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2003
COLLINS FELLOWS AWARD
The
Collins Fellow Award
is named for the late Evan Revere Collins, who served the
University as president from 1949 to 1969. It is presented
to senior members of the teaching faculty to recognize �extraordinary
devotion to the University and the people in it over a sustained
period of time.�
This
year's awardees are:
Professor
Paul A. Leonard of The School of Business
Paul Leonard�s nominator, Professor David Smith, referred
to his ��refined, statesmanlike manner and broad-minded approach.�
Other supporters spoke of a superb work ethic, an incredible
attention to detail � coupled with the ability to synthesize
that detail instantly into sharply-defined concepts � and
a splendid sense of humor.
Dr.
Leonard has been a member of the UAlbany faculty since 1979,
when his service to the campus began. He has served repeatedly
on the Senate, as chair and member of numerous Senate councils,
and on a myriad of other University-level committees. He has
served as both a member and chair of the Council on Promo
tions and Contin uing Appoint ment (CPCA) � probably the most
time-demanding of any of the governance bodies. The current
chair of CPCA, Distinguished Service Professor Glenna Spitze,
describes his contributions as his �deep commitment to academic
excellence, integrity, and equity, [which] makes his contributions
exceedingly valuable. He reviews every case very seriously,
providing extensive, thoughtful commentary delivered in a
spirit of collegiality. He is often able to help the Council�s
membership reach understandings and bridge differences through
his careful, reasoned approach.�
This
same sentiment is echoed throughout the descriptions of Professor
Leonard�s service commitment to the University. Again, from
his nominator, David Smith: �Professor Leonard has also been
a non-chair member of countless other committees, both at
the University and school levels. All colleagues would confirm
that [he] does not merely occupy a seat in meeting rooms,
he brings a fervent commitment to accomplishing the goals
of each group. That his committees maintain a spotless record
of follow-through, of achieving their goals, is no accident.�
Paul
Leonard seems to be called upon to serve on any organized
body that requires experience, complete commitment to the
task at hand, and rock-solid judgment. Several of his supporters
said that simply having him in the room adds to the quality
of deliberation. Invariably, he is completely prepared, has
analyzed the data to be discussed, and brings to the table
the rare ability to present his synthesis of that data in
a manner that clarifies the issue for all participants.
Additionally,
he is a superb teacher, having been recognized with both of
the School of Business Excellence Awards for Teaching (undergraduate
and graduate), and by the University with the Chancellor�s
Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is known to be extremely
demanding of his students, while at the same time committed
to spending enormous time preparing for his classes and providing
his students with personal and on-line assistance.
This
year, Professor Leonard will continue his enormous service
commitment to the University by serving as interim dean of
the School of Business.
Professor
Edelgard Wulfert of The Department of Psychology
Professor �Elga� Wulfert joined the University at Albany family
in 1988. Her service to the University since that time has
been simply extra ordinary. She epitomizes the faculty member
who goes far beyond any reasonable expectation to assist the
University, the College of Arts and Sciences, and her department
in achieving their respective missions, and she is also dedicated
completely in her concern for, and active involvement in,
the well-being of students.
The
�service� portion of Dr. Wulfert�s curriculum vitae is as
diverse as it is long. However, her service at the campus-wide
level has been concentrated in the most demanding of positions;
specifically, those that require the most time, the greatest
attention to detail, and the very highest level of sound judgment.
These include chairing the University Senate, the Edu cational
Policy Council and the Council on Academic Freedom and Ethics,
as well as serving on the Council on Promotions and Continuing
Appointment and the Distinguished Service and Teaching Pro
fes sor Review Committee.
Professor
Wulfert served as chair of the University Senate in 2001-2002.
As chair, she worked tirelessly and proactively to increase
diversity in the Senate and re-engage senior faculty members
in Senate councils and committees. She invested enormous time
and effort to constitute, and later chair, an ad hoc Senate
committee to revise the existing policy on academic misconduct,
and, as many of the Senate Council charges seemed somewhat
dated, she formed the Bylaws Review Committee comprised of
six Senate Council chairs and herself. The work of this committee
culminated in changes to, and improvements of, the existing
faculty bylaws, and was ratified by the Senate in May, 2003.
She
then went on to chair the Edu ca tional Policy Council, and
has just been elected to her second year as chair. In this
capacity, among many other duties and accomplishments, Dr.
Wulfert chaired a committee comprised of six senators and
the Vice Presi dent for Research. She met with this team of
colleagues regularly from May 2002 through March 2003 and
developed a �Policy Framework on Responding to Misconduct
in Research and Scholarship� that expands on the existing
University policy. At the core of the new policy is the creation
of a special Senate committee, the Committee on Ethics in
Scholarship and Research (CESR), which will be involved in
the adjudication of academic misconduct cases.
Since
her arrival at UAlbany in 1988, Professor Elga Wulfert has
immersed herself in service to this campus, typically through
the most challenging, time-consuming, and critically necessary
roles. She is a superb University citizen, and is greatly
deserving of membership in the ranks of the Collins Fellows.
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