Nikolay Karkov
Nikolay Karkov, Philosophy Department, co-authored an article titled “Rethinking East-European Socialism: Notes Toward an Anti-Capitalist Decolonial Methodology,” recently published in Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies. The text makes a contribution to both anti-capitalist and decolonial critique from the perspective of the historical legacy of East-European socialism, by offering a genealogy of critical theory in the region after the Cold War, critically discussing socialist humanism's colonial origins, and also exploring South-to-East collaborations between the former Third and Second Worlds. The authors conclude that East-European socialism’s efforts to organize alternative and resistant modernities at times converged and at others starkly departed from capitalist colonial modernity.
Timothy Conner
Timothy Conner, School of Arts and Sciences, along with adolescence education: earth science majors and SUNY Cortland Noyce Scholars Brendan Creegan and Eric Reisweber, presented “De-Criminalizing High Stakes Exams through Effective Teaching: Using Project-Based Learning Modules to Meet and Exceed Standards” at the Noyce NE Conference held in March in Philadelphia, Pa. Fearing the results of high stakes exams, teachers often resort to “teaching to the test” or trying to force feed standardized curriculum to resistant students. As a teacher in New York, a state with a long history of high stakes, end of the year assessments, Conner has found that project-based modules focused on issues relevant to students were much more effective than teaching to the test. Project-based learning helps to engage students in relevant science experiences and provides a context to support the learning of content required for success on state exams. Presenters demonstrated how project-based modules can be used in the classroom to meet and exceed understandings required for high stakes assessments.
Claus Schubert
Claus Schubert, Mathematics Department, taught an honors abstract algebra course for the Summer Math Institute (SMI) held from June 10 through Aug. 2 at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. The SMI is a National Science Foundation-sponsored program designed to increase diversity in the mathematical sciences by encouraging highly talented students from underrepresented minorities to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics. The program prepares the students with an intensive eight-week course and an undergraduate research experience.
Ji-Ryun Kim and John Foley
Ji-Ryun Kim, Foundations and Social Advocacy Department, and John Foley, Physical Education Department, recently had their research published in the Korean Journal of Special Education. The title of their article is “Stability of Students’ IEP Status and Related Factors: Analyses of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Kindergarten Cohort.”
R. Bruce Mattingly
R. Bruce Mattingly, School of Arts and Sciences, participated in a panel discussion on tenure issues in higher education hosted by Syracuse University on March 28. The panel was presented as part of SU’s Future Professoriate Program for graduate students who intend to pursue faculty careers. Other panelists included Risa Lieberwitz, Cornell University, and Robert Rubinstein, Syracuse University.
Student Achievements
Matthew Norris, a senior exercise science major from Homer, N.Y., was nominated by SUNY Cortland faculty members for a Phi Kappa Phi honor society national fellowship. Norris will pursue a doctorate in physical therapy at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. this fall.
Norris is accomplished academically and has made significant contributions to campus through his involvement in bringing Around the World for Yeardley program and developing the Mental Health Mondays for student athletes. Also, he is a member of the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference All-Academic Team among many other activities on campus and in the community.
Robert J. Spitzer
Robert J. Spitzer, Political Science Department, gave a talk titled “It’s All Academic: The Meaning of the Second Amendment Versus Heller,” at a conference on “The Second Amendment: Its Meaning and Implications in Modern America,” held Jan. 18 at Lincoln Memorial University School of Law in Knoxville, Tenn.
Bonni C. Hodges
Bonni C. Hodges, Health Department, was reappointed to the Research and Publications Committee of the American School Health Association. She was named chair of the “Promoting Research Translation” sub-committee.
Seth N. Asumah and Mechthild Nagel
Seth N. Asumah, Africana Studies and Political Science departments, and Mechthild Nagel, Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies and Philosophy Department, presented papers at the recent Syracuse University symposium, hosted by the Department of African American Studies, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the late Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s landmark book, Arrow of God. Among the presenters were members of the Achebe family, international personalities in Africana and oral literature, and scholars from various universities around the world. Asumah’s paper is titled “Arrow of God as a Tool for Analysis in Comparative Political Science.” Nagel’s paper is titled “The Art of Restorative Justice vs. Colonial Punishment with its Focus on Prisons (Engendering Social Death), Referencing Arrow of God.”
Kevin Dames
Kevin Dames, Kinesiology Department, and collaborators had their paper titled “Impact of Wearable Technology on Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health Outcomes in College Students with Disabilities” published in the Journal of Physical Activity Research. Persons with disabilities face unique barriers to physical activity and consequently have higher rates of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and some forms of cancer. This work attempted to increase physical activity behaviors in college students with disabilities by providing a fitness tracking device and educational sessions. Participants increased daily walking and aerobic fitness. Simple, inexpensive interventions to encourage physical activity in this group may encourage healthy lifestyle choices that decrease risk of chronic disease.