Promotions made
Lisa Trahan, associate dean of students, has been named the dean of the Office of the First Year Experience—a new office established by Institute President Jackson—effective April 1.
The office, along with Trahan’s promotion, is the first step in the goal of restructuring and enriching the overall first-year experience of students as outlined in The Rensselaer Plan, said Eddie Ade Knowles, interim vice president for student life.
Reporting directly to the vice president for student life, Trahan will be coordinating with all campus departments to help establish the most effective programs for freshmen, first-year transfer students, and first-year graduate students.
Several other staff members from the Office of Student Life have also recently been promoted or reassigned to the new department. Cynthia Smith, coordinator of special projects for the Rensselaer Union, and Nicole Qualtieri, assistant dean of students, have been appointed assistant deans for the first-year experience. Denna Patterson, administrative secretary for the dean of students, has been reassigned to the new office.
Trahan plans to hire one more assistant dean for the new Office of the First-Year Experience, and new employees will also be hired to fill in the positions that have been vacated by the staff who have been promoted or reassigned to the new department, said Knowles.
"We chose members of our Rensselaer community to fill in these very important new positions because of their talent and expertise," said Knowles. "This team will move forward expeditiously to implement the first phase of the recommendations of the Task Force on the First-Year Experience, as detailed in the Student Life Portfolio Performance Plan."
Projects showcased
The EMAC Capstone Exhibition, a showcase of EMAC senior student artwork, will be displayed at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy from April 6 to April 8. An opening reception for the exhibition will be from 5-9 pm on April 6.
The Capstone Exhibition, which consists of the final projects from graduating seniors in the Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication program, will showcase art productions in video, animation, web design, multimedia installation, electronic music, sculpture, and graphic art. The free exhibition show is open to the public.
The Arts Center’s hours are 9 am to 5 pm Saturday and 12 pm to 4 pm Sunday.
Center established
Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson recently announced the creation of the Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, a research installation that will integrate research, education, and technology commercialization by establishing partnerships with government and industry.
Led by Richard W. Siegel—the Robert W. Hunt Professor of Materials Science and Engineering—the center will be focused on producing innovative materials and devices that could create more effective human drug delivery systems and stronger and more durable plastics, enable high-capacity energy and information storage devices and produce flame-retardant plastics for automobiles and airplanes, among other uses.
Additionally, a new research effort on potential socioeconomic impacts will be launched in order to better understand the effect of nanotechnology on industry and society. A few of the center’s nanobiotechnology activities may be housed in the planned biotechnology building, projected for completion by the end of 2003.
Nanotechnology makes use of molecular and atomic clusters to fabricate nanometer-sized building blocks for new materials. Unique properties that these materials have enable them to be used for many new applications; advances such as mirrors that do not fog, more effective sunscreens, and water-resistant eyeglass lens coatings, have already resulted from the technology.
"The Rensselaer Nanotechnol-ogy Center will provide a major resource to advance the enormous scientific progress represented by nanotechnology," said Jackson.
"The center will also educate those who will advance corporate research and development in nanotechnology here in New York State and across the nation."
Awareness observed
RPI will be taking part in the national observance of Sexual Awareness Week from April 9-12 in order to help raise awareness of sexual assaults, including rape.
Events occurring on campus during the week are sponsored by the Student Health Center and the Rensselaer Sexual Assault Awareness Team.
Information and ribbons for the observance will be distributed 11 am to 2 pm Monday through Thursday in the Rensselaer Union.
Information will also be provided 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Monday in Sage Dining Hall, on Tuesday in the Commons, and on Wednesday at the BARH Dining Hall.
Other events in addition to those mentioned above include:
—April 9, noon: Cheryl Schaefer of Crime Victims Assistance Program at Samaritan Hospital, will speak on "Stalking: Issues and Concerns," in Folsom Library’s Fischbach Room.
—April 9, 7 pm: The film, The Accused—starring Jodie Foster—will be shown in the Rensselaer Union. Discussion will follow.
—April 10, 7 pm: Bob Hall, a nationally renowned orator, will speak on "Sex, Conflict, and Intimacy," DCC 308.
—April 11, 7 pm: "Take Back the Night," a rally and candlelight march, will begin at the Rensselaer Union.
To obtain more information on the upcoming sexual awareness week, contact Terri Kersch, RPI health educator, by calling 276-2305 or e-mailing kersct@rpi.edu.
Applications requested
Grant applications used for assistance in purchasing and rehabilitation of houses in Troy can still be obtained through the Troy Architecture Program. April 6 is the final deadline for submitting applications.
The grants, in amounts of $10,000 each for rehabilitation and $2,000 each for purchase assistance, provide home-buying support for moderate to low-income individuals.
The grant project, known as the TAP Homes Program, is an ongoing effort by TAP to improve neighborhoods throughout the city of Troy. TAP, a nonprofit community architectural design center created in 1969, was established by students and faculty in the School of Architecture. For more information, contact Garrett Hamlin at 274-3050, extension 17.
