education

Genesee Community College will present the third segment in the Wealth and Poverty Around the World cultural series on Thursday, Dec. 9.

Sonja Livingston, award-winning author of "Ghostbread," will discuss her memoir and highlight childhood poverty in Western New York.

The presentation and discussion will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in T102 at the Batavia campus. This event is free and open to the public. After the discussion, Sonja will be available to sign books (outside of T102) and the GCC Barnes and Noble bookstore will have her book available for purchase.

"Ghostbread" uses a poetic approach to chronicle a childhood stricken with poverty in Western New York. Ghostbread has won an AWP Book Award and it was named a book of the year by "ForeWord" magazine.

One of seven children brought up by a single mother, Livingston moved from an old farming town to an Indian reservation to a dead-end urban neighborhood. She and her siblings followed their nonconformist mother from one ramshackle house to another on the perpetual search for something better.

Along the way, the young Sonja observes the harsh realities her family encounters, as well as small moments of transcendent beauty that somehow keep them going. While struggling to make sense of her world, Livingston perceives the stresses and patterns that keep children--girls in particular--trapped in the cycle of poverty. (www.Sonjalivingston.com)

"Ghostbread" is being featured in Human Services Field Experience classes at Genesee, under the instruction of Connie Boyd.

"'Ghostbread' is an excellent memoir that provides Human Services students with a firsthand account of what it is like to grow up in poverty in our area," said Connie Boyd, director of Human Services at Genesee.

"After reading the poetic novel, students will be doing a reflective paper, and having the opportunity to speak with the author will help our students gain knowledge and understanding in the Human Services field."

Livingston has earned a NYFA Fellowship, an Iowa Award, and Pushcart Prize nomination for her nonfiction writing. Her work has appeared in several textbooks on writing, as well as many journals, including "The Iowa Review," "Spoon River Poetry Review," "Alaska Quarterly Review," "AGNI" and others.

She holds a master's degree in education from SUNY Brockport and a master of fine arts degree from the University of New Orleans. She also teaches in UCLA Extension's Creative Writing Program. Livingston is an elementary school counselor in Rochester, where she lives with her husband, artist Jim Mott.

For further information, please contact Nina Mortellaro at Genesee Community College at 343-0055, ext. 6228 or nimortellaro@genesee.edu.

With the wealth of growing international programs at Genesee Community College, a Study Abroad Open House for interested students is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 18.

The Open House will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union (S104), with 30-minute information sessions about each trip. Faculty representatives will be available to provide information on each program as well as registration materials.

A general information session will take place from 12:30-2:00 p.m. for students interested in learning about all of the study abroad/away opportunities.

Genesee now offers seven study abroad/away programs for students. All led by Genesee faculty, programs include Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, The Netherlands, Ireland, Croatia, Australia, and New York City study away.

In addition, information regarding potential summer internships in Toronto and Brazil will be available.

"This is the perfect opportunity for any student interested in a study abroad program to come and talk to the faculty about their specific program," Robert Frail, International Programs specialist at Genesee said. "We have such a variety of programs, that any student will be able to find a study abroad/study away program that will suit his or her interest."

For further information please contact Robert Frail, International Programs specialist at 585-343-0055, ext. 6456 or rjfrail@genesee.edu.

Finding a government job in this tough economy may be a little easier with the help of the Genesee Community College Career Services Center. It will host a Government Job Search workshop from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11 in B307.

It is sponsored by the GCC Career Services Center and Wellness Center and is free and open to the public.

Attendees will learn how to: conduct a focused federal job search; read and understand the GS (general schedule); decipher the verbiage included in job postings and what to look for when evaluating job announcements.

In addition, the workshop will cover the importance of aligning skills with the KSA (knowledge, skills and abilities) and the federal resume, plus free resources that are available to assist in the federal job search, beginning with www.usajobs.gov <http://www.usajobs.gov>, and information on federal internships that can lead to a permanent career with the federal government.

Guest presenter for the workshop is Sharitta Gross, a program coordinator in the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is also an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College, teaching remedial English, and has coordinated and facilitated career development workshops within the Rochester community.

She is a Certified Federal Career Counselor (CFCC) and Certified Job Search Trainer (CFJST). Over the past two years she developed a cross-campus initiative to educate RIT students and alumni, as well as faculty/staff on the federal job process. Along these same lines, she coordinates RIT's annual Federal and Public Service Career Fair and other on-campus federal sector employer related events.

"This workshop should be very informative to students and community members who are seeking a government job," said John McGowan, director of the Career Services Center at Genesee.

"Federal government jobs can be fairly complicated to acquire, but have many benefits to them. This workshop will hopefully take the uncertainty out of applying for and attaining a government job."

All community members are encouraged to attend this job-search event including current students, or soon-to-be college graduates, community members in a career transition, or seeking a career change, veterans seeking to leverage their military experience by obtaining a federal job and/or recently unemployed members of the community.

To register: stop by the Career Services Office at Batavia Main Campus: B201, call 345-6888, email: slburns@genesee.edu or register on-line: www.genesee.edu/career/events.

Genesee Community College has named Oakfield native Staci Williams as the new director of the Genesee Community College Association's Child Care Center.

Along with the assistance of the office manager, Patti Cassatt, she oversees the center in all aspects, including child enrollment, finances and budget and supervising teachers, assistant teachers, and work-study students.

She also works closely with the Office of Children and Family Services to keep the Center licensed and in compliance with New York State regulations.

"I am very happy to have settled here in the GCCA Child Care Center," Williams said. "I look forward to continuing the high level of care that the center currently offers. I also look forward to increasing our enrollment numbers and exploring our summer child care opportunities."

Not only is she an alum of Genesee, she previously worked for the college as a STAR coordinator from 2001-05.

In 2006, she worked as a lead teacher at Holley ABCD Child Care Center. She then made the transition to the public school system where she worked from 2006-2009 at Oakfield-Alabama Central School as a first- and fifth-grade teacher. Most recently, she was a first-grade teacher in the Newark Central School System for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Williams holds a master's degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Curriculum and Instruction from Buffalo State College, a bachelor's degree in Childhood Education from SUNY Geneseo, and an associate's degree in Elementary Education from Genesee Community College.

She lives in Oakfield with her husband, John, and their three daughters Kayleigh, Katelynn and Summer. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, scrapbooking, photography and spending time with her family.

From GCC:

GCC and SUNY Brockport Study Abroad: A Documentation of the Dutch Culture

Genesee Center for the Arts, Stuart Steiner Theatre Lobby, Genesee Community College

Creative writing and photographs displaying Dutch culture by GCC and SUNY Brockport students that participated in a study abroad trip to Amsterdam in the Spring of 2010.

The show highlights students photographs that serve as a final curriculum culmination to the digital photography and sociology courses that the studens participated in on the tour.

Exhibit open during normal college hours, admission to Lobby Art Gallery is free.

(Note: The exhibit runs through Dec. 4.)

Author, blogger and editor Ken Wheaton will bring his creative writing talents to Genesee Community College on Wednesday, Oct.13, for a reading from his first novel, "The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival."

The reading will take place at the Batavia Campus from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in T102. Afterward, Wheaton will have a question-and-answer period, followed by a book signing. This event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book are for sale in the Barnes and Noble Campus Book Store at Genesee's Batavia Campus.

In "The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival," Father Steve Sibille has come home to the bayou to take charge of St. Pete's church. Among his challenges are teenybopper altar girls, insomnia-curing confessions, and alarmingly alluring congregant Vicky Carrier. Then there's Miss Rita, an irrepressible centenarian with a taste for whiskey, cracklins, and sticking her nose in other people's business.

When an outsider threatens to poach Father Steve's flock, Miss Rita suggests he fight back by staging an event that will keep St. Pete's parishioners loyal forever. As the First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival draws near, help comes from the strangest places. And while the road to the festival may be paved with good intentions – not to mention bake sales, an elephant, and the most bizarre cookout ever – where it will lead is anyone's guess. (Excerpt from www.KenWheaton.wordpress.com)

Wheaton's writings include editing and writing for Advertising Age and his essay "Bombs! Anthrax! Gas! Ho, Hum," appeared in The Subway Chronicles anthology alongside the work of Calvin Trillin and Jonathan Lethem. Born and raised in Opelousas, La., he now lives in Brooklyn. To find out more visit www.KenWheaton.wordpress.com.

"It is imperative that our students have the opportunity to speak with successful writers and poets who are working in the real world," said Shawn Adamson, instructor of English at Genesee. "Not only does it inspire our students to continue with their education, but it also inspires students to never give up on their career aspirations."

This author visit is funded by the President's Innovation Award. The PIA Program provides funding for innovative activities and projects that promote community involvement in the life of Genesee Community College, stimulate student and community pride in the college, or help establish pilot programs or initiatives with the potential for positive, long-term impact on the college.

For further information contact instructor Adamson at 343-0055, ext. 6156 or spadamson@genesee.edu.

Genesee Community College continues its commitment to providing students with cultural-awareness events with a second presentation in the "Wealth and Poverty" series. "Defining Poverty: A State of Need" will be presented by Deborah Naybor on Thursday, Oct. 7.

It will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Batavia campus in room T119. It is free and open to the public.

Poverty is often measured with numbers. Earning less than $18,000 a year or earning less than two dollars a day may place a family under the "poverty line," but these somewhat arbitrary limits fail to look at the basic needs of human beings.

Naybor has worked around the world to create sustainable income for poor families, to improve education and health for communities and to make a difference. She will discuss food security, housing, land rights and other aspects of global poverty in defining a person as "poor." Naybor will talk about what has been done at a grassroots level to reduce poverty and give the audience an opportunity to provide their own solutions to reduce extreme poverty at home and globally.

She is a professional land surveyor and small-business owner in Western New York.  She is the founder and executive director of Both Your Hands, a nonprofit organization which connects caring communities for global self-sufficiency.

This small organization has over 70 projects in 14 countries which create economic and educational opportunities for those in need. In addition, Naybor is a Ph.D. student at the University of Buffalo. Her research focus is on the impact of women's land rights on poverty. She is the winner of more than 20 awards for her ability to overcome obstacles, her business success and her dedication to reduction of extreme poverty around the world.

"We're delighted to have Deborah join us for what is sure to be an enlightening conversation about poverty across the globe," said Karin Kovach-Allen, dean of Human Communications and Behavior at Genesee. "We look forward to not only hearing her presentation, but also the open discussion from our students and what they have to say on the subject."

This event, along with many other cultural awareness events, is developed through the Global Education Committee at Genesee. The Global Education Committee is dedicated to recognizing, embracing, and celebrating the diversity of the human family. Through its varied activities, the Global Education Committee fosters multicultural awareness, understanding and appreciation, and provides opportunities to demonstrate global citizenship.

For further information, please contact Nina Mortellaro at Genesee Community College at 343-0055, ext. 6228 or <http://nimortellaro@genesee.edu >.

This week, the Genesee Community College Board of Trustees:

-- Approved a change to the board of trustees by-laws, making the board's Finance Committee a standing committee.

-- Received, with gratitude, a vet test chem machine for the college's new Veterinary Technology Program from the Batavia Animal Hospital. Students will use the machine to learn how to prepare and submit diagnostic samples. Batavia Animal Hospital also donated a horse learning lab kit, large animal training manuals, and a variety of teaching resource materials to the program.

-- Heard President Stuart Steiner report that the opening of fall classes was smooth and successful. He noted that when all fall enrollment is tabulated, it will likely exceed 7,500 – a significant increase over last year's record-breaking enrollment of 7,208.

-- Heard Eunice Bellinger, Ed.D, executive vice president for Academic Affairs, report that 17 students have enrolled in the new Polysomnographic Technology program and 14 students have enrolled in the Veterinary Technology program.

-- Heard Virginia Taylor, Ed.D, say that the college is celebrating "Week of Welcome" this week, designed to build student engagement. Activities include a transfer fair, club information fair, picnic, dinner, movies and athletic events.

-- Heard Trustee Laurie J. Miller report that the School of Nursing Open House, held Aug. 20, was a great success. Trustee Laura J. Bohm encouraged all trustees to visit the nursing labs and learn how the program's patient simulators and other technology helps the students learn patient care skills.

-- Heard Vice President for Finance and Operations Kevin P. Hamilton report that 50 additional parking spaces have been added outside the new School of Nursing, located on the south side of Stephen Hawley Drive. He said that the college has made students, faculty and staff aware of the need to be observant when crossing Hawley Drive. Hamilton said that the college has also requested a speed reduction on Hawley Drive, as
well as pedestrian crossing signs.

-- Heard Hamilton report that the first coat of paint has been applied to the tennis court surfaces. He also said that work on the new art gallery is well under way, and most of the steel has been installed.

-- Heard Director of Development and External Affairs Richard Ensman report that the Branding and Identity Committee has been reviewing possible new visual imagery for college publications and web content. The Branding and Identity Committee has been charged with reviewing the college logo and other visual materials used in college communications.

-- Heard President Steiner report that Malinda E. Stulba of North Tonawanda is joining the college's staff as enrollment specialist for Health Studies/Nursing. She has served as a staff member of Niagara County Community College and Bryant & Stratton College. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University at Buffalo.

-- Heard President Steiner report that Melanie L. Jones of Rochester has been named to a temporary appointment as academic advisor. Jones has served as a counselor and tutor coordinator for the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and also served as a member of the staffs of SUNY College at Brockport and Wilberforce University, Ohio. She holds a B.A. degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and a M.Ed. degree from the University of Vermont.

-- Heard President Steiner report that Robert Frail, currently of New Jersey, has been named to a temporary appointment as International Programs specialist. Frail has taught and managed a variety of MBA programs in China, and he established a bachelor's degree program there at Shandong University. He's a visiting professor of English and Communication at Fujian Hwa Nan Women's College in Fuzhou, China. He has also managed educational programs in Korea. He holds a B.S. degree from Manhattan
College, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University.

-- Heard Instructor of Fine Arts Heather S. Jones and Instructor of Sociology Josephine B. Kearney report that 16 Genesee students participated in the college's six-credit interdisciplinary course offered in Amsterdam, the Netherland, over the summer. Students spent three weeks studying social problems, and documenting the city's character with digital images. Students also visited such sites as the Anne Frank House, World Press Photo Exhibit, Rembrandt House, Artisan Zoo, and many other locations. Students brought more than 2,500 digital images back with them. Jones noted that some students had never been outside of Western New York or on an airplane before.

Genesee Community College Board Chair Charles R. Ruffino named an 11-member Presidential Search Committee at the Board of Trustees' monthly meeting Monday.

College President Stuart Steiner announced six weeks ago that he plans to
retire effective Aug. 31, 2011 after 45 years of service.

Named to the Presidential Search Committee were:

• Diane D. Torcello, college trustee and secretary of the Board of Trustees, who will serve as committee chair; Michael A. Crittenden, professor of Physics and chair of Genesee's Faculty Senate;
• Norbert J. Fuest, director of Human Resources, Morton International, Inc., and a member of the Genesee Community College Foundation Board of Directors;
• Norman R. Gayford, professor of English;
• Ada D. Grabowski, retired Albion school superintendent;
• Laurie J. Miller, college trustee;
• Glenn R. Morton, college trustee;
• Lori A. Mould, student trustee;
• Michael S. Stoll, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and
  dean of Math, Science, and Career Education;
• Raymond J. Strzelecki, Building Maintenance supervisor;
• and Charles N. Zambito, Genesee County attorney.

Ruffino and Robert J. Bausch, Genesee County Legislative liaison to the
college, will serve as ex-officio members.

The committee will guide the search process for Genesee's fourth president, review the backgrounds of candidates, arrange for finalist candidates to visit the campus, and recommend three to five finalists to the board of trustees.

The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees this week named Robert E. Parilla, Ed.D, of Academic Search, Inc., as consultant for the college's upcoming presidential search.

Academic Search, Inc., is based in Washington, D.C., and is a nonprofit organization that provides search services to colleges and universities nationwide. Parilla and ASI will assist the board of trustees and the college's Presidential Search Committee in identifying and screening outstanding candidates for Genesee's fourth president.

President Stuart Steiner announced on July 30 that he plans to retire effective Aug. 31, 2011. He has been associated with the college since its founding, serving first as Dean of Students and then as Executive Dean/Dean of Instruction. He was named Genesee Community College president in 1975, and is believed to be the second longest-serving community college president in the U.S. He is 73.

Board of Trustees Chair Charles R. Ruffino said that most community college boards use search consultants to assist in recruiting presidential candidates. The consultants maintain records of exceptional higher education leaders across the country, and actively seek out candidates they believe would be a good fit for the colleges they serve.

Search consultants also assist trustees in researching the backgrounds and capabilities of candidates. Ruffino said that Genesee's board of trustees wanted a search consultant familiar with the SUNY system, particularly with SUNY community colleges.

ASI has provided search and recruitment services in the higher education field for more than three decades. Since 2004, ASI has been involved with the recruitment of 177 college presidents and 256 other senior college leaders.

Parilla joined ASI in 1999. He is a former president of Montgomery College in Maryland, and prior to his service at Montgomery, held faculty and administrative positions at Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio. He has served as a member of the adjunct faculty of the University of Maryland. He holds academic degrees from Kent State University, the University of New Hampshire, and Florida State University.

In addition to his professional service in higher education, Parilla has served on numerous education-related boards, including: the Maryland High Technology Council; the Education and Human Resources Directorate of the National Science Foundation; Montgomery County Economic Advisory Council; National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission; Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; Commission on Higher Education of Middle States Association; Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation; and Associate Degree division of the National League of Nursing.

He is also the author of many articles and papers on college leadership, and was recognized by the University of Texas as one of the nation's 50 transformational leaders in American community colleges.

Here's a news release from Leadership Genesee.

Leadership Genesee, a community leadership program uniting a diverse group of people from business, government and nonprofit organizations to study local issues is seeking applicants for its 2011 class.

Our community needs succession planning for leadership, not just elected, appointed or paid employment leadership, but the kind that receives no "paycheck." Community volunteers who work tirelessly for organizations that improve the health of the human condition must understand the issues facing the community in order to be effective.

Leadership Genesee provides the education and training for leaders as it creates an experience promoting active leadership for Genesee County.

Each year, it selects 25 individuals to participate in a unique form of adult citizenship education. The year-long curriculum is designed to raise awareness of the needs and challenges that affect Genesee County and enhance individual leadership skills through practice with a focus on civic responsibility and community stewardship. 

Through group activities, tours and presentations by key community leaders, Leadership Genesee is developing leadership for our community, with our community and in our community. 

Annual tuition is $1,950.

For an application or information, call Peggy Marone, Leadership Genesee director at 343-3040, ext. 118 or visit our web site at  HYPERLINK www.leadershipgenesee.shutterfly.com.

Leadership Genesee is a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension which provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Oatka Creek is the target of a clean up project, the first group service project of the academic year for Genesee Community College's Earth Club and Environmental Studies.

It takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. The students will cover one and a half miles of the Oatka Creek Park on Union Street in the Town of Wheatland.

The Creek Clean Up is part of a national initiative sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Clean-up and the American Littoral Society's Annual New York State Beach Clean Up.

This is the third time Genesee students and faculty members have volunteered for the cause.

Students and volunteers will break into teams, with each team equipped with a data recording card and a trash bag. Teams will gather trash and record what they find. At the end of the day, the trash will be totaled and weighed.

Last year, the volunteers collected eight bags of trash, totaling 190 pounds of debris. The data will be compiled and will be sent into the national Coastal Clean-up organizers.

"It's wonderful to see these students spend their Saturday helping out for a great cause," said Maureen Leupold, Earth Club member and professor of Biology at Genesee. "Although this may be one small creek clean-up, it is all part of the bigger picture of environmental responsibility."

The Ocean Conservancy is the world's foremost advocate for the oceans. Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, they inform, inspire and empower people to speak and act on behalf of healthy oceans.

Ocean Conservancy is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has offices in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific, with support from more than half a million members and volunteers.

The American Littoral Society is a national, nonprofit, public-interest organization comprised of over 6,000 professional and amateur naturalists, with headquarters in Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

The society seeks to encourage a better scientific and public understanding of the marine environment, provide a unified voice advocating protection of the delicate fabric of life along the shore, and has been protecting coastal habitats since 1961.

Genesee Community College is on the forefront of this exciting and important industry with recent enhancements to its Environmental Studies degree program. This program offers an excellent introduction to the field, with plenty of hands-on learning, and small class and laboratory sizes offering exceptional instruction.

Environmental Studies students have access to an on-campus nature trail featuring plants and other wildlife demarcated with signage along the way. Students also have the opportunity to go out in the field for hands-on experience within the rural region that surrounds the GLOW region.

To find out more about Genesee's Environmental Studies program visit <http://www.genesee.edu >.

For further information about Genesee's Environmental Studies program or to volunteer at the Creek Clean-up, please contact Biology Professor Leupold at 343-0055, ext. 6394.

Here's a news release from the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

Two well-known local artists are being featured on a website designed by the University at Buffalo and sponsored by the New York State Department of Labor.

Bart Dentino and Kevin Huber have been working together as "Bart & Kevin" for more than 20 years and have performed for thousands of school children across the state. They are musical and educational resident artists who have won numerous awards for their work with children.

Now the duo has completed a project which produced nine unique podcasts to help introduce science concepts to elementary students. The podcasts were created by UB and funded in part by the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

“The Sci Guys Show” is a collection of 10-15 minute podcasts that discuss topics like bioluminescence and echolocation in fun and entertaining ways.

“It’s a new style radio show with tons of sound effects and some over-the-top humor to help draw students in,” said co-creator Dentino. “And in the process, they will learn something about the sciences.”

They were piloted at Robert Morris Elementary in Batavia at the end of the school year and were well received by educators and students.

“It was great to hear positive feedback from both teachers and the kids,” said Huber said, who composed all the music heard in “The Sci Guys." The shows are free to download and include a lesson plan that can be used by teachers or parents.

The shows are available for download on the iSciWNY.com website. For more information visit: http://isciwny.com/index.php?cID=173

Next spring, Genesee Community College will offer an immersion trip to Costa Rica to study the Central American rainforest.

The tour is open to all students as well as community members who are interested in learning and studying the ecology and conservation methods of Costa Rica.

Participants will have the chance to earn college credit while learning about ethnobotany, elementary botany, ecology and earth science during this nine-day ecological tour.

The tour is led by Genesee biology professor Maureen Leupold, who has traveled to and studied the rainforests of Costa Rica on two previous college trips.

Students who enroll, will earn three college credits while studying the stunning ecological terrain of Costa Rica, including volcanoes, rainforests and beaches.

Genesee continues to attract students from around the globe to study and earn a wide array of different degrees. Last year, the college had 101 students from 27 different nations.

"A decade ago, studying aboard was primarily the domain of baccalaureate and graduate level institutions -- but today, forward thinking community colleges are fully engaged in the global network of teaching and learning," said Eunice Bellinger, Ed.D, executive vice president for Academic Affairs.

"Genesee has always been, and continues to thrive, at the cutting edge, and it is exciting to see those edges in all four corners of our globe."

To find out more about any of these global learning opportunities please contact James Goodwin, director of Genesee's Curriculum Development at 585-343-0055, ext. 6322 or <http://jrgoodwin@genesee.edu>.