I am delighted to present the 2009-2010 collection of Faculty Achievements in Scholarship and Service at Marymount Manhattan College. This annual publication celebrates the scholarly achievements and service contributions of our full-time faculty. Scholarship is the creation and dissemination of new knowledge or creative work. The MMC faculty make significant contributions to their fields and often bring our students with them into the community of scholars.
Contributions to Marymount Manhattan College through service are vital to the achievement of our institutional mission. The faculty sponsor student organizations, chair and serve on standing and ad-hoc committees, collaborate on college-wide strategic initiatives, and serve on peer review and search committees. These contributions enhance the College immeasurably.
I am enormously proud of the faculty at Marymount Manhattan College and their significant achievements in teaching, scholarship and service. MMC offers students an opportunity to study with faculty who are passionate teachers, active scholars, and devoted members of the academy. Congratulations to each of the faculty members recognized in this publication.
Sincerely, David M. Podell, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
Please click on the links below for each section of the Awards and Achievements page
Associate Professor of Theatre Arts: promoted to Professor of Theatre Arts.
Dr. Kent Worcester, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science: promoted to Professor of Political Science.
Tenure and Promotion Awards
Assistant Professor of Communication Arts: granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Communication Arts.
Assistant Professor of Dance: granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Dance.
Dr. Michael Colvin
Assistant Professor of Spanish: granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Spanish.
Prof. Millie Falcaro
Assistant Professor of Art: granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Art.
Dr. Lia Leon Margolin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics: granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Mathematics.
Dr. Ghassan Shabaneh
Assistant Professor of International Studies: granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of International Studies.
Dr. Jerry Williams
Assistant Professor of English: granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of English.
Distinguished Chair Awards
List of Award Winners for 2009-2012
Marymount Manhattan College created the Distinguished Chair Award, funded by This is the Day, the Campaign for Marymount Manhattan, to be one of the highest honors it can bestow upon a faculty member. The Distinguished Chair is awarded to faculty whose scholarship has been widely recognized for its excellence; its purpose is to provide the time and resources to allow awardees to produce major works in their discipline.
Dr. Kathleen LeBesco
Professor of Communication Arts: appointed as a Distinguished Chair of Communication Arts for three academic years (2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012).
Dr. Jason Rosenfeld
Associate Professor of Art History: appointed as a Distinguished Chair of Art History for three academic years (2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012).
Teaching Excellence Award
Award Winner for 2009-2010
Dr. Ghassan Shabaneh
Associate Professor of International Studies.
Sokol Award, Marymount Manhattan College
List of Award Winners for 2010-2011
Prof. Giovanna Chesler
Communication Arts
Funding will support two projects: development of feature film screenplay Stick and exhibition of a short film Buy Bi Love. These projects advance Prof. Chesler's artistic and activist interest in gender and sexuality. At a pivotal stage in her career, this funding will allow her to expand the reach of her film Buy Bi Love and begin development of a challenging new feature length project. She will also incorporate first-hand knowledge of production and distribution methods into her courses. Her attendance at world-class film festivals as a Marymount Manhattan College professor will expand the international reputation of the College.
Dr. Julie Huntington
French
14 14 13 13Funding will help Dr. Huntington to conduct ethnographic and library research regarding West African cooking practices and folklore. With this interdisciplinary project, which combines research methodologies from literary criticism, linguistics and anthropology, Dr. Huntington seeks to further explore the relationships among contemporary literature, culinary traditions, family histories and social identities. Inspired by recent works by West African Francophone writers, her work will provide a significant contribution to a growing body of scholarship in contemporary African Studies and Francophone criticism.
Prof. Ellen Orenstein
Theatre Arts
Funding will assist Prof. Orenstein in creation and production of an ensemble theatre piece that draws on her teaching and directing at MMC, and incorporates the work of several MMC alumni. The project has already evolved to the point where it has become a newly created play, now titled The Aloneness Project, which Prof. Orenstein will submit to national and international theatre festivals. The project will be a useful demonstration for our students of how the methodologies and content of theatre courework can be integrated and utilized into a public performance.
Prof. Jill Stevenson
Theatre Arts
Funding will support the travel and research expenses associated with four major research trips including the Great Passion Play (Eureka Springs, Arkansas), The Creation Museum, Holyland, USA and Holy Land Theme Park (Orlando), and a travel to Germany to attend The Oberammergau Passion Play which has been performed once every ten years since the 17th century but which has become controversial since World War II. Based on her travel and reserch, Dr. Srevenson will undertake her second book project, which aims to demonstrate the value of studying popular Christian media forms as significant performative genres and thereby enrich the dialogue about religious media whithin theatre studies. In addition, she will develop an upper-level multidisciplinary course tentatively titled “The Brain, Religious Belief and Cultural Performances.”
Dr. Jerry Williams
English
Funding will support the completion of his memoir called The Wrong House, a book about growing up in suburban Ohio and longing for escape. In addition, Dr. Williams plans to develop a course on coming-of-age memoir under the heading of Special Topics in Creative Writing. Developing such a course will involve researching creative writing pedagogy, reading several books of creative nonfiction for the purpose of preparing a new list of required texts and perfecting the syllabus.
Science Faculty Awards
List of Award Winners for 2009-2010
Dr. Ann Aguanno, Ph.D.
Biology
Funding will provide student support, laboratory supplies and student travel in a continuing project in an undergraduate biology research training program, The role of cyclin dependant kinase 5 (CDK5) in the development of mammalian tissues. Dr. Aguanno has implemented a faculty and peer training program that advances an ongoing molecularcelular biology research project. The project is continuous and advances through the training of new (“junior”) students by the “senior” students in the lab. The end result is an active, productive research project which also acts as a pedagogical tool for the development of student skills in scientific research and communication, while fostering self reliance and confidence in the student researchers.
Dr. Alessandra Leri, Ph.D.
Chemistry
Funding will allow Dr. Leri to work on her current research project, Organochlorine in Personal Hygiene Products and Laundered Textiles. The project extends a method of analysis she developed for measuring organochlorine levels in soils and other environmental samples, as well as personal hygiene products and textiles. Based on the merit of a proposal Dr. Leri submitted to Brookhaven National Laboratory, she has been awarded “beam time” at the National Synchrotron Light Source over the next two years. With this project Dr. Leri plans to expose our students to a major research laboratory work environment to encourage them to pursue careers in scientific research.
Dr. Benedetta Sampoli Benitez, Ph.D.
Chemistry
Funding will continue student support and travel expenses for a research project, Computational Studies of the fidelity mechanism of DNA polymerase X in the presence of oxidatively damaged DNA. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Tamar Schlick at NYU and two articles have been already published on the topic. One of Dr. Sampoli-Benitez's students was included in a publication as an author; another presented results of recent experimentation and won second place honors at an undergraduate research conference. These outcomes make our students competitive when they apply to graduate and medical schools.
Faculty Leaves And Fellowships
List of Awards for 2009-2010
Communication Arts, Fall 2010
This leave will enable Prof. Mushtare to develop software called Self-Disclosure 3.0, a data management application that visualizes and accounts for an individual's expenditure and receipt of electronic data for the courses in the Communication Arts Creative Media concentration.
Communication Arts, Fall 2010
This leave will enable Dr. Kurylo to edit a communications textbook; develop curriculum for an intercultural communication course; assist students in submitting their work at a state conference; and write and submit a research article about stereotypes to a blind peer-reviewed communication journal.
Prof. Giovanna Chesler
Communication Arts, Spring 2011
This leave will enable Prof. Chesler to work on two projects: development of feature film screenplay, Stick, and exhibition of a short film, Buy Bi Love.
Dr. Ken Ching, Ph.D.
Mathematics, Fall 2010
This leave will enable Dr. Ching to balance two areas his professional activity at Marymount Manhattan College: research and curriculum development. Dr. Ching's research is in group theory and for the past several years, he has been working on groups generated by hyperbolic reflections, a new concept that he had discovered. Dr. Ching plans to revise the text that he wrote for a course in cryptology, adding another chapter and more problems to the exercises.
Prof. Anthony Ferro
Dance, Fall 2010
This leave will enable Prof. Ferro to develop two grant proposals and publish an educational DVD in conjunction with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company.
Dr. Bradley Herling
Philosophy, Spring 2011
This leave will enable Dr. Herling to continue the research and writing on a project called Theorizing Extremity: Essays on Religion, Ethics and Transgression, which willlead to several articles and a book-length publication, and development of an advanced, interdisciplinary seminar within Marymount Manhattan's general education curriculum.
Prof. Jill Stevenson
Theatre Arts, Spring 2011
This leave will enable Dr. Stevenson to complete a book manuscript built upon the research in her first book, and will be based on the results of four research trips during the summer of 2010.
Dean's Fellowships
External Grants and Gifts to Support
Academic Programs and Scholarship
Foundations
Anonymous
A foundation which prefers to remain anonymous awarded a grant of $10,000 to the Bedford Hills College Program Endowment.
Association of American Colleges and Universities
The Association of American Colleges and Universities gave a grant of $5,000 through the Bringing Theory to Practice Project to engage students in media production projects that reflect the College?s commitment to interdisciplinary work and service learning. Giovanna Chesler and Rebecca Mushtare.
Council of American Overseas Research
The Council of American Overseas Research awarded a $3,000 Alumni Follow-Up Grant for the seminar Teaching About Islam and the Middle East. Millie Burns.
The L. W. Frohlich Charitable Trust
The L. W. Frohlich Charitable Trust awarded a grant of $10,000 to be added to the Madeleine D. Burns Scholarship for non-traditional female students.
Alana & Lewis Frumkes Foundation, Inc.
The Alana & Lewis Frumkes Foundation awarded a $2,500 grant to the Sr. Judith Savard Travel Fellowship and a $2,500 grant for the Professor Gurcharan Singh Memorial Fund.
The Glickenhaus Foundation
The Glickenhaus Foundation awarded MMC two grants totaling $50,000 to support scholarships for students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need.
Jephson Educational Trusts
The Jephson Educational Trusts awarded MMC a grant of $10,000 to support scholarships to students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need.
The Willis and Nancy King Foundation
The Willis and Nancy King Foundation awarded $5,000 to the Bedford Hills College Program Endowment.
The Ambrose Monell Foundation
The Ambrose Monell Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant for unrestricted support.
Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation
The Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation awarded a $300,000 grant over two years for the Stavros S. Niarchos Endowed Scholarship for International Students.
The Rudin Foundation
The Rudin Foundation gave a $15,000 grant for the Jack and Lewis Rudin Distinguished Visiting Scholars Lecture Series.
The Selz Foundation
The Selz Foundation awarded a grant of $20,000 to support the Bedford Hills College Program.
The Starr Foundation
The Starr Foundation gave a grant of $50,000 for the C.V. Starr Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need. This is the College?s largest scholarship fund.
The Waldorf Family Foundation
The Waldorf Family Foundation gave a $5,000 grant to the Mary Waldorf Scholarship Fund which supports a female student who demonstrates academic merit and financial need.
The Frederick and Margaret L. Weyerhaeuser Foundation
The Frederick and Margaret L. Weyerhaeuser Foundationgave a grant of $2,000 to the Antonetta Ferraro Scholarship which supports female students with financial need whose fathers are deceased and mothers are heads of household.
Arthur Williams Charitable Trust
The Arthur Williams Charitable Trust gave a grant of $14,500 for scholarship support for needy and deserving students studying business administration.
Anonymous
A foundation which prefers to remain anonymous awarded a grant of $10,000 to the Bedford Hills College Program Endowment.
Association of American Colleges and Universities
The Association of American Colleges and Universities gave a grant of $5,000 through the Bringing Theory to Practice Project to engage students in media production projects that reflect the College’s commitment to interdisciplinary work and service learning. Giovanna Chesler and Rebecca Mushtare.
Council of American Overseas Research
The Council of American Overseas Research awarded a $3,000 Alumni Follow-Up Grant for the seminar Teaching About Islam and the Middle East. Millie Burns.
The L. W. Frohlich Charitable Trust
The L. W. Frohlich Charitable Trust awarded a grant of $10,000 to be added to the Madeleine D. Burns Scholarship for non-traditional female students.
Alana & Lewis Frumkes Foundation, Inc.
The Alana & Lewis Frumkes Foundation awarded a $2,500 grant to the Sr. Judith Savard Travel Fellowship and a $2,500 grant for the Professor Gurcharan Singh Memorial Fund.
The Glickenhaus Foundation
The Glickenhaus Foundation awarded MMC two grants totaling $50,000 to support scholarships for students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need.
Jephson Educational Trusts
The Jephson Educational Trusts awarded MMC a grant of $10,000 to support scholarships to students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need.
The Willis and Nancy King Foundation
The Willis and Nancy King Foundation awarded $5,000 to the Bedford Hills College Program Endowment.
The Ambrose Monell Foundation
The Ambrose Monell Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant for unrestricted support.
Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation
The Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation awarded a $300,000 grant over two years for the Stavros S. Niarchos Endowed Scholarship for International Students.
The Rudin Foundation
The Rudin Foundation gave a $15,000 grant for the Jack and Lewis Rudin Distinguished Visiting Scholars Lecture Series.
The Selz Foundation
The Selz Foundation awarded a grant of $20,000 to support the Bedford Hills College Program.
The Starr Foundation
The Starr Foundation gave a grant of $50,000 for the C.V. Starr Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need. This is the College’s largest scholarship fund.
The Waldorf Family Foundation
The Waldorf Family Foundation gave a $5,000 grant to the Mary Waldorf Scholarship Fund which supports a female student who demonstrates academic merit and financial need.
The Frederick and Margaret L. Weyerhaeuser Foundation
The Frederick and Margaret L. Weyerhaeuser Foundationgave a grant of $2,000 to the Antonetta Ferraro Scholarship which supports female students with financial need whose fathers are deceased and mothers are heads of household.
Arthur Williams Charitable Trust
The Arthur Williams Charitable Trust gave a grant of $14,500 for scholarship support for needy and deserving students studying business administration.
External Grants and Gifts to Support
Academic Programs and Scholarship
Government Grants
New York State Department of Education
A legislative grant of $10,000 for the Bedford Hills College Program was obtained through the efforts of Senator Thomas K. Duane.
United States Department of Education
A $400,000 federal appropriations grant was made to establish the Geraldine Ferraro Center for Educational Excellence in Science, Technology and Mathematics. The Ferraro Center will address the urgent national goal to expand student exposure to a broad range of laboratory and clinical experiences by increasing the number of students engaged in faculty-mentored research activities on campus. This grant was supported by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
New York State Department of Education
A legislative grant of $10,000 for the Bedford Hills College Program was obtained through the efforts of Senator Thomas K. Duane.
United States Department of Education
A $400,000 federal appropriations grant was made to establish the Geraldine Ferraro Center for Educational Excellence in Science, Technology and Mathematics. The Ferraro Center will address the urgent national goal to expand student exposure to a broad range of laboratory and clinical experiences by increasing the number of students engaged in faculty-mentored research activities on campus. This grant was supported by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
Distinguished Chair, Marymount Manhattan College
Sokol Fellowship, Marymount Manhattan College
Teaching Excellence Award, Marymount Manhattan College
Scholarship and Service
Barbara Adrian
Professor, Theatre Arts
Susan Behrens, Ph.D.
Professor , Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
Adrienne Bell
Assistant Professor , Art
Carrie-Ann Biondi
Assistant Professor , Philosophy and Religious Studies
Jennifer N. Brown
Assistant Professor , English and World Literatures
Carol Camper
Associate Professor , English and World Literatures
Yu-Yin Cheng
Associate Professor , History
Giovanna Chesler
Assistant Professor , Communication Arts
Hallie Cohen
Associate Professor , Art
Kevin Connell
Associate Professor, Theatre Arts
Millie Falcaro
Associate Professor , Art
Cecilia Feilla
Assistant Professor , English and World Literatures
Anthony Ferro
Associate Professor , Dance
Manolo Guzmán
Associate Professor , Sociology
Bradley Herling
Assistant Professor , Religious Studies
James Holl
Associate Professor , Art
Julie Huntington
Assistant Professor , English and World Literatures
Ann Jablon, Ph.D.
Professor , Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
Katie Langan
Professor , Dance
Kathleen LeBesco
Professor , Academic Affairs
Alessandra Leri, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor , Chemistry
Corey Liberman
Assistant Professor , Communication Arts
Twila Liggett
Assistant Professor , Social Science
David Linton
Professor , Communication Arts
Nancy Lushington
Instructor, Dance
David Mold
Associate Professor, Theatre Arts
Peter Naccarato
Associate Professor , English and World Literatures
Cheryl Paradis, Psy.D.
Associate Professor , Psychology
MJ Robinson
Assistant Professor , Communication Arts
Jason Rosenfeld
Associate Professor , Art
Benedetta Sampoli Benitez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor , Chemistry
Ghassan Shabaneh
Associate Professor , International Studies
Linda Solomon, Ph.D.
Professor , Psychology
Jill Stevenson
Assistant Professor, Theatre Arts
Laura Tropp
Associate Professor , Communication Arts
Kent Worcester, Ph.D.
Professor , Political Science
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EDITOR
Lora Georgiev
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
David Podell Manuel Romero
PRINTER
Michael Graphics, Inc. 11 Terminal Road New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732-846-8680
SPECIAL THANKS
Carolyn Bolt, Office of College Relations and Advancement Marie Warshofsky, Office of Academic Affairs Mary Boehm, Michael Graphics, Inc. Cathy Kurtzo, Michael Graphics, Inc.
