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Dr. Straight is among just 820 SUNY faculty members to be appointed to the distinguished ranks since the program’s inception in 1963, and one of just 10 individuals to receive this honor this year, across the full SUNY system.
The Distinguished Service designation is conferred upon instructional faculty at SUNY’s state-operated and community colleges who have achieved a notable reputation for extraordinary service not only to the campus and to SUNY, but also to the community, the State of New York and/or even the nation, by sustained effort in the application of intellectual skills drawing from the candidate’s scholarly and research interests to issues of public concern. Further, many candidates for appointment have rendered influential service contributing at the international level. To be eligible for the nomination, service must exceed the work generally considered to be a part of a candidate’s basic professional work (professional committees, etc.) and should include service that exceeds that for which professors are normally compensated. More importantly, the service must extend over multiple years.
Dr. Straight, who last year earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, has been a SUNY Fredonia faculty member since 1977, serving as chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science from 1998-2004. He is also an alumnus of Fredonia, earning a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics/Secondary Education in 1973 before earning his master’s and doctoral degrees at Western Michigan University in 1976 and 1977, respectively.
“This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Dr. Straight,” said SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner upon learning of his achievement. “Joe has consistently been and remains among the most passionate and dedicated of our faculty, repeatedly advocating for students and the quality of the education they receive on this campus. He also remains vigilant in helping us ensure that the graduates SUNY Fredonia places into society have met or exceeded the stringent criteria this university has established for and expects of its graduates. He has shown us time and again just how much he cares for SUNY Fredonia and its students.”
“The genius of SUNY faculty lies not only in their intellectual capacity, but also in their surpassing excellence in teaching and in their ability to apply their scholarship and research in service to the campus and larger community in which we all live,” added SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Carl T. Hayden regarding this year’s honorees. “These SUNY faculty attract students and scholars to our campuses, enhance the prestige of the entire university and they are most deserving of highest academic rank the university can bestow. My sincere gratitude and hearty congratulations go to them all.”
“SUNY faculty who receive appointment to the rank of distinguished service professor and distinguished teaching professor are nationally and internationally recognized scholars and scientists of the highest academic distinction,” said SUNY Vice Chancellor and Officer-in-Charge John J. O’Connor. “Each of these remarkable individuals has met or exceeded the rigorous requirements for this promotion and I commend the Board of Trustees for recognizing their talent and service by approving their appointments to distinguished rank.”
Dr. Straight has taught dozens of undergraduate- and graduate-level courses during this span and has served in a variety of leadership positions, including the Academic Affairs Committee, Dean’s Advisory Council, Faculty Student Association Board of Directors, and the University Senate, which he chaired in 1987. He is presently the faculty advisor to Fredonia’s Mathematics Club, has served on the Board of Governors for the Mathematical Association of America, and has attained Fellow status within the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. In addition, the Mathematical Association of America honored Dr. Straight at its 2008 national meeting for his service to the organization by giving him the Meritorious Service Award.
Dr. Straight lives in Arkwright, N.Y. with his wife, Wendy.
