Faculty, Staff, Student Achievements

Jeffrey Reeder Named 2009 Bike Commuter of the Year

The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition has named Jeffrey Reeder, Chair of the Modern Languages and Literature Department, the 2009 Bike Commuter of the Year. During the ten years he has lived in Sonoma County, Reeder has commuted to work every day from his home in Santa Rosa to SSU. Rain, cold, heat, and even hail haven't kept him from the 20-mile round trip.

Reeder says that compared to bike commuting in the stifling heat as he did when living in Texas or in the humidity and rain of southern Japan, Sonoma County is an ideal place to ride. Not only is cycling good exercise, good for the environment, and enjoyable, he finds that commuting to work clears his head and gives him the opportunity for some focused thinking.

Reeder is honored to be named Bike Commuter of the Year; still, he would rather see the day when bike commuting were such a common and natural action that an award would seem odd (imagine an award for "Car Commuter of the Year"). To this end, he encourages and helps his students and colleagues become bike commuters also.

Dean Rahimi Receives Academic Service Award

Dr. Saeid Rahimi, Dean of the School of Science and Technology, received an award for Distinguished Achievement in Academic Service by the Association of Professors and Scholars of Iranian Heritage. He was honored at the APSIH's 12th Annual Graduation Event on Sun., May 3, held at the University of California, Los Angeles.

SSU Group Attends CSU Symposium on Teaching, Learning

Emiliano Ayala, Hee-Won Kang, Brett Christie, Esra Yecan and Janet Hardcastle attended the CSU Symposium on Teaching and Learning at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo on Sat., May 2. Ayala gave a poster presentation sharing data related to "Universal Design for Learning in the Sciences: Effective Teaching Strategies for all Students," Kang presented "Performance-Based Assessment in Teacher Education" and Christie presented "Teaching and Technology Horizons: Key Trends and Critical Challenges."

Student Research Honored at SSU's NoGAP McNair Scholars Event

SSU's NoGAP McNair Scholars project hosted its first annual Student Research Symposium on April 28 in the Cooperage.

Fourteen of the McNair Scholars had prepared three-panel poster boards describing their completed research projects or plans for future research. Members of the campus community-faculty, staff, and other students-were all invited to attend the symposium, and encouraged to speak with the Scholars about their projects.

Seven of those 14 created "active presentations" of their research activities including PowerPoint presentations and other equipment-assisted communication technology.

The $220,000-per-year McNair Scholars project at SSU helps 25 undergraduate students continue their postsecondary studies at a Ph.D.-granting graduate institution of their choice (after they have earned their baccalaureate degree from SSU, of course).

The main purpose of the four-year, renewable grant project is to place more historically underrepresented students in American graduate schools. Eligible SSU students must be low-income students and first-generation students or be a member of one of the four ethnic minority groups underrepresented in American graduate schools: African-American, Latino/Latina (Hispanic), Native American, or Pacific Islander.

Participants must be very motivated and high achieving students, the type of students who have always known they were going to go to graduate school. In principle the project works with these 25 students for two years, their junior and senior years. Thus, it is best if students are identified at the end of their sophomore year (although other arrangements can be made).

McNair Scholars presenting at the symposium are as follows:

Presenters: Heatherann Brunell and Nazim Bal
Title: Effects of Urbanization on North Bay Freshwater Ecosystems: Surveying Diversity of Macroinvertebrates in Sonoma County Waterways
Mentor: Nick Geist, Biology

Presenter: Chad Griffith
Title: A Krasnosel'skii-Type Theorem Involving P-Superarcs
Mentor: Jean Chan, Mathematics

Presenter: Jennifer Badasci
Title: The Empty Chair: Anna Ella Carroll, the Woman in Lincoln's Team of Rivals
Mentor: Kim Hester-Williams, English

Presenter: Carmen Ward-Sullivan
Title: My Aching Heart: A Look at Women and Heart Disease
Mentor: Jeanette Koshar, Nursing

Presenter: Tanya Robertson
Title: Seeding the Future: Germination Studies of An Endangered Plant
Mentor: Richard Whitkus, Biology

Presenter: Carolyn Smith
Title: Native American Basket Making
Mentor: John Wingard, Anthropology

Presenter: Jeff Goodlund
Title: Composition and Production of an "Americana" Quintet Using Digital Technology
Mentor: Will Johnson, Music

Presenter: Lev Woolf
Title: Need for Structure Predicts Reactions to Public Infidelity
Mentor: Heather Smith, Psychology.

Presenter: Octavio Cervantes
Title: Characterization of Cyanophage Plasmid Libraries
Mentor: None

Presenter: Blair Dub
Title: Children with Challenging Behaviors: Understanding the Techniques and Strategies Preschool Teachers use to Help Children
Mentor: Elisa Velasquez, Psychology
Co-authors: Cliff Mettier, Justin Lutterman, and Elyse Hunt

Presenter: Adam Dye
Title: Harmann Differential Image Motion Monitor Data Reduction and Analysis
Mentor: Scott Severson, Physics

Presenter: Linda Smith
Title: Gift Giving in the Therapeutic Milieu
Mentor: Susan Hillier, Psychology

Presenter: Juan Sosa
Title: Determining the Molecular Weight of Chromium Binding Proteins by Freezing Point Depression
Mentor: Carmen Works

Presenter: Melissa Wood
Title: Hippotherapy As an Effective Form of Treatment for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Mentor: Elaine McHugh, Kinesiology

Presenter: Rachel Francis
Title: Stomatal Function of the Genus Camellia
Mentor: Thomas Buckley, Biology

Presenter: Bianca Brenes
Title: Osteological Examination of Skeletal Remains in 17th Century Poland
Mentor: Karin Jaffee

Presenter: Lauren Stavish
Title: Obstacles to Women's Post-Baccalaureate Educational Attainment
Mentor: Sheila Katz, Sociology

Presenter: Danelle Reddy
Title: The Effects of Pisicosins V1a and V1b and their C-Terminals on Listeria
ivanovii
Mentor: Jennifer Lillig, Chemistry

Presenter: Steve Schaerer
Title: The Analysis of Enzymatic Reduction of Chromium (VI)
Mentor: Carmen Works, Chemistry

Two SSU Students Top CSU Student Research Competition

Two SSU students received first place awards at the 23rd annual California State University Student Research Competition, held May 1-2 at CSU, Los Angeles.

Erin Garnett, BA double major in Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies, received first place in the Undergraduate Behavioral and Social Sciences division.

Jeff Christle, MA in Kinesiology, won first place in the Graduate Behavioral and Social Sciences division. Each received a $500 award for first place.

Garnett's research, "Banning Familial Love: Definitions of Family in GLBT-Themed Children's Literature," is a content analysis study that argues that GLBT-themed children's literature defines family on the basis of love, rather than gender and sexuality, and examines its consequences.

She was mentored by Professors Melinda Milligan and Sheila Katz, Sociology. Christle's thesis, "Framing Fatness: "Obesity Epidemic" Discourse in Physical Education," is an analysis of the "Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance," and discusses how physical educators frame the "obesity epidemic" and the future of physical education. His mentor is Professor Ellen Carlton, Kinesiology.

More than 150 students, representing all of the 23 CSU campuses, competed for the awards. Students submitted a summary of their research and then presented orally before a panel of jurors and were evaluated in several areas, including clarity of purpose, appropriateness of methodology, interpretation of results, value of the research, ability to articulate the research, organization of the material, and ability to handle questions from the jury and general audience.

A total of seven students represented SSU at the competition and were accompanied by Jeff Davis, Director of University Support Services and McNair Scholars Program, Sheila Katz, Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Monique Pearl, University Support Services and McNair Scholars Program.

The students who participated, their majors and intended degrees, their projects, mentors, and competition category are listed below:

Renee Cook, BA in Sociology, "Recognizing Stigma: Differences in Diabetes as They Relate to Disclosure and Identity Management;" Prof. Kathy Charmaz, Sociology; Behavioral and Social Sciences, Undergraduate Division.

Jeff Goodlund, BA in Music, "Composition and Production of an "Americana" Quintet Using Digital Technology;" Prof. Will Johnson, Music; Creative Arts and Design, Undergraduate and Graduate Division.

Lauren Stavish, BA in Sociology, "The Role of the Family in Pre-adolescent Nutrition Education;" Prof. Kathy Charmaz, Sociology; Behavioral and Social Sciences, Undergraduate Division.

Kristine Wollam, MA in Kinesiology, "A Qualitative Study of the Sporting Enjoyment of Elite High School Athletes," Prof. Ellen Carlton, Kinesiology; Behavioral and Social Sciences, Graduate Division.

Bradley Yearwood, BS in Physics, "Organic Electrical Conductors: How Many Dimensions?;" Prof. Jeremy Qualls, Physics; Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Undergraduate Division

History Professor Participates in Religion Studies Fellowship at Princeton

History Professor Amy Kittelstrom will be participating in a Fellowship at the Princeton Center for the Study of Religion, research and writing her own work-in-progress and participating in Center activates, including symposia, conferences and public lectures.

At Princeton, Kittelstrom will finish her first book, The Religion of Democracy: Liberals and Self-Culture in Evolutionary America, 1838-1912, which locates an origin of modern political liberalism in nineteenth-century religious liberalism, in which figures from William Ellery Channing through William James to Jane Addams used the concept of self-culture to redefine first religion and then the relationship of the self to society.

Woman Student Leader of the Year Award Recognizes Outstanding SSU Student Leaders

Sarah Borenstein has been named 2008-2009 Woman Student Leader of the Year, for her commitment to numerous positions in student, residential and academic clubs and organizations.

Described as an "exuberant, dynamic and compassionate spirit," Borenstein plans to be a teacher and has maintained a place on the Dean's List for years, traveled around the world and been involved with Hillel.

First honorable mention was awarded to Shannon Posnick, who will graduate this year and who also intends to pursue a teaching career. "I want to strive to help students grow and recognize their own potential and pursue their passions," she said. Posnick's involvement and leadership on campus has included serving as a leadership retreat facilitator, a Summer O leader, jump volunteer and CSA, all while maintaining her status as a Presidential Scholar with a 3.96 GPA.

Second honorable mention was awarded to Janee Wafer, whose has served as a leader for many campus diversity efforts and has served as President of the Black Scholars United Club. Additionally, she has served as a Summer Bridge Leader, Peer Mentor, Leadership TA and a CSA.

She explains that, through leadership she has "met many great people and received a handful of opportunities that have opened doors for me." Wafer plans to graduate next year with a double major in business and communications.

History Professor Steven Estes to Travel to Eastern Europe for Fulbright Scholarship

History Professor Steven Estes will travel to Eastern Europe in July 2010, as part of a Fulbright Senior Lecturing Fellowship, to offer perspective on divisions in politics and the story of the American civil rights moment.

Estes will be teaching American history at the University of Efurt in the state of Thuringia, a state that part of East Germany before reunification two decades ago.

One will focus on the history of the American South, that will encourage undergraduate students to think about the ways past political and cultural divisions affect contemporary politics, both in the U.S. and Germany. The second class, part of the Masters of Arts program, examines the American civil rights movement and will connect the story of America's struggle with discrimination to international debates about human rights.