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In Case You Missed It...

Senior pranksters put a face on the Schulz Information Center clocktower one morning at the end of the semester, much to the secret delight of passersby. No permanent damage was done to the clock face with the black plastic tape used to create the effect. (Photo by Lakin Khan)

New Faces in Top Posts on Campus

A new vice-president, a dean, and a vice-provost are among the new faces on campus starting their positions this summer before the academic year kicks in. Here are a few of them:

Mary Gendernalik Cooper has accepted the position of Dean of the School of Education, effective July 15. Gendernalik Cooper comes to Sonoma State University from Georgia Southwestern State University, where she has been professor and dean of the School of Education since 2003. Prior to that, she was professor at Augusta State University’s College of Education, and held a variety of research, administrative, and faculty positions at several institutions, including San Diego State University and the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. Gendernalik Cooper received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from Wayne State University, and her B.A. in Social Science from Michigan State University.

Dan Condron has accepted the position of Vice
President for University Affairs at Sonoma State
University, effective July 11. He joins SSU after a
distinguished career with Hewlett-Packard/Agilent
Technologies in the fields of research and development,
marketing, manufacturing, personnel and public affairs. Condron replaces Lynn McIntyre who is retiring after ten years with the University. Condron served as Public Affairs Manager in Sonoma County with Hewlett Packard/Agilent Technologies from 1984-2002. In the past two years, he was the Community Relations Director for CommunitySmart, a subsidiary of Nietech Corporation.

Carol Blackshire-Belay has accepted the position of Vice Provost for Academic Affairs effective July 1. Dr. Blackshire-Belay joins SSU with a distinguished academic and administrative record. She received her Ph.D. in Germanic Linguistics from Princeton and was a faculty member at Ohio State, Temple, and Indiana State University. At the latter institution, she was Chair of the African and African-American Studies Department. Subsequently, Blackshire-Belay was Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and is currently Special Assistant to the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin System. She also taught and was a visiting research scholar at several institutions in Europe and Africa. She has an extensive scholarly record, including being author, co-author, or editor of 14 books and 27 articles and book chapters.

Anthropology Professor Honored by Associated Students

The first annual Associated Students Educator of the Year award has gone to Karin Enstam, Assistant Professor of Anthropology. The Associated Students felt Enstam’s commitment inside and outside the classroom, based on student nominations, made her an excellent choice. Enstam received her Ph.D. from UC Davis.

"Not only is Dr. Enstam an outstanding educator, she devotes countless hours to advising the Anthropology Club, sitting on the Academic Affairs Committee, and coaching the women’s lacrosse team," said ASI Educator of the Year Committee Chair Chris Fadeff who announced the award recently. According to one student, who has taken three courses from her, Enstam “conducts her class with professionalism, yet allows students to form their own ideas.” Another student said “she has been an inspiration and a mentor.”

Award to A&F for Financial Reporting Excellence

Steve Westley, Controller for the State of California, has named Sonoma State University the recipient of an Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for all campus funds, reports Larry Furukawa-Schlereth, vice-president of Administration and Finance. Only one other CSU campus, San Luis Obispo, has been recognized in this fashion.

"Every member of the Financial Services team along with all the fiscal managers throughout the campus deserve special recognition for the wonderful work they do each day, Schlereth says. "I truly am humbled by the dedication and commitment they display to Sonoma State University. I hope you will join me in thanking them and recognizing them for this truly special honor."