A List
5/15/06

BASS, CONNETT SHARE ODY HONOR AT ST. LAWRENCE

CANTON - Two St. Lawrence University professors have tied for the Owen D. Young Outstanding Faculty Award, as voted by this year's graduating class. The award is the only one at the University chosen by students.

Associate Professor of English Margaret Kent Bass and Professor of Chemistry Paul Connett will share the award this year. Each will give a brief "last lecture" to students during Senior Week.

Bass, who also won the award in 2004, has served as interim vice president and dean of student life and co-curricular education this academic year. She oversees the University's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), and McNair, Presidential Diversity Scholar and Jeffrey Campbell Fellows programs. A graduate of Wilmington College, Bass holds a master's degree from the University of Mississippi and earned the Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. She was a faculty member at Vanderbilt University prior to coming to St. Lawrence as assistant professor of English and director of multicultural affairs in 1993. Bass left St. Lawrence in 1995 to teach at the University of Iowa, and returned to the faculty at St. Lawrence in 2000. In 2003, Bass was named associate dean for faculty affairs.

Connett, who retires this year after being on the faculty for 23 years, earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Cambridge and the Ph.D. at Dartmouth. He has received numerous awards and citations for his efforts as an environmental activist. His research interests, many of which have spawned widespread speaking engagements and media appearances, include the interaction of metals with biological systems; the build-up of dioxins in food chains; health risk assessment; waste incineration; resource management for a sustainable society; and the toxicity of fluoride. Also a devotee of music, particularly opera, Connett has hosted a classical music program on North Country Public Radio and was instrumental in bringing renowned cellist Elsa Hilger to campus for many annual recitals.

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