April 23rd, 2009

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

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Dr. Dottie Morris has been appointed Interim Chief Officer for Diversity and Multiculturalism at the College.

“Dr. Morris brings an exceptional resumé with a strong combination of academic credentials and life experience, and well-grounded preparation and understanding in the areas of diversity and multiculturalism,” President Giles-Gee wrote in an announcement to the campus.

Morris worked most recently as associate dean for Student Learning at the World Learning SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vt., and as director of Student Affairs/Core Faculty at the Clinical Mental Health Program at Antioch University, Keene. She has worked at Keene State as an adjunct faculty member in the psychology department, and was named one of Keene State College’s 2008 Outstanding Women of New Hampshire.

The Chief Officer for Diversity and Multiculturalism will recommend institutional practices and policies that foster a welcoming and inclusive campus community. Reporting directly to the president, she will provide support and resources to the College’s deans, commissions, department chairs, administrators, staff, and students in matters related to the advancement of the College’s goals for diversity and multiculturalism. Dr. Morris will begin on September 29, 2008. Her office will be located on the first floor of Hale Building.

Courtesy Photo
Dr. Dottie Morris (seated far right) with the 2008 recipients of Keene State College’s Outstanding Women of New Hampshire (standing, l. to r.): Helen Giles-Gee, Jan Cohen, Jahleh Ghanbari; seated: Juliana Eades

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Dr. Andrew Robinson has been named Vice President for Student Affairs at Keene State College after a national search. The University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees approved the appointment in June.

Dr. Robinson, who served as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the College from July 1991 to December 2007, served as interim vice president for student affairs after the departure of Dr. Corinne Kowpak in January.

He received his Ph.D. in counseling and an M.S. in student personnel administration in higher education from Syracuse University, and a B.A. in English from Allegheny College. Before coming to Keene State in 1991, Robinson held increasingly responsible positions in student affairs at Cape Cod Community College in Barnstable, Mass. He has lived in Keene for 17 years, and his two sons are Keene State College graduates.

The Vice President for Student Affairs is one of three principle administrators on the President’s cabinet. The areas he supervises are Admissions, Athletics, Campus Safety, Residential Life and Dining, the Student Center, the Counseling Center, the Center for Health and Wellness, Disability Services, the Student Development Office, and the Judicial Office.

Photo: Mark Corliss
Dr. Andrew Robinson

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Patricia Farmer has been named Director of Alumni and Parent Relations at Keene State College. She most recently served as director of development and community relations at the Cedarcrest Center for Children with Disabilities in Keene, New Hampshire, where she oversaw eight annual capital campaigns and led an organization-wide rebranding effort.

Prior to that she was vice president and director of educational services at John Brown Ltd., Inc., and a regional director for the American Heart Association. She received a bachelor’s degree in management from Keene State College in 1992.

Farmer is a trustee of the Cheshire Medical Center/Cheshire Health Foundation, a member of the Keene Endowment Association, a member of the Giving Monadnock Advisory Council, and the 2006 recipient of the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award. In 2004 she received the Keene State College Sprague Drenan Alumni Award, which is given to a KSC alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated noteworthy participation in alumni activities and events.

As director, Farmer will be working with the KSC Alumni Association Board of Directors to enhance relationships between alumni and students, faculty, and other alumni. The Alumni Association plans to celebrate KSC’s upcoming Centennial with a grand reunion in June 2009. As the director of parent relations, Farmer will act as a liaison between the KSC Parents Association and the College, fostering programs that promote the vital role parents play on campus. She will manage the alumni and parent relations programs, including planning for reunions, homecoming, and parent/family weekend events, and coordinate area meetings of the alumni and parents associations.

More information about the KSC Alumni Association and Parents Association can be found here or by contacting Patty directly at 8-2370 or pfarmer@keene.edu.

Photo: Mark Corliss
Patricia Farmer

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KSC Faculty Named for Tenure, Promotion

The University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees, on recommendation from its Academic Affairs Committee, has promoted 14 Keene State College faculty members, awarding tenure to 11 professors.

Tenure:
Phyllis Benay (English and Interdisciplinary Studies)
Prudence Cuper (Education)
Brian Green (Sociology), Associate Professor
Linda Hadden (Management), Associate Professor
Kathleen Halverson (Library), Associate Professor
Karen Jennings (Psychology)
Karrie Kalich (Health Science), Associate Professor
Yuan Pan (Art)
Margaret Smith (Health Science)
Karen Stanish (Math)
Michael Welsh (Economics/Political Science)

Promotions:
Colin Abernethy (Chemistry), Associate Professor
Stephen Bigaj (Education), Professor
Suzanne Castriotta (Computer Science), Associate Professor
Vincent Ferlini (Math), Professor
Renate Gebauer (Biology), Professor
Maura Glennon (Music), Professor
Richard Jardine (Math), Professor
Daniel Patterson (Theatre & Dance), Professor
William Seigh (Theatre & Dance), Professor
Susan Theberge (Education), Professor

Emeritus:
Klaus Bayr, Professor of Geography (1969-2008)
Charles Beach, Associate Professor of Physical Education (1978-2008)
Sherry Bovinet, Professor of Physical Education (1970-2008)
Henry Freedman, Professor of Art History (1970-2007)
Russell Harkay, Professor of Physics ( 1980-2008)
Gladys Johnsen, Professor of Music (1993-2008)

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Provost Emile Netzhammer has announced the appointment of Helen Frink (photo, left) as director of the Honors Program. Dr. Frink just completed her term as chair of modern languages and was recognized in 2008 as a distinguished scholar.

He also announced that Sue Castriotta (photo, right) will serve as interim director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching while the College conducts the search for a director in the fall semester.

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