The Kepler spacecraft, to be launched in March, is the topic of the first lecture in Sonoma State University's "What Physicists Do" series this spring. Natalie Batalha of NASA Ames Research Center will explain how the mission will search for habitable planets around other stars.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, in Darwin 103. Coffee, cookies, and conversation will be served in the Darwin lobby from 3:30 p.m.
Astronomer Batalha, who is on leave from her job as a professor at San José State University, will also highlight some of the job opportunities that exist for physics majors in the space sciences.
SSU's Department of Physics and Astronomy presents a lecture every Monday that classes are in session until May 4. The Department is grateful to the private donors who make the series possible.
Since 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, commemorating Galileo's historic use of the telescope 400 years ago, there will be several lectures on astronomical topics.
These will include "The Convergence of Particle Physics and Astrophysics: The LHC/FERMI Era" by UCSC physicist Michael Dine Feb. 9, "The Light, the Dark, and the Hot Gas: Dissecting Galaxy Clusters" by Stanford astronomer Anja von der Linden Feb. 23, and "Exploring the Extreme Universe with Fermi" by SSU's own Lynn Cominsky March 23. Cominsky heads Education and Public Outreach for NASA's newest orbiting observatory, formerly called the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope.
Physics will not be neglected. There will be talks on ultrashort pulse lasers made by Raydiance, Inc. in Petaluma, imaging with X-ray lasers, nanomechanics, the search for dark matter, and the acoustics of 250-year-old bassoons.
SSU graduate Jeremy Hieb will speak on energy research in Denmark, and astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz will describe collisions between such objects as black holes and neutron stars.
The spring series ends May 4, when its founder and long-time director, Joseph Tenn, concludes his career with "Thirty-nine Years of Physics and Astronomy at Sonoma State University."
For a free poster describing all twelve lectures, visit http://phys-astro.sonoma.edu/wpd/, send e-mail to phys.astro@sonoma.edu, or call (707) 664-2119.
Joe and Judy Gappa of Santa Rosa have created the Yes, We Can! scholarship fund at Sonoma State University to help low-income students from the North Bay fund their college expenses.
In a unique move, the Gappas hope the fund will attract a large community of enthusiastic supporters and donors who want to help these students manage the increasing costs of a four-year college education.
The Gappas have made an original donation of two yearly scholarships. These scholarships would be continued annually for four years as long as the recipients make satisfactory progress towards their degrees.
The scholarships will be integrated with available federal Pell and state Cal Grants, thus reducing or eliminating the need for recipients to accumulate excessive loan burdens or be employed to an extent that jeopardizes their academic performance and retention.
The heart of the program is to help young people with academic potential develop it through a university education.
"We can think of no better way to ensure a bright future for the region than to help its youth achieve university degrees that prepare them for careers and community leadership locally," say the couple.
"Just as we both have benefited greatly from our educations, we believe that others can also, " say the Gappas. "Unfortunately, many of the students with great academic potential do not have the opportunity to take advantage of it. Their loss is the community's loss."
Joe and Judy Gappa are no strangers to the world of higher education, having pursued several advanced degrees themselves. Judy was a university administrator and professor for many years. After a long career in the military, Joe became a professor of Management and Engineering Economics at San Francisco State University.
"College-aged students who need this help are often the offspring of those who could never have done it on their own, due to language hurdles and economic hardship. They just need someone to help," the couple feels. They are confident successful graduates will give back to the region for many years. "It's a solid investment in our community's future," they say.
The Gappas originally became interested in supporting SSU through a gift to the Green Music Center.
Those interested in supporting the Yes We Can! program by underwriting the education of a deserving student should contact Matt Benney in University Support & Preparation Services at matt.benney@sonoma.edu or phone (707) 664-2006.
ABOVE, Joe and Judy Gappa with their dog Hilda.
The Spring University Convocation takes place Thursday, Jan. 22 in the Evert B. Person Theatre from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Faculty chair Scott Miller opens the event with welcoming remarks at 9 a.m.
A panel discussion ensues comprised of Miller, President Ruben Arminana, Provost Eduardo Ochoa Associated Students President Derek Pierre, California Faculty Association Chapter President Andy Merrifield and Staff Representative Lane Olson.
Panel members will speak to the questions:
1. What do we know about our current state and about the coming year, and what don't we know?
2. What do we need to do as a campus community to weather this crisis, perhaps even becoming stronger than we are now?
3. What are our strengths, and how can we best use them?
Microphones will be set up in the aisles for audience comments and questions.
School meetings will follow according to the following schedule.
School of Arts and Humanities
10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 23,
Warren Auditorium
School of Business and Economics
9:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 23 , Schulz 3001
School of Education
9 a.m., Friday, Jan. 23
Schulz 1121
School of Science and Technology
2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22
Darwin 103
School of Social Sciences
2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22
Stevenson 1002
As President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the nation's 44th president on Tues., Jan. 20 at 9 a.m. PST, the historic inaugural ceremonies will be telecast in multiple locations on the campus, including the University Library, Student Union and Salazar Hall.
Streaming live Internet coverage will be available for viewing in Salazar 1061 and Schulz 2016, beginning around 8 a.m.
In the Student Union, televisions will be tuned in to the inaugural coverage in the lobby and multi-purpose room beginning at 8 a.m., as well as in the Pub, where coffee will be available for $.50 a cup.
Gerald N. Hill is an adjunct professor of political science at SSU and filed this story with the Sonoma Sun about the Obama inauguration's links to Lincoln's.
Abraham Lincoln's first inauguration in 1861 attracted 20,000 attendees, straining the ability of the capital to house the visitors, compared to the anticipated two million witnesses who will jam Washington, D.C. when President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office with his hand on the "Lincoln Bible" brought from the archives of the Library of Congress.
READ MORE at http://sonomasun.thmm.com/?p=6319
The future of the North Bay's financial industry is the topic of the 2009 North Bay Economic Outlook Conference sponsored by Sonoma State University's School of Business and Economics from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Feb. 6 at the Sheraton Hotel, 745 Baywood Drive in Petaluma.
The program includes a discussion of North Bay economic trends by Robert Eyler, Economics Department Chair and Director of the Center for Regional Economic Analysis, and Brian Sobel, President, Sobel Communications.
Noreen Evans California State Assembly member, will deliver the keynote address.
Panel speakers include: Kimberly Kaselionis, President & CEO, Circle Bank; Peter O'Brien, Leasing & Investments Agent, Orion Partners; Vic Motto, CEO, Global Wine Partners (US), LLC; Brian Kelly, President & CEO, Charter Oak Bank; Brian Pretti, CFA, Senior Vice President, Mechanics Bank;
For additional information or to register for the conference, visit the School's Web site at www.sonoma.edu/sbe or phone (707) 664-2220.
To receive the official conference registration brochure, send a mailing address to shalyn.eyer@sonoma.edu.
It is possible to thrive in this recession says Business Professor Nick Gurney who is again offering the chance for small businesses to be mentored by his students this spring semester.
The popular course brings business students together with local companies to develop strategies to success. Four to six companies are chosen every year and a donation of $500 is asked to cover student scholarships.
Under the guidance of SSU faculty, business students meet with small-business owners in the North Bay to develop a scope of work and confer with proprietors on a weekly basis. Students participate in intensive real-life studies of active businesses, and take dynamic roles in shaping the future of an enterprise.
At the conclusion of the spring semester, the student consultants present a final analysis, including findings and proposals for future operations. These include performance audits, strategic and financial planning, market research, financial forecasting, personnel policies, and customer
acquisition and retention programs.
Businesses that have employed this service include Feed This Pet Foods, Kim Manley Herbals, the SSU Costume Shop, Rohnert Park Gymnastics, Montessori Services and The Housing Company.
Other companies that have also employed SSU's business consultation services include Copperfield's Books, Mrs. Grossman's Paper Products and Oliver's Markets.
For more information or to apply, contact Nicholas Gurney at (707) 824-4418 or e-mail nicholas.gurney@gmail.com. Inquiries are welcomed now through February 6.
TOP TEN IDEAS CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A SMALL BUSINESS
"Fear of failure is the flipside of fear of success; you have nothing to lose," says SSU Business Professor Nick Gurney who has his own top ten tips for success to keep a business going during uncertain economic times. Repetition of these ten points is proven to deliver results now, he says.
The ten ideas, he says, can help regain momentum in achieving goals, hopes and dreams.
Get Your Self Back on Track
The more things change the more they remains the same. Is there anything really new under the sun? Not really, though we are definitely coping with more vertiginous progress since the beginning of time. And most of us are striving to better manage ourselves and help others to do the same.
1. Don't allow fear to overcome your optimistic desire for a compelling future. Your brain is programmable to go towards the rewards of success rather than the penalties of failure. Thinking in pessimistic terms validates what some call the law of negative attraction; it dates to the Bible "What you fear most will come to pass." Focus on short term goals and projects that are achievable and measurable. Action feeds optimism.
2. Make a daily action plan, remembering to stay focused on what is doable now! Revisit this plan at day's end checking off what you have achieved
and focus on a punch list of items that warrant further action tomorrow or within the week. The past is prelude to the future. Derive strength and satisfaction from your accomplishments. Nothing motivates better than short-term goal gains.
3. If you fail to plan, you can plan to fail. Be systematic and establish a plan and follow it as rigorously as possible. If you work with others include everyone in the planning or at least the implementation of it. Keep the people around you informed.
4. Resilience is a key component to emotional health, according to Dr. K. Sulowitz. Be emotionally resilient. This is also a key to building optimism. Being optimistic is catching and will help others around you build resilience.
This enables everyone to move over the current challenges and build a stronger organization with stronger people. Building on it is a critical factor in how we all respond to change and tough times. Practice thinking optimistically, with small steps and raise the bar when you sense you are ready.
5. Did it start in Hollywood by exiled New Yorkers or not? "Fake it 'til you make it" has been a proven practice which gains it's own momentum. Keep in mind your ethics, tolerance for ambiguity and one's sense of self.
Make it a fun game to keep you keeping on. Look at successful retailers, wholesalers, the competition, inspiring individuals and model what you believe sets them apart. Japan, Taiwan, China, India and others used to copy Western goods, services and are now becoming world leaders. It didn't happen overnight. So it is for individuals, it takes focus and work. John Wooden, famed sports coach says "if it's easy everyone would be star athletes."
6. Be adaptable. Take your cues from world class athletes and astronauts. Find what works for you. Then remember: practice makes perfect. As Sonoma-based Dr. David Clancy says, "the human mind and capacity for renewed imagination differentiates us from animals and provides the wherewithal to improve."
7. Another senior staff member of a global operations and financial consulting firm, DCG, LLC, explains simply and accurately "Communication is the base for success in every way, everywhere." Countless tomes, books web sites, classes, self-help programs deal with this cornerstone skill for any relationship. A book, course or training seminar on presentations or negotiation is a great way to dissipate anxiety.
8. Invest in your people - and yourself. What can everyone do a little more of to build an incredible future now? Can everyone sell? Can everyone find savings? Each day do one more little action.
9. Leverage the knowledge of everyone. Can everyone contribute 1% more of what they know to build a future of which we can all be proud?
10. Extraordinary times calls for extraordinary people. Using your doable daily action plan consider working Saturdays and/or Sundays.
Nicholas Gurney
International Business Professor
Sonoma State University
Dr. Lorna Catford, Professor of Psychology at Sonoma State University, has been awarded the 2008 Reverend James E. Coffee Human Rights Award for her extraordinary efforts on behalf of families with an autistic member.
Catford is creator of the Collaborative Autism Training and Support (CATS) Program, providing family support, training, community awareness, education and autism seminars.
A growing network of autism experts, agencies and SSU students participate in this ongoing program, providing much needed support, education and awareness of this often misunderstood disability.
In her professional and personal live, Catford has inspired others to reach their fullest potential. A woman of many facets, Catford has been a teacher, counselor, clinical supervisor and mentor. She joined the faculty of SSU in 1988 to teach several subjects including Transpersonal Psychology, Creativity in Organizational Management and Human Development.
In 1991, she co-wrote "The Path of the Everyday Hero: Drawing on the Power of Myth to Meet Life's Most Important Challenges," and received national recognition for this work.
Catford and her husband founded the Special Parents Project to provide support for local families of children with serious special needs. In 2008, Catford received Parenting Publications of America's Silver Award. She has also been nominated for SSU's Excellence In Teaching Award in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In addition to her teaching and CATS program responsibilities, she serves as coordinator of SSU's Undergraduate Psychology Internship Program.
Recognized with the Professional Award, Catford will be honored with three other individuals or groups at the Fifth Annual Reverend James E. Coffee Human Rights Awards Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Redwood Credit Union Sonoma Community Room.
This special event is sponsored by Redwood Credit Union, Clover Stornetta Farms and State Farm Insurance. The afternoon features a program of choral music, performed by the Community Baptist Church Choir and light refreshment followed by the awards program. Please call (707) 565-2693 or e-mail at chr@sonoma-county.org for more information.
Catford's talk in 2006 with SSU Psychology Emeritus Professor David Van Nuys on his ShrinkRap Radio podcast features a discussion of her pioneering work. It can be found at Shrink Rap.
Associated Students President Derek Pierre will also be posting to the Huffington Post on Monday and Tuesday.
From inaugural balls and witty political satires to thought-provoking lectures and tours of the most influential sites in the nation, "Campaign 2008: The Presidential Inauguration Seminar" will give ten Sonoma State students and some community members a first-hand look at President-Elect Barack Obama's inauguration.
The students left on Jan. 9 for Washington D.C. to witness the historic ceremonies.
The intersession course explores the aftermath of the 2008 General Election, including the nomination and swearing in of the 44th U.S. President. Those enrolled will participate in inaugural events from January 10-20. Some of the program events will be on view on CSPAN on Tuesday and Wednesday for much of the day, especially in the morning.
The 10-day academic seminar provides a backstage view into the Presidential Inauguration. Students will delve into the critical issues and events that surround this transfer of power. It features a combination of lectures, site visits, tours and special events. For the complete schedule, visit The Washington Center web site at
www.campaign2008.info.
Guest speakers will include Steve Bell, former news anchor of ABC's "Good Morning America," and Mark Russell, a noted political satirist.Amnesty International, Fox News Channel, CNN, The Washington Times, the Federal Election Commission are just some of the many sites students will visit as well as the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the course culminates on the steps of the White House as President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in. The Inauguration Parade follows, as well as a chance to attend the Inaugural Ball.
Professor David McCuan leads the class in discussing the steps it took for the next Commander-in-Chief to be chosen and inaugurated, briefing them on the nominations of presidential candidates, general election campaigns, and the ratification of the general election results by the Electoral College.
For more information, contact Professor David McCuan at (707) 246-5746.
ABOVE, SSU Student Body President Derek Pierre travels to Washington, D.C. with nine other students and community members to witness the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.
