Faculty Achievements Dr. Simon J. Bronner, coordinator of the college's American studies program, was promoted to full professor of folklore and American studies. Bronner, an award-winning author and editor of numerous books on folklore, material culture and cultural history, has taught at Penn State Harrisburg since 1981. Dr. Joseph J. Cecere was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor of engineering. Cecere, who has taught at Penn State Harrisburg since 1982, was recently appointed chair of the undergraguate programs in structural design and construction engineering technology and environmental engineering technology. In addition, he was chosen as the 1988 recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award by the National Associated General Contractors of America. Dr. William A. Henk was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor of education and reading. He specializes in the psychology of reading and tests and measurement. Dr. Louise E. Hoffman was awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor of history and humanities. Hoffman was recently appointed coordinator of the graduate program in humanities. Hoffman's summer accomplishments include the presentation of a paper on "Erik Erikson, the 0.5.5., and Psychological Research in Germany during the 19405." The paper was presented at the annual meeting of Cheiron, the International Society for the History of the Behavioral and Social Sciences, held at Princeton University. Hoffman was also selected to serve on the organizing committee of the Forum for the History of Human Science, an interest group for U.S. specialists in the history of the behavioral and social sciences. The group will operate in conjunction with the History of Science Society. Early tenure was awarded to Dr. Erdener Kaynak, professor of marketing. Kaynak, who joined the faculty in 1986, is the editor of the Journal of Global Marketing, a new international scholarly and professional journal devoted to the research and application of new marketing strategies. An international marketing expert, Kaynak has published 12 books and numerous articles. Dr. James F. Rooney, associate professor of sociology, was awarded tenure. Rooney is currently involved in research into the psychological effects of Three Mile Island on area residents. His other research interests include mood-altering substances and their effects on lifestyle. He has taught at Penn State Harrisburg since 1982. Dr. Rupert F. Chisolm, associate professor of management, presented a paper, "Two approaches to Increasing Knowledge in Public Organizations via Action Learning" at the International Conference on Culture, Language and Artificial Intelligence in Stockholm, Sweden. Approximately 350 people from 16 countries attended the conference. Chisolm also teaches in the graduate program in Public Administration and is director of the Center for Quality of Working Life at Penn State Harrisburg. Lois Cochran, secretary in the Student Activities Office, has been named the 1988 recipient of the college's Award for Excellence in Service. The award recognizes service to the college community beyond the scope of the individual's responsibility or position. Cochran has worked at Penn State Harrisburg since 1978. Dr. Jacob L. Susskind, assistant professor of social science and education, presented a paper titled "Pennsylvania's Unique World Studies Collaborative," at An American Forum on Education and International Education in St. Louis, MO. An American Forum was called to address the need for educational change that reflects a global perspective, to construct mechanisms at the state and local levels that support long-term change and to affirm the 1990 s as "The Decade for International Competence." Workshops numbered more than 100 on topics such as multi-lingualism in North America and global perspectives on disability. State caucuses met to consider ways that elementary and secondary schools and universities could bond with organizations from the corporate, cultural and social communities to improve students' ability to move gracefully and intelligently in a global context. Dr. Mehdi Khosrowpour, chairperson and assistant professor of information systems, was named the 1988 recipient of the college's James A. Jordan Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence. The annual award is presented by the student body to a faculty member who demonstrates outstanding dedication and achievement in education and who exhibits sincere interest in students and the college community. The award is given in honor of faculty member Dr. James A. Jordan, who died in 1971. Khosrowpour is executive director of the Information Resources Management Association, a professional association chartered to promote the exchange of knowledge among those working in the information systems field. He serves as editor of the newly created Information Resources Management Journal, a scholarly/professional journal devoted to the management of information systems resources. In addition, he serves as coordinator of the continuing education certificate programs in computer informaiton systems and office automation. Dr. Refik Culpan, chairperson and assistant professor of management and international business, was named as the 1988 recipient of the college's Award for Teaching Excellence. The award is made on the basis of an outstanding history of student evaluations, peer evaluations and overall contributions to the teaching mission of the university. Culpan has taught at Penn State Harrisburg since 1981. Dr. Troy Thomas, assistant professor of humanities and art, was named as the 1988 recipient of the college's Award for Excellence in Research. The award is made on the basis of a distinguished research record as indicated by awards for books, research, juried work or exhibitions, patents or grants, cited research, reviewed performances and publication in refereed journals. Thomas, who has taught at the college since 1975, is currently involved in research on the 17th century Italian painter, Caravaggio. His articles on the artist have appeared in two of the most distinguished journals in the art field: Art Bulletin and Studies in Iconography. Dr. Charles Townley, division head of the Heindel Library, published an article, "Academic Library -- State Library Agency Relationships: The Pennsylvania Neeas Assusbilient," in a recent issue of College and Research Libraries. Co-authoring the article were Charles R. Peguese, former coordinator of the Office of Resource Sharing and Academic Libraries at the State Library of Pennsylvania and Kenneth Rohm, graduate assistant at the Heindel Library. Dr. M. Kudret Yurtseven, assistant professor of engineering, presented a paper, "Appropriate Technology and Development Issues," at the second International Conference on Marketing and Development in Budapest, Hungary in July. Dr. Carolyn R. Dexter, associate professor of management and marketing, has been elected to a two-year term on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Management. With 7,000 members, the Academy is the nation's largest professional organization devoted to research, teaching and the practice of management. Dexter is the immediate past president of the Eastern Academy of Management, the eastern regional affiliate of the national organization. She has also served on the board of governors of the Academy and is president of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA). Dr. Frank Swetz, professor of mathematics and education, was the only foreign scholar invited to develop questions for the world's largest mathematics competition. The Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac Awards is taken annually by more than 400,000 students in the Western Pacific region in grades seven through 12. Swetz served on the 14-member Problems Committee, which selected 90 questions for the three different examinations given under the program. The committee consisted of four other university representatives and nine high school educators. While in Australia, Swetz lectured to the Canberry Mathematics Association and the Australian College of Educaiton on the impact of culture of mathematics, called Ethno-mathematics. He also lectured on "Teacher Training and Classroom Practice in Socialist Countries with Particular Emphasis on China" at the Sydney College of Advanced Education. Swetz also spoke on the Australia national radio network about mathematics in the United States and Australia. More recently, Swetz presented a special invited paper at the Sixth International Congress on Mathematical Education held in Budapest, Hungary. He spoke on "Gender Differences in Mathematics Performance: A Malaysian Case Study" during a program devoted to Ethnomathematics. His research Capital Times, itugust 24, 1988, Page findings in working with laysian students indicate that mathematical performance is dependent on cultural expectations and that in several regions of the world females perform as well or better than males on mathematical tasks. Vice Provost Dr. Diana R. Dunn visited scholars at six universities and professional colleagues at seven national parks in New Zealand. Dunn, who is also a professor of recreations and parks, met with executives of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, as well as administrators and staff of several regional and local parks and tourist destinations. Penn State Harrisburg is encouraging linkages between faculty and students of the two countries. Her observations confirmed that many New Zealand academics have strong ties to western U.S. universities, particularly in California, Montana, Oregon and Washington. "New Zealand is a nation desperately seeking its economic and cultural future as changing world markets and manufacturing and production techniques combine with a large influx of Pacific islanders to dramatically change most aspects of New Zealand life in a very short period," said Dunn, professor of recreation and parks. She visited the University of Aucklund; Victoria University, Wellington; Massey University, Palmerston North; Lincoln College, Lincoln; University of Canterbury, Christchurch; and University of Otago, Dunedin. Also during the summer, Dunn gave the keynote address in Western Canada at the annual conference of the Alberta Association of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Alberta Association of Landscape Architects, held at The Lodge at Kananaskis, near Banff. Her theme was "Leisure Trends and Forecasting: Planning the Future of Recreation." In addition, she attended part of the First World Congress on Leisure and Culture at Lake Louise, sponsored by the World Leisure and Recreation Association. Bradley J. Hemstreet was named director of community relations. Hemstreet, who began his duties in May, was the assistant news bureau manager in the Department of Public Information at Penn State's University Park campus. Hemstreet is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Penn State Harrisburg's communications with the public, alumni, board of advisers and other constituencies. He is also responsible for bringing the research, expertise and accomplishments of faculty at PSH to public recognition. Dr. Robert J. Lesniak has become acting head of the Division of Behavioral Science and Education Felicia Brown-Haywood and Linda Meashey will play major roles in the Student Assistance Center Brown-Haywood joins the staff as student support counselor and Meashey joins the staff as the academic assistance counselor The following are new staff members at Penn State Harrisburg: Diane Buck, administrative assistant, business administration; Launa Ferree, research aide, science, engineering and technology; Brenda Luttrell, secretary, science, engineering and technology; and Karen Yeager, secretary, undergraduate admissions. A listing of new faculty members may be found on page five.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers