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Transitions I hope you are well launched into a pleasant and productive summer. This is the time of year to take note of important transitions. Of course, we celebrated a very important transition for more than 1300 Liberal Arts students last month, as we granted them new degrees. Nearly 1200 of these students received baccalaureate degrees. For the first time, each of them walked across the stage and received a handshake (diplomas were handed out after the ceremony). This new format was generally well received, though we are planning improvements for next year in the hopes of shortening the ceremony somewhat. Vernon Jordan, the commencement speaker, gave a vigorous and thoughtful speech focusing primarily on the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. You can access this address on the C-SPAN Web site http://www.c-span.org/commencement/. Another annual transition is the retirement of several of our senior faculty. This year, we have nine retirees, and I know you join me in wishing them all well. From the English department, we have four retiring faculty, including John Buck, Margaret Lyday, Marie Secor, and Bob Secor. From elsewhere in the College, our retirees are Jon Nelson, economics; Bob Lee, hotel, restaurant and recreation management and public administration; Hart Nelsen, sociology; Jim Martin, psychology; and Gerhard Strasser, German and comparative literature. For more about each of these retirees, see the article below. I know you join me in thanking them for their years of service to Penn State and wishing them the very best in their retirement. A third transition, involving dozens of our faculty, is the movement of units from one space to another. This transition primarily affected the departments of political science, English, and SIP. As part of the overall university facilities master plan, and in consequence of some of the building and renovations going on around campus, Liberal Arts received Pond Lab. Pond is an historic building, renovated about five years ago, and located behind Oswald Tower in proximity to Burrowes and Weaver. Pond is a major asset to the College because it is essential to relieving our chronic and pressing space shortage, allows us to consolidate some departments that had been split, makes it possible for Burrowes to be solely devoted to language and literatures, and provides much needed additional space to house social science faculty and projects. Where is everyone after the dust (in some cases literal!) settles? The political science department relocated to Pond from Burrowes and Sparks; their new administrative office is 202 Pond. The Survey Research Center of the SSRI also moved to Pond and is headquartered in 327 Pond. Several interdisciplinary social science initiatives will also be located in Pond, and finally, two archeological labs for CAMs and Jewish studies are in the process of being outfitted there. As part of the domino effect, the English and Spanish and Italian fixed term faculty who were formerly located in the Scott building downtown moved into the Burrowes spaces vacated by these units. The vacated political science offices in Sparks also allowed for expanded space for faculty and students in Communication Arts and Science. Nothing is ever simple in relocations, and we are loaning a few rooms in Pond this year to the Department of Mathematics, displaced from their home in McAllister because of structural renovations there. This, in turn, has delayed for a year the move of the political science computer lab to Pond and the development of the new humanities instructional computer lab in Burrowes. I appreciate the cooperation of those faculty and staff whose working lives were disrupted for a short term by the move and its attendant annoyances, and I also want to thank Alice Fogg, our facilities coordinator, for her extraordinary efforts in coordinating these myriad moves. Looking ahead, we will be receiving some small amount of additional space later this year when the Sentencing Commission vacates the second floor of Spruce Cottage. We intend to use this space for overflow for graduate students in select units with particularly pressing problems. Major new space awaits the final disposition of the Moore building project. We are in the process of developing a strategic plan for space for the College to address anticipated needs for additional space in the next few years. With best wishes for the remainder of the summer. Susan Welch
We wish all of our new retirees well as they embark on another stage of their lives. These few words are inadequate to capture the contributions that each has made to the College and to Penn State, but will serve to remind us of their dedicated service. John Buck came to Penn State in 1969 as an assistant professor. Over the years, John has been noted for his excellent and enthusiastic teaching. He received the prestigious university-wide Lindback Teaching Award in 1984. In recent years, John has also been in charge of advising in the English department, and has been a dedicated adviser to several hundred English majors. His commitment to helping students is also well known, long standing, and was recognized by the University’s Excellence in Advising Award in 2002. Bob Lee joined Penn State in 1966 as an assistant professor of public administration. After moving through the ranks to become a professor of public administration, he served at various times as director of the Institute of Public Administration and head of the Department of Public Administration. When that department was eliminated in 1994, he moved to the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Recreation Management in the College of Health and Human Development, and also continued to teach public administration in the Department of Political Science. His service in the HRRM school included an appointment as interim director as well as a continuation of his active teaching and research agenda. Margaret Lyday joined Penn State Hazleton in 1978 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 1988. In 1990, she moved to the University Park campus to become the interim associate dean of Liberal Arts, and then associate dean, responsible for liaison with the Commonwealth Education System. At that time in the CES, the University Park colleges oversaw academic activities ranging from hiring and approving faculty to teach courses, to tenure and promotion. In 1993, with the reorganization of support for the CES and for other activities in the dean’s office, she became associate dean for undergraduate education. In 1995, she moved full time to the English department where she has been an active participant and, in recent years, the director of the composition program. Margaret is well known for her excellent and innovative teaching of composition. Jim Martin joined Penn State as an instructor in 1966, and was promoted to assistant professor in 1967 and associate professor in 1972. Jim was an excellent teacher, and regularly taught undergraduate and graduate classes in cognitive psychology and the philosophy and history of science to very positive reviews. He has been a pioneer in the use of technology in the classroom. Hart Nelsen joined the College more recently, coming from LSU to Penn State in 1984 as Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and professor of sociology. In 1990, he moved his full time appointment to sociology where he resumed his teaching and research projects on the sociology of religion. A nationally renowned specialist in that field, especially in the area of individual religiosity and on the black church, Hart also made a valuable contribution during the past several years with his teaching of large sections of introductory sociology. Jon Nelson arrived at Penn State as an instructor in economics in 1969, became an assistant professor in 1970, and was promoted to associate in 1973 and professor in 1978. An applied micro economist, Jon’s research in environmental economics is widely cited, and in recent years he also published work on the economics of alcohol advertising. He taught courses in environmental economics and the economics of law and regulation. Marie Secor joined Penn State in 1970 as an instructor. In 1978, she became a full time tenure-line assistant professor, and immediately made her mark on the department. Well known for her work as a composition scholar, Marie was known throughout her career as an excellent teacher at all levels and a wonderful graduate student mentor. In 1990, she won the university’s Alumni Teaching Fellow Award, given each year to only one outstanding teacher university-wide. Her widely used text, A Rhetoric of Argument, is in its third edition. Marie provided leadership to the department in many different capacities, including serving as composition director, associate head, and interim department head. Robert Secor came to Penn State in 1969 as an assistant professor of English, moved through the ranks to professor in 1986, and in 1990 became head of the English department. Bob was an excellent head who made numerous lasting contributions to the department, including many new and diverse faculty appointments at all ranks, significant moves to support the establishment of an African American literature curriculum, and a thorough undergraduate curricular revision. In 1995, we lost Bob to the provost’s office where he has served as vice provost for academic affairs since then. In this role, he served faculty around the university with his diligent work to ensure due process in promotion and tenure decisions, to help train department heads and other administrators, to better integrate University Park and the campuses, and to improve many academic personnel procedures and policies. Gerhard Strasser, professor of German and comparative literature, joined Penn State in 1979 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate and then professor in 1996. The next year, he became the first department head of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, getting that newly merged unit off to a good start. Gerhard took partial retirement in 2000, allowing him to teach each fall and devote his spring semesters to research in Germany. Gerhard was well known for his work investigating secret languages; a field that spans philology, applied linguistics, culture, and literature. Before his partial retirement, he was a stalwart member of the Faculty Senate for many years, and was also well known for his extraordinary service to his department and the College. Congratulations to the following faculty who have won new grants during the past few weeks! Pamela Cole, professor of psychology, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for “Integrative Training in Early Childhood Mental Health Research.” Karen Gasper, assistant professor of psychology, from the National Science Foundation for “Mood and Learning: How Feelings Influence Task Preparations.” Kenneth Hirth, professor of anthropology, from the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. for “Political Economy and Obsidian Craft Production at Cacaxtla-Xochitecatl.” David Johnson, director, Survey Research Center and professor of sociology, and Laurie Scheuble, senior lecturer in sociology, from the University of Nebraska for “Infertility: Pathways and Psychosocial Outcomes (University of Nebraska at Lincoln/NICHD).” Sally McMurry, professor of American history, from COP: Department of Transportation for “State Environmental Awareness Training in the Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Enhancements Projects.” Eric Plutzer, associate professor of political science and sociology, from the Russell Sage Foundation for “Economic Hardship, Family Life, and Voter Turnout in Developmental Perspective: Longitudinal Research on High School Class of 1992.” Tiffany Townsend, assistant professor of psychology, from Alliances for Quality Education, Inc. for training grant. Jeffrey Ulmer, associate professor of crime, law, and justice and sociology, John Kramer, professor of sociology and crime, law, and justice, and James Eisenstein, professor of political science and crime, law, and justice from the National Science Foundation for “National Survey of Federal District Court Community Actors.” Catherine Wanner, assistant professor of history and religious studies, from the National Academy of Sciences for “Beyond the New Iron Curtain: Motivations to Migrate Among Ukranian Youth.” Nan Woodruff, associate professor of history, William Blair, director of the Civil War Era Center and associate professor of history, and Anthony Kaye, assistant professor of history, from the National Endowment for the Humanities for “Slavery and Freedom in Charleston, South Carolina and the Sea Islands.” Vickie Ziegler, associate professor of German and director of the Center for Medieval Studies, David Saxe, associate professor of education, Steven Walton, assistant professor of science, technology, and society, Gregory Ziegler, associate professor of food science, and Benjamin Hudson, associate professor of history and Medieval studies, from the National Endowment for the Humanities, for “Building Community: Medieval Technology and American History.” Faculty Honors Ann Killebrew, assistant professor of classics and ancient Mediterranean studies and Jewish studies, is the recipient of the 2003 American Schools of Oriental Research Membership Service Award. Gregg Roeber, head, Department of History and professor of early modern history and religious studies, has been elected as a member of the American Antiquarian Society. Paul Zeleza, professor of African studies and history, received the Outstanding Academic Title by Choice for the encyclopedia he edited, Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century African History. New tenure-line faculty are invited to a luncheon on Wednesday, August 25 at 12:00 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn, the Penn State Room. A brief program will focus on College expectations and resources. The summer undergraduate and associate degree commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. All faculty are invited to attend. For more information about commencement, please consult http://www.psu.edu/ur/grads/about.html. The graduate commencement ceremony will be held on the same day at 2:30 p.m. in Eisenhower Auditorium. For more information about the graduate ceremony, please see http://www.psu.edu/ur/grads/grad.html. Each ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. We are pleased to announce that nine students have received Fulbright Scholarships to study abroad during the 2004-05 academic year. Christine Mahoney, American politics and comparative literature; Deberniere Torrey, comparative literature; Thomas Bowler, English; Jennifer Hickey, German; Danielle Copelli, German and international politics; Brian Armstrong, philosophy; Hannalone Burns and Sarah Gaillot, psychology; Lindsay Pelz, Spanish. Kim Kutz, history, was accepted into the prestigious History Scholars Summer Program of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History for 2004, becoming the first Penn State student to participate in this program. 2004 United Association for Labor Education's Regional Summer Institute for Union Women The Department of Labor Studies and Industrial Relations will host the 2004 United Association for Labor Education's Regional Summer Institute for Union Women from July 18-23. The Institute rotates between major universities each summer and brings together women union activists for an intensive week-long training program. Approximately 150 union women from the midwest and northeast United States will attend. Family scholars from across the nation will converge on Penn State October 12-13 for the Penn State Annual National Family Symposium. The focus of the 2004 symposium is threefold. The first goal is to better understand the nature and origins of contemporary patterns of sexual and romantic relationships, including the broad evolutionary, cultural, and historical roots of these behaviors, as well as ways in which early family and peer relationships give rise to romantic relationships in the late adolescent and early adult years. The second goal is to illuminate how early romantic and sexual relationships influence individuals' subsequent development and life choices, including family formation. A third emphasis will consider whether or not current trends in romantic and sexual relationships in adolescence and emerging adulthood are problematic for individuals, families, and communities, and, if so, to identify effective ways to address this complex set of issues. The symposium will be held at the Nittany Lion Inn and is titled Romance and Sex in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Risks and Opportunities. The symposium is organized by Alan Booth, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Human Development, and Demography, and Ann Crouter, professor of human development, of Penn State. For more information, please see the National Symposium on Family Issues. Robin Becker, Barrett Lee, John Moore, and Linda Woodbridge were elected to represent the College in the Faculty Advisory Committee. These faculty represent your views. Please let them know of your concerns. The WebEvents Calendar features, lectures, talks, and conferences between July 1 to September 3. If you need to obtain or exchange parking permits, please come to Room 111 Sparks Building Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. only. Please remember to bring your license plate number(s) with you when you register for your permit. Once you have a permit, please be sure you report new or changed license plate numbers to Louise Sharrar at lsharrar@psu.edu or 865-7691. As a reminder, if you are leaving the College, you will need to return your parking permit to 111 Sparks Building. Human Resources and Administrative Update Program On September 16, the College will have an administrative update session for administrative and staff assistants who handle departmental promotion and tenure matters. The workshop will include promotion and tenure and human resources issues as well as several presentations. The program will be held in the Assembly Room of the Nittany Lion Inn from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Debra Brown, staff assistant VII, Africana Research Center Jennifer Moore, staff assistant VI, English Ruth Parson, staff assistant VI, undergraduate studies Christi Daniels, staff assistant VII, English Kathy Force, administrative assistant II, English Wendy Fultz, staff assistant VII, anthropology Brenda Gates, staff assistant VI, political science Staci Kelly, staff assistant VII, communication arts and sciences and philosophy Ramona Muzzio, administrative assistant III, languages and literatures Anna Mae Ritter, college advancement assistant, alumni relations and development Diani Catherman, staff assistant VI, political science Danielle Fritchman, staff assistant VI, sociology Megan Kurlychek, research support associate, sociology, PA Commission on Sentencing Karol McClintic, staff assistant VI, history, religious studies, classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, and Jewish studies Erica McMullen, staff assistant VI, languages and literatures Sharon Melzer, project associate, sociology, PA Commission on Sentencing Cheryl Rodland, staff assistant VI, African and African American Studies, labor studies and industrial relations, and women’s studies Connie Gearhart, administrative assistant III, languages and literatures Donna Speck, administrative assistant II, English LA Times is compiled by Louise Sharrar, Dean’s Office, 110 Sparks, 865-7691, lsharrar@psu.edu LA Times is also available on the Web at: http://www.la.psu.edu/ This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please consult Louise Sharrar 814-865-7691 in advance of your participation or visit. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY U. Ed. LBA 04-265 |
