Dr. Jerry Jasinski

Cambridge Who’s Who has recognized KSC chemistry professor Dr. Jerry P. Jasinski for demonstrating dedication, leadership, and excellence in chemistry and research management. His primary teaching interests include general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, X-ray crystallography, and biochemistry. The president of the American Institute of Chemists, Dr. Jasinski was honored with a Distinguished Scholarship and Research award in 2001.

More information.

Earlier in May, the College held a retirement party for two of its beloved professors, Larry Benaquist and Tim Antrim.

Dr. Benaquist came to KSC in 1969 to teach Renaissance lit and soon got sidetracked into creating the Film Studies program. It’s been a wild ride ever since; you can read about some of it in the profile on Dr. Benaquist in the upcoming issue of Keene State Today, due out soon!

Even though officially retired, Dr. Benaquist will still be around campus. He’s teaching a few courses and putting the finishing touches on the film chronicling the history of the College. He’s also still swept along by such historic discoveries as When Lincoln Paid.

Dr. Antrim came to Keene State in 1968 and taught Classical Greek literature, 17th and 18th century British literature, Milton, D. H. Lawrence, Katherine Mansfield, and the literature of science. A colleague remembers Dr. Antrim reciting “The Battle of Malden” while they stood in the rain waiting for a restaurant’s doors to open for lunch.

He plans to keep earth household in Roxbury, wander the woods, watch the stars, do mathematics, read, write, dance, and play the concertina.

Have a warm memory of either or both of these two remarkable educators? Use the “comments” link to tell us about it.

Please check out our new video, featuring alumni, students, and staff. The video’s just over nine minutes long; take a look, then come back here and let us know what you think. Who did you recognize? How does it reflect your KSC experience?

(The link above takes you to the standard high-definition version. If you have a slower connection, or want closed captioning, or both, there are other viewing options available at that site.)

In August, Dr. Anne-Marie Mallon was named 2009 Distinguished Teacher by the Keene State Alumni Association. Congratulations to Dr. Mallon, who, like her predecessors in receiving this award, is characterized by excellence in the classroom, encouragement of independent thinking, rapport with students both in and out of the classroom, and effective student advising. For more on her scholarship and background, take a look at the official news release.

But if you didn’t go through “The Mallon Experience” yourself at KSC, and want to get a sense of how she presents to students, we have a fantastic video of her address at this year’s New Student Convocation (also available at the KSC YouTube Channel):

Dr. Jack Marshall; 1992 photo taken by Dwain Hammett ’92 in the KSC sculpture studio (a.k.a. The Factory)

The KSC community was saddened to hear that  John (Jack) Marshall, professor emeritus of art, passed away on Tuesday, July 7th.

Dr. Marshall taught sculpture at KSC from 1973 until he retired in 2002. Many community members will recall walking by the sculpture studio – at all hours of the day – to see him working away on one of his projects. Or, more likely, they just heard him working; often, he had so many works in progress that he was hidden behind them.

Dr. Marshall had a BA in design from Massart, an MFA from Boston University, and a PhD from the Yale School of Architecture. His works have been shown in Massachusetts at Fuller Memorial Museum in Brockton, the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, the Baak Gallery in Cambridge,  and the Carl Siembab, Sunne Savage, and Ellie Reiglehaupt galleries on Newbury St. in Boston. His work has appeared in NYC at the Whitney Biennial, the Awards Exhibit of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, the American Institute of Architecture, Leve House, the New School, the Allan Stone Gallery and in a solo show at Ward Nasse Gallery in Soho. He has had European shows in Milan, Pisa, Florence, Copenhagen, Geneva, and Zurich.

Drop us a comment if you remember this prolific artist, and visit his website, Marshall’s Art.

Dr. Susan Herman (photo by Mark Corliss)

We are saddened to learn that Dr. Susan Herman, professor emerita of Management, passed away early this morning, June 24th. Dr. Herman was an energetic and engaged teacher, professional, traveler, outdoorswoman, and cook. The KSC Human Resources office uses her 1994 book, Hiring Right, as a sound basis for the College’s recruiting protocols. Dr. Herman was also an important catalyst in the evolution of the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies, which established the Susan J. Herman Award for Leadership in Holocaust & Genocide Awareness this past April to honor her vital contributions to its work.

Dr. Paul Vincent, professor of Holocaust studies and history, mentioned a meeting with Dr. Herman in early spring, when she was still undergoing tests for pancreatic cancer in Boston. He recalled a statement she made that summed up the strength of her character: “You know, Paul, I want to live. But if that’s not to be, I’ve had a wonderful life.”

“The world is a dimmer place without the magic of her life,” Dr. Vincent said.

For a wealth of photos and information from Susan and her family, including notification of upcoming memorial services in Dorchester, Mass., and Keene, visit her Caring Bridges web pages.

If you remember this warm and wonderful teacher, please use the “comments” link below to let us know, and visit the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies blog to leave and read memories.

“The Power of Real-World Experience: Community-based Research at Keene State,” an article featuring Keene State’s Community Research Center, appeared in the December 2008 issue of AAC&U News, a publication of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).

The CRC was founded in 2001 to promote research skills and professional development among Keene State students while serving the research needs of nonprofit agencies in New Hampshire’s Monadnock region. Dean Gordon Leversee and Professor Therese Seibert (Sociology) were interviewed for the story.

On October 18, Phyllis Benay (Interdisciplinary Studies) presented and chaired a session entitled “Writing Program Administration: Models of Success” at Hofstra University’s Who Owns Writing? conference. Her paper, “Raising Writers: It Takes a Whole Academic Community,” discussed the roles of faculty, tutors, and administration in helping students take responsibility for their writing.

“Powder Hollow Archeology,” a poem by William Doreski (English) is one of 12 finalists in the Times Literary Supplement (London) poetry competition. The poem selected by reader vote from the finalists wins 5,000 pounds. All 12 poems appeared in the October 24 issue of the TLS.

Dr. Jerry Jasinski (Chemistry) was featured on WMUR-9’s “Hometown Heroes” segment in October.

In September, Karen R. Cangialosi and Scott Strong (Biology) completed their first coral-reef monitoring survey. Read more about their adventure on the Reef Check website.