NEW FACULTY, ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFF, and ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF BIOGRAPHIES – FALL 2007

ANTHROPOLOGY  

Dr. Ashley Kistler comes to St. Lawrence as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology.  Dr. Kistler earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Florida State University, where she also served as an Instructor of Anthropology.  Dr. Kistler’s research focuses on kinship, value and status among Maya market women in Guatemala.  Dr. Kistler will teach several introductory courses as well as Peoples of Mesoamerica; Kinship and Social Organization; and an advanced seminar on anthropological theory. BIOLOGY

Dr. Karin Heckman joins the biology department as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Cell Biology after completing her doctoral studies in Biomedical Sciences: Immunology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, MN.  She will be teaching cell biology and immunology courses this year.  Her research interests include the regulatory mechanisms governing T cell polarity and cytolytic function.

Dr. Brian Lipscomb joins the Biology Department as a Visiting Assistant Professor.  This fall, Dr. Lipscomb will be teaching Human Anatomy and Neuroscience with Ana Estevez. Dr. Lipscomb earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas and his doctorate in Neuroscience from Yale University.  For his Ph. D., Dr. Lipscomb studied the developing olfactory system with Dr. Charles Greer.  Dr. Lipscomb had post-doctoral positions in which he studied olfactory development in an insect model in the laboratory of Dr. Leslie Tolbert, University of Arizona, and gene expression in glial cells in the laboratory of Dr. John Ngai, UC-Berkeley.  Dr. Lipscomb’s research interests include axon guidance, development of the olfactory system and the role of glial cells in development. 

Dr. Susan Willson comes to St. Lawrence as Assistant Professor of Conservation Biology from a visiting position at Earlham College in Indiana.  Previously, she taught at Colgate University and with the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica.  Susan earned her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2003.  She is a tropical ecologist who focuses on the community of obligate army-ant following birds in Amazonian Peru.  Additionally, she looks forward to beginning ecology and conservation work on bird communities here in the North Country.  She will be teaching ecological and environmental courses including General Ecology, Ornithology, and Environmental Security.    

Kim Reardon'07 joins the Biology Department in an Academic Support position to help teach our General Biology courses.  Ms. Reardon graduated as class valedictorian, with a major in biology and a minor in education.  During her time at the University, she gained experience beyond the classroom as a SLU fellow studying competitive behavior between a native and an exotic species of fish in the St. Lawrence River.   Ms. Reardon also studied coral reef ecosystems and geologic island formations abroad in Curaçao, Netherland Antilles. Additionally, she gained experience teaching biology during the fall of 2006 as a student teacher at Colton-Pierrepont Central School. 

ECONOMICS

Dr. Cynthia Bansak comes to St. Lawrence University as an Assistant Professor in Economics from San Diego State University.  Dr. Bansak earned her PhD in Economics from the University of California, San Diego in 1999.  Dr. Bansak's research is in the area of applied econometrics with a focus on the economics of immigration.  She will be teaching econometrics and intermediate macroeconomics in the fall.

Sanjukta Chaudhuri is visiting SLU in the Economics department.  She is currently completing her Ph.D. at City University of New York.  Her research focus includes economics of gender, health & labor and development economics.  Sanjukta is from India, where she completed her undergraduate degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration.  At SLU, she will be teaching introductory economics, and health and gender economics.

ENGLISH

K. L. Cook is the 2007-08 Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing.  Professor Cook is the author of two books of fiction: Last Call (2004), a collection of linked stories that won the inaugural Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, and the novel The Girl from Charnelle (2006), which won the 2007 WILLA Award for Contemporary Fiction and was cited on several lists of best books of 2006. Cook's stories and essays have also been published widely in literary magazines and anthologies.  He is a member of the graduate faculty of the brief-residency MFA in Writing Program at Spalding University and is an associate professor of creative writing and literature at Prescott College in Arizona, where he also served as the chair of the Arts & Letters Program and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.  At St. Lawrence, he will teach a variety of introductory and advanced fiction writing workshops.

Dr. Bruce Danner comes to St. Lawrence as Visiting Assistant Professor of English in Renaissance Literature and Shakespeare. Before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he taught at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, and afterward at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. He is currently working on a critical biography of the English Renaissance poet Edmund Spenser, in a work entitled Furious Muse: Edmund Spenser's War Against Lord Burghley.

Dr. Marc Priewe comes to St. Lawrence as Visiting Assistant Professor in the English Department. He earned his Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Potsdam, Germany in 2005. Dr. Priewe is the author of Writing Transit: Refiguring National Imaginaries in Chicano Narratives and is currently co-editing a book on U.S. Latino literature and culture, which is due to be published with Palgrave Macmillan in 2008. While visiting St. Lawrence University he will be teaching courses on early American literature and on contemporary Mexican-American literature. 

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Amanda Lavigne is a north country native from Saranac Lake, NY. After studying ecology as an undergraduate at Brown University, Amanda moved back to the region and eventually began her graduate work at Clarkson University in June 2000. She fulfilled her M.S. requirements in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, and then transferred to Clarkson’s interdisciplinary Environment Science and Engineering program for her doctoral work. Amanda’s research has focused on the assessment of non-dedicated biomass feedstocks for fuel ethanol production. She will be teaching an introductory course in environmental studies, as well as a course focusing on energy and the environment.

GENDER STUDIES

Jessica Willis comes to St. Lawrence as a visiting instructor in the Gender Studies department from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. She earned her M.A. in Feminist Clinical Psychology from New College of California. Her doctoral research focuses on preadolescent girls' uses and negotiations of discourses of gender. This fall, Jessica will be teaching introductory courses on gender and society.

GEOLOGY

Dr. Antun Husinec comes to St. Lawrence as an Assistant Professor in Geology, after serving as a Research Scientist at the Croatian Geological Survey and a visiting stint at Zagreb University. Antun previously held a position as a postdoctoral fellow at the Geosciences Department of Virginia Tech. Dr. Husinec earned his Ph.D. in Geology from Zagreb University in 2002. His research focuses on past depositional, climatic and oceanographic systems. He will be teaching introductory courses in Dynamic Earth and Oceanography, and an upper level course in Sedimentology. Antun is a Fulbright alumnus.

Alexander Stewart comes to St. Lawrence as a Visiting Instructor in Geology from the University of Cincinnati where he will be defending his dissertation this October. Mr. Stewart’s research focus is on continental-glacial systems and how they interact with the landscape. He will be teaching upper-level courses in geomorphology and glacial geology as well as introductory geology laboratories.

GLOBAL STUDIES

Dr. Madeleine Wong comes to St. Lawrence as Assistant Professor in Global Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was an Assistant Professor in Geography and African Studies. Dr. Wong, who is from Ghana, earned her Ph.D. in Geography from York University in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Wong’s research focuses on the impacts of globalization and development on contemporary African migrations and diasporas. She will be teaching the introductory course on Global Political Economy and an upper level course on Global Population issues.

GOVERNMENT

Dr. Darby Morrisroe joins the St. Lawrence Government Department as an Assistant Professor of Public Law & National Institutions.  Prior to coming to St. Lawrence, Dr. Morrisroe served on the faculty of the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, where she earned her Ph.D. in 2007. Her research focuses on the White House Counsel and the intersection of law and the American presidency. She will be teaching courses on American politics, constitutional law, courts and the presidency.

Dr. Osaore Aideyan comes to St. Lawrence University as Visiting Assistant Professor in Government from California State University, Pomona. Dr. Aideyan earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the School of Politics and Economics at the Claremont Graduate University, Claremont. His research and teaching interests are issues of governance and development in the Third World. He will be teaching courses in International, Comparative and African Politics.

MATHEMATICS, COMPUTER SCIENCE & STATISTICS

Dr. Esmail Bonakdarian is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science. He comes to St. Lawrence University after a three year visiting stint at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. Dr. Bonakdarian received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa in 2001. Dr Bonakdarian's research interests are in the area of Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence. He teaches widely across the computer science curriculum.

Richard Sharp is a new tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Mathematics, Computer Science & Statistics Department.  He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Ohio State University in 2006 where he stayed on staff as a senior lecturer for the past year.  His research interests include scientific visualization collaborations with biologists and other physical scientists.  He is looking forward to teaching two introductory computer science and one computer networking course in the Fall.

Dr. Sam Vandervelde earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Chicago in 2004 while teaching at Wellesley College.  He then spent two years at Stanford University in a visiting capacity before joining the math department at St. Lawrence.  His research interests currently focus on graph theory and number theory.  He is looking forward to teaching two sections of multivariable calculus this fall along with an upper level course on number theory.

MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

Before coming to St. Lawrence to teach Japanese language and literature during the 2007-08 academic year, Christopher Robins was teaching at SUNY New Paltz and Vassar College. Robins received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1999 in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. His research focuses primarily on modern Japanese fictional narratives with a special interest in the novels, plays and short stories of the prolific contemporary Japanese writer and political satirist, Inoue Hisashi—dubbed Japan’s Shakespeare—that explore the problem of Japanese nationalism versus regional identity and raise awareness of cultural and linguistic diversity in Japan. Robins has published scholarly articles dealing with Inoue’s literature and has a book-length translation with commentary of an Inoue historical novella set in the Edo Period (1600-1868) forthcoming with Cheng & Tsui Publishers as well as a translated collection of folktale-inspired Inoue short stories with an introduction and reading guide under review for publication with University of Hawaii Press.    

PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNICATION ARTS

Selina French has moved west from northern Vermont to take on the role of  Costume Shop Supervisor in the Griffith Arts Center.  Selina's undergraduate degree is from Simmons College and she has a Master of Arts from the University of Vermont.  Concurrent with operating a successful sewing business in Stowe, VT, Selina worked  in film and theater.  She  has instructed at middle and high school levels, Community College of Vermont and with the UVM Extension System.

Marna Lawrence is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Performance and Communication Arts department.  She comes to St. Lawrence University after teaching for eight years as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Theatre at the University at Albany, where she directed plays and taught performance and literature courses in theatre and drama.  Professor Lawrence earned her MFA in Directing from Indiana University in 1996.  While at St. Lawrence University, she will teach Beginning Acting, Voice and Movement and a course in Comedy, as well as direct a theatre production during the spring semester.

Matthew Smith joins the St. Lawrence community as a Jeffrey Campbell Fellow in the Performance and Communication Arts department.  His research through the University at Buffalo focuses on computer-mediated communication and legal discourse in the Adirondacks.  Matthew looks forward to teaching a cross-disciplinary internet communication course in the spring with an emphasis on participant-observation and ethnography.

PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Dean William Lauer is a visiting assistant professor in the department of Philosophy, specializing in environmental ethics and contemporary European philosophy.  He also has interests in circumpolar regions and the outdoors.  His doctoral degree is from the University of Ottawa.

PHYSICS

Dr. Stephen Koons is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics.  His B.A. in Physics is from Brandeis Univ., and his Ph.D. in Biophysical Sciences is from SUNY Buffalo.  Following a fellowship at the Univ. of California at San Francisco, he began a career in industry developing medical instruments.  Dr. Koons co-authored the first published algorithm for laser vision correction.

PSYCHOLOGY

Dr. Serge Onyper joins St. Lawrence as an Assistant Professor in Psychology.  Originally from Ukraine, Dr. Serge Onyper came to the United States in 1995.  Serge received a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Syracuse University in 2007, specializing in the study of adult cognitive development and aging. He will be teaching several introductory courses as well as an upper-level course in cognitive psychology.

SOCIOLOGY

Ms. Masayo Nishida joins St. Lawrence as a Jeffrey Campbell Fellow in Sociology.  Masayo is finishing her dissertation at Boston University.  Her dissertation focuses on the adaptation and identity transformation of foreign-born professionals in the United States.  Masayo will be teaching a seminar on racial and ethnic relations in the fall semester.

Dr. JoAnn Rogers comes to St. Lawrence as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Sociology from the University of Cincinnati where she was a Field Service Assistant Professor.  Dr. Rogers earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Iowa State University in 2006.  Dr. Rogers’s research focus is examining the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality in the lives of men and women.  Most recently her focus has been on Hegemonic Masculinity within the U.S. She will be teaching introductory course as well as courses in family.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Becky Graham is very excited to be returning to SLU and the Canton community as the Coordinator of Academic Achievement.  Previously, Becky worked on campus in Co-Curricular Education and Programming and in the Admissions office.  She also brings experience as a tutor and an ESL instructor to her new position.  Originally from Baltimore, MD, Becky has come to know SLU and its surroundings (including, of course, the mountains and Canada) as home. 

INTERNATIONAL & INTERCULTURAL STUDIES

Jolie Roetter'04, joins us as the Assistant Director of Off-Campus Programs in the office of international studies.  Jolie is also working toward her M.B.A. in Marketing at Canisius College.  While at St. Lawrence, Jolie majored in French and History, with a minor in European Studies.  She worked as an International Studies Student Ambassador and as an Admissions tour guide.

ADMISSIONS Jimmy Williams, Associate Director of Admissions/Director of Multicultural Recruitment
Jimmy Williams joined the admissions staff in July and brings years of admissions and student life experience to his position.  A graduate of Middlebury, Jimmy has worked in admissions at his alma mater, as well as at Brown, Davidson and Antioch, where he served as Dean of Admissions and later as Director of Multicultural and Minority Affairs  and last as Dean of Students.

Carole Jenne, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
A native of the North Country, Carole Jenne worked for a number of years as a research accountant and accounting assistant at Clarkson University where she also earned her undergraduate degree.  Carole joined the financial aid staff last October.

John Gursky, Assistant Director of Admissions
John Gursky returned to St. Lawrence after graduating last spring with a combined major in French and Canadian studies.  In addition to serving as a member of Thelmo and Senior Class President, John studied in Canada, France and Senegal and worked throughout his undergraduate years in the admissions office.

Promotions
Alison Almasian                     Director of Admissions
Beth Larrabee                         Senior Assistant Director of Admissions
Sara Kent                                 Assistant Director of Admissions
Erin Stone                                Assistant Director of Admissions
Bridget Everly                          Assistant Director of Admissions

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS

Louise Gava'07, Coordinator of Sustainability Projects
Louise Gava ‘07 continues to help “green” St. Lawrence as the new Coordinator of Sustainability Projects.  Louise graduated summa cum laude in May 2007 with a bachelor's degree in biology.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

Sam Fuller '07, Technical Support and Hardware Specialist
Sam is a North Country native, growing up in nearby Edwards, NY.  He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of St. Lawrence University, attaining a BA in history.  He manages the computer repair shop.

Darrin Goodrow, Systems Administrator
Prior to joining St. Lawrence, Darrin worked as a Network/Server Engineer for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Rouses Point, NY.  Darrin has a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Plattsburgh State University.

Courtney Jonas, '05, Educational Technologies Training Coordinator
As a government major, Courtney was well suited for recent positions in Washington, DC, working as a web analyst and as a web/ publications manager. As a member of the educational technologies team, Courtney is primarily responsible for a pilot student training program designed to provide additional support for technology across the curriculum.

Steve Millington '07
A native of Gloversville NY, Steve graduated from St. Lawrence with a BA in history.  Steve is working in Information Technology on a one year appointment helping to coordinate the 2008 computer rollout project.  He plans to attend graduate school in the fall of 2008.


INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Joe Keniston '04, Associate Director of Athletic Media Relations
Joe Keniston has been graduate assistant in sports information at St. Lawrence University for the past two years. A 2004 graduate of St. Lawrence and captain of the golf team as an undergraduate, he earned his master’s degree in educational administration in May of 2007. Joe was the host sports information director for the 2007 women’s ice hockey NCAA Frozen Four and also worked with NCAA tournament teams in men’s soccer and men’s lacrosse. He will assist in the coverage of St. Lawrence’s 32-sport intercollegiate athletic program and will work with the athletic department’s multi-media initiatives.

Melissa DeRan, head coach of the women’s volleyball team.
Melissa DeRan, a former Division I volleyball player at Murray State University, was most recently assistant volleyball coach at Otterbein College. Melissa is a 1999 graduate of Murray State where she was an all conference player in volleyball and team captain. She was head volleyball coach and an assistant track coach at Division II Tiffin University, coaching six all conference athletes and four Academic All Americas in volleyball and a number of national qualifiers in the throws in track and field. She also was an assistant coach at Capital and coached teams of USA Athletes International and Junior Olympic Volleyball.
melissa will also assist with the track and field program in addition to her duties as head volleyball coach.

Austin Weakfall '06, Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development
A 2006 graduate of St. Lawrence, Austin Weakfall returns to his alma mater, where he was a member of the Saints football team from 2001-2005, to coach the Saints secondary. Austin brings experience from coaching in the Spencerport Central School District in Rochester, NY and the Canton Central School District. He served as the head junior varsity football coach, assistant defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in the Spencerport Central School District. He was also the head junior varsity lacrosse coach. At Canton High School, Weakfall coached football, lacrosse and basketball.

Nick Hillary '00, Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach and HEOP counselor.
A 2000 graduate of St. Lawrence and a four-year member of the Saint soccer team, Nick Hillary was
Captain of the 1999 St. Lawrence NCAA national championship team and a NSCAA All America. Nick has taught math and coached soccer and football at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, FL. He received the Who’s Who Among America’s Teacher Award for excellence as an educator in 2004.
Prior to entering St. Lawrence, he served in the United States Army where he received the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

Sarah Todd'07, Assistant Director of Institutional Research
Sarah joined the office of Institutional Research in February.  Having majored in economics, with a strong interest in Higher Education Policy analysis, Sarah now applies the benefits of her education in serving the ongoing needs of our institution. She is a native of Vermont .

STUDENT LIFE

Marlene Connolly M'07, Career Advisor
Marlene, a Canton native, fills the temporary full-time position of Career Advisor in the Career Services Office.  She received her masters of education from St. Lawrence in May 2007 and served as a graduate assistant in the Counseling and Human Development Program during 2006-2007. 

John Cordella '07, Intern
A May 2007 graduate of St. Lawrence University with a major in history and a minor in educational studies, John will join the Residence Life staff as an intern with responsibilities for theme and Greek houses.  During his undergraduate years, John served as a College Assistant (CA) and was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa.

Deborah Harrison, International Student Advisor
Deborah is a graduate of Smith College and has her master’s degree from Simmons College.  Most recently, Deborah studied for her MFA at Cornell.  Prior to St. Lawrence appointment, Deborah served as overseer for enrollment at Boston University-accredited Sea Education Association.

Stacie Olney LaPierre, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Stacie has responsibility for student housing.  She is a graduate of Grove City College with a master’s degree from the University of Rochester.  Previously, Stacie served as Undergraduate Assignments Coordinator for the Residential Life office at the University of Rochester. 

Stacey Sommerfield, Coordinator in our new Center for Diversity and Social Justice  
Stacey comes to us from Montana State University where she was the Programming Coordinator in the Student Activities and Diversity Awareness Office and Administrative Associate in Student Activities.  Stacey earned a Master of Arts (Public Administration) and a Bachelor of Science (psychology) from Montana State University.  The mission of the center is to foster an understanding and appreciation of diversity on campus and in the community in which the campus resides.  Stacey will work in conjunction with the Academic Dean and the Student Life divisions to provide support and mentoring for students who feel marginalized on campus because of race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, physical/mental challenges or sexual orientation. 

UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Dennis Morreale '07, Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Programs
As a 2007 graduate of St. Lawrence, majoring in history and government, Dennis joined the Alumni and Parent Programs Office as an assistant director on August 6th.  As an undergraduate, Dennis was a member of the Calling All Saints team for four years, a First Year Program writing mentor, an Alumni Council University Fellow, a member of Low-Impact Living Greenhouse, Democracy Matters and Thelmo.   In his position, Dennis manages all aspects of the Calling All Saints program and the undergraduate giving and education program.  He will act as advisor to the Student-Alumni Association and is part of the Laurentians in Residence planning team.  Dennis is originally from Corinth, NY.

Jodi Revill, Associate Director of Planned Giving
Jodi spent the past nine years at SUNY Canton, most recently working with the Provost on establishing partnerships and creating articulation agreements with other colleges, as well as coordinating international programs. Before that, Jodi worked in Admissions, culminating in four years as Director of Admissions. In the Office of Planned Giving, Jodi will travel extensively to meet with alumni, cultivate major and planned gifts, and will be responsible for 50th reunion fundraising.

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