Martinez, Hichwa Honored with Excellence in Teaching Awards

The Academic Senate announced today that Elizabeth Martinez, Modern Languages and Literature, and Byrant Hichwa, Physics and Astronomy, are this year's recipients of the Excellence in Teaching Awards. A reception honoring these distinguished professors will be held later in the year.

Elizabeth Coonrod Martínez teaches Latin American literature in the Spanish Program, and U.S. Latino literature in the Chicano and Latino Studies Department, where she is currently Chair. She was previously Chair of the Modern Languages & Literatures Department.

Prior to her arrival at Sonoma State, she taught journalism and Spanish at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. At SSU, her classes range from advanced level Spanish classes in Composition, Latin American Culture & Literature, to classes on significant Mexican, Central American and Caribbean authors, and Chicano writers.

She frequently publishes academic and popular articles, and published a book titled "Before the Boom: Latin American Revolutionary Novels of the 1920s" in 2001. She has a new book being published this summer on Mexican writer Elena Poniatowska's early fiction.

Bryant Hichwa rejoined academia in 2002 as a member of the faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty at Sonoma State University. Following his undergraduate education at Georgetown University and earning the Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Hichwa taught physics at Hope College in Michigan for 10 years. Then he worked extensively in industry, ultimately taking on the role of director of research and vice president of research product development at Optical Coating Laboratory in Santa Rosa and in 2000, president and chief operating officer at MetroPhotonics (USA), Inc., also in Santa Rosa.

Dr. Hichwa has taught introductory-level and upper-division courses in physics as well as a new general education course, Physics of Music In addition, he has developed several innovative courses in telecommunications and photonics including a state of the art laboratory in fiber optics and laser communications. He has mentored a number of undergraduate and graduate theses and research projects in optical communications. Areas of special interest are fiber optic amplifiers, optical ring resonators, optical MEMS switching devices and optical waveguide design in 3-5 semiconductor materials.

Link to be Commencement 2005 Speaker, Named for CSU Leadership Excellence Award

Rand Link, Vice President for Student Affairs, has been named the keynote speaker for Commencement 2005 on May 28 at SSU.

Link was recently awarded the “Leadership Excellence Award” at the annual CSU Alcohol Advisory Councils’ 2005 Alcohol Conference hosted by San Jose State University on April 22. 

This honor is given annually to a CSU senior administrator who has served as a champion for moving alcohol initiatives forward on his/her campus. 

In his role as chairperson of SSU’s Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council since 2001, Link has provided strong leadership in developing a comprehensive approach to reducing alcohol abuse. Under his leadership SSU has been able to partner with local law enforcement agencies and the County Department of Health Services in proactive efforts aimed at curbing high risk drinking by SSU students. 

Additionally, with Link’s support, the Office of Campus Life has housed Student Advocates for Education, the campus peer education program, since 1997. Each year, SAFE facilitates programs on responsible alcohol use, sexual assault prevention, and safer sex/HIV/STDs to more than 80% of freshman students at SSU.

Link has also been involved in securing two grants from the Office of Traffic Safety for SSU as well as representing SSU on the Community Partnership formed through a $750,000 grant to the County of Sonoma to reduce binge drinking.

Graduate Equity Fellowship
Award Applications Now Available

Application packets for the 2005-2006 Graduate Equity Fellowship Awards are being distributed to school deans, chairs, and graduate program coordinators, and are available for students to pick up in the Graduate
Studies Office in Stevenson 1041.

Faculty are invited to recommend promising graduate students who meet the eligibility criteria to apply for this award. The Graduate Equity Fellowship was established to increase the participation in graduate
degree programs of students who are economically or educationally disadvantaged.

Application materials are to be returned to the Graduate Studies Office no later than Friday, May 20. Following the deadline, the Graduate Equity Selection Committee will meet to review the applications and
determine eligibility. Your participation is appreciated in helping to identify these promising students. For more information contact the Graduate Studies Office at 4-2237.

Disability Awareness Panel and Discussion for Staff and Faculty

All staff and faculty are encouraged to join Disabled Student Services and Employee Relations and Compliance Services as they present a panel discussion on working with students and employees with disabilities.

The discussion is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10 in Schulz 1121. Please RSVP to terilynn.bench@sonoma.edu or call 4-2227 by Monday, May 9.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the first-hand experiences of students, staff and faculty with disabilities, and ask questions in a safe and supportive atmosphere. It is also a chance to learn more about the innovative assistive technology that is available for individuals with disabilities.