Chancellor’s Awards
From studying the scale of the universe to inspiring students across the globe, physics professor Dr. Shashi Kanbur’s far-reaching efforts earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities. Kanbur’s primary area of research involves trying to determine the size and age of the universe through measuring pulsating stars. In his 25 years of work on this question, Kanbur and co-authors -- including Oswego undergraduates -- from around the world have published nearly 50 papers in high-impact journals and presented at conferences across the globe. Read full story.
Continuing work to elevate learning on the SUNY Oswego campus and across academia has earned Dr. John Kane, director of the college’s Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) and a professor of economics, a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. In addition to excelling as a teacher, scholar and mentor since joining SUNY Oswego in 1983, Kane’s commitment to leadership in CELT -- especially in helping faculty adapt quickly when the pandemic forced remote teaching in spring 2020 -- received praise from supporters. Read full story.
Three dedicated SUNY Oswego staff members -- for whom a year of adaptation built upon their previous years of service -- have earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. The 2021 award winners are Jennifer Broderick, creative director of alumni and development communications; Angie Brown, director of student health services; and Kate Wolfe-Lyga, director of the Counseling Services Center. A member of alumni and development’s creative team since 1997, Broderick’s duties have grown and evolved to make her a valuable campus-wide team player. Brown’s many accomplishments include leading the college’s re-accreditation under the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and broadening access and services for the campus community. Wolfe-Lyga’s accomplishments include leading the sizable effort required to attain International Accreditation of Counseling Services certification and earning national recognition and grants for innovative student services. Read full story.
Sherri Devercelly of facility services has earned the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. Calling her a “consummate professional,” nominator Mitch Fields, associate vice president for facilities, noted that Devercelly exhibits “excellence in leadership, customer service, professionalism and genuine kindness.” Devercelly is a member of the academic buildings custodial services staff who positively impacts the campus community on a regular basis with words as well as actions, Fields wrote. She has worked for SUNY Oswego for 16 years and consistently earns excellent evaluations. Read full story.
Other news
Emeritus professor of political science Dr. Bruce Altschuler published "The Changing Face of Capital Punishment Films: 'Just Mercy' and 'Clemency,'" in The Journal of Popular Film and Television, Volume 49 (March 2021). This article examines whether these recent films, featuring actors, directors and screenwriters of color, have made a significant difference in how films about the death penalty treat issues of race.
Counseling and psychological services faculty member Dr. Tiphanie González recently co-edited a textbook titled “Demystifying the DSM: A Tool for School Counseling Students and Practitioners.” Drs. Jason Duffy and Sean Finnerty, also in the CPS department, contributed chapters to this text.
Tyrone Johnson-Neuland, assistant director of instructional support for Campus Technology Services, participated in the SUNY Chancellor's Gallery Virtual Event on Thursday, July 8th. Johnson-Neuland has had three paintings hanging at the Chancellor’s office since last October. This unique, high-profile exhibition is the only SUNY System Administration exhibition to feature works by both faculty and students, and is the only gallery where some selections were handpicked by senior level SUNY staff. Johnson-Neuland also has works showing this summer at: the Art of Coney Island show at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, running through Aug. 15; the 86th annual National Juried Art Exhibition at The Cooperstown Art Association, taking place through August; and the 67th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition, which will run Aug. 15 through Oct. 17.
Research by political science faculty member Dr. Helen Knowles was included in “Puget Sound’s Fight for $15: Family Experiences and Policy Impacts of Increasing the Minimum Wage,” issued by the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies at the University of Washington and presenting a broad range of research related to the minimum wage in the Puget Sound. The report (PDF) summarizes and reflects on that research as a contribution to the ongoing debate around the benefits and costs associated with increasing the minimum wage to $15.
Tim Nekritz, director of news and media, presented “40 Days of Video: 'Notes From Home' and Building a Content Community” as a lightning talk during the OHO U Heroes of Higher Ed Online Conference in June. Nekritz discussed the goals, logistics, content and outcomes of Oswego’s Notes From Home video series that featured a new video via Oswego Today for the last eight weeks of the spring 2020 semester.
Dr. Damian Schofield, director of the master’s in human-computer interaction program, co-authored a pair of recent publications. “Impact of VR and Desktop Gaming on Electroencephalogram (EEG) Rating” was part of the Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Electrical, Communication and Computer Engineering, a virtual conference in June hosted in Malaysia. Co-authors included HCI graduates Daniel Hufnal and Theodore Johnson and former Oswego faculty member Dr. Caglar Yilderim. The second paper, “Augmenting cultural experience : Evaluating the use of augmented reality technology to enhance the visitor experience at a historic site” earned publication in the Journal of Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities. Based on multiple augmented reality projects undertaken at Fort Ontario, the paper’s co-authors included four HCI alumni students -- Johnson, Hufnal, Pranay Chapagain and Sarah Colletta-- with Paul Lear, site manager for the historic eastside Oswego fort. Schofield also presented an online talk to SRC in Syracuse on July 12 as part of their Invited Speaker program. His talk addressed "The Psychology of Images: How Visual Media Shapes Our Behaviour and Decision Making."