Criminal Justice Coordinator Receives Faculty Award

Academic Dean Dr. Thomas Nowak presented Dr. Tara Parrello, Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program, with the Academic Dean’s Award for Faculty Service on May 17, 2017.

The Academic Dean’s Award for Faculty Service was presented to Dr. Tara Parrello, Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program,  during the College Service Awards Ceremony on May 17, 2017.

Before handing Professor Parrello her plaque, Academic Dean Dr. Thomas Nowak listed her many accomplishments and activities at the College and described her as one of the most visible faculty members at campus events.  

“Tara’s dedication to all students and to the College as a whole is evident in everything she does. She unselfishly spends innumerable hours seeing to the needs of our students, her colleagues, and Dominican College as a whole,” said Dr. Nowak. 

Professor Parrello’s accomplishments include recruiting professionals to teach part-time, instituting new courses, making courses available online, and placing students in internships. She serves as advisor to the Criminal Justice Club and moderator of the Criminal Justice Honor Society. In addition, Professor Parrello organizes a variety on and off-campus events. 

Criminal Justice is the College’s second most popular major, behind Nursing.

 

May 17, 2017

College Celebrates Earth Week

Dr. Bernadette Connors received the 2017 Friends of the Earth Award during a tree planting ceremony to kick off Earth Week at the College.

Dominican College kicked off its celebration of Earth Week on Tuesday, April 18,  by planting a magnolia tree at a ceremony honoring Biology Professor Dr. Bernadette Connors, who was given the 2017 Friend of the Earth Award. 

Chancellor Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, O.P. said Dr. Connors is a wonderful asset to the College and pointed to her work with students in cleaning up tributaries to the Hudson River. “She has given her life to the earth and its care and to the students who are learning how the earth is impacting our lives,” she said. 

Some of the other Earth Week activities are a campus cleanup on Thursday, April 20, a pond cleanup on Friday, April 21, and participation in the United Way Spring Day of Caring on Friday, April 21.  There is also a  photography exhibit in the Sullivan Library on the 2014 People’s Climate March in New York City.  For a complete listing of Earth Week events, check the calendar of events.  

April 18, 2017

Biology Professor Placed on Fulbright Specialist Roster

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Bernadette Connors, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, has been placed on the Fulbright Specialist Roster.

A Dominican College biology instructor has been selected to be placed on the Fulbright Specialist Roster by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES).

The Roster is a list of all candidates who are eligible to be matched with overseas academic institutions needing expertise from Fulbright Specialists in a particular area of study.

Bernadette Connors, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, said she was delighted when she received the email stating that she would be placed on the Roster. “I was beyond excited at the opportunity to represent Dominican College as well as the United States,” said Dr. Connors.  “Having the unique experience of teaching biology at a small school might be valuable to another institution similar to our own overseas.  That is what is most exciting about it.”

Dr. Connors can remain on the Roster for up to five years. She is eligible for consideration for two to six-week grant opportunities through the Specialist Program. While Dr. Connors said she would consider traveling anywhere in the world as a Fulbright Specialist, her top choices are England and China. 

 

 

 

September 6, 2016

Alumnus Invention Wins $1.125 Million Grant

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John Damiao demonstrates how his indieGo invention converts a typical wheelchair into a power wheelchair.

Alumnus and Adjunct Professor John Damiao ’09 calls his invention which turns an ordinary wheelchair into a power wheelchair for about $1,000 a “game-changer”  It’s called indieGo and Google.org has awarded  Damiao and his team at the Center for Discovery with a $1.125 million grant to develop it and get it on the market.  Damiao is an Adjunct Professor at Dominican College teaching Kinesiology. 

The indieGo is a small, lightweight device that you can roll any wheelchair on to in order to convert it to a power wheelchair. Damiao is an occupational therapist who works with individuals with Cerebral Palsy who are unable to control their own wheelchair.  His team in Hurleyville, NY, at the Center for Discovery is experimenting with a variety of controls, from joysticks to touch buttons to allow any patient with impaired mobility to drive.  Typical wheelchairs for these individuals can cost $10,000 to $15,000.

Damiao said it was nice that Google recognized the tremendous impact that this device can have and was not looking only at funding high-tech or flashy projects. “We felt great and excited that Google recognized the importance of trying to bring mobility to as many people as possible.  They are this big tech giant company and this device is very basic and simple,” he said. 

Google awarded 29 grantees with $20 million in grants to help address accessibility challenges all over the world and is helping bring the projects to life.

 

 

June 9, 2016

Communications Professor Receives 2016 Faculty Award

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Academic Dean Thomas Nowak presented AnnMarie DiSiena with the 2016 Dean’s Award for Faculty Service during a ceremony on May 18, 2016.

Coordinator of the Communication Studies Program AnnMarie DiSiena, Ed.D.,  received the 2016 Academic Dean’s Award for Faculty Service on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, during the annual Service Award Ceremony in the Granito Center.

In presenting the award, Academic Dean Thomas Nowak said students have described Dr. DiSiena’s teaching style as engaging, entertaining, and wonderfully stimulating. “On our evaluation forms, her courses are consistently rated excellent, averaging an extremely high 3.85 out of 4.  Students praise her for providing them with skills that are very helpful for future jobs and real life,” he said.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. DiSiena also has many administrative responsibilities. In addition to heading up the Communication Studies Program, she oversees special sessions – weekend and online courses. During the ceremony, it was announced that Dr. DiSiena is being promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor.

 

 

 

May 19, 2016

Performing Arts Center Named After College Musical Director

Dr. James A. Filipelli, shown here with College President Sr. Mary Eileen O'Brien, Ph.D., O.P., recently had a Performing Arts Center at a Westchester High School named in his honor.

Dr. James A. Filipelli, shown here with College President Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., Ph.D., recently had a Performing Arts Center at a Westchester High School named in his honor.

A Westchester County High School is honoring the former director of its theater program – who also directs the musicals at Dominican College – by naming its Performing Arts Center after him. The Lakeland Central School District Board of Education voted  on January 21, 2016, to rename the Walter Panas High School Performing Arts Center after Dr. James A. Filippelli.  Dr. Filipelli taught English for more than 35 years at the high school and retired last June.  He continues working as an adjunct instructor at Dominican College, where he has also taught for 36 years.  At Dominican College, Dr. Filipelli teaches classes in communications and theater. 

The move to rename the center came after a former Walter Panas High School student started an online petition that garnered more than 900 signatures. Dr. Filippelli said he is humbled, flattered and honored. “I share this honor with the countless number of students, the administrators, the teachers, the community members, anyone who ever stepped foot in that place, or performed on the stage – backstage, lighting, scenery, costumes, anything.  I share with them, because I couldn’t do it alone, “  he said.

Dr. Filippelli is now working with Dominican College students rehearsing for the March 11 and March 12 performances of Kiss Me Kate.  Tickets will go on sale a few weeks before the performance. 

 

January 26, 2016

Dominican College awarded $592,688 grant by the National Science Foundation

Grant will be used to increase access to the Biological Sciences.NSF-920x918

 

Dominican College has been awarded $592,688 from the National Science Foundation to support scholarships for students in biological sciences.

The money comes from the NSF S-STEM (Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program. The program is intended to improve educational opportunities and support programs for academically talented students with financial need in an effort to boost the nation’s STEM workforce.

The award for the project, titled “Increasing Access to the Biological Sciences”, starts July 1, 2015 and ends June 20, 2020.

Bernadette J. Connors, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, is the grant’s principal investigator. She said it will be used to provide scholarships for biology students. Students in the program will also be offered field trips and internships that enhance their education, along with opportunities to present research at national conferences.

“Dominican College is pleased to receive this grant,” said Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, O.P, Chancellor. “Along with the recognition by NSF of the rigor of our Biology program, we appreciate the commitment of the faculty to the advancement of STEM fields and the success of students in these majors.”

The grant allows academically talented, financially challenged students to complete baccalaureate degrees in Biological Sciences at Dominican College, while also:

  • Providing a variety of resources proven to ensure student success and reduce attrition rates among STEM majors;
  • Fostering a partnership between the College, area high schools, and the region’s industrial sectors;
  • Expanding awareness of career opportunities in STEM fields among students, parents, and teachers;
  • Increasing the number of students who successfully complete their undergraduate degree in Biology in four years, and increase the number of students entering STEM fields;

The grant draws on the strong academic and social structures and activities available at the College. Students will be provided with opportunities for training to be laboratory mentors for high school students and participate in active research projects and internships with the College’s industrial partners. Various events and activities will create a learning community among the participants and the staff and faculty at Dominican College.

Dr. Connors said the College expects to choose the first cohort by fall 2015.

For information about applying for one of the scholarships offered under the grant please contact the Office of Admissions at 1(866)4DC-INFO or admissions@duny.edu

June 9, 2015

Dominican College awarded $592,688 grant by the National Science Foundation

Grant will be used to increase access to the Biological Sciences.NSF-920x918

 

Dominican College has been awarded $592,688 from the National Science Foundation to support scholarships for students in biological sciences.

The money comes from the NSF S-STEM (Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program. The program is intended to improve educational opportunities and support programs for academically talented students with financial need in an effort to boost the nation’s STEM workforce.

The award for the project, titled “Increasing Access to the Biological Sciences”, starts July 1, 2015 and ends June 20, 2020.

Bernadette J. Connors, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, is the grant’s principal investigator. She said it will be used to provide scholarships for biology students. Students in the program will also be offered field trips and internships that enhance their education, along with opportunities to present research at national conferences.

“Dominican College is pleased to receive this grant,” said Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, O.P, Chancellor. “Along with the recognition by NSF of the rigor of our Biology program, we appreciate the commitment of the faculty to the advancement of STEM fields and the success of students in these majors.”

The grant allows academically talented, financially challenged students to complete baccalaureate degrees in Biological Sciences at Dominican College, while also:

  • Providing a variety of resources proven to ensure student success and reduce attrition rates among STEM majors;
  • Fostering a partnership between the College, area high schools, and the region’s industrial sectors;
  • Expanding awareness of career opportunities in STEM fields among students, parents, and teachers;
  • Increasing the number of students who successfully complete their undergraduate degree in Biology in four years, and increase the number of students entering STEM fields;

The grant draws on the strong academic and social structures and activities available at the College. Students will be provided with opportunities for training to be laboratory mentors for high school students and participate in active research projects and internships with the College’s industrial partners. Various events and activities will create a learning community among the participants and the staff and faculty at Dominican College.

Dr. Connors said the College expects to choose the first cohort by fall 2015.

For information about applying for one of the scholarships offered under the grant please contact the Office of Admissions at 1(866)4DC-INFO or admissions@duny.edu

June 9, 2015

Professor of Religious Studies chosen for two prestigious workshops

CzanderCongratulations to Giovanna Czander, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, on her selection to participate in the seminar on Teaching Interfaith Understanding that will be held at DePaul University this summer. The degree of competition for participation was keen. Only 26 faculty members were selected for this seminar.

Dr. Czander has also been chosen for the 2015-16 Teaching and Learning Workshop for Pre-Tenure Religion Faculty at Colleges and University organized by Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion.

Giovanna R. Czander, Ph.D,  joined the Dominican College faculty in 2009.

March 11, 2015

English Professor Publishes New Book on Edwardian Theatre

shawDr. Ellen Ecker Dolgin has published a new book titled Shaw and the Actresses Franchise League: Staging Equality. The book can be purchased on Amazon.com and has been described by Christopher Innes of York University as a book that, “defines historical events in a strikingly new way by exploring the interconnectedness between Edwardian dramatists, actresses and suffragettes and defines an unexpected cultural phenomenon merging arts and activism.”

Ellen Ecker Dolgin, Ph.D, is a professor of English and the coordinator of Dominican University’s English program.

March 9, 2015