Sam Lunetta, lieutenant, University Police, has instructed a Graffiti Crimes course that he developed for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse over the last three months. More than 150 law enforcement, judicial, and probation officers have attended the three trainings. More courses are scheduled for Albany, Rockland County, and Long Island.
Michael Littman, associate chair and associate professor, Business, was invited by the Western New York Charter School Coalition (WNYCSC) to serve as a panel member for the program “Board Training for New Charter School Board Members.” Littman is vice president of the Williamsville Central School District Board of Education, a trustee of Community Charter School, and on the board of directors of the WNYCSC. He was also the invited commencement speaker at Williamsville North High School in June.
Robin Harris, associate professor, Earth Sciences and Science Education, published an article titled “The Buffalo Science Teachers’ Network: Providing Support, Improving Retention” in the Summer 2008 issue ofVoices in Urban Education. The journal is published by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Harris was invited to write this article on retention of urban science teachers. She has been director of the BSTN project for the past nine years. This funded project facilitates the development of leaders, mentors, and master science teachers in Buffalo Public Schools.
Jane R. Cushman, assistant professor, Mathematics, was invited to attend the 11th annual Legacy of R. L. Moore Conference in Austin, Texas, July 10–12. The conference encourages mathematics instructors to use inquiry-based learning and assists instructors with materials and mentors. Cushman presented a five-minute report on the development of the “Preservice Teachers’ Views and Uses of Problem-Solving in Math” survey.
Saziye Bayram, assistant professor, Mathematics, was invited to present at a minisymposium of the 2008 annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) in San Diego, California, July 7–11. The minisymposium was organized by the Association for Women in Mathematics. Her presentation was titled “Dynamics of Closely Coupled Nephrons.”
Dianne McCarthy, assistant professor, Elementary Education and Reading, and faculty adviser for the Buffalo State chapter of the Association of Childhood Education International (ACEI), is pleased to announce that the chapter has been selected by the organization as a “Branch of Excellence.” This distinction is awarded to student chapters that demonstrate outstanding service to children through special projects designed by teacher candidates. The award carries a stipend to support further activities in the chapter.
Timothy R. Ecklund, associate vice president for campus life, has been appointed to the Governing Council of the National Institute on Native Leadership in Higher Education. He is one of three members of the council for this national organization that focuses on advancing higher education for Native Americans.
Jane Cushman, assistant professor, Mathematics, presented a talk about the development of the “Preservice Teachers’ Views and Uses of Problem-Solving in Math” survey at MathFest, the Mathematical Association of America’s 86th summer meeting, in Madison, Wisconsin, July 31–August 2. She took part in many of the Project NExT sessions and officially graduated from the Project NExT program.
Susan Baldwin, assistant professor, Health and Wellness, presented “School and Worksite Health Promotion Change Collaboratives” at the 2008 annual Society for Public Health Education Midyear Scientific Conference, held in Chicago, Illinois, May 22 and 23.
A collage by Gerald Mead, lecturer, Design, received a Fine Arts Merit Award and was reproduced in Creative Quarterly: The Journal of Arts & Design (Issue 10), published in New York City. Mead also had one of his works included in Gimmeshelter, an exhibition of international artists that traveled to venues in Tampa, Florida; Brooklyn, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana; San José and Los Angeles, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois, and was included in the following group exhibitions: Visual AIDS: Postcards from the Edge, at the James Cohan Gallery, in New York City, November 30–December 2; On the Walls: From Buffalo at Gallery 435, in Hamilton, Ontario, May 9–June 13; and 6 x 6 x 2008 at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center, June 6–July 6. Mead presented a lecture on the artwork of the late Catherine Catanzaro Koenig in conjunction with her exhibition at the Buffalo Club on January 24, lectured on his travel-themed collages as part of the Lilian Fairchild Lecture Series at the Buffalo Museum of Science on May 7, and presented a collage workshop at the Coonley-Ward Artist Community Center in Wyoming, New York, on July 16.