and a mas-ter’s degree in higher educationadministration from Wright StateUniversity.She replaces Kate Ward, former

director of alumni affairs, whoretired in January.

ARMED SERVICES REUNION

Honoring Service andSacrifice. Veterans and currentmembers of the armed services werehonored during the sixth annual ArmedServices Reunion, held on Veterans Day,November 11, at the Town of TonawandaPolice Club in Kenmore. The event honors Buffalo State alumni, students,emeriti, faculty, and staff who haveserved or are serving in any branch of the United States or Allied military services.The event also helps to raise funds for theMilitary Service Scholarship Award Fund.

A campus remembrance ceremony sponsored by the Buffalo State CollegeArmed Forces Organization was held on

November 9. The event began with a silent march across campus and culminatedwith a speaker program at the Veterans Memorial in Rockwell Quad. The monumentwas erected by alumni donors and dedicated in 2005.

SAVE THE DATE!

Florida Swing 2011Mark your calendars—we’re returning to TheVillages, Sarasota, and NaplesFebruary 21–25, 2011, forour annual swing throughthe Sunshine State! Visit theOnline Community fordetails. Please contact the Alumni Affairs Office to veri-fy your current Florida mail-ing address, and watch themail for your invitation.

2010 Young Alumnus Achievement AwardsFour of Buffalo State’s most accomplished young alumni received the 2010 YoungAlumnus Achievement Award in September at a special ceremony held during Homecoming andFamily Weekend. This prestigious award honors graduates of the past 20 years who have achieved significant professional advancement, provided outstanding community service, and demonstratedloyalty and commitment to Buffalo State College.Recognized this year were Christopher Ciamaga,

’00 (health and wellness), NHL referee, NationalHockey League; Erin Habes, ’03 (fashion and textiletechnology), entrepreneur, consultant, and adjunctinstructor at Buffalo State; Nicholas S. Laudico, ’01(public communication), seniorvice president, the Ruth Group;and Martha Meegan, ’92, ’06(communication, public relations management), TVnewsroom managing assignmenteditor, WIVB-TV.

Erin Habes, ’03 (left), and MarthaMeegan, ’92, ’06 (above center),with Buffalo State College PresidentAaron Podolefsky and former WIVB-TV news anchor Lisa Flynn, ’88.

All ’80s Alumni Reunion RecapDedicated alumni volunteers Mindy Silverman, ’85 (top photo, right), and Lisa Goorfin-

Hindin, ’85 (top photo, left), along with the Alumni Association, assembled graduates

near and far for a rockin’ All ’80s Alumni Reunion April 30–May 2. The two were

inspired to volunteer to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their graduation from

Buffalo State. Using their alumni network, Facebook, and the Buffalo State online

community, Silverman and Goorfin-Hindin were able to reach ’80s alumni all over the

nation. Alumni from throughout the decade came from as far as California to celebrate

their time at Buffalo State. Close to 300 alumni attended six jam-packed, fun-filled

events throughout the course of the weekend.

On Friday evening, guests were welcomed back to campus by Vice President for

Institutional Advancement Susanne Bair (top photo, center) during an intimate reception

in the Campbell Student Union Fireside Lounge. On Saturday, alumni were escorted on

personal campus tours and a visit to the new Burchfield Penney Art Center. They also

cheered on their friends at the annual “old boys” alumni rugby game, in which the men’s

alumni team defeated the current student team 15-12.

Close to 250 alumni converged at Mr. Goodbar on Elmwood Avenue, reliving the memories

of the past and making memories for years to come. Where were you? Log on to the alumni

community and share your experiences past and present. Want to plan a similar event? Log

on to the community and let us know!

31Winter 2010

See more photos from the All ’80s Alumni Reunion at

www.flickr.com/photos/buffalostate

Each has or more alumni living there.{ }

• Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY • New York/Northern New Jersey/Long Island, NY • New York, NY (nonmetropolitan areas) • Rochester, NY • Syracuse, NY • Washington, DC • Albany, NY • Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL • Atlanta, GA • Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL • Los Angeles, CA • Charlotte, NC • Philadelphia, PA • Boston/Cambridge, MA • Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE BUFFALO STATE ALUMNI?

92,000

500

77%

There are more than

These 15 metro areas house roughly

of our total alumni population:

living Buffalo State alumni world-wide. That’s a powerful network!

32 Winter 2010

First and foremost, I have to say that Iam thrilled to be the new alumni director atBuffalo State College. I have been here just afew months, but in this short time, I havealready had the opportunity to participate insome wonderful events and meet amazingalumni, faculty, staff, and students. This is aspecial place with a strong sense of communi-ty and an impressive commitment to intellec-tual pursuits and human empowerment. It iseasy to feel passionate about this institution,and I understand why alumni have remainedso connected and continue to participate inefforts that promote the growth and vitalityof Buffalo State College.The Alumni Association staff is com-

mitted to excellence. From the feedback andideas exchanged both in my interview sessionsand over the past six months, I can tell thatour alumni—especially our board membersand emeritus board members—are, too! Ihope we can challenge each other, our volun-teer leaders, and all faithful alumni to partici-pate with enthusiasm and embrace our effortsas we strive to make our Alumni Associationamong the best in the world.Each of you brings a personal experience

and a frame of reference rooted in the past, sowe can continue to honor our tradition whileat the same time take a broader, forward-focused approach to creating a valuable alumni experience.

alumninews

In order to reach these new heights, I willbe focusing on a few key things this year:

1. We will immediately embark on a com-prehensive organizational assessment and build a short- and long-term strategic planfor the Buffalo State Alumni Association.

2. We will develop and implement programs and services that are valuable and relevantto our alumni, looking beyond events to value-added services and new opportu-nities to foster alumni connections.

3. We will increase engagement amongalumni, provide opportunities forvolunteerism, and enhance overall alumni participation with the college.

4. We will work diligently to create an alumni culture on campus, making the Alumni Association a visible and mean-ingful part of the student experience.

5. We will create organizational systems and identify necessary resources so that our staff and volunteers can work effectively and efficiently to advance the college.

6. We will seek out new sources of revenue generation and focus on fiscal responsi-bility and long-term financial sustain-ability in order to provide the highest level of service to alumni.

I hope that you, as alumni who cherish the uniqueness of the total Buffalo State educational experience, agree that these priorities are something to champion.

From the New Alumni Affairs Director I want to hear from you. Notify me whenyou have good news about yourself or a fellowalumnus—it can be a promotion, a boardappointment, community recognition, amarriage, or anything else you are proud of.We love to recognize and share the amazingaccomplishments of our alumni. Share your good ideas. I will take your feedback to heart and utilize it to imple-ment change and createopportunities for alumni engagement. I want to hear your opinions on our programs, services, events, volunteer oppor-tunities, and communi-cation. Please connect with me on the BuffaloState Alumni Association Online Community, stop in and see me in Cleveland Hall 319, or e-mail me with ideas, questions, and concerns.Go to our website and

fill out the volunteer formif you want to get more involved, and we will find a way to utilize your expertise and ignite your passion for Buffalo State.

Forever Orange,Jennifer

Meet your alumni affairs staff—we’re at your service.

Jennifer L. Heisey, M.Ed.Directorheiseyjl@buffalostate.edu

Landrum W. Beard, B.A.Assistant Directorbeardlw@buffalostate.edu

Mary Jo Jagord, M.B.A.Business Manager (Part Time)jagordmj@buffalostate.edu

Kelly A. Mazella, B.A. ’07Online Community Managermazellka@buffalostate.edu

alumninews

Chapters!What is the power of a network? What does a network mean to you? Is it a collection of social networks used to exercise common influences?Does it mean a connection to others with a common bond? The networks (chapters) createdhere can give you the leverage needed to succeed.We have more than 92,000 alumni all over theglobe, there for you to make connections andshare experiences. Our network of alumni solidifies the value of your degree obtained here at BuffaloState. Become an ambassador and join a chapter,create a club, become a volunteer, and strengthenour alumni network. Visit www.alumni.buffalostate.edu and click on Giving Back!

33Winter 2010

Are you interested in

being involved? Do you

want to participate but do

not know how? Would

you like to reconnect with

other Buffalo State alums?

We have a solution!

Whether you are looking

to set up a chapter in

your area, want to join an

existing chapter, or hope

to revitalize an existing

chapter, please contact us.

Your input is needed in

providing programming

and services. We have tips

and tools to assist you in

your career move or your

move to another area.

Our benefits and services

are unique to Buffalo

State graduates. Our

alumni network reaches

around the globe and it

grows every day. Tap into

your Buffalo State net-

work and strengthen your

career. There are many

benefits to creating a

chapter of the alumni net-

work. Build on a network

of success, and see what

the power of alumni can

do for you.

Network

EDUCATIONThe Buffalo State Education Alumni Chapteris back in action! In February, the chapterhosted Anthony Mullen, 2009 NationalTeacher of the Year, followed by a campusgathering to socialize, enjoy refreshments,and work on the constitution of our newreconfigured chapter. In March, acting president Lindsey Seitz

and Elementary Education and Readinginstructor Leslie Day, ’77, conducted a Meetand Greet for graduate students attendingclasses in Bacon Hall. Information aboutthe chapter and refreshments were shared.New alums shared their concepts and sug-gestions for future meetings.In May, the chapter sponsored a conver-

sation with the Career Development Center.CDC director Stephanie Zuckerman-Avilesprovided useful tips and resources for pursu-ing a teaching position.Watch for upcoming events, and join the

Education Alumni Chapter!

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)Alumni Chapter held a reunion for alumnion May 6 and 7. A reception was held onThursday in the atrium of Rockwell Hallfollowing the annual EOP HonorsConvocation. A networking luncheon washeld on Friday, and current students heardthe W.O.W. (words of wisdom) from alums.The program concluded with a banquet atthe Adam’s Mark on Friday evening. Alumni

in attendance recognized graduating seniorsand presented them with a Kente stole towear at graduation. The evening was asmashing success. We look forward to ournext reunion in 2012!

MEN’S SOCCER Buffalo State men’s soccer is the oldest athletictradition at the college. Buffalo State soccerhas the most All-Americans of any SUNYschool (22). Soccer unites people and servesthe community. In January, the men’s alumnisoccer team hosted the “Soccer for HaitiFund-Raiser Event,” a four-on-four soccertournament, in the Buffalo State Sports Arena,raising more than $1,200.The tournament featured seven teams,

including 49 participants consisting of for-mer Bengal varsity players, campus facultyand staff, and local friends of the BuffaloState program. In addition, several otherformer players dropped in to show theirsupport and make donations. The BuffaloState men’s soccer team was also on hand tohelp facilitate the event.The annual alumni weekend took place

on October 15 and 16. Events included thecurrent Buffalo State team’s game on October15, followed by dinner at the Pearl Street Grilland Brewery. Saturday’s festivities includedthe annual alumni game on Coyer Field andthe Buffalo State team game at 3:00, fol-lowed by a gathering in the Bengal Room.

PSI PHI BETAThe Psi Phi Beta Alumni Chapter welcomesAnthony Chirico, Class of 2009, as its newestboard member. Chapter alums worked toset up, supervise, and clean up at the Bengal5K Run & Fun Walk post-race brunch inMarch. They also worked under the AlumniTent in May, selling diploma frames atCommencement, and at the Alumni Tent atHomecoming in September. The chapterheld its board meeting in June, and the PsiPhi Regional Reunion at Seneca Lake State

VISIT

for the latest alumni news.

www.alumni.buffalostate.edu

alumninews

34 Winter 2010

Park in Geneva, New York, for alumni ofPsi Beta Phi and Psi Phi Beta in August.In September, the chapter held its eighthannual Psi Phi Beta Alumni Reunion atColes Restaurant in Buffalo. The Psi PhiBeta Holiday Dinner took place onDecember 4. Check the website forupcoming events: www.psiphibeta.com.

RUGBYThe men’s alumni rugby team won theannual Winterfest rugby tournament inBuffalo in February. In May, the chapterheld its annual alumni game on campus(above), with the alumni beating theundergrads by a narrow margin of 15-12.The chapter will gather again in May2011 for the annual alumni game.

SIGMA PHI EPSILONThe brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon alumnichapter congratulate one of their members,Robert “Bob” Pecoraro, (second fromright), on his recent ordainment to priesthood. Pecoraro, ’89, a Jesuit of theNew York Province, was ordained onSaturday, June 12, at the FordhamUniversity Church, in Bronx, New York,by the Most Reverend Timothy M.Dolan, archbishop of New York. Pecorarowill be an associate pastor at St.Anthony’s parish in Oceanside, NewYork. He celebrated a Mass ofThanksgiving on Sunday, June 13, at St.Joseph’s Church in Rosebank, on StatenIsland, New York.

WBNY The WBNY alumni chapter held itsAlumni Weekend April 23–25. VariousWBNY “jocks” came back to re-live theircollege radio days, spinning tunes all week-end long. This year’s Alumni Weekend wasdedicated to alumnus William “Bill”Estelle, ’03, who lost his battle with can-cer in September 2009. He is in ourhearts and will be greatly missed!In April, the WBNY Alumni Chapter

hosted the second Rebellious Jukeboxevent, Pay for Play! Local musicians playedcaller/listener requests live on the air, raisingclose to $600 in pledges from listeners.Please honor your pledges, as it will help inupgrades to the radio station. If you wouldlike to donate to WBNY, please visit ourwebsite at www.WBNYalumni.com.Upcoming events and activities

include Alumni Weekend 2011. No date has been set yet, but please checkour website for updates. Also planned is another Rebellious Jukebox event toraise money for WBNY, which is in needof more up-to-date equipment, and tocontinue to help and guide the currentstaff and students into the future.

4

.

Reunion 2010 Graduates from the Classes of 1950 and 1960 returned to

Buffalo State this summer from July 9 through 11 for their 60- and 50-year reunions,

sharing memories of their time on campus (just four buildings then!) and the

impact that Buffalo State has made on their lives.

The Class of 1960 met in the Burchfield Penney Art Center for an evening of socializing,

dinner, and laughter. The Class of 1950 celebrated in the Donald Savage Theater and

Communication Building (or “the

Old Gym,” as it was known).

Classes of 1951 and 1961, mark

your calendars for June 24–26,

Reunion 2011, when it will be your

turn. Come celebrate with us!

From left: Audrey (Riebennacht)Drake, ’60; Patricia (McDonald)Pruyn, ’60, ’93; Barbara (Schneider)Derwin, ’60; and Barbara Ann(Meyers) Clary, ’60, enjoy goodtimes and old friends at their 50-year class reunion in the BurchfieldPenney Art Center in July.

For more information about any of the chapters or clubs,please contact Landrum Beard,assistant director of alumniaffairs, at (716) 878-6001 orbeardlw@buffalostate.edu.

35Winter 2010

classnotes

York. We have three childrenand nine grandchildren. Oursons live in Houston, Texas,and Norco, California. Ourdaughter lives in our area(Williamsville, New York). Ilove to travel, especially inItaly. I enjoy playing bridge,mah-jongg, and quilting.”

James Horrigan, B.S. ’60,enjoys life in Western NewYork. He travels to Floridasometimes to visit his sonand family. He has anotherson living in Williamsville,New York, with his family,and a daughter and son-in-law in Orchard Park, NewYork. Horrigan admires thebeautiful four seasons ofBuffalo. He has traveledmore than 15,000 miles ona new motorcycle purchasedfour years ago. He enjoyedhis years as an educator, andstill does some substituteteaching.

Alan C. Koch, B.S. ’60,M.S. ’66, is a retired artteacher. He taught inWestfield, New York, for 35years. He is now a part-timeset designer for the EriePlayhouse in Erie,Pennsylvania. Koch was amember of the Psi Beta PhiFraternity. His favorite mem-ory was working on theCasting Hall productions.

Janet (George) Kuebler,B.S. ’60, writes, “I left myfull-time teaching positionto raise a family. I continuedto substitute teach in theKen-Ton School District for15 years. I began a newcareer as a receptionist forthe Eyesight Medical Centerin Tonawanda, New York. Ihave three daughters andfive grandchildren. My hus-band and I continue toenjoy traveling with ourgrandchildren. I still enjoy SiKappa Rho alumni events. Ifondly remember workingall night on our float forMoving-Up Day.”

trading in antiques. We areinvolved in three shops anddo a number of antiqueshows in the area. We arealways glad to hear fromour friends from BuffaloState. To give the youngeralumni some perspective,there were only four build-ings at State when I enteredthere in January of 1947.”

May (Frankenbach)Griffin, B.S. ’56, writes,“My husband and I areenjoying retirement. We are76 years old and still go tothe beach every day here inthe Hamptons on LongIsland, New York. Hello to allour friends at Cortland andBuffalo State who graduatedaround 1956. Don was pres-ident of Sig Tau at Cortlandand still hasn’t had adrink.... Who would havethought I would marry aman who doesn’t drink?!”

William J. Ryan, B.S. ’56,writes, “I entered BSTC withthe Class of 1954 but wasinterrupted by the draftboard in 1952. I had thegood fortune to begin ateaching career in the mili-tary as an instructor ofmotion picture photogra-phy. After a two-year serv-ice, I was discharged andreturned to campus in 1954to graduate with the Classof 1956. Thanks to Dr.Clarence Cook, I went towork for Bell Aircraft inNiagara Falls. That endedwhen a friend from theClass of 1954, Ted Osborn,submitted my name for ateaching position inGloversville, New York. Thejob offered me the opportu-nity to teach electronicshalf-time and serve asdirector of audiovisual therest of the time. After 10years, I decided it was timeto move on and up. Mynext move took me to Troy,New York, and RensselaerPolytechnic Institute, where

50sSuzanne (Hortsmann)Braun, B.A. ’50, writes, “Ioften think of those happydays at 726 AshlandAvenue, where I lived withsome of my Buffalo Stateclassmates. We had a won-derful housemother, Mrs.Louise Keating.”

Robert Gerth, B.S. ’50,retired from the Air ForceReserve as a lieutenantcolonel in 1986. He willsoon move to Lexington,South Carolina, to live withhis daughter and her family.

Paula (Labuzzetta) Krotz,B.S. ’50, writes, “I had a33½-year teaching career atAttica Central School andretired in 1984. I am enjoy-ing family life with my threechildren, and have fourgrandchildren and fourgreat-grandchildren. I spendmy winters in Eustis, Florida,and my summers either atSkyline RV Park in DarienCenter, New York, or mytownhouse in Rochester,New York. I thoroughlyenjoyed student teaching inHolland, New York, and willnever forget a two-weeksummer science camp atAllegany State Park with Dr.Urban and Dr. Artell.”

Loeta (Ayrault) Werren,B.S. ’50, is now 82 yearsyoung and is the proudgrandmother of the onlyidentical triplet Eagle Scoutsin the world. She writes, “Iretired in 1991 at the age of63. I still do some painting,but mostly write a lot. Iwrite a monthly column forthe Chautauqua Star paper,and am working on somechildren’s stories now.”

Robert Savarie, B.S. ’51, isliving a busy life in retire-ment in Olmstedville, NewYork. He writes, “My wife of58 years and I are active in

I served as director ofinstructional media andearned my Ph.D. That lastedfor 22 years, when I decidedto retire from administrationand go back to teaching. Ifound the best of bothworlds at Marist College inPoughkeepsie, New York;they expected administra-tors to also teach classes intheir field. As director of theMedia Center, I was able toteach classes in the Schoolof Communications. After12 years, I decided it wastime to retire again in 2001.Long story short, I happilyremarried and moved toNew Jersey. I now findmyself back in a teachingenvironment as a volunteerin a local hospital teachingcardiac patients about car-diac rehab. It’s been a fan-tastic journey that started at1300 Elmwood Avenue inBuffalo, New York. I wouldn’tchange a thing. Thanks,BSTC.”

60sMary Lou (Wolf) Balcerak,B.S. ’60, writes, “I havebeen married for 48 years toDr. Robert Balcerak. Wehave two children and sixgrandchildren. I volunteerand teach a CatholicChristian Doctrine (C.C.D.)class at Sacred Heart Churchin Lancaster, New York. Ibabysit frequently. We arelucky to have all our grand-children live nearby.”

Barbara (Meyers) Clary,B.S. ’60, is president of theUpstate Safety Task Forceand is serving on theGovernor’s Trucking Industryand Community RelationsTask Force. She resides inAuburn, New York.

Eugene Dobbins, B.S. ’60,M.S.Ed. ’65, is “enjoyingtraveling the world for thepast 20 years and is looking

forward to many more inthe future.”

Ida (Moscato) Doherty,B.S. ’60, M.S.Ed. ’72,writes, “Is it really possiblethat 50 years have flown bysince we walked across thestage at Kleinhans with ourdiplomas in hand? Lifeindeed has been an interest-ing journey! Unfortunately, Iam unable to attend our 50-year reunion, as I will be inOhio celebrating our class-mate Carolyn Wroblewski-Fovel’s 50th weddinganniversary. However, I havebeen a long-distance mem-ber of the planning commit-tee and scholarship fund.Upon graduation, I com-menced a 34-year teachingcareer. In 1963, I went fromMs. Moscato to Mrs. LarryDoherty. We were blessedwith two lovely daughters. Ifeel so privileged, as I amnow “Grammy” of twogranddaughters, ages 6 and9. The education and lifeskills I acquired at BuffaloState have transported meto many places. At present, Ireside in Ponte Vedra,Florida. In the early ’90s, Ibecame a Buffalo StateAlumni Association boardmember. I assisted KateWard in establishing theregional alumni chapters inThe Villages, Sarasota, andNaples, Florida. My passionfor teaching still prevails, as Iam a volunteer in mygranddaughter’s classroom.I am also a bereavementcounselor with HavenHospice. In addition to myministries, travel, and walk-ing the beach, I enjoy enter-taining my friends from theNorth. Life is good! To myfellow classmates, I wish youwell. Enjoy the blessing ofour reunion and goldenyears.”

Martha (Lenoci) Falsone,B.S. ’60, writes, “I lovedteaching in Buffalo, New

Robert V. Loft, B.S. ’60, isnow a retired special educa-tion teacher in BonitaSprings, Florida. He writes,“All of the faculty memberswere my favorites. Theywere all great and stimulat-ing. I had a wonderful expe-rience at Buffalo State andlearned so much.”

Eugenia “Jean” (Nowak)Ortiz, B.S. ’60, has threesons and three grandchil-dren. They are her “proud-est achievement.” She is theRedwood Coast HumaneSociety spokesperson onlocal radio where she residesin Gualala, California. Ortiz’sfavorite faculty member atBuffalo State was Dr. Tesmerfrom the Earth SciencesDepartment.

Nancy (Rosen) Siegel, B.S.’60, has three sons and twogranddaughters. She is busywith activities in her com-munity in Ogdensburg, NewYork, where she serves on theboard of directors for theOgdensburg Public Library.She is a member of theOgdensburg Garden Cluband is active with theOgdensburg Rotary Club.Siegel is a member of theDelta Kappa Gamma sorority.She writes, “I can’t believe Ihave to miss my 50th collegereunion, but I have to travelto Virginia for my niece’swedding this weekend.”

Jane (Higley) Teresi, B.S.’60, has one son and onegrandson. She is retired afterteaching Home and Careersand Health at Niagara-Wheatfield Middle School.She enjoys golf and tennishere in Buffalo in the sum-mertime and in DaytonaBeach in the winter months.Her husband, JosephTeresi, B.S.Ed. ’59, passedaway suddenly on July 20.

Janet (Marshall) Wagner,B.S. ’60,writes, “My husband,Ron, and I have two daughtersand a son. We also have two

granddaughters and twograndsons. We love to traveland have visited the 50states and seven continents.Class Sings are among myfavorite memories.”

Edward J. Winrow, B.A.’63, was inducted into theTrack and Field Hall of Fameat Mount Saint MichaelAcademy (high school) inBronx, New York, this year.

Jack Gilman, B.S. ’66, and Gertrude “Midge”(Matteson) Gilman, B.S.’66, M.A. ’68, are now hap-pily retired from the PinellasCounty Schools system inFlorida and live in TreasureIsland, Florida. They write,“We always look forward tohearing from our classmates.Our e-mail address ismgilman25@hotmail.com.”

Sam Levant, B.S. ’66, M.S.’67, and Joanne(Schindler) Levant, B.S.Ed.’68, write, “Sam retired in’03 and has been keepingbusy teaching driver ed. Hewas asked to return toSouth Huntington SchoolDistrict (he retired fromthere) for a part-time posi-tion for the upcomingschool year. Joanne retiredthis past June, which frees usup to do more travelingwithout regard to the schoolcalendar. We are able tospend time with our kidsand grandkids, and get tomany of the places that areon our “must see” list.Living in Huntington, LongIsland, we are geographical-ly in the middle of our kidsand grandkids. We have adaughter, son-in-law, andtwo grandsons inAlexandria, Virginia, and adaughter, son-in-law, grand-son, and granddaughter inOswego, New York.”

Georgina “Gigi” (Scinta)Anderson, B.S. ’67, M.S.’72, teaches drawing andpainting for the ContinuingEducation Division of the

University of New Mexico. “Ihave lived here 30 years andhave two sons with my hus-band, Mark. One is a musi-cian and author, the otheran airline pilot.”

Richard “Dick” Drahms,B.S. ’67, writes, “It’s 2010,and it is so hard to believethat I have been retired forfive years from the positionof director of pupil person-nel services in the VictorCentral School District.Following my retirement, Iwas the interim superintend-ent of schools for the Clyde-Savannah Central SchoolDistrict for two years.Presently, I am involved in aprogram through theUniversity of Rochester thatprovides coaching to schooldistrict administrators. I alsoam working for my brother-in-law as a ‘pourer’ at hisnewly established WhiteBarn Winery, located justwest of Auburn, New York.My wife and I have six chil-dren: five have graduatedfrom college, and ouryoungest (Anthony) justgraduated from high schoolas the valedictorian of hisclass. In September, he willbe attending the RochesterInstitute of Technology (RIT)in Rochester, New York. Welive in Savannah, New York,on 92 acres of land. Our fiveboys have enjoyed itimmensely and havebecome avid hunters. Ourdaughter, who works in theGreece Central SchoolDistrict, enjoys the countryenvironment but prefersshopping at the nearest mallor outlet with her mom. I’dlove to hear from any of ourclass members. I did locate acouple on Facebook, and itwas a hoot to learn abouttheir adventures and careerssince college. If anyone isinterested in getting togetheror having a chat, I can becontacted at (315) 365-3177or drahmssavannah@aol.com.”

Barbara (Stock) Rohde,B.S. ’67, has retired fromteaching and administration.She is currently painting andselling her work at her stu-dio in Durham, NorthCarolina, and online atwww.barbararohde.com. “Iteach watercolor classes toadults at the Durham ArtsCouncil,” she writes, “andshow my work in galleries inDurham and Greensboro.”

William Bauza, B.S. ’68,M.S. ’71, writes, “Sinceretiring in 2001, my wifeand I have enjoyed cruisesand mission trips. We’veserved in West Virginia andNew Orleans. I’ve beendeep in genealogicalresearch that led to recon-necting with family in theNorth Tonawanda area. As aresult, we volunteer weeklyat the North TonawandaHistory Museum, located at54 Webster Street in NorthTonawanda, New York.”

Kenneth M. Wasmund,B.S. ’69, writes, “I had aneducational journey thatstarted at Buffalo State andspanned over 40 years serv-ing the youth of this greatcountry. I am retired andenjoying my two sons, onedaughter, three grand-daughters, two grandsons,and my lovely wife of 46years, Nancy Kay.”

70sJoyce (Sack) Albert, B.S.Ed.’71, writes, “I retired afterteaching art for 32 years. Itaught in North Carolina,Maryland, and for the last 29years at Depew High Schoolin Depew, New York. I partici-pated in the Siena programin fall of ’69; they were thefour best months of my life.My Pi Omega Nu sororitysisters hold a special place inmy heart. The world andcollege life changed a greatdeal from 1967 to 1971. I’m

currently spending my timesetting up a loom, golfing,and traveling. I will be trav-eling to Italy in 2011.”

Joanne (Wilkinson)Hutchison, B.S.Ed. ’72,M.S.Ed. ’74, writes, “Afterreceiving my M.S. fromBuffalo State, I went toCaracas, Venezuela, where Itaught fourth grade atEscuela Campo Alegre (aninternational school) forthree years. From there Iwent to Sumatra, Indonesia,and taught elementarymath for three years. I metmy husband in Indonesia,and after we got married inBuffalo in 1980, we traveledto Aberdeen, Scotland,where I taught at theAmerican School for fiveyears. Next we went toDoha, Qatar, and I taughtESL at the British Council forfive years. Our last overseasadventure was in Brunei,Borneo, where we lived for13 years, and I taught inone of the local schools. Weare now living in Oxford,Mississippi. I’m retired, butmy husband, Mark, is stillflying helicopters.”

Stephen V. Musolino, B.T.’76, is a member of the scientific staff at BrookhavenNational Laboratory inUpton, New York. Heearned an M.S. in nuclearengineering in 1982 fromthe Polytechnic Institute ofNew York and a Ph.D. inhealth physics in 1988 fromthe Georgia Institute ofTechnology. He is certifiedby the American Board ofHealth Physics, a fellow ofthe Health Physics Society,and a member of the edito-rial board of the journalHealth Physics. He was elect-ed to the National Councilon Radiation Protection andMeasurements in 2008. Hiscurrent research interests arein the areas of nonprolifera-tion and radiological emer-gency response.

classnotes

36 Winter 2010

classnotes

37Winter 2010

Charles Tomaszewski, B.S.’77, served with the DrugEnforcement Agency as theresident agent in charge of Drug EnforcementAdministration in Buffalo for23 years. In September, hewas appointed deputy com-missioner of the Buffalo PoliceDepartment. As a student,he worked in the Pub oncampus with fellow alumnusArt Smolin, B.A. ’77.

Gwendolyn (Denick)Popovich, B.S. ’78, is acriminal investigator withthe New York StateDepartment of Taxation andFinance CID/SIU unit.

Barry Spiegel, B.A. ’78,works for Hewlett Packard inPhoenix as a senior businessanalyst. He also serves aspresident of the Peoria(Arizona) Public Library.

80sVince Cautero, B.S. ’80,writes, “I just completed ayear as district governor forRotary International District6960, which is located insouthwest Florida. It was anamazing experience high-lighted by two internationaltrips to conventions inBirmingham, England, andMontreal, Quebec. I contin-ue to serve as the communi-ty development director forHendry County, Florida.”

Leith (Harbold)Chamberlain, B.S. ’80, hascontracted with TravLtipsInc. to serve as art directorof its bimonthly newspaper.In April, Chamberlainbecame the art director ofHilbert Connections, HilbertCollege’s alumni magazine.

Ken Keller, B.A. ’80, writes,“I have been teachingAdvanced Placement HumanGeography at Danbury High School in Danbury,Connecticut, for the past 10years. I am also an adjunct

professor of geography atWestern Connecticut StateUniversity. I recently com-pleted a four-year stint as amember of the AP HumanGeography Test DevelopmentCommittee, which hasallowed me to travel exten-sively, training new teachersof the course at variousteacher institutes. It’s kind ofironic that I have become soinvolved in the teaching pro-fession, but when I was astudent at BSC, I had nointerest in teaching. It’s amaz-ing how things work out.”

Claire Rung, B.A. ’82, wasrecently awarded twoCommunicator Awards ofDistinction for her work onOur Daily Bread, a televisionprogram that can be seenlocally in Western New Yorkon WKBW-TV 7 and acrossmuch of the northeastUnited States through CTVand NET. She won theCommunicator Award andVideographer Award ofDistinction for her work onMaking a Difference, an eight-minute program on Catholiceducation, and theCommunicator Award ofExcellence for “ProjecTruth,”a short video about premari-tal sexual abstinence. Shealso won a Bronze TellyAward for her work on “Fr.Joe Bayne—Year for Priests,”a short biographical videoon Father Joseph Bayne,director of the FranciscanCenter in Buffalo. TheCommunicator Awards is anannual competition honor-ing the best in advertising,corporate communications,public relations, and identitywork for print, video, inter-active, and audio, sanc-tioned and judged by theInternational Academy ofthe Visual Arts. The TellyAwards, founded in 1978,honor excellence in local,regional, and cable televi-sion commercials; non-broadcast video; and televi-sion programs.

Timothy M. Dolan, archbish-op of New York. Pecoraroworked for a number of yearsin the private sector as achef, culinary instructor, andrestaurant consultant. Heentered the Society of Jesusat St. Andrew Hall, the JesuitNovitiate, in Syracuse, NewYork, in 2000. He studiedphilosophy and theology forthree years at LoyolaUniversity, Chicago, earninga master’s degree in socialphilosophy. Pecoraro wasassigned to Cristo Rey NewYork High School for hisregency. In the summers hestudied at the Institute forCatholic EducationalLeadership at the Universityof San Francisco, earning amaster’s degree in Catholiceducation leadership in 2009.He is completing a master ofdivinity and a theologicalmaster’s degree at the JesuitSchool of Theology of SantaClara University in Berkeley,California. Ordained to thediaconate in October 2009,Pecoraro has served as adeacon at St. ColumbaParish in Oakland, California.He celebrated a Mass ofThanksgiving on June 13 atSt. Joseph’s Church inRosebank, on Staten Island.

90sMichelle Calkins (Higgins)Wnek, B.S. ’90, M.S. ’01,has written two books: ABook of Hope (2007) andClinical and Christian TraumaTherapy (2009). She is start-ing a private counselingpractice. In addition, she hascertifications as an addictionscounselor (CASAC) and as atrauma therapist.

Gerald F. Gibbs Jr., B.S. ’91,writes, “For over 13 years, Iserved as an industrial jour-neyman electrician forGeneral Motors Corporation(Tonawanda, New York,engine plant); however, due

to the recession, I wasplaced on indefinite layoff.My technical backgroundand B.S. in physics enabledme to qualify for the patentbar examination, which Ipassed on my first attempt. Iam registered to practicebefore the United StatesPatent and Trademark Officeand now work as a patentagent with Simpson &Simpson PLLC (Williamsville,New York). My practice con-sists of preparing, filing, andprosecuting patent applica-tions before the USPTO. Ialso assist attorneys in thepreparation of patentability,infringement, and validityopinions and counsel clientson how best to protect theirinventions.”

Matthew Dutkiewicz, B.A.’92, was captain of theBuffalo State men’s hockeyteam for the inaugural yearof the Ice Arena, during the1991–1992 season. He hasspent the last 18 years as anofficer in the U.S. military.His first 10 years were spentserving in the U.S. MarineCorps as a leader of marinesand naval aviator. As hetransitioned to the U.S. AirForce Guard/Reserve eightyears ago, he worked as anEMS air ambulance pilot forboth Mercy Flight Buffaloand Mercy Flight Central,out of Canandaigua, NewYork. Concurrently, he flewKC-135 jet aircraft with theNiagara Falls Air NationalGuard until 2006.Dutkiewicz most recentlyserved as a lieutenantcolonel on active duty withthe California Air NationalGuard, flying Predator air-craft in support of militaryoperations in Iraq.

Kandis Fuller, B.A. ’92, is a communications managerfor Univera Healthcare. Sherecently completed her master of arts degree inorganizational leadership at Medaille College.

Jeff Bessen, B.A. ’83, wasrecently named editor of theNassau Herald, the flagshipnewspaper of the 15-paperHerald CommunityNewspapers chain. TheNassau Herald covers theupscale Five Towns area ofNassau County’s South Shore.

Ellen Levine Loffredo, B.S.’83, was recently promotedto regional director andexecutive vice president ofDIR Corporation, regionalfranchiser for Fantastic Samshair salons in Western andCentral New York. With thecompany since 1983, shepreviously served as directorof administration for itsregional office. DIR sells andservices the Fantastic Samsarea franchises, with 20salons currently operatingthroughout the region.

Allen Kantorowitz, B.A.’84, was recently nameddirector of sales for theHampton Inn Manhattan-SoHo, in New York City.

Chris Matschke, B.S. ’85,is celebrating 10 years withthe U.S. Senate Office of the Sergeant at Arms andDoorkeeper as a senior software specialist inWashington, D.C.

Gerald Mead, B.A. ’85, B.S.’86, was a co-recipient ofthe 2010 Silver ADDY Awardfrom the Advertising Club of Buffalo for “Handmade in Buffalo,” a publication he authored for the BuffaloNiagara Convention &Visitors Bureau.

Pete Frisoni, B.A. ’87, andhis wife, Stacy, had their fifthchild—a girl, Carina—in May.

Rev. Robert J. Pecoraro, B.S.’89, a Jesuit of the New YorkProvince, was ordained to the

priesthood on June 12 in FordhamUniversityChurch by theMost ReverendPECORARO

classnotes

higher education administra-tion at Nova SoutheasternUniversity. Asencio hasreceived additional trainingthrough the FloridaLeadership (Chair) Academyfor emerging leaders andwas accepted as a presiden-tial preparation program fel-low with the NationalCommunity CollegeHispanic Council.

Amy (Hollobaugh)Caggiano, B.A. ’97,founder of Monadnock Livingmagazine, was honored forher outstanding commit-ment to the arts at the 26thannual awards ceremony ofthe New HampshireBusiness Committee for theArts, held in Manchester onMay 17. Caggiano, whonow lives in the Boston area,grew up in WyomingCounty. Her degree in com-munication and subsequentwork in marketing and writ-ing led her to createMonadnock Living. The mag-azine, which is published inNew Hampshire and has anarts and culture focus, hasfeatured more than 50artists, galleries, and artsorganizations in the threeand a half years since itsinception. Caggiano is alsothe co-owner of BrooksideMedia Group, a strategicmarketing consulting groupbased in greater Boston andsouthern New Hampshire,and is part of the editorialteam for the CMI Report, aBoston-based magazine thatfeatures the philanthropicendeavors of celebrity athletes.

James Arthur Gielow, B.F.A.’98, has been living in SanDiego, California, for thepast 11 years. He writes,“For the past six to sevenyears, I have been at the SanDiego Museum of Art as thehead preparator in the cura-torial department. I have alsobeen exhibiting as a fine artphotographer and a publishedillustrator/political cartoonist.My work can be seen atwww.jamesgielow.com. Ona less-than-happy note, I amthe son of the recentlydeceased Arthur Gielow, whowas the director of theWhitworth FergusonPlanetarium at Buffalo State.I have seen the designs for thenew facilities and am saddenedthat he will not be able tosee the exciting changes inthe Science Building.”

Steven C. Martin, M.S. ’99,founder and owner ofBusiness Solutions—ThePositive Way, an internationalconsulting firm based inAmherst, New York, wascontracted by Bridge KnowleEvents to conduct a two-dayseminar, “Master Class onBusiness Cost Reduction,”on August 2 and 3 in KualaLumpur, Malaysia. BusinessSolutions has been specializ-ing in helping companieswith cost reduction andprofit improvement on aglobal basis for more than adecade (www.ProfitPro.us).

00sDaniel Dorociak, B.S. ’00,is the founder and leaddesigner of Doro Landscape& Design (http://home.earthlink.net/~dorodesign/).He is also the owner of Doro Studios (http://home.earthlink.net/~dorodesign/studios/).

Jeffrey Welton, B.A. ’00,M.S. ’04, recently took an all-expense-paid trip to theHoneywell Educators at Space

Kimberly (Schweitzer)Evering, B.A. ’94, writes,“For the past eight years, Ipersistently applied to be avolunteer for the WinterOlympic Games. As a lifetimewinter sports enthusiast, serv-ing as a volunteer for theWinter Games has been atthe top of my bucket list. Iam proud to say I finallymade the cut! I was one of25,000 people selected bythe Vancouver OrganizingCommittee for the 2010Olympic and ParalympicWinter Games out of morethan 70,000 applicants. I wasoffered a position as an atten-dant for the Paralympics. Myjob entailed assisting the ath-letes and coaches at WhistlerCreekside, the venue forAlpine skiing. I stayed with awonderful host named Karinwho lives in a historic homein West Vancouver. I docu-mented my journey throughblog entries and photos. Go,Team USA! I had incredibleexperiences that I will neverforget, and I met the mostamazing/inspirational people”(http://kimberlysgrapevine.blogspot.com).

Lois Karhinen, B.A. ’96,writes, “I’m sorry to hearthat many of my professors,some friends and adminis-trators have passed away.I’m living in the Adirondacks.I currently work for the NewYork State Department ofLabor. If any of my oldfriends want to communi-cate with me, you can reachme on Facebook.”

David Asencio, M.S. ’97,has agreed to serve as interimprovost for central campusat Broward College in FortLauderdale, Florida. Asencioreceived a bachelor’s degreein history from HunterCollege and a master of sci-ence in student personneladministration from BuffaloState. He is completing hisfirst year of doctoral studies in

Academy in Huntsville,Alabama, for five days, com-pleting space simulations,classroom workshops, andother fun activities. He cur-rently teaches middle schoolmath for the city of Buffalo.

Sarah Johnston, B.S. ’03,has been accepted to thePeace Corps. She departed forTanzania on June 15 to beginpreservice training as a healtheducation Peace Corps vol-unteer. Following training inSeptember, Johnston’s workwill include HIV/AIDS pre-vention, primary health-careeducation, and youthempowerment through life-skill education. She writes, “Iwas attracted to the PeaceCorps because it is a 27-month volunteer opportuni-ty where I will be immersedin another culture. I believethe Peace Corps embodiesthe American spirit througha legacy of service with theright mix of idealism andpragmatism.”

Meredith Mooers-Caponigro, B.S. ’03, writes,“I am working as a paramedicand still playing ice hockey. Ilive in Massachusetts with myhusband and my son, Michael,and we are expecting ababy girl in November!”

Douglas J. Curella Jr., B.A.’06, earned his juris doctorfrom Hamline UniversitySchool of Law in St. Paul,Minnesota. Curella graduatedwith certificates in alternativedispute resolution, health law,and health-care compliance.

Michael C. Bochniarz, B.S.’08, is currently attendingMichigan State University

College of Law as a 2012 jurisdoctor candidate. During thesummer of 2010, he workedas a legal extern for the Officeof the Attorney General ofFlorida (Economic CrimesDivision, Orlando).

Alpha Yee, B.S. ’08, is aboatswain’s mate in the UnitedStates Navy. After graduatingfrom basic training in February,he went on to “A” School andcompleted boatswain’s-mateschooling in April. He writes,“For my first command, Iam currently stationed atAmphibious ConstructionBattalion Two in Virginia atLittle Creek Naval Base.During my time in the Navy,I will have the opportunityto see other countries.”

Scott Silverman, B.S. ’09,received the National StudentTeacher of the Year Awardfrom the Association ofTeacher Educators/KappaDelta Pi EducationalFoundation in August.Silverman conducted his stu-dent teaching under BuffaloState alumnus Kenneth Huff,’92, ’97. While an under-graduate student at BuffaloState, Silverman receivedseveral awards, including theFaculty Recognition Awardfor Early Program Excellencein Earth Sciences, the DavidVernon Bullough Award forOverall Academic Excellence,and the Swartney-HarrisonPassion for Teaching ScienceAward. He teaches seventh-grade science at ClevelandHill Middle School inCheektowaga, New York,and is pursuing his master’sdegree in multidisciplinarystudies at Buffalo State.

38 Winter 2010

CAGGIANO (RIGHT)

Send your news to CLASS NOTES, Alumni AffairsOffice, Cleveland Hall 319, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222; fax (716)878-6050; e-mail alumni@buffalostate.edu.

Submissions for the summer 2011 issue of 1300Elmwood must be received by February 1, 2011.

inmemoriam

Charles Rand Penney, legendarypatron of the Burchfield PenneyArt Center, was an accomplishedlawyer, seasoned traveler, and distinguished art collector. Hereceived a bachelor’s degree fromYale University in 1945 andserved as a counterintelligence officer for the U.S. Army duringWorld War II. He graduatedfrom the University of VirginiaSchool of Law in 1951. Throughout his lifetime,

Penney amassed more than 100 remarkable collections of artand cultural artifacts, including contemporary paintings andsculptures, folk art, antiques, and twentieth-century Americanartworks by Charles E. Burchfield, Emil Ganso, and RobertGoodnough. He gave lectures on art and antiques across theUnited States and in more than 75 countries, and several of his collections toured around the world.He donated several collections, including works by Charles

Burchfield, Roycroft artists, and Western New York craft artists—with documentary records and library materials on each—to the Burchfield Art Center in the early ’90s. The museum was rededicated as the Burchfield-Penney Art Center in 1994 to honor his generous patronage. Buffalo State College awardedhim a SUNY honorary doctor of fine arts in 1995.

Henry M. Collins, associate professor emeritus of biology, served on theBuffalo State faculty from 1958 to 1985. During his career, he receivedtwo fellowships from the National Science Foundation to study radiationbiology, and he established an internship program in nuclear medicinetechnology for biology majors in Buffalo-area hospitals.

Constance F. Creveling taught in the Business Department as an assistantprofessor and lecturer from 1986 until 1994. An accomplished instructorwith 20 years of experience in the business world, she redesigned the seniorseminar course and incorporated the use of computers in her managerialaccounting course. She also taught in the Center for Lifelong Learning.

Eddie Davis, associate professor of social work, joined the Buffalo Statefaculty in 1994. His areas of research included youth violence, the effectsof social policy on psychosocial development, and family dynamics. Davisalso worked as a counselor and therapist for a number of agencies andwas active in community organizing.

39Winter 2010

Charles Rand Penney, 1923–2010Shortly before 1300 Elmwoodwent to press, Buffalo StateCollege learned of the death of Horace “Hank” Mann,SUNY Distinguished ServiceProfessor Emeritus of excep-tional education, who diedsuddenly on November 18 in his Buffalo home.

Mann began his teachingcareer in 1947 in New York City, where he taught children withdevelopmental disabilities in the city’s public schools. He left the classroom to pursue his doctorate in order to prepare othersto teach children with special needs. He joined Buffalo State in 1953 as the director of the Exceptional Children EducationDivision. Under his leadership, the undergraduate and graduateprograms in exceptional education rose to prominence andbecame among the largest in the United States.Before he retired in 1992, Mann had helped to educate

more than 7,000 exceptional education teachers. For the rest of his life, he maintained a close relationship with Buffalo State, with an office on campus and extensive service to the college. He made two $1 million planned gifts to Buffalo State,in September 2001 and September 2002 respectively.Mann was a much-loved and greatly respected educator,

philanthropist, and humanitarian, known for his humor, passionfor Buffalo State, and extraordinary compassion for others. The college will publish a more extensive tribute to his life inthe next issue of 1300 Elmwood.

Horace “Hank” Mann, 1921–2010

Mary K. Dienst was an associate professor emerita of nutrition and foodscience who served on the Buffalo State faculty for 20 years, retiring in1985. A specialist in dietetics who served as a first lieutenant with theUnited States Army Medical Corps during World War II, Dienst spent morethan two years overseas serving in North Africa and Italy as a dietitian.

Paul E. Gillooly, assistant professor emeritus, Geoscience, Physics, andInterdisciplinary Sciences, joined Buffalo State in 1963 after serving as ateacher with the Dansville Central School District for six years. He super-vised student science teachers and was active in the Storefront EducationInformation Center, sponsored by the Cooperative Urban ExtensionCenter. He retired in 1979.

Saul J. Horowitz, associate professor emeritus of art education, served onthe Buffalo State faculty from 1960 until his retirement in 1991. He wasthe second director of the college’s Siena Program, the oldest student-exchange program in the SUNY system. His work was exhibited regionallyand nationally at many prestigious institutions, including the DetroitInstitute of Arts and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

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inmemoriam

ALUMNIMargaret Abbott, ’48Mildred Rosealind (Cohen) Adler, ’46Lucille M. Ames, ’54Gordon Anderson, ’81Paul H. Andree, ’68, ’71Lucille Andres, ’48, ’55Fredericka (Jenkins) Andrews, ’63, ’69Ruth D. (Kather) Anner, ’37Jan J. Arbiter, ’56Barbara (Spencer) Audet, ’37, ’42Lawrence R. Basel, ’60, ’77Marcy C. (Mruczek) Basior, ’01Jeffrey E. Benson, ’78Anne M. (Safaryn) Bergevin, ’46George Bertsch Jr., ’60, ’66Ruth (Heidenescher) Bidlack, ’84Dorothy (Thayer) Bryson, ’67Linda Z. Burch, ’88, ’93Aleece J. Burdine, ’71Arlene B. (Kuhaneck) Capell, ’52Suzanne (King) Catalino, ’55James J. Commerford, ’63Burton N. Conklin, ’54Elsie Conklin, ’58Joseph E. Cooke, ’49Teresa (Mesina) Cooper, ’73Virginia (Pfeffer) Copland, ’48John F. Costanzo, ’87, ’93Dorothy (Sultanik) Coun, ’64Janice (Borelli) Cronk, ’62Gertrude C. (Donnelly) Crowe, ’38Candice M. Davis, ’76Alice (Maurin) DeLuca, ’53Evelyn (Leight) Doster, ’44James Driscoll, ’69Mildred M. Dunn, ’70Maxine Ehrman, ’52William H. Estelle, ’03

Carole Louise (Smith) Facklam, ’57Patricia M. (Canavan) Fisher, ’50Francine (Groman) Freeman, ’81Sally (Chorazak) Fueller, ’73Rose (Graffeo) Geisdorfer, ’44Joan M. Gibson, ’74, ’77Bernard Charles Glaser, ’46Marie (White) Goodwin, ’61, ’65Shirley (Kempner) Grossman, ’36Marlene J. Hession, ’58Louise M. (Leonard) Hoffman, ’95James M. Hughes, ’81Jacqueline M. Jachin, ’81David G. Jackson, ’60Dorothy J. (Whitmore) Janes, ’45Shirley (Ulrich) Janicki, ’48Berne R. Kent, ’51Richard J. Kinan, ’70Marie Alice (Wunsch) King, ’38Jane Ann (Rice) Kirsch, ’63, ’67Kenneth R. Knauff, ’81Mabel Kolloff, ’36Mildred J. (Diedrich) Kowalski, ’50Cynthia W. (Pryor) Kraft, ’61Candy L. Kruschke, ’89Velma Jean Laird, ’40Victor Roger Lalli, ’53Robert J. Leising, ’73Esther (Gaffin) Leskow, ’69, ’73Rose M. Lucas, ’69E. Joyce Lupo-Runkel, ’71, ’76Eva F. (Miskey) Marinelli, ’54Forrest Maxwell, ’34Carol L. McDonnell, ’67Helen (Graves) McMahon, ’33Paul J. Meindl, ’73Paul A. Mielcarski, ’58Raymond P. Mileski, ’85Bess P. (Bergman) Miller, ’38

Andrew P. Mitchell, ’02Shirley Faye (Brisk) Mongeon, ’57Shirley M. Moore, ’41Bryan J. Mosher, ’56Barbara Ann (Depowski)

Muscarella, ’60, ’63Anna Jeanette Nappa, ’47, ’54Linda A. (Knight) Nicolai, ’90Linda S. (Lipton) North, ’72Luella (Collamer) Passage, ’44Arthur N. Patano, ’66Richard E. Peckey, ’64, ’68Joyce (Olin) Peterson, ’77John Phillips, ’77Eleanor (Speer) Phoenix, ’43Emma (Lo Verme) Pici, ’47Leslie L. Racz, ’57Arthur W. Reimer, ’71Joan (Steinmiller) Richmond, ’45Ralph A. Robertson, ’35Jacques H. Robinson, ’55, ’62Sally (Tuyn) Roetzer, ’60Rodney W. Rohl, ’57Judith S. Rokitka, ’66, ’70Stephen Rosputni Jr., ’61Donald A. Rowland, ’64Vonnie (Blinderman) Ryan, ’54Nancy (Swain) Sabia, ’80Lovina A. Saigeon, ’46Helen M. Scanlon, ’29William H. Schmidt, ’50Melba Yiengst Seibold, ’37Evelyn (Studier) Sheldon, ’38, ’71Joyce (Arkland) Sherman, ’52Verna (Halborson) Silberberger, ’55Helen Louise (Haag) Simmons,

’54, ’58Joseph C. Sintau, ’77Cynthia A. Smith, ’01

Richard R. Solat, ’50, ’56Mac Stuckey, ’74Joseph D. Teresi, ’59Roger J. Thompson, ’96Lisa M. Tigani, ’93Pearl E. Tilyou, ’63Dennis M. Tutuska, ’68Margaret (Livingston) Villano, ’66Gladys M. (Parker) Vogel, ’46Sandra L. (Closkey) Volk, ’64Mary (Denny) Vosler, ’60Carol (Gudgel) Wagner, ’63James A. Wardlaw, ’73Pearl (Babcock) Webber, ’33Edith C. Weller, ’65, ’69Evelyn R. (Benson) Westling, ’46Marjorie (Becker) White, ’66Margaret Wiles, ’46Jamie A. Wilfrom, ’87Betty J. (Bowery) Wolcott, ’38Robert J. Wolf, ’43Joan (Winter) Wolfgang, ’66, ’70Margeret E. Woodall, ’58Edythe (Evans) Woodard, ’59William Zinn, ’73Mary (Palmisano) Zupa, ’32

FACULTY AND STAFFHenry M. CollinsConstance F. Creveling, M.B.A.Eddie Davis, D.S.W.Mary K. DienstPaul E. GilloolySaul J. HorowitzRichard J. Kieffer, Ph.D.George M. MacDonald, Ed.D.Horace Mann, Ph.D.Russell C. Vannoy Jr., Ph.D.Michele Wolff, ’05

40 Winter 2010

Richard J. Kieffer, professor emeritus of economics and finance, taught atBuffalo State from 1974 to 1998. He served as adviser to the EconomicsClub, the Albany Assembly Internship Program, and students in the man-agement concentration in economics, which he helped to establish. Hereceived a National Science Foundation Science Faculty Fellowship inrecognition of his demonstrable commitment to college teaching.

George M. MacDonald, assistant professor of health, physical education,and recreation from 1963 to 1972, developed an intramural sports pro-gram on campus and served as its coordinator. He also conducted a studyof the organizational relationship between intercollegiate athletics andother activities at the college at the request of then-Buffalo State PresidentE. K. Fretwell.

Russell C. Vannoy Jr., associate professor emeritus of philosophy, joined theBuffalo State faculty in 1960. He developed the college’s first advanced phi-losophy course, Aesthetics, and in 1971, he offered one of the first coursesof its kind in the nation, Philosophy of Love and Sex. Vannoy’s research waswidely cited, and he served as chairman of the Society for the Philosophy ofSex and Love. He retired in 1994.

Michele A. Wolff, ’05, keyboard specialist, joined the Buffalo State staff in2001 and worked in many departments across campus, both academicand administrative. She received her B.A. in art history and humanities andhad taken master’s-level coursework in student personnel administration.

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Peterson Society member

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Buffalo State College Foundation • (716) 878-4658 • www.buffalostate.edu/foundation

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Full circle

Ron Hernandez, ’93, ’95, ’02, believes his life has come full circle. After spendinghis early years in poverty and instability, he eventually became a ward of the court. He moved and changed schools several times. But now Hernandez serves as a role model for others.

A dedicated three-time alumnus, he recentlyestablished the Ronald J. HernandezMemorial Scholarship Fund, a planned gift that provides student scholarships,especially for troubled youth.

Following high school, Hernandez workedin the hospitality industry for 17 years,including time as a chef for former Buffalo State president D. Bruce Johnstone.Gradually, he discovered that his real talent was in teaching life skills, so hecompleted his bachelor’s degree in foodsystems management, master’s degree inexceptional education, and certificate ofadvanced study in educational leadership.

Since 1995, Hernandez has taught in theHopevale Union Free School District inHamburg, New York. Hopevale servesyouth with emotional, learning, andbehavioral disabilities in grades 7–12.

Hernandez knows what it takes to succeed. “Through difficult times, I havealways been very goal-oriented,” he said.And with his planned gift to Buffalo State,Hernandez knows that he is helping others succeed, too.

Make a difference. Support the Buffalo State College Foundation.

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