Faculty-Staff Achievements, Jan. 18, 2013
Award
David Porter
David Porter, president emeritus and Tisch Family Distinguished Professor, received a Distinguished
Service Award from the American Philological Association (APA) at its annual meeting
Jan 4-6, 2013, in Seattle. The award recognizes "extraordinary service to the profession
of classics and the American Philological Association." In its award citation, the
APA noted Porter's service as chair of the APA's Development Committee since 2005
and his membership on the Steering Committee of the APA Gateway Campaign. "In those
positions he built the foundation for and contributed mightily to the successful outcome
of the Campaign," according to the citation. His efforts contributed to a tripling
of member participation in annual giving. As Development Committee Chair he helped
the organization complete a feasibility study and carry out the campaign, while ensuring
that the committee maintained focus on both long-term goals and current needs. He
also served on the APA's Outreach Committee during the campaign, to increase visibility
for the organization and its goals, while continuing his commitment to teaching and
research atSkidmore. "The APA is indeed fortunate that this more-than-renaissance
man has been willing to give so much of his time to both the present and future needs
of the organization," the citation concluded.
Founded in 1869 by professors, friends, and patrons of linguistic science, the APA
is the principal learned society in North America for the study of ancient Greek and
Roman languages, literatures, and civilizations. While the majority of its members
are university and college classics teachers, members also include scholars in other
disciplines, primary and secondary school teachers, and interested lay people. For
more than a century this community has relied on the association to produce several
series of scholarly books and texts; the journal, Transactions of the American Philological
Association; and an annual meeting each January in conjunction with the Archaeological
Institute of America.
Publications
Jennifer Bonner, assistant professor of biology, is the co-author of two articles. The first, titled
"Large isoforms of UNC-89 (obscurin) are required for muscle cell architecture and
optimal calcium release in Caenorhabditis elegans" was published in PLoS One, 2012, Vol. 7, No. 7. Her co-authors were Patrick Spooner, A. Villu Maricq, Guy Benian,
and Kenneth Norman. The article may be accessed for free here. The second article was co-authored with Skidmore biology alumnus Andrew Ross '12,
and is
titled "Activation of wnt signaling using lithium chloride: inquiry-based undergraduate laboratory
exercises," published in Zebrafish, December 2012, Vol. 9, No. 4.
Mary Zeiss Stange, professor of women's studies and religion, is a blogger for Fair Chase Hunting.
Gordon Thompson, professor of music, had three short articles posted on the Oxford University Press's
Oxford Blog. "Selling the Beatles, December 1962" (26 December 2012) describes how publicist Tony Barrow approached London's press
and how EMI bought time on Radio Luxembourg. "Charting Success: The Beatles, December 1962" outlines the differences between different London music papers and how they ranked
"Love Me Do." And "The Beatles and 'Please Please Me,' 11 January 1963" considers the historic contexts of the release of the band's second disc and how
these may have influenced its reception.
In the News
Several Skidmore faculty members published letters to the editor about the Jan. 12-13
gun show at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Bob Turner, government, had a letter in the Jan. 13 issue of The Saratogian; Greg Hrbek, English, was co-author of a letter in the Jan. 11 edition of The Times Union; and Pat Oles, social work, authored a letter in the Jan. 6 issue of The Saratogian.
Two Skidmore cultural events were included on "best of 2012" lists published Dec.
30, 2012 in The Daily Gazette. Visual arts reporter Karen Bjornland included "Nancy Grossman: Tough Life Diary"
at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery in her "10 best" list; and dance writer
Wendy Liberatore listed "Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano," choreographed
by Debra Fernandez, professor of dance, on her list of the year's best dance events. The Fernandez dance
was part of a celebration of the centennial of the birth of composer John Cage, performed
at Zankel that also featured music by David Porter and a layered sound installation
by Margo Mensing.
Ian Berry, Dayton Director of the Tang Museum, and Marie Glotzbach, lecturer in theater and inaugural winner of the Community Arts Leadership Award
from Saratoga Arts, were among the Capital Region artists and arts leaders interviewed
by The Times Union for "The year past, the year ahead," published Dec. 27, 2012.
Gordon Thompson, music, was interviewed by the producers of a program on the life of British producer
Joe Meek to be aired on WVUD-FM (University of Delaware) in April.
Mary Zeiss Stange, women's studies and religion, was a source for "Recent shootings in Newtown, Webster shine spotlight on AR-15," published Jan. 1 in the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle.