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ePoly Briefs
a monthly publication of news and events for faculty and staff
May 2003 Edition |
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New Registrar Joins Polytechnic
2003/04 Holiday Schedule Adds Two More Days Polytechnic Alumni Elections Held New Location for Graduate Office Summer Hours for Gym and Fitness Center Publications and Presentations
NEW REGISTRAR JOINS POLYTECHNIC Robert R. “Bob” Pergolis joins Polytechnic as the University’s new registrar. He started May 19 and reports to Richard S. Thorsen, vice president for university relations, planning and assessment. His goals as University registrar include making student customer service a No. 1 priority and becoming an advocate for the office. “Many people don’t know all the services that the Registrar’s Office offers,” he says. “The Registrar’s Office is one of the few places where you touch base with all students and work closely with administration and faculty.” Pergolis comes to Poly from SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx, where he served as registrar since 1998. Previously, he was assistant registrar at Marymount College in Tarrytown and the New York College of Health Professions in Syosset. He received a BA in Social Sciences from Hofstra University, a MA in Secondary Education from Adelphi University and a MA in Higher Education Administration and Student Development from Boston College. A native Long Islander, Pergolis lives in Nassau County with his wife, Michele, a high school chemistry teacher; and two children, Catherine, 3, and Robert, 3 months.
At the May Town Hall meeting, President Chang reported that feedback from the Middle States Accreditation Team comprised only suggestions, not recommendations, and its report was “very complimentary to our progress.” The Middle States report is posted on My Poly. Chang also updated the community on enrollment, saying that student deposits are down slightly from the same time last year. Computer science enrollment is “way down” while mechanical engineering has seen a strong increase [enrollment figures are posted on My Poly in the documents section]. He also said that, although the administration is still looking for ways to reduce the budget, it will not further reduce employee health benefits from the original recommendations of the Fringe Benefits Committee (the new health plan rolls out July 1) and he is “not considering another lay off” at Polytechnic. Following the president, the provost and each of the vice presidents spoke. Ivan Frisch, executive vice president and provost, said Strategic Planning is moving forward. He expects to have a vision plan to the president by end of June, with a draft completed by September. He announced that the University has signed agreements to offer a Management of Technology Program at BAE SYSTEMS and a Computer Science Program at Symbol Technologies, and is currently discussing offering a Technical Writing Program at Computer Associates. Frisch also announced that three professors have been granted tenure: Bharat P. Rao, assistant professor of management; Ivan Selesnick, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Jonathan Soffer, assistant professor of history. Bud Griffis, vice president and dean of engineering and applied sciences, said that his priority remains retention and he is “seeing significant results.” Richard Thorsen, vice president of university relations, planning and assessment, introduced the new registrar, Bob Pergolis, to the audience (see above article) and said the commitment of the office is on improving its services. He thanked interim registrar Ronnie Lukas for her efforts during the past nine months and also Mike Mainerio, director of institutional research and assessment, and Richard Feltman, associate registrar, for supporting the operations of the Registrar. Thorsen also said that the planning details for Poly’s sesquicentennial have begun with fundraising initiatives from corporations and foundations. Lowell Robinson, interim vice president for finance, announced that Ronnie Lukas has become acting director of student accounts on the departure of Mary Ann Langbart to St. John’s University. Lukas remains director of financial aid. The University is currently considering an internal candidate for the position and has also placed an ad in The New York Times. Currently all offices are going through a budget process, Robinson said, with each office being asked to give its objectives, goals, strengths and weaknesses. He also said that Moody’s Investor Services has downgraded Poly’s bond rating from a BAAA3 (negative outlook) to a BA1 (negative outlook). Robinson said the downgrade was a minor reduction and “I feel really good about that.” Ellen Hartigan, vice president for student affairs and alumni development, called the recent Student Awards Banquet “very spirited.” She announced that students gave the Faculty Member of the Year Award to Jean Gallagher, associate professor of English; the Staff Member of the Year Award to Tonya Holmes, administrative aide in Career Services; and the Adviser of the Year Award (for the student organization NSBE) to Beverly Johnson, executive director of the YES Center. [Award recipients will be profiled in the June issue of ePoly Briefs.]
ATHLETIC AWARDS BANQUET DRAWS OVER 200, HONORS TOP ATHLETES Polytechnic celebrated the end of the athletic year with its Annual Awards Banquet held May 2. Over 200 athletes, coaches, administrators, parents and alumni attended the event. The Edward C. Russell Award, which recognizes a senior who displays outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments over the course of four years, was given to Yevgeniy Lange. Lange not only captained the men’s volleyball team to two consecutive Hudson Valley Conference championships, but also maintained a GPA average of 3.4. The Richard Goldish Award was presented to three students who showed outstanding leadership, cooperation and dedication to Poly athletics: Micah Tucker, who has captained Poly’s baseball team for the past three years and worked extensively with Coach James Barrett to help establish a women’s softball team; Kevin Power, who has captained the men’s soccer program for the past two years and has assisted athletes living in the dormitory and with a variety of non-athletic issues; and Lauren Competello, who was instrumental in forming the first ever varsity women’s basketball and softball teams at the University. The Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award went to Lange and women’s basketball player Nil Simsek. Simsek, who played both forward and guard during the season, led the team in scoring with an 18-point average, and helped her squad win seven games in its first season of competition. Most Valuable Player Awards and Rookie of the Year Awards went to 32 student athletes on 16 different teams. President Chang and his wife, Cecilia, were honored by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for their support of Polytechnic athletics during the past year. SAAC chairman Dale Smiley and the rest of the SAAC officers presented them with an engraved clock. Over the course of the evening, students gave rousing ovations to several Poly staff members. Athletic Director Maureen Braziel was cheered for her efforts in developing diversified and competitive varsity and recreational programs for men and women throughout the University. Barrett was recognized for establishing women’s varsity athletic programs in both basketball and softball. Margie Iacono, administrative assistant for Athletics, was recognized for her hard work and administrative abilities in communicating with coaches and other universities regarding Poly’s athletic program. During the event, freshman athletes received a school letter, with their particular sport identified. Sophomore athletes received University insignia travel bags. Junior athletes received heavy-duty jackets, with their name and sport embroidered on it; and senior athletes received an engraved Polytechnic watch. The banquet also included a moment of silence to remember Nick Russo, who had served Athletics in a variety of functions, including assistant cross country coach, sports information director and official basketball scorer.
Leave the suits in the closet and start planning for more hours in the sun: Dress-down Summer and Summer Reduced Flex Hours start in June. Dress-down Summer began Monday, June 2, and ends Friday, August 29. Employees will be allowed to come to work in casual attire, but not sweat pants, torn jeans or shorts. Department heads or directors have the right to cancel casual dress if work duties require professional attire. Summer Reduced Flex Hours begins Monday, June 16, and ends Friday, August 29. All administrative staff will work 32.5 hours a week instead of 35 hours. Department heads or directors are responsible for maintaining normal office duties during this time. For questions about either program, contact Sue Karavolas at ext. 3343 or by e-mail.
2003/04 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE ADDS TWO MORE DAYS
Based on the recommendation from the Campaign 1-2-3 Rewards and Recognition Team and approved by the Adminstrative Council, two extra days—December 24, 2003, and January 2, 2004—have been added to the 2003/04 Holiday Schedule as a one-time exception. Therefore, there are 17 holidays rather than the usual 15 holidays.
Independence Day.............Friday, July 4, 2003 Labor Day........................Monday, September 1, 2003 Yom Kippur......................Monday, October 6, 2003 Thanksgiving Day..............Thursday, November 27, 2003 Day after Thanksgiving.......Friday, November 28, 2003 Winter Break.....................Wednesday, December 24, 2003 Winter Break.....................Thursday, December 25, 2003 Winter Break.....................Friday, December 26, 2003 Winter Break.....................Monday, December 29, 2003 Winter Break.....................Tuesday, December 30, 2003 Winter Break.....................Wednesday, December 31, 2003 Winter Break.....................Thursday, January 1, 2004 Winter Break.....................Friday, January 2, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Day..Monday, January 19, 2004 President’s Day.................Monday, February 16, 2004 Good Friday......................Friday, April 9, 2004 Memorial Day....................Monday, May 31, 2004
Alumnus and general engineering instructor who embodied the spirit of Poly in his commitment to students and alumni, Onofrio “Nick” Russo '73 died April 29 of an apparent heart attack. He was 51. For more 30 years, Russo wore many hats at Poly. In addition to serving as instructor, he was former sports information director, assistant cross country coach, adviser to numerous student organizations and coordinator of the Exec21 and Construction Management programs. He was president of the Big Apple Alumni Section and received that section’s Alumnus of the Year Award in 2002. He also received two Extra Step Awards, a University program that recognizes contributions by faculty and staff to make Poly a better place to work, teach or learn. “I can honestly say that I would love to be around Nick in time of need because he will not let you down,” wrote one employee who nominated Russo for the award. “Nick’s help comes naturally, and he is truly a blessing.” Recalling his total involvement at the University, Claudia Tom, a 1999 graduate, says, “Nick was easily one of the most highly recognizable figures in the Poly community.” Damon Chan, a senior computer science major, says, “Nick Russo was the best professor and friend a student could have. He always had a smile on his face, and touched everyone at Poly in some capacity.” In 1969, the Queens, N.Y., native entered Polytechnic with dreams to someday become an astronaut. Later, Russo switched his major from aerospace to mechanical engineering and channeled his energies into extracurricular activities. As a student, he was founder and president of the Rapid Transit Club and the Polytechnic Railroad and Subway Club; he also managed the varsity basketball team and managed and played on the baseball team. “I don’t have to tell you about his energy and enthusiasm—it’s been there for as long as I have known him,” says Steve Garone '73, a former classmate. In 1995, Polytechnic honored Russo with a Dedicated Alumnus Award. At the time, he said, “The greatest thrill you can have is to mold students and make them successful. I’m so proud of the work that I do [at Poly].” Ed T. Barron '56, former president of the polytechnic alumni, agrees: “I never met anyone who had more sincere love for Poly and its students.” Before becoming a full-time instructor at Polytechnic in 1996, Russo worked as an engineer for Gas Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Brooklyn Union Gas (now KeySpan Energy) and for KIAC Partners, partially owned by Gas Energy. He held four patents for utility product-related items. He also acted and was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Actor’s Equity Association and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. “He did it all—student, alumnus, instructor, colleague and friend—a man with a cause,” says Cheryl A. McNear '92, director of student development and vice president of the Big Apple Alumni Section. “Nick Russo was the personification of Poly pride, and his passing leaves a gaping hole in the heart of the Polytechnic community.” Russo’s funeral service was held at Our Lady of Hope Church in Maspeth, Queens, with more than 200 students, faculty and staff attending. He is buried in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island. Polytechnic has established the Nick Russo Poly Pride Memorial Fund to support awards, scholarships and activities during National Engineers Week at the University. Checks made payable to Polytechnic University (please note “Nick Russo Poly Pride Memorial Fund” on check) can be sent to Donald Ivanoff, director of alumni relations, in JB 468.
POLYTECHNIC ALUMNI ELECTIONS HELD Elections for new directors and officers of the polytechnic alumni were held at the association’s annual meeting June 3. Offices of the Polytechnic Alumni 2003/04 (one-year term) President: James Oussani Jr. ’77, president of Staplex Co. Executive Vice President: Thomas A. Mauro ’67 attorney, Thomas A. Mauro & Associates PC Vice President: George Likourezos ’92 ’92, attorney, Carter, DeLuca, Farrell and Schmidt LLP Treasurer: Luther L. White ’87, budget analyst/contract specialist, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, NYC Department of Mental Health; and partner and vice president, Reggie’s Roast, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Secretary: Stephen Garone ’73, vice president of application development and deployment research, IDC Directors 2003–2006 (three-year term): Henry L. Bachman ’51, Charles J. Hinkaty ’70, Philip H. Shpilberg ’97
NEW LOCATION FOR GRADUATE OFFICE Polytechnic’s Graduate Center for Professional Studies has moved from the Jacobs Administration Building to Room 102 in Rogers Hall. The current entrance is across from the bookstore; a new door will be built to allow access from the lobby of the Jacobs Academic Building. The office comprises Dean Kevlin, executive director; Marie Brathwaite, administrative aide; Stacey Noel administrative assistant; and Anthea Jeffrey, senior administrative secretary.
SUMMER HOURS FOR GYM AND FITNESS CENTER Gymnasium
Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Fitness Center Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Wunsch Recreation Center Closed
H. Jonathan Chao, professor of electrical and computer engineering, was selected as Speaker of the Year by the IEEE New Jersey Coast Section. Kathy Brock, director of the Counseling Center, was selected to work for the Human Rights Clinic, sponsored by the Doctors of the World. As a volunteer, she will provide psychological evaluations and forensic testimony for torture survivors seeking political asylum in the United States. Polytechnic has received a 2003 Building Brooklyn Award from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. The award was in the category of education/residential for the building of the Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Residence Hall. Five Polytechnic alumni were recently honored by the IEEE Long Island Section, receiving half of the awards given out in 2003. The alumni were Richard Augeri '73 (PH), retired engineering fellow at AIL Systems Inc. and principal investigator for JJW Consulting, who received the IEEE Region 1 Award for New Technical Concepts in Electrical Engineering; Andrew McNerney '60 '65 (EE), associate department chairman for operations, Collider-Accelerator Department, and project manager for the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory Project at Brookhaven National Laboratory, who received the IEEE Region 1 Award for Electrical Engineering Management; William Rooney '84 (CS), principal engineer for E-2C systems at Northrop Grumman, who received the Alex Gruenwald Award; Michael Sussich '94 '97 (EE), an engineer at Telephonics Company, who received the Outstanding Young Engineer Award; and Bruce Willins '79 (EE), vice president of R&D at Symbol Technologies Inc., who received the Charles Hirsch Award.
President Chang was named one of New York’s “100 Most Powerful Minority Business Leaders” in a special report in Crain’s New York Business (April 28). Polytechnic is one of several universities whose program in information literacy training (run by the Dibner Library) is examined in the report, “Training College Students in Information Literacy: Profiles of How Colleges Teach their Students to Use Academic Libraries,” published by Primary Research Group (2003).
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING Spencer P. Kuo, “Generation of Extra and Very Low Frequency (ELF/VLF) Radiation by Ionospheric Electrojet Modulation Using High Frequency (HF) Heating Waves,” published in Journal of Plasma Physics, (Vol. 68, Issue 4, May 2002) _____ “Parametric Excitation of Lower Hybrid Waves by Electron Plasma Waves,” published in Physical Letters A (Vol. 307, Issue 4, 2003) _____ (with S. H. Lee, D. Bivolaru, P. Kossey, M.C. Lee, R.J. Riddolls, D. Sentman), “Experimental and Numerical Studies on ELF/VLF Wave Generation by Amplitude-Modulated HF Heating Waves,” published in Physica Scripta, (Vol. 67, Issue 5, May) _____ “On Parametric Instabilities in HF Heating of the Ionosphere,” to be published in Journal of Plasma Physics, (Vol. 68, 2003) _____ (with H. Lee), “Generation of ELF Radiation by Ionospheric Electrojet Modulation Using Powerful HF Heating Waves,” to be published in Radio Science (2003) _____ (with Daniel Bivolaru), “Electric Discharge in the Presence of Supersonic Shocks,” to be published in Physical Letters A (2003) _____ (with D. Bivolaru, Lester Orlick), “A Magnetized Torch Module for Plasma Generation and Plasma Diagnostic with Microwave,” published in the proceedings for American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Meeting, Reno, Nev. (January) _____ (with Daniel Bivolaru), “A Physical Mechanism of the Plasma Effect on Shock Waves,” published in the meeting proceedings for American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reno, Nev. (January) _____ (with Daniel Bivolaru, Campbell D. Carter, Lance Jacobsen, Skip Williams), “Operational Characteristics of a Plasma Torch in a Supersonic Cross Flow,” published in the proceedings for American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Meeting, Reno, Nev. (January)
MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING Blair R. Williams, “Partnership Means Risk and Reward in the Supply Chain Flight,” to be presented at the International APICS Conference, Las Vegas (October 6-9)
The following list of new research grants, from January to March 2003, is provided by Contracts and Grants.
CHANCELLOR George Bugliarello, “Urban Security Initiative,” from various sources, $6,760
CIVIL ENGINEERING John C. Falcocchio, “Transportation Security Workshop,” various sources, $6,885 Ilan Juran, “Development and Demonstration of Innovative Technologies to Reduce Utility Interference/Construction Costs (CONCORD),” Con Edison, $475,000, and KeySpan Energy, $475,000 ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING David J. Goodman, Phyllis G. Frankl, Shivendra Panwar, “Planning Grant for an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center Collaborative Proposal: Wireless Internet Center for Advanced Technology,” National Science Foundation, $10,000 Yao Wang, “Lossless Image Compression for High Speed Download over Cordless Link,” Symbol Technologies Inc., $29,400 Zivan Zabar and Dariusz Czarkowski, “Mitigation of Voltage Distrubances Caused by Non-linear Operation of Massive Electrical Loads,” Long Island Lighting Company, $99,747 _____ “Development of a Unit Substation Demand Estimator,” Con Edison, $141,350 ENGINEERING CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL Barbara Hickernell, “Thermal Barrier and Environmental Coatings Conference,” U.S. Department of the Navy/Office of Naval Research, $10,000 _____ “Boundary Lubrication for Transportation Conference,” National Science Foundation, $10,000 _____ “Computational Fluid Dynamics in Chemical Reaction Engineering III Conference: Davos, Switzerland; May 25-30,” National Science Foundation, $25,000 _____ “Teaching Entrepreneurial Engineering,” National Science Foundation, $25,000 MANAGEMENT A. George Schillinger and George Bugliarello, “Support for a Special 25th Anniversary Edition of Technology in Society: An International Journal,” Richard Lounsbery Foundation, $12,000, and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, $25,000 MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING Meihua Tai, “SGER: Dynamics of Wheeled Mobile Robots for Control: A Case Study of Advanced Nonlinear Control of Complex Interconnected Mechanical Systems,” National Science Foundation, $99,905 UNIVERSITY RELATIONS, PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT Richard S. Thorsen, “Neuroscience Research,” Swartz Organization, $25,000 _____Micro Electrical Optical Mechanical Systems (MEOMS),” Swartz Organization, $25,000
I’m gonna wash that man right outa my hair I’m gonna wash that man right outa my hair I’m gonna wash that man right outa my hair And send him on his way Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein win Pulitzer Prize this month for their musical “South Pacific” (1950)
Shoes tailored for right and left feet (1310) . . . Achsah Young is first American woman known to be executed as witch in Massachusetts (1647) . . . England, Wales and Scotland form United Kingdom of Great Britain (1707) . . . Wolfgang Mozart premieres opera “The Marriage of Figaro” in Vienna (1786) . . . Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss markets blue jeans, with copper rivets for strength, at $13.50 per dozen (1874) . . . the other Kate Smith, “God Bless America” singer, born in Washington, D.C. (1909) . . . Charles Lindbergh departs Long Island’s Roosevelt Field on historic solo flight to Paris (1927) . . . Empire State Building opens in NYC (1931) . . . General Mills introduces Cheerios (1941) . . . North Korea proclaims itself People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (1948) . . . Mr. Potato Head, king of vegetable toys, introduced by Hassenfeld Bros. (now Hasbro) and consisting entirely of pieces; consumers use real potato for body (1952) . . . Chiang Kai-shek is president of Nationalist China (1954) . . . Japanese-Americans regain their citizenship (1959) . . . first BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) computer program runs on Dartmouth College computer under direction of inventors Professors John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz (1964) . . . Elvis Presley weds Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas (1967) . . . Amtrak, U.S. passenger railroad system that combines 18 intercity railroads, goes into service (1971) . . . explosions at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine result in release of xenon gas and other radioactive material (1986) . . . China declares martial law in Beijing (1989) . . . “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve paralyzed after equestrian accident in Charlottesville, Va. (1995) . . . Tony Blair elected prime minister of United Kingdom (1997) . . . body of British mountaineer George Mallory found on Mount Everest almost 75 years after he disappeared on climbing expedition (1999)
ePoly Briefs
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JUNE HAPPENINGS
Sunday 1 3:30 p.m. Commencement Lincoln Center, Manhattan
Tuesday 3 Classes begin for X & Z sessions
5:30-7:30 p.m. Polytechnic Alumni Annual Meeting and Reunions of classes of ‘63 ‘73 and ‘78 LC 400
Sunday 8 9 a.m. Judo Promotional MetroTech campus
Thursday 26 6:30 p.m. 15th Annual Promise Fund Dinner Waldorf Astoria, Manhattan
Friday 27 Last day to withdraw from X session course with “W” grade |
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