Faculty, Staff, Student Achievements

OD Program Graduate Wins International Student Paper Award

John Milburn, a recent graduate from the Organization Development (OD) program, Masters in Psychology, won the 2008 Organization Development Network (ODN) Student Paper and Presentation Competition. His paper and presentation was entitled, "Finding Truth in Outliars: Exploring Assumptions and Methods for Handling Rogue Data."

More than 30 programs in 20 countries on five continents compete in this international program. The yearly competition, "Pushing the Envelope” is sponsored by the NTL Institute and is focused on "…emerging trends pursued by some of the fields most innovative thought leaders…" (2008 ODN Conference Program)

As part of winning the award, John presented his research at the OD Network Conference on October 21, 2008 in Austin, Texas. Milburn's presentation was well-received and sparked a lively conversation about the way in which OD practitioner's process anomaly data.

In addition to presenting his work, Milburn's paper was recently published in the January 2009 issue of OD Practitioner, the OD Networks flagship and peer-reviewed quarterly publication.

Several other SSU OD graduates have received the same honor in recent past. In 2004, SSU graduate Jeffrey Young won the prestigious award with his paper entitled, "The Journey toward Human Collaboration: A Travelers Guide," and in 2006 SSU graduate Elissa Berrol wrote a winning paper entitled, "Beyond the Shadow of A Doubt, Self-Doubt and the Development of Self As Instrument: Implications For OD Practice.."

The OD program at SSU continues to produce award-winning research papers which make valuable contributions to the field of OD, as well as graduates who are well-trained organization development professionals.

The Organization Development Network (ODN) is an international professional association of organization development practitioners. Their members come from all 50 states of the USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and around the world. Some are external consultants; others work within their organizations to promote healthy change.

They may specialize in such areas as human resources, training, leadership or talent development, change management, strategic planning, and a broad range of initiatives designed to make organizations more effective. The main goal of the ODN is "advancing the theory and practice of organization development." ODN can be found at www.odnetwork.org.

Above is Milburn (center) with OD colleagues.

SSU Professor Invited to All Russian Assembly of Wind Orchestras in Moscow

Dr. Brian S. Wilson, Music Department Chair, was among three internationally renowned conductors invited to the All Russian Assembly of Wind Orchestras that took place November 22-27 in Moscow.

In a reprise of his first visit in 2007, Wilson conducted performances of his own music, which included the patriotic fanfare “Adamas”, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel which Wilson premiered in Tel Aviv last summer. He also led master classes with wind orchestras from the Moscow University of Art and Culture and the Moscow Region “Governor’s” Orchestra. He conducted his “Symphony No. 3, The Agamemnon” at the gala closing concert.

A highlight of the trip for Professor Wilson was a private tour of the Glinka Museum which houses, among memorabilia of Russia’s famous composers, a massive collection of some 3000 instruments.

For more information, visit http://www.sonoma.edu/performingarts or http://www.brianwilson.com.

SSU Alumna Dr. Amy Glasmeier is First Woman to Head MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning

Sonoma State University Alumna Dr. Amy Glasmeier has joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as the first woman to head its Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

In January, Glasmeier took over the longest-running continuous planning program in the United States, repeatedly ranked #1 in the nation. She is the twelfth department head since the program was established in 1933 and the first woman to lead what is now the largest planning faculty in the US, possibly in the world.

Glasmeier holds a BS in Environmental Studies and Planning from Sonoma State University and an MA and PhD in City and Regional Planning from Berkeley. She has worked and traveled all over the world, including Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, and is currently engaged in a retrospective examination of poverty and poverty policy in the US, work that is leading to new perspectives on the nature and extent of persistent poverty here.

An expert in economic geography, regional planning and spatial statistics, Glasmeier was previously on the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Texas at Austin. Most recently, she was the E. Willard Miller Professor of Economic Geography at Penn State and the John Whisman Scholar of the Appalachian Regional Commission.

For more information, visit http://sap.mit.edu/resources/portfolio/glasmeier/

Jeanne Johnson And C. Paul Johnson Family Foundation Honored For Contributions To Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

At the insistence of her husband months before he died, Jeanne Johnson needed to find something positive to help her through the tough times. She found the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and has been working with it since it's inception in 2001.

Along with the support of the C. Paul Johnson Family Foundation, Johnson has allowed OLLI the opportunity to achieve unsurpassed excellence through innovative program development, faculty recruitment and dedicated service to students.

Johnson's hard work and dedication earned her an honorary proclamation from the city of Rohnert Park, which she received on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at an awards banquet.

Now serving on the OLLI Board of Directors, Johnson has become a large part of the organization by providing support and guidance. Additionally, as Chair of the OLLI Legacy Circle (a group who have designated OLLI in their estate plans), her inspiration and example have provided one-of-a-kind donor program in the OLLI network. She also initiated the Johnson Family Endowed Student Scholarship Fund that has benefited student scholarship recipients.

Johnson initiated the Johnson Family Endowed Student Scholarship Fund for OLLI that has benefited student scholarship recipients and her generosity through the underwriting of the Annual OLLI Legacy Luncheon has allowed all OLLI donors, regarding of the size of their gift, to attend the luncheon.

Generous annual contributions from over 130 donors, including Jeanne Johnson and the Johnson Family Foundation, comprise over 40 percent of total revenues of the OLLI program. Such donations allow OLLI to remain self-sufficient. More than 12 courses have been underwritten by donors since the program's launch.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State University features courses for mature adults 50 years or better. Courses are offered through the SSU School of Extended Education purely for the pleasure of learning - no tests and no grades. The OLLI courses are taught on the SSU campus for three eight-week sessions.