Campus Update
(September 22, 2006)
Faculty/Staff
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Aviva Snyder, director of Jewish Student Life for University at Albany Hillel, participated in a seven-day service trip to El Horno, Nicaragua |
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The group worked with a local non-governmental organization, Fundaci�n Denis Ernesto Gonz�lez L�pez (FDEGL). FDEGL works for Nicaragua's youth and peasant population through the development and promotion of projects in a variety of areas, including sustainable agriculture, the environment, women's empowerment and prevention of drug use. Its goal is to improve the living and working conditions of the most vulnerable sectors of Nicaraguan society and to reduce poverty, hunger, and unemployment rates.
"It was an amazing, eye-opening experience. The poverty in Nicaragua is overwhelming, and the unequal distribution of wealth is troubling and frustrating. Images of children with no shoes really struck a chord with me. After spending a week with a community that only has intermittent power and water, it changed the way I look at all the conveniences that Americans take for granted. The trip had a profound impact on the way I understand the developing world, as well as my responsibility to effecting change.
"I am excited to bring my experience back to campus to help educate our students. There are plans in place to bring students on a similar campus-based trip." said Snyder.
The program was sponsored by the Everett Family Tzedek Initiative through Hillel. The trip was coordinated by Hillel International Center staff in partnership with American Jewish World Service.
Phil Eppard Named a Fellow
of the Society of American Archivists
Professor Philip B. Eppard of the Department of
Information Studies in the College of Computing
and Information was named a fellow of the
Society of American Archivists (SAA) at a
ceremony Aug. 4 during the Joint Annual Meeting
of SAA, Council of State Archivists, and the
National Association of Government Archives and
Records Administrators in Washington, D.C. The
distinction of fellow is the highest honor
bestowed on individuals by SAA and is awarded
for outstanding contributions to the archival
profession. Eppard joins 163 current members so
honored out of a membership of 4,600.
Eppard, who earned a Ph.D. in American civilization from Brown University, earned this recognition through his contributions to archival scholarship, electronic records research, archival education, the study of archival history, and national and regional professional associations.
As editor of the SAA journal American Archivist for the past 10 years, Eppard has strengthened its reputation for excellence. As one of his nominators stated, he "has given the journal vision and theoretical heft that it did not enjoy consistently before."
Eppard joined the faculty of the University at Albany in 1988 after serving as archivist for the Archdiocese of Boston and working in archival positions at Harvard University. From 1995 to 2003, he served as dean of the School of Information Science and Policy.
He has also served SAA in other capacities over the years, including service on the Committee on Education and Professional Development to the Archival History Roundtable.
UAlbany Highlighted on Modern Architecture
Tour
The University at Albany's uptown campus and
the Empire State Plaza were the focus of a tour
this summer to highlight outstanding examples of
modern architecture.
The UAlbany main campus (1962-1968) was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone, and the Empire State Plaza by Wallace K. Harrison (1962-1976). The tour provided a comprehensive view of each site, as well as interior visits to key buildings. Historians and technical experts presented background information. University faculty and staff who acted as guides on the tour included: Errol Millington, Bill Hedberg, Randi Olocki, Geoff Williams, David Lacomb, and John Pipkin.
The day's events were the result of collaboration among Docomomo New York/Tri-State; the University at Albany's Center for Humanities, Arts, and Technosciences (CHATS), directed by Associate Professor of English Mary Valentis; the Office of the Provost; and the Commission on the Restoration of the State Capitol. Valentis was co-chair of the event with alumna Karen Cannell of the New York State Archives. Docomomo works for the documentation and conservation of building sites and neighborhoods of the modern architectural movement.
