Michael S. Rosenberg

The search for a new dean of the School of Education has been completed. Michael S. Rosenberg, who is currently associate dean for research in the School of Education and a professor in the Department of Special Education at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., will take on this role August 3.

As dean of the School of Education at New Paltz, Rosenberg will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer for the School. “The School of Education at New Paltz has a rich and long-standing history of innovation and quality teacher preparation. Working with colleagues across the university and in communities across the region, I look forward to contributing to and sustaining improvements in the quality of educational services for all students in our schools,” said Rosenberg.

President Donald Christian said he is excited to have Rosenberg join New Paltz as dean of education.  “He brings with him a wealth of administrative and faculty experience and strengths as a serious-minded, thoughtful leader and problem-solver and an effective communicator,” Christian said.  “His strong commitment to collaborative, transparent leadership, his dedication to student learning, and his reputation as an advocate of high quality will serve the School of Education, our students, and the regional educational community well.”

Rosenberg holds both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in special education from the State University College at Buffalo (Buffalo State). He earned his Ph.D. in special education at The Pennsylvania State University, and was recently a Fulbright Fellow at Saint Patrick’s College in Dublin, Ireland.

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Tanhena Pacheco Dunn

Tanhena Pacheco Dunn, Esq. has been appointed New Paltz’s first executive director for compliance and campus climate. She will assume her duties on June 18 and will report directly to President Donald P. Christian.

In this new role, Pacheco Dunn will be responsible for monitoring the college’s compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures as they apply to: Title IX provisions that deal with sexual assault, sexual harassment, and hostile workplace issues; affirmative action; and New York State ethics legislation. This includes resolving complaints, making policy recommendations, designing and facilitating training for students and employees (with support from Student Affairs and Human Resources respectively), and coordinating interdepartmental efforts to comply with these employment legislations.

Additional duties include developing and administering the college’s affirmative action plan; determining outcomes of employee accommodation requests; participation in the college’s various employee search processes; and serving as the point of contact on relevant compliance questions from state, federal or other regulatory agencies.

For nearly 11 years, Pacheco Dunn has served as the assistant director of human resources at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, where she was responsible for employee relations issues including compliance, performance management and staffing needs for over 1,100 employees. She also worked with the EEOA office to support continued training in regards to harassment, non-discrimination and Title IX. In addition, Pacheco Dunn managed the Worker’s Compensation, Family Medical Leave, and Disability processes; had administrative oversight of three collective bargaining agreements and assisted with drafting policies and responses to legal matters. Prior to her position at Vassar College, Pacheco Dunn was an alumni recruiter for the Albany Law School in Albany.

Dr. Mary Boyle

New Paltz mourns the loss of Mary Boyle, emerita professor and director of the College’s music therapy program. Boyle died on May 4, 2012 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Boyle was a beloved teacher, music therapy clinician, music educator, and researcher for more than 30 years. She published widely on the topic of music therapy and comatose patients and presented her work nationally and internationally. A faculty member at New Paltz from 1981 to 2010, she received the received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1990 and the American Music Therapy Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

Boyle was born January 8, 1947 in Vancouver, Wash.. After graduating from the University of Portland in Portland, Ore., she served as a VISTA volunteer in Somerville, N.J., and later was the Administrative Assistant/Researcher in Municipal Finance at Matthew and Wright, Inc. in New York City. She earned her Master of Arts, Master of Education, and Ed.D. degrees from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York.

She is survived by her brother John Boyle of Vancouver, Wash., and many close friends.

Contributions in her honor may be made to the Mary Boyle Music Therapy Scholarship Fund, SUNY New Paltz Foundation, 1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, N.Y., 12561.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 11,  at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph Church in New Paltz. The service will be followed by a reception in the church parlor. For more information and directions, go to the Copeland Funeral Home website: www.copelandfhnp.com.

President Christian and WAMC President and CEO Alan Chartock in Parker Theatre

An interview of President Donald Christian by WAMC President and CEO Alan Chartock aired on the radio show A Conversation with… on Thursday, May 3. The interview was taped in front of a live audience in Parker Theatre on April 26. A recording can be heard online here.

During the interview, Christian spoke about his first year as president of the university, as well as his long career in education. “I am grateful for the opportunity to speak about my leadership vision for SUNY New Paltz with Alan Chartock for WAMC on the occasion of my inauguration,” Christian said.

“The State University of New York at New Paltz has provided the perfect opportunity to bring one of our most loved programs to the Hudson Valley,” said Chartock. “Combining that with a live audience for the show, it’s a win for everyone.”

President Christian joins a long list of notable guests on A Conversation with…, which include Folk singer Pete Seeger, Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Oscar winning actor F. Murray Abraham, Chief Administrative Law Judge at the FCC Richard Sippel, and RealAge Dr. Mike Riozen. SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, Professor and Artistic Director of the Piano Summer Institute and Festival Vladimir Feltsman, and 2012 James H. Ottaway Sr. Professor of Journalism Andrew Lehren were all recently interviewed on the show.

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a member of National Public Radio and an affiliate of Public Radio International. The station is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states. Stations and translators are in 24 locations throughout the region.

Main entrance, Old Main Building

The Old Main Building, which was once the sole building to encompass all of SUNY New Paltz, has been renovated and refitted to meet the educational needs of the 21^st century. A rededication ceremony will be held on Friday, May 11, at 11 a.m. Following the ribbon-cutting, which will take place in front of the red doors, a reception will be held in the 1907 Room (Room B125). All events are open to the public. In case of rain, all events will be held in the 1907 Room (Room B125).

The Old Main renovation incorporated the installation of high-tech classrooms, modern faculty offices, complete electrical upgrades, central air-conditioning and meticulous attention to the interior finishes of the building to restore its natural elegance and ornamentation. Green features include maximum water efficiency, a highly efficient air-conditioning system, and lighting and other systems that will achieve 10 percent more energy efficiency than the standards established by the New York State Energy Code. Materials with recycled content were incorporated into new construction, including steel beams and columns, and finishes such as carpet, vinyl tile flooring and acoustic ceiling panels. During the demolition, more than 90 percent of the material removed from the facility was converted into recycled content.

President Donald P. Christian, Retired Dean Robert Michael (Education), and Interim Dean Karen Bell (Education) are expected to speak during the ceremony. State Senator John Bonacic and State Assemblymember Kevin Cahill ’77, both of whom helped secure funding for the renovation, are also expected to address the audience. Professor Emeritus Lou Saraceno (Languages, Literatures & Culture) will be presenting a plaque to honor former faculty members who taught languages at New Paltz.

President Christian at Dutchess Chamber of Commerce breakfast

President Donald Christian spoke to a packed house at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel as the keynote speaker for the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce’s April Contact Breakfast on April 18.

He spoke about the importance of public education and the University’s role in the Hudson Valley. “Public colleges and universities must play a regional role, supporting citizens, communities, and organizations in our midst.  It is important that we do that without losing sight of the primary reason that society supports us – educating students.   This part of our mission is reflected in both the College mission and Chancellor Zimpher’s Power of SUNY strategic plan, which focuses on linking SUNY campuses to our communities and their social, cultural, and economic welfare,” he said.

He reiterated several vision points for the College that he had discussed at his inauguration earlier in the month. “New Paltz must continue to improve the quality and affordability of our educational offerings if students are to be prepared to thrive in and contribute to a very different world – a diverse and global society and an economy that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous…As I stated in my inaugural speech, we must strive to make practical education liberal and liberal education practical,” he said.

The designation is based on the number of publications on teaching and learning that come out of each of the school’s sociology departments. New Paltz is one of only two schools on the list that does not have a graduate program in sociology, and therefore did not have articles written by graduate students included in the count. New Paltz was near the top of the list in terms of work by teaching faculty.

            “We were very proud to see our department show up on Teaching Sociology‘s list of leaders in the scholarship of teaching and learning,” says Brian Obach, chair of the sociology department. “Like many of our colleagues here at New Paltz, we take our teaching very seriously, and it is really satisfying to get this kind of national recognition for our efforts.”

The reception will honor Interim Provost Cheryl Torsney; Associate Provost and Dean of The Graduate School, Laurel M. Garrick Duhaney (Interim Provost for 2010-11); Interim Dean of the School of Education, Karen Bell; Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, Daniel Freedman (formerly Interim); Interim Dean of the Library, William Connors; and English Professor Stella Deen, who served as Interim Associate Provost and Dean of The Graduate School during 2010-11.

Each of these individuals has provided critical leadership during a time of transition for the college. The campus community is invited to attend and to thank them for their hard work and commitment.

The day’s program featured author/illustrator Lynne Cherry, whose best-selling children’s books teach readers to respect the earth. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) showcased its Hudson River Estuary Program and its various workshops for educators. An expert panel on living green, featuring Suzanne Kelly (green burial); Amy Hepworth (sustainable and organic agriculture); Anthony Sicari (solar farms); and Laura Petit (composting and recycling), was held in Studley Theatre.

The Cary Institute, Brook Farm Scenic Hudson, Mohonk Preserve, New Paltz Climate Coalition, the Hudson River Clearwater; New Paltz Farmers Market, and many student groups also participated. The event was made possible by the New Paltz Environmental Task Force, the School of Education, and the Division of Academic Affairs.

10th Annual Chi Alpha Epsilon Induction Ceremony

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) hosted the 10th Annual Chi Alpha Epsilon Induction Ceremony on Friday, April 27.  The public recognition and pinning ceremony recognized the academic achievements of 44 EOP undergraduates. An additional 24 students were recognized for earning an upgrade distinction.

SUNY New Paltz Director of Advising for the School of Business and former EOP Advisor, Rendesia Scott ’96, delivered the keynote address. Scott was instrumental in bringing a Chi Alpha Epsilon chapter to New Paltz and is a charter member.  Her remarks centered around the theme, “…and they said you couldn’t do it.”

Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) is a national honors society for opportunity program students with over 125 chapters. The Beta Omicron Chapter at SUNY New Paltz bears the distinction of having inducted the largest number of students for a chartering induction.