|
|
SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner will honor three outstanding members of its campus at the 12th annual President’s Award for Excellence and Service Recognition Luncheon on Monday, April 11 at noon in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room. This year’s honorees are Dr. David Rankin, an associate professor of Political Science; Lieutenant Randall Moore, of University Police; and Dr. Leanna White, a senior counselor at the Counseling Center.
Dr. Rankin, chair of the department of Political Science, came to SUNY Fredonia in 1999. He teaches such courses as American Politics, Media and Politics, Campaigns and Election, Public Opinion and Political Participation, and Civic Education and Engagement. He has coordinated the internship program in Washington, D.C. since 2002 and provided over 100 students from across SUNY with opportunities to meet with Congressional staff, visit the White House and more. With research interests in political psychology, political communication and political culture, he co-edited the book, “Transformed by Crisis: The Presidency of George W. Bush and American Politics,” was a co-author of “Winning the White House, 2004" and "Winning the White House 2008," and has recently completed a book manuscript on the the political attitudes and action of the Millennial Generation.
Dr. Rankin’s commitment to civic engagement and community service is well known through campus, most notably through his role as director of the Fredonia Academic Community Engagement (FACE) Center. He co-developed and continues to co-organize the highly successful campus-community Presidential Debate Watch events, which have received significant attendance and media coverage since 2000. In the fall of 2010, he coordinated the Register Your Voice campaign, and continues to develop diverse campus-community partnerships as teaching and learning opportunities.
Dr. Rankin has also been one of SUNY Fredonia’s most visible faculty members within the Western New York media landscape, regularly appearing as an expert with a wide variety of Erie and Chautauqua county media outlets. His understanding of how media exposure can help his department’s reputation and subsequent enrollment, in addition to benefitting the university as a whole, is greatly appreciated by many colleagues.
In 2004, Dr. Rankin received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and he has served on the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence committee since 2005.
“David embodies the spirit of Fredonia, which values its commitment to its students, and is seeking to find new ways to build enduring service and campus-community partnerships,” says an individual that nominated Rankin for this award. “He not only reflects the best of Fredonia, he is actively shaping Fredonia’s image and identity through his widely popular courses, the many alumni he has impacted throughout the years, the far-reaching and interdisciplinary campus leadership he continues to demonstrate, his work as a spokesperson for Fredonia across numerous media channels and through his ongoing efforts to enhance our students’ learning opportunities and education. Simply put, David is an outstanding teacher, first-rate scholar, a tireless academic leader and a find colleague. We are privileged to have him among us.”
Following the tradition of this award, the faculty member selected will give a campus-wide lecture in the coming fall semester. Dr. Rankin's presentation will be called, "Engaged Learning, Citizenship and Democracy," and will take place Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Rosch Recital Hall.
Lt. Moore began his service with University Police in 1984. In 1991 he received the title of public safety lieutenant and was promoted to his current position of lieutenant in 1996. He has special expertise as a certified instructor for impact weapons such as batons and self defense as well as a Deadly Physical Force trainer. His community service includes Chautauqua Day Care, where he is a member of the Board of Directors and Personnel Committee. Along with keeping the campus and community safe on a daily basis, Lt. Moore is responsible for the complex schedule of the University Police department.
“Lieutenant Moore is professional conscientious and dedicated,” according to one of his nominees. “As a Lieutenant, Randy has demonstrated that he is extremely competent, knowledgeable and a true leader. He has always represented the University Police in a positive, professional light. He is dedicated to both the University and the community of Fredonia. Lieutenant Moore represents everything a leader in law enforcement should.”
Dr. White began at SUNY Fredonia in 1981 within the Psychology Department, teaching classes that included Introduction to Psychology, Human Sexuality and Introduction to Counseling. She began working with the Counseling Center in 1986, working extensively with issues related to sexual abuse, sexual assault and acquaintance rape. She initiated, advised and trained the well-known and respected S.T.E.P.S (Students Teaching Equals Positive Sexuality) peer education group, dedicated to helping students develop a healthy sexuality and relationships.
Dr. White also initiated the Safe Zone Committee to raise awareness of heterosexism on campus. She began a program to bring sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy training to campus with The Salvation Army’s Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Program. She also started the extremely successful “Mindfulness Meditation” group, developed and implemented a program to assist with the transition for transfer students and carried out a week-long AIDS education program on campus. White has also provided training, supervision, mentoring and professional backup for Fredonia students serving as crisis hotline volunteers.
“I believe Leanna’s primary contribution to our students and campus has been through individual counseling for over 22 years,” says one of the individuals that nominated White. She has provided more than 3,000 counseling sessions to students whom she supported through their academic experience. Leanna, a modest person, plays down the assistance she provided and instead wants to know how to graduate is doing. She is always willing and eager to help colleagues. Leanna is known by the counseling staff as the counselor who works with most students, is the most willing to come to campus after hours if there is a student or colleague in need and as the staff member who has the most unconditional positive regard to others.”
Along with these special honorees, the President will recognize and present service certificates to numerous SUNY Fredonia employees for reaching service milestones in years of service. Honored this year will be employees celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and — in one case — 55 years with the university.
A saxophone quartet from the School of Music will also perform at the luncheon, a tradition which President Hefner began in 1999. The event is open to all for a cost of $5, and campus community members are encouraged to come and support their colleagues. Reservations are required by April 7. To RSVP, register online or fill out a form in Student Accounts, G-140 Williams Center with a check made payable to “SUNY Fredonia IFR #900880.70” no later than April 7.
