History professor publishes groundbreaking book on JFK's foreign policy
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| Phillip Goduti Jr. |
"When it comes to making decisions, we tend to point our finger at the president, and we don't spend enough time looking at the people under the president who give him advice," says Goduti. "This book shows how presidential advisers shape policy. We don't elect these advisers, the president chooses them. Ultimately the president bears the burden."
In writing about the Kennedy years, Goduti offers a new perspective by focusing on the points of view of Kennedy's advisers, including McGeorge Bundy, Robert McNamara, Maxwell Taylor, Theodore Sorensen, and his brother Robert F. Kennedy. "This is a book about presidential leadership and decision-making," Goduti says. "It is a book that explores a president's willingness to use all available resources in an effort to make decisions that positively affected the United States. John F. Kennedy was not always successful in that endeavor."
Goduti traces the evolution of Kennedy's leadership skills during his turbulent three years in office, from early mistakes to later mastery. "His presidency serves as a reminder that leaders take time to find their voice," Goduti says. "Kennedy's leadership and success in the latter part of his presidency is largely due to the strength of his advisers. His ability to establish a rapport with these men gave him the forbearance to successfully navigate one of the darkest periods in the Cold War."
Goduti says he has just received a contract for a second book, a study of Robert F. Kennedy's influence on the civil rights movement of the early 1960s when he served as U.S. attorney general.
Professor Emeritus Sam Costanzo publishes book on music theory
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| Sam Costanzo |
The text and techniques in the 291-page book have been used successfully as teaching tools in America and the Middle East for the past 40 years. The materials in the book introduce the practical application of music theory to students and effectively measures reading comprehension through self-testing.
"He is a masterful educator and is loaded with information and music theory," said Boccagna of his co-author. "Musicians, music historians, music educators and cognoscenti of music history and music theory are in awe when enjoying dialogue with him. His knowledge is not only vast but profound, as well."
"It's a wealth of information that most music instructors don't even address," Boccagna said. "The book walks you through the material hand-in-hand." The book is required for several courses at Quinnipiac and is available in the campus bookstore.
College of Arts and Sciences professor chosen for Excellence in Teaching Award
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| Debbie Clark |
Honorees, who are selected from a pool of nominations by faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents, have their names engraved on a stone sculpture on display in the Arnold Bernhard Library. The recipients are recognized at a reception with the board of trustees, receive a cash prize and will be featured in a promotional brochure to be used throughout the year in Quinnipiac's public relations activities.
Political science professor Sean Duffy receives James Marshall Award
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| From left: Political science professor Sean Duffy and Robert Smart, professor of English and chair of the Faculty Senate. |
The award is given to a faculty member who exhibits qualities of unselfish service and dedication to the University community. The Faculty Senate Committee selects the recipient. Duffy has played a key role in developing the QU seminars and reformulating the University's core curriculum. He plans to bring his political science students to the town of La Ceiba, Nicaragua, in May for the culmination of his course on the armed conflict in Nicaragua.
"It feels really good to have this recognition from my colleagues," said Duffy who also received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students in 2007. "The James Marshall Award has been around for a few years now, and seeing all those who were honored before me, I'm particularly honored to be a part of that group."
The award was named after the late James Marshall, assistant professor of health management in the School of Business, who died suddenly in April 2002. Marshall was known for his community work and he also served as the chairman of Quinnipiac's Black History Month Committee.
Philosophy professor publishes book on leadership
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| Susan Fowler |
Susan Fowler, adjunct philosophy professor, has written a new book to make leadership contagious - "Leading with Spirit: Transforming Leadership for Social Change."
"The book rests on the assumption that all of us are called to be transformational leaders, to the extent that we can bring our most authentic selves to the task as we inspire and help others become effective and empowered leaders," Fowler said.
Fowler's book, released earlier this month by The Victoria Press in South Bend, Ind., guides a group of people through a self-taught 10-month leadership training program. It's for anyone, particularly chief executive officers, executive directors of nonprofits, religious leaders and education leaders, such as superintendents and principals.
"The book explores the connection between individual transformation and social change," Fowler said. "The book includes a comprehensive training manual incorporating aspects of transformational and servant leadership that details how leaders can discover the spiritual roots of their call to service, learn leadership skills, build community and collaborate with others for social change.
Fowler holds a doctorate in pastoral psychology from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Mishawaka, Ind. She earned a master's degree in divinity and a second master's degree in theology, both from Yale University. She maintains a pastoral counseling, consulting and spiritual direction practice. She has held leadership positions in pastoral ministry, higher education and the nonprofit sector where she trained students and community leaders in the practice of servant leadership and social justice.
Students inducted into National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society
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Founded in 1919, Sigma Delta Pi was established at the University of California, Berkeley. With 430 active chapters among colleges throughout the United States, Sigma Delta Pi is the largest foreign language honor society in existence. It is the only national or international honor society devoted exclusively to Spanish majors and minors in four-year colleges and universities. Membership is granted to students who are juniors or seniors and have a minimum 3.0 GPA overall with a minimum 3.0 GPA in Spanish courses. Students must have also completed 18 credits in Spanish at the 200 level and above.
The objectives of Sigma Delta Pi are to honor those who attain excellence in the study of the Spanish language, literature and cultures of the Spanish-speaking people and those who have made Hispanic contributions to modern culture. The society also encourages college and university students to acquire a greater interest and deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures while fostering friendly relations and mutual respect between nations where Spanish is not the dominant language.
Sociology professor publishes book on C. Wright Mills
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Keith Kerr |
Keith Kerr, assistant professor of sociology, has written the book "Postmodern Cowboy: C. Wright Mills and a New 21st Century Sociology."
A sociologist and public intellectual, Mills (1916-1962) is best remembered for his books "The Sociological Imagination," "The Power Elite" and "White Collar." Kerr's book explores Mills' early life to understand the intellectual thoughts he developed as an adult and explore what contemporary sociology can learn from him. "Mills predated many recent developments in the social sciences, including the postmodern movement," Kerr said.
Kerr's book demonstrates how Mills argued against bureaucracy in contemporary society, characteristic of strict structuring of society that can create barriers between individuals. Instead, Mills argued for a radically different structuring that did not elicit the same level of control and stifling of creativity found within bureaucratic organization.
Kerr's book documents how Mills reacted to the stifling control he found in the emerging American culture, labeling the American public as cheerful robots, and how Mills emulated his grandfather, a free, unrestrained cowboy, who practiced law and medicine and ran cattle in Texas.
Kerr received his doctorate in sociology from Texas A&M University in 2007. His dissertation was about Mills.
Professor's work helps reduce waterborne diseases and malaria in Cameroon village
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Dennis Richardson |
Dennis Richardson's efforts through the Bawa Health Initiative to improve health care in the Cameroon village of Bawa has decreased incidents of waterborne diseases, typhoid and malaria. Richardson, a professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, is co-founder of the Bawa Health Initiative. Bawa, a small African village with a population of 350, has no water or sanitation system and suffers from many tropical diseases with no control program.
According to the December 2008 newsletter, the organization's efforts have already improved overall health in the village. In 2006, water filters were installed in each family compound (mud brick homes) in Bawa, which has significantly decreased incidents of waterborne diseases and typhoid cases, according to recent data from the health clinic in Nka where Bawa residents go for medical care.
In 2006, Nka diagnosed 204 cases of diarrhea with three deaths in 2006; in 2007, there were 42 cases of diarrhea with no deaths; and in the first half of 2008, there were 21 cases of diarrhea with the death of one infant. Nka's data also shows fewer typhoid cases. In 2006, Nka diagnosed 53 cases of typhoid with four deaths; in 2007, there were eight cases of typhoid with no deaths; and in the first half of 2008, there were 11 cases of typhoid with one death. Richardson's organization also installed bed nets for all Bawa residents, which has significantly decreased malaria cases. Between 2005 and 2006, Nka reported 104 cases of malaria from Bawa leading to six deaths. Between 2006 and 2007, Nka diagnosed 77 cases of malaria with two deaths; between 2007-2008, there were 44 cases of malaria with no deaths.
"The precipitous decrease in the incidence of malaria and water-borne diseases demonstrates what can be accomplished with a relatively small amount of money and a some hard work," Richardson said. "This is about more than reducing incidence of disease; it's about building relationships and together nurturing hope for a better tomorrow for the people of this remote, impoverished village."
English professor writes book about growing up as a baby boomer
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Bob Liftig |
In the 440-page book, Liftig tells the life story of the character Bob Bacharach, who dodges the draft by joining a Peace Corps bull castration program and is nearly killed in the process.
"The Baby Bomber Chronicles" reveals secrets about the 1960s that the boomer generation is embarrassed to tell their children. "Another reason for writing the novel was to make people laugh as hard as they can," Liftig said.
Sociology professor writes book about human conflicts
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Robert Sizemore |
Sizemore is a Gestalt therapist and has been an educator for 45 years. He has master's degrees in education, sociology and counseling, and is a spiritual adviser. "For Douglas: A Final Word on the Korean War" is designed to reflect various Jungian concepts including integration and synchronicity.
Biology professor leads research project on parasitic worms in Connecticut fish
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Dennis Richardson |
Professor Dennis J. Richardson spends much of his day analyzing a strange creature that inhabits the intestines of fish. It's a good thing the biology professor and parasitologist loves fishing and spending time outdoors.
Richardson is studying the parasitic worm Leptorhynchoides thecatus among the bass, green sunfish and pumpkinseed fish in Connecticut's lakes. This tiny creature, also known as a thorny-headed worm, has hook-like spines on its large head that it uses to pierce and hold onto the intestines of fish. His research has already shown that the worms behave differently in lakes that are connected to different river systems.
"These populations have been isolated from each other, so they are going to evolve along different pathways," said Richardson. "This gives us an opportunity to look at the evolutionary process as it's happening." The worms that thrive in Bolton Lake in Vernon behave differently inside their host fish from the worms that live in the Moodus reservoir, he said. Bolton Lake drains into the Thames River while the Moodus lakes drain into the Connecticut River system. Richardson is conducting various studies to determine whether the worms are different species or perhaps only variant forms of the same species.
Theater professor to lead Kennedy Center playwriting program
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Crystal Brian |
The playwriting program encourages college students to write plays by providing the opportunity to engage in the complete playwriting process. At regional festivals held annually in January and February, selected plays submitted by students are performed to showcase their work. The regional festivals also include workshops and award presentations. Brian and Boles will offer expertise by assessing plays students submit and provide information on playwriting awards the Kennedy Center offers.
Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a theater program in eight geographic regions in the United States involving 18,000 college students from more than 600 academic institutions. Through state, regional and national festivals, the Kennedy Center offers student artists recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing and design.