April 30th, 2009

Keene State College’s 2009 Commencement ceremony will be held on Fiske Quad on Saturday, May 9. This year, each of the four schools will be marching behind a colorful gonfalon, a long banner created by designer alum Brian Parda ’01, to symbolize the different academic areas at Keene State. (Pictured below is the gonfalon for the School of Professional and Graduate Studies.)

Pauline Dionne (Advancement) reminds the campus community that parking permits are required for Commencement on Saturday and advises people to arrive early to allow for parking. Permits for faculty and staff members participating in the commencement line-of-march will be in campus mail on Monday, May 4. For other staff parking permits, please contact Pauline Dionne at pdionne@keene.edu. Faculty and staff parking will be in the Elliot Hall Lot and/or Carroll House/Historical Society lot off Main St. Permits go on your car dashboard.

Filed under: Campus & Community | Comments Off

Courtesy photo; Karen Jennings (Psychology)

Campus Compact for New Hampshire recognized KSC professor Karen Jennings, the Keene Head Start Program, and Jeremy French ’10 at the annual President’s Awards luncheon on April 14 in Nashua, NH.

Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Karen Jennings was awarded the Presidents’ Good Steward Award. While attending graduate school at Boston University, Jennings volunteered at the Samaritans suicide hotline, and she has connected her KSC students with the Samaritans program of the Monadnock Region. By offering her students the opportunity to volunteer as a partial service-learning component to her classes, she has secured a number of volunteers each semester for the Samaritans suicide hotline.

The Keene Head Start program received the Presidents’ Community Partner Award for its work with the Keene State College America Reads program. Nine KSC work-study students gained valuable experience in the early childhood education field through engaged weekly classroom work at Head Start, and the preschool children benefitted from having college students involved in their education from this early age.

Jeremy French received the Presidents’ Leadership Award for his work with local community youth and the campus community. A junior at Keene State, he is a member of College for Every Student (CFES) and a big brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Monadnock Region, and he works with the Keene Recreation Department’s Coordinated Approach to Child Health Program (CATCH) after-school program. He also volunteered weekly for the Marlborough/Harrisville After-School Program. An active member of the Greek community, he has served as Secretary for Phi Mu Delta.

Campus Compact for New Hampshire is a statewide consortium of college and university presidents and private-sector partners committed to the civic purposes of higher education. The mission of Campus Compact for New Hampshire is to be a catalyst to integrate community service and civic responsibility throughout the academic and student-life goals of its member institutions.

Filed under: Awards | Comments Off

Keene State health, safety, and medical professionals are closely monitoring the outbreak of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) in the U.S. and internationally. Visit the Center for Health and Wellness for the most updated information.

Filed under: Campus & Community, Health & Wellness, Health Services | Comments Off

Graphic Design USA has awarded designer Lynn Roman (College and Media Relations) an American Inhouse Design Award for the invitation she created for the Thorne-Sagendorph Art 2008 Gallery Summer Show, “Leonard Weisgard and Others: An Illustrator’s Journey.”

The American Inhouse Design Awards showcases outstanding work by inhouse designers within corporations, publishing houses, non-profits, universities, and government agencies who deserve recognition for their creativity, for the special challenges they face, and for their contributions to their businesses and institutions.

Roman received a Certificate of Excellence. Her work will be eligible for publication in Inhouse Design Awards Annual, and on the GD USA website this year.

Lynn Roman’s award-winning invitation to the Thorne’s 2008 Gallery Summer Show

Filed under: Arts, Awards | Comments Off

Photo by Lynn Roman. Bud Winsor (Physical Plant) talks about the crab apple tree that was planted next to Rhodes Hall on Friday, April 22, as part of Keene State’s Earth Week celebration. Children from the Child Development Center are in the foreground.

Filed under: Campus & Community, Campus Sustainablity and Recycling | Comments Off

The College’s second All-Campus Budget Discussion will take place on Friday, May 1, from 3 to 4:30 pm in the Mabel Brown Room.

President Giles-Gee will start the meeting with a brief introductory overview, followed by presentations from the co-chairs of the Budget and Resource Council, Provost Mel Netzhammer and Paul Striffolino, assistant vice president for Student Affairs. Jay Kahn, vice-president for Finance and Planning will talk about the campus planning process and discuss the cost containment and revenue creation strategies of Keene State’s cost-center managers. Information from the meeting will be posted on the College’s website at www.keene.edu/admin/budgetchallenges/ early next week.

Filed under: Budget, Campus & Community | Comments Off

From Connie Lester, Redfern: Keene State students, faculty, staff, and community members from the fall production of Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker participated in the Region I Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival held at Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Mass., in January. After attending all productions in each of the eight regional festivals, the national selection team awarded ten commendations for distinguished achievement to selected New England Festival Productions. Five of those commendations were awarded to The Matchmaker. They included Jenny Fulton, faculty member of the Theatre and Dance Department, for scene design; Kade Hill, for his performance as Cornelius Hackl; Ethan Selby, for his performance as Barnaby Tucker; Jamie Pearsons, for her performance as Mrs. Irene Molloy; and Allie Lee Relihan, for her performance as Minnie Fay.

The festival brings students and faculty together to see some of the area’s strongest productions, participate in workshops, and compete in a variety of areas in theatrical performance, design, and production. Keene State College was honored to be one of five New England productions from the 116 adjudicated for inclusion in the festival.

Filed under: Awards, Redfern | Comments Off

From Connie Lester, Redfern: Dr. Abigail Butler will receive the Keene State College Music Department’s 2008–09 Distinguished Alumni Award on May 2, during the KSC Concert Choir and Monadnock Chorus performance at 8 p.m. in the Main Theatre of the Redfern Arts Center. While visiting the campus, she will present workshops for Keene State music students.

Butler completed her undergraduate degree in vocal performance at Keene State in 1980, studying under music faculty member Carroll J. Lehman. She received her master of music degree from Midwestern State University in Texas and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Arizona.

A member of the National Music Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda; the Music Educators National Conference; and the American Choral Directors Association, Butler is a native of Keene, N.H., and currently resides in Eastpointe, Mich., with her husband. She taught vocal and classroom music to grades K–12 for 13 years in New Hampshire public schools and served as guest conductor for state and regional junior high music festivals, in addition to adjudicating for the New Hampshire All-State Chorus and the New England Music Festival Association. Butler has appeared as soprano soloist with the Keene Chorale, the Monadnock Chorus, and various churches in New Hampshire and Texas.

Filed under: Awards | Comments Off

From Jay Kahn, Finance and Planning: The Planning Council has assembled a Planning Commons Status Update on 73 strategic and operational initiatives submitted in late fall. While in many cases, review committees have passed along initiative recommendations, initiatives requiring recommendation from the Budget and Resource Council and the President’s Cabinet still need to be finalized. The original schedule indicated that Cabinet review would be completed by May 14. The uncertainty of the FY2010 budget is making decisions constraining funding available for important initiatives. Committee comments on initiatives are to be forwarded back to requesters in the near future. You can check the status of strategic and operational initiatives by visiting the Planning Council website.

Filed under: Planning Council | Comments Off

From Stuart Kaufman, Sports Information: A spring season that began with frozen lacrosse balls and snow-covered baseball and softball fields, and somehow circumvented the countless postponements and cancellations along the way, has culminated with the start of Little East Conference tournament play for Keene State College teams this week. The Owls will be in the thick of tournament play with all four of their teams in action. KSC coaches, young and old, felt it was an unusual regular season and are looking forward to the tournament.

Keene State men’s and women’s lacrosse teams earned first-round byes and will get the ball rolling on April 30 with semifinal games. Tying a program record with six straight wins, the second-seeded Owl women’s lacrosse team (10-7) will host the winner between #3 Plymouth State and #6 Western Conn. at 3:30 p.m. The Owls, who reached the finals in 2004, are looking for their first LEC championship. They were edged out by Southern Maine (17-16) in the semifinals last year.

Also seeded second, the Keene State men’s lacrosse team (8-3) will take the field at 6 p.m. when they face the winner of the quarterfinal game between #3 Southern Maine and #6 Salem State. The Owls, who claimed tournament titles in 2005 and 2007, were upset in the semifinals by Western Conn. (14-13, OT) last spring. Championship games in both lacrosse tournaments will be played at the highest remaining seed on Saturday.

Hoping to carry the momentum of the improbable 9-8 come-back victory over three-time defending champ R.I. College on April 26, the KSC softball team (22-11) will head down to Providence as the tournament’s second seed. Winners of 14 of their last 16 games, the Owls will face fifth-seed Plymouth State in first-round action on April 30 at 12 p.m. KSC won the tournament in 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005.

“This team has been steady and has matured throughout the season,” said KSC softball coach Charlie Beach. “I don’t think they will be fazed by the pressure of participating in the tournament.”

The defending champion and third-seeded KSC baseball team (20-14) will face sixth-seed UMass-Dartmouth in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2, at noon. If a third game is needed, it will be played at noon on Sunday. Each winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the four-team double-elimination tournament at the highest remaining seed.

Filed under: Athletics | Comments Off

From Kathy Halverson, Mason Library: Come join us for Mason Library’s latest READ poster unveiling on Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. in the Wood Reading Area of the Library. Our featured poster celebrities are seven of the library’s student assistants. The year’s Poster was produced entirely by students. Kayla Auction, a graphic design student, designed the poster, and Marina MacDonald was the student photographer.

Past READ Posters have featured Provost Mel Netzhammer, President Helen Giles Gee, and six members of the Women’s National Field Hockey Coaches Association All –Academic Squad.

Take a break and enjoy the festivities as we take time to recognize the importance of reading and literacy. Light refreshments will be served, and a limited number of posters will be given away as door prizes. All are invited to attend.

Filed under: Mason Library | Comments Off

From Jeanne Hearn, Sustainability Council Eco-Note Committee: This year’s RecycleMania competition has come to a close, and once again, Keene State posted a strong showing as one of over 500 colleges and universities to participate in the eighth annual event to raise awareness of recycling and waste reduction on campuses across the country. According to RecycleMania 2009, 4.7 million students and 1.1 million faculty and staff on these campuses collectively recycled or composted just over 69.4 million pounds of waste over ten weeks.

In the Per Capita Classic Competitive Division, schools competed to collect the largest amount of acceptable recyclables per person. Keene State College placed 97th out of 293 schools in this category and third in New Hampshire, with 13.93 cumulative recyclable pounds per person.

In the Gorilla Prize category, based on collection of the highest gross tonnage of materials, Keene State College placed 149th out of 293 schools and third in New Hampshire, with a total collection of 73,334 pounds of recyclables.

The complete rundown of results of RecycleMania 2009 is available at www.recyclemaniacs.org/Results.aspx. Thank you to ROCKS, Eco-Reps, and the campus community for their contributions to another outstanding showing!

Filed under: Campus Sustainablity and Recycling | Comments Off

From Vesta Hornbeck: The Keene area branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will hold its annual book sale Tuesday, May 12 through Friday, May 15 in Rhodes Hall. The hours are 4–6 p.m. Tuesday (special preview, with a $5 fee) and 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday–Friday.

Proceeds from the sale are used for local college scholarships. The AAUW awards two scholarships each year to Keene State students: $1,000 for a graduate scholarship and $500 for a diversity scholarship. Antioch New England University and River Valley Community College also receive scholarship money from the Keene AAUW. The group has assembled a huge selection of books for this year’s sale, and plants and handcrafts will also be available.

For more information, contact Vesta Hornbeck (co-president) at 603-876-3913 or vhornbec@keene.edu.

Filed under: Events | Comments Off

Dr. Patrick M. Eggleston (Biology) presented his research findings on the Ashuelot River on April 18 at the Northeast Algal Symposium held at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. About 120 phycologists and 30 guests were in attendance.

His research has shown increased acidity at several sites on the Ashuelot River over eight years of observations, which may be the result of acid rain and could have a serious effect on many species living in the river. Two Ashuelot River sites showed a pH decline of 1.93 pH units, which means that there is about 80 times as much acidity now as compared to 8 years ago – a drastic increase in the acidity of those portions of the river. The Ashuelot River is 64 miles long and flows from its headwaters in Pillsbury State Park to the Connecticut River in Hinsdale, N.H.

The data for this research was collected by many volunteers working with the Ashuelot River Local Advisory Committee. Members of this group include Barbara Skuly and retired KSC chemistry professor, Dr. Steve Stepenuck, both of whom have spent years studying many aspects of the Ashuelot River.

Filed under: Professional Activities | Comments Off

Three Keene State students, an eighth grader from Monadnock Regional High School, and a storyteller from Shelburne Falls, Mass. received awards at the 12th Annual Hildebrandt Holocaust Studies Awards Program on Monday, April 20, at Keene State College. The awards program, named for the late Charles Hildebrandt, who founded KSC’s Center for Holocaust Studies in 1983 and served as its first director, remembers the Holocaust by way of student and community art and scholarship.

Hannah Bush, 14, from Richmond, N. H., received the $300 Community School Award. The eighth grader at Monadnock Regional Middle School was recognized for her entry, an original song entitled “Be a Witness.”

David Arfa, from Shelburne Falls, Mass., received the $300 Community Member Award. His storytelling entry, “The Jar of Tears,” is based on the life of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapiro, the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto. Rabbi Shapiro did not survive the war, but his sermons did – preserved in a milk jug, with a request that these teachings reach a wider audience.

Meagan Blais, a KSC Junior enrolled in Keene State’s new Holocaust and Genocide Studies major, will be one of the first undergraduate students in the U.S. to earn a B.A. degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Her personal essay, “Inheriting the Holocaust,” received a $500 award. The essay explores the burden of shame that accompanies bearing witness to the Holocaust, both personally as a scholar and for the generations that follow the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

KSC students Jessica Howard and Becky Midler shared a $500 award for “Unearthed Sense,” an original dance that they choreographed and performed. Their interest in the Holocaust began when they participated in “Inspired by Kaddish,” a dance performance this past fall, and continued after they viewed the Samuel Bak exhibit at the Thorne in November. The dance was representative of two individuals going through the same, but separate, struggle and takes place within a border of empty shoes.

For more information visit the website, or contact Margaret Barney, 8-2490, mbarney@keene.edu.

Courtesy photo; 2009 Hildebrandt Award winners (left to right): Hannah Bush, David Arfa, and Meagan Blais.

Filed under: Awards, Cohen Center | Comments Off

President Helen Giles-Gee was one of the primary speakers at the April 17 meeting of the New Hampshire Women in Higher Education Leadership Spring Conference at Plymouth State University on April 17. She spoke about the need for higher education leaders and institutions to adapt to tough economic times. More than 100 women representing New Hampshire’s institutions of higher education attended the event.

Courtesy photo

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Dr. Lauret Savoy will present “Alien Land Ethic: The Distance Between,” Keene State College’s 2009 Janet Grayson Lecture in Literary Studies, on Monday, April 27, at 6 p.m. in the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery Conference Room. An hors d’oeuvres reception to honor Janet Grayson, KSC professor emerita, will precede the lecture at 5.30 p.m.

Lauret Savoy is professor of Geology and Environmental Studies at Mount Holyoke College. A woman of African-American, Euro-American, and Native-American heritage, she writes across threads of cultural identity to explore their shaping by relationship with and dislocation from the land. Her books include Bedrock: Writers on the Wonders of Geology, The Colors of Nature: Culture, Identity, and the Natural World, and Living with the Changing California Coast.

In this talk, Dr. Savoy connects her father Willard Savoy’s 1949 novel of racial passing, Alien Land, with the environmental ethics of another famous book published in that same year: Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac. Her work considers how braided strands of human history and geologic-natural history contribute to stories we tell of land’s origin and history, and to stories we tell of ourselves in the land and of relational identity. Sponsored by the Department of English and the School of Arts and Humanities, the annual Janet Grayson Lecture in Literary Studies is named in honor of Dr. Grayson, professor emerita of the KSC Department of English. For more information contact Dr. William Stroup at wstroup@keene.edu or 8-2692.

Courtesy photo; Dr. Lauret Savoy

Filed under: Lectures | Comments Off

On Friday, April 24, Paul McMullan (Art/Graphic Design), the KSC Art Department, and the KSC Safety Committee will host a Ceramic Studio Open House at the newly renovated Whitcomb Ceramic Studio. Over the year, upgrades suggested by an industrial hygienist and theatre and art safety expert were incorporated into the general renovation of the studio – come check out the new space! Workshops with potters Aysha Peltz, Todd Walhstrom, Matthew Towers, and the Town Hill Pottery Airstream Gallery will be part of the celebration. For more information, contact Paul McMullan at 8-2752 or pmcmullan@keene.edu.

Filed under: Arts | Comments Off

Faculty and undergraduate psychology majors from Keene State, Colby Sawyer College, Franklin Pierce University, and UNH-Durham gathered in the Student Center on April 18 for the Undergraduate Psychology Conference, hosted by the New Hampshire Psychological Association and Keene State College’s Psi Chi chapter.

Dr. Anthony Scioli, (Psychology) gave the keynote address, “The nature and significance of Hope: Theory, Research, and Applications.” Karen Couture (Psychology) reports that approximately 115 faculty and students attended. Events included poster presentations, a job fair, and sessions designed to present unique psychology-related careers to interested graduates. KSC student Sheri Lantagne, president, KSC Chapter, Psi Chi, was profiled in an article about the conference that appeared in the April 23 issue of the Concord Monitor.

Photo: Sheri Lantagne; Christopher Gueret (right) from Colby Sawyer College talks about his poster “Effect of Skin Tone on Decisions of Judicial Sentencing” with N.H. Psychological Assoc. president-elect Dr. Foad Afshar (left).

Filed under: Conferences | Comments Off

As part of National Student Employment Week, each year Student Financial Services sponsors a program to select the college’s most outstanding student employee. This year Alex Trombley, assistant technical director in the Theatre and Dance department, received the award at a campus ceremony on April 16.

“The assistant technical director position is an incredibly demanding position,” wrote Craig Lindsay (Theatre and Dance), who nominated Trombley. “The technical director mentors the ATD through the process of all Theatre and Dance productions. Only students in good standing are offered the position, and it is only offered to one student at a time. It is a very visible and honored position among our students and faculty.”

Courtesy photo; President Giles-Gee and Alex Trombley at the Student Employee of the Year awards ceremony.

Filed under: Awards | Comments Off

Members of the Keene and campus communities gathered in front of Parker Hall on April 22 to honor Frederick “Chris” Feiker with the dedication of the garden in front of Parker Hall. Chris was Keene State’s gardener from 1976–2004, and created many wonderful gardens on campus. Friends and colleagues shared memories and paid tribute his legacy, beauty that renews itself each year.

Photo by Chris Justice; Chris Feiker and his wife, Cindy.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

On Friday, April 24, The Keene State community has an unusual opportunity to pose questions to Keene native Major General David Perkins, director for Strategic Effects, CJ-9, Multi-National Force, during a video teleconference in the Markey Lecture Hall (Science 101), Science Center. A facilitated discussion moderated by Steve Clark (Psychology) and Jason Endacott (Education) is scheduled from noon–12:30 p.m. The video teleconference will run from 12:30–1:30 p.m.

As a career officer, Major General Perkins has commanded at the company, battalion, task force, brigade, and theater level in Germany, Macedonia, Iraq, and the United States. In July 2008, he became the Director for Strategic Effects, CJ-9, Multi-National Force-Iraq in Baghdad. In this capacity, he coordinates and implements political, economic, and communications activities on behalf of the MNF-I. MG Perkins also serves as a spokesman for MNF-I.

Filed under: Events | Comments Off

Dr. Suzanne Castriotta has been named Executive Director for the Center for Engagement, Learning, and Teaching (CELT) at Keene State College. She is responsible for delivering programming and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to strengthen the overall teaching and learning environment, including the coordination of new faculty orientation for both tenure track and adjunct faculty. The center also includes academic technology, service learning and civic engagement, and instructional design.

“Keene State College has an ambitious vision for CELT, and Dr. Castriotta is the right person to lead this new initiative,” says Provost Mel Netzhammer. “She brings great skill and focus to the position.”

Prior to accepting this appointment in April 2009, Castriotta served as CELT’s Interim Director for the 2008–2009 academic year. During her tenure at Keene State, she served as the Assistant Dean of the School of Science and Social Science and spent nine years as a faculty member in the Computer Science Department, including a two-year appointment as department chair. Prior to moving to higher education, Sue taught computer education at the middle-school level and held technology-related positions in private industry. She is active in local organizations and currently serves on the board of directors for the Keene Swamp Bats.

Photo: Mark Corliss; Dr. Suzanne Castriotta

Filed under: Appointments, CELT | Comments Off

From Genny Alexander, Development: Thank you to everyone who has made a gift this spring to the KSC Faculty and Staff Campaign! Students across campus are benefiting from your generosity. Gifts have been made to the Alumni Unrestricted Fund, the OS Dependent Scholarship Endowment, Athletics, Mason Library, and many other areas on campus. Thank you! We are wrapping up the campaign next week, and there is still time to make a gift or pledge. You may make your gift online or fill out a payroll deduction form and return it to Mail Stop 2701.

Wednesday, April 29, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., there will be a thank-you breakfast at the Student Center for all faculty and staff who have generously made a gift to KSC this fiscal year. There will also be an opportunity for those who have not made a gift to do so at the breakfast. If you plan to attend the breakfast, please RSVP to Amy Proctor at 8-2372 or aproctor@keene.edu. Once again, thank you for your continued hard work, dedication, and generosity to Keene State College!

Filed under: Development | Comments Off

From Jeanne Hearn, Presidents Office: Please mark your calendars for the next All-Campus Budget Discussion, scheduled for Friday, May 1, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Mabel Brown Room. All members of the campus community are encouraged to attend.

Filed under: Campus & Community | Comments Off