Major Highlights
Dean Jeffrey Straussman and James Wyckoff served as members of the gubernatorial transition team.
The Tuesday Policy Lunch series included such notable speakers as Paul Francis, director of the New York State Division of the Budget; Catherine Bertini, professor of practice, Maxwell School of Syracuse University; Michael Balboni, deputy secretary for public safety; and Ambassador Feisal al-Istrabadi, deputy permanent representative of the Iraqi Mission to the United Nations.
For the first time, Rockefeller College alumni are mentoring students in the Washington Semester program.
Dean Straussman created a new Scholar Awards program for highly competitive applicants choosing graduate study in areas of special strength within the college.
Awards and Recognition
Dean Straussman was appointed to the Educators Advisory Committee, Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC. He also received the Distinguished Alumni Award, Political Science Program, CUNY Graduate Center, City University of New York.
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Sue Faerman, who is also a professor of Public Administration and Policy, was named a Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Scott Barclay, associate professor of Political Science, was awarded the 2006 Bailey Prize for best conference paper on lesbian and gay issues for a paper he co-authored on "Shaping the Same Sex Marriage Discussion."
Professor Victor Asal received the Martin Edelman Excellence in Teaching Award at the Spring 2007 Undergraduate Recognition Ceremony.
Grants
Professor Wyckoff received the following grants:
- National Science Foundation Grant "Student Achievement and Teacher Retention: The Role of Working Conditions and Professional Development" (with D. Boyd, P. Grossman, H. Lankford, and S. Loeb), 2006-09, $838,475.
- New York State Education Department "Education Finance Research Consortium (with W. Duncombe, D. Monk and L. Stiefel), 2006-2011, $1.1 million.
Professor Asal received $13,000 in fellowship awards for three undergraduates and one graduate student through his research associate position at the National Center for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.
Faculty and Staff Appointments
The Department of Political Science added depth in two areas of excellence with the hiring of Julie Novkov, associate professor, and Ruth Groff, visiting assistant professor.
Robin Lamott Sparks joined Rockefeller College as the new Director of Internships and Special Projects in the Office of Career and Alumni Programs