People at KSC

Meet Selleck Scofield, a nonagenarian who loves being a student.

by Shawna-Lee I. Perrin ‘94

If you’re lucky enough to sit down and talk with Selleck Scofield, you will have met the epitome of “perpetual student.” He has been learning whatever the world teaches him for nearly 90 years, in fact, and shows no signs of hanging up the ol’ notebook, even though he’ll be receiving his associate’s degree in sciences in December 2007. Truth be told, I wish I were still a student at Keene State, if only to have the chance to be in a class with Scofield. His passion for learning and critical thinking is positively contagious.

Scofield and his wife, Susi, first met in New York, where Scofield was working for the city. “I met her at work, and …” he pauses and chuckles, “she wasn’t the first girl I’d gone with, but there was just something about her. You know how that is; everyone does. And my judgment was very good.” They have been married for 54 years and have a quiet understanding of each other that is only possible through such time and shared experiences.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Bannon ’87 keeps the Iowa sand prairies healthy.

by Lara Skinner

Every three years Joe Bannon ‘87 gets to show off a little during a public field day at Big Sand Mound nature preserve in Muscatine, Iowa. He gets to teach people about the remedial sand prairie at Big Sand Mound, which is normally off limits to the public, by talking about everything from nature photography to the endangered yellow mud turtles that make their home there. Bannon’s work as the manager of environmental training, performance, and support for MidAmerican Energy helps to ensure that the prairie remains a vibrant and protected part of Iowa’s natural heritage.

When he started working for MidAmerican six years ago, he didn’t have anything to do with the preservation of Big Sand Mound. A personnel change put him at the head of the company’s efforts. It’s the best “accidental assignment” he’s ever received, he said.

Read the rest of this entry »

David Boufford ’73 packs his KSC biology degree when he explores China’s Hengduan Mountains.

by Shawna-Lee I. Perrin ‘94

The third floor of the Harvard University Herbaria houses a large space packed to the rafters with tall metal cabinets filled with well-documented, dried plant specimens from all over the world, some specimens dating as far back as the 1700s. This is where David Boufford ‘73, senior research scientist, works. His office is a comfortable, unpretentious space with large windows overlooking the north end of the Harvard campus, and his shelves are filled with books about plants, some of which he has edited himself. Boufford reaches for a piece of azurite he found while doing fieldwork in Xizang (Tibet) and places it on a work table for a visitor to examine.

A native of Keene, Boufford attended Keene High School and then graduated from Keene State with a bachelor’s degree in biology. In the 1970s, he collected and dried plants that began Keene State’s own herbarium – one of only five in the state. He says that his real interest was initially in insects, but his studies ended up taking him in a different direction. “Plants are easier because they can’t run away from you,” he notes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Leone ‘06 majored in safety and health with a second concentration in architecture during his years at Keene State. He played intramural basketball, was a resident assistant for three years, and participated in Habitat for Humanity all four years, including co-leading a Global Village trip in 2004. He worked construction jobs most summers, but in the summer after his junior year had a special internship opportunity that sharpened his academic focus. Today, only two years after graduating, he is the lead safety manager at the biggest Department of Energy project in the United States, at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in Palo Alto, California. Leone reflects on his years at Keene State and what he loves about his chosen major and career.

As a construction worker myself, I was very much aware of the risks workers willingly take on a daily basis. In the construction industry, people operate and work around a tremendous amount of energy that , if not respected, can easily cause serious injury or death. the Safety and Health program at KSC prepared me to manage programs that facilitate the process of identifying a hazard, implementing appropriate controls, and measuring the successes of those controls. I know that through my efforts, at the end of the day people go home to their families the same way they came into work that morning. To me, that is rewarding.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y.
Major: Health Promotion and Fitness
What I like about my major: There is always something new and interesting to learn.
Favorite professor: Chris Miles
Activities: Women’s Basketball team, organization of wellness leaders, student athletic committee, bodyworks staff.
KSC has changed me in this way: This school has challenged me, forced me to work hard for everything I wanted, and made me a better person.
I picked KSC because: The KSC campus here is so inviting and the people are very welcoming. I’ve never felt more comfortable.

Hometown: Westbrook, Conn.
What I like about my major: My professors have been so dedicated and personable in my major. I have learned so much and be-come friends with so many of my teachers.
Activities: Teaching Assistant, tour guide, Tutor, Orientation Staff leader, peer advisor, field hockey team (freshmen year), NSTA vice president, Biology Club, Senior Facility Supervisor at Spaulding Gymnasium
Things I do with my friends: Watch our favorite television shows, make dinner, and eat together
Favorite book: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Favorite film: Bull Durham
Favorite music: John Mayer
Research project:I worked with Dr. Bergman with genetics and then conducted fruit fly research the second semester.
KSC has changed me in this way: Independence, freedom, adulthood, responsibility, time management, academic interest
The one thing I’m proudest of: My involvement with the Americorps program Breakthrough Collaborative. I taught middle school students biology, physical science, and technology.

Hometown: Laconia, N.H.
Major: I am constructing my own major, which is an exciting process. I have interests in literature and writing, and hope to be-come a published author. I would also like to have cross-cultural/cross-gendered perspectives to draw upon in my works.
Activities: KSC Male A Capella Singers, president/founder; KSC Pride, secretary; KSC Anthropological Society; Gay-Straight Activists for Social Justice; Common Ground; Spanish Club
Things I do with my friends: Go for coffee and walks, watch movies, and play cards
Favorite book: Children of Dune
Favorite film: The Mothman Prophecies
Favorite music: Al Green
The one thing I’m proudest of: I’m proud to be the first in my family to attend college.
KSC has changed me in this way: Independence, freedom, adulthood, responsibility, time management, academic interest
I picked KSC because: It’s a beautiful place in the heart of nature and not far away from home.

Hometown: Salem, N.H.
Favorite class: Applied Trumpet with Jim Boccia
Activities: Student Government, tour guide, KSC Concert Band, KSC Jazz Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, NSCS, Leadership Com-munity Review team member.
Things I do with my friends: We like to hang out, go into town, have fun and just relax.
I picked KSC because: I chose KSC because the campus was bustling and people seemed to be enjoying themselves everywhere. I have never regretted attending this institution.
I recommend KSC because: It is a great liberal arts college and has a great campus. Student life is vibrant, and the professors care about us. There is something for everyone on campus to participate in and you will meet a lot of new people.

Hometown: Wentworth, N.H.
Major: Individualized, Behavioral Biology
What I like about my major: There are so many subfields (such as criminal justice and social disorders) that keep me interested.
Activities: Anthropology Club, Student Activities Council, and the Feminist Collective. I also have a job at the Olive Garden in Keene.
Things I do with my friends: Walk Main Street, get coffee at Brewbaker’s, sit on the Quad, listen to music, and take the shuttle to Target!
The one thing I’m proudest of: Getting the Dean’s scholarship
I recommend KSC because: It offers an amazing array of opportunities for the individuals who come to study here. Whatever you want to do with your life, Keene State has the resources to help you reach your goals.
Personal goal: Earn my master’s degree.
KSC has changed me in this way: I’ve made so many new friends. My professors and academic advisor make me feel so empowered. I have definitely become more aware of myself mentally and physically since coming here.
I picked KSC because: When I was on my campus tour, I immediately saw people I knew, places that looked interesting, and clubs and classes that sounded great. I knew that I would fit in here perfectly.

Hometown: Rollinsford, N.H.
What I like about my major: The computer industry is ever changing and always providing me with new challenges.
Faculty mentor: Dr. Foster has always amazed me with the amount one person can know about an area of study.
Favorite website: www.apple.com
Activities: Student Body Vice President, KSC Jazz Ensemble, SAULBrothers Jazz Quintet
Things I do with my friends: Play pool
Favorite book: The Google Story
Favorite music: Glenn Miller Band
I’m proudest of: Running my own computer repair company
International Exchange: I will be going abroad to Scotland in Spring 2008!
I recommend KSC because: It is everything you could want in a small liberal arts college. It offers anything you can look for, from clubs to areas of study.
KSC has changed me in this way: KSC has strengthened my leadership skills and taught me how to take criticism, learn from my mistakes, and be a better person.