CampusMemo: January 23, 2006

Volume 53, Number 18 January 23, 2006

CSU Student
Research Competition
The CSU's 20th Annual Student Research Competition provides an opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students to present their outstanding research projects, papers or creative activities. Faculty members are asked to encourage students to apply. Current students as well as those who graduated in spring, summer or fall 2005 are eligible. The deadline for submissions is by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, for the campus competition, which will take place Feb. 27 - March 3.

The University will provide travel funds for up to 10 campus winners to compete in the CSU system-wide competition to be held May 5-6 at CSU, Channel Islands. SFSU students have done very well in this competition in the past, including three first-place awards last year. Winners receive cash awards.

Student registration forms and application guidelines are available on the Graduate Studies Web site: www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy

All participants are also invited to exhibit their work in the Graduate Research and Creative Works Showcase to be held May 11.

For details, contact Lisa White at lwhite@sfsu.edu or Lisa Hoskins at: lhoskins@sfsu.edu

FitnessPlus and Village Fitness Center team up
The Village Fitness Center, SFSU's new fitness club, and FitnessPlus, SFSU's faculty and staff fitness and wellness program, are now offering discounted memberships for faculty and staff who are members of both organizations. Join both and receive a 15 percent discount on all membership fees. For details, contact FitnessPlus at fitplus@sfsu.edu or the Village Fitness Center at (415) 452-1010.

Vista Room returns
The Vista Room, a restaurant for fine dining located on the fourth floor of Burk Hall, will begin spring semester service Feb. 20. Chef Daniel Honan will return to supervise students from the departments of Hospitality Management and Consumer and Family Studies/Dietetics.

Lunch is $14 per person and includes choice of soup or salad, entree, dessert and beverage. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling ext. 5-3530 or ext. 8-6087. Blocks of tickets are available beginning at $337 for 25 lunches.

Academic Affairs fills three positions
Lisa White, professor of geosciences, has accepted the position of associate dean of graduate studies. She began her new duties earlier this month.

Pamela Vaughn, professor of classics and chair of the departments of Classics and Comparative and World Literature, has accepted the position of associate dean for faculty development and will join the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development on Feb. 1.

Linda Buckley, professor of English and director of curriculum planning, assessment, and accreditation at Sacramento State University, joins Academic Affairs on Feb. 1 as associate vice president for academic planning and educational effectiveness.

HHS dean finalists
Five finalists have been selected to interview for dean of the College of Health and Human Services. All members of the campus community are invited to attend the presentations. Receptions will follow each presentation.

3:30 - 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8: Barry Eckert, dean and professor, College of Health Professions, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Ga. His presentation will take place in room 135 of the HSS building.

3:30 - 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13: Santos Hernandez, dean and professor, School of Social Work, University of Texas, Arlington. His presentation will take place in room 210 of the Science building.

3:30 - 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb.16: Mary Beth Love, chair and professor of health education, College of Health and Human Services, SFSU. Her presentation will take place in room 278 of the HSS building.

3:30 - 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 20: Robert Otto Valdez, senior fellow, Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. His presentation will take place in room 210 of the Science building.

3:30 - 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22: Don Taylor, acting dean, College of Health and Human Services, SFSU. His presentation will take place in room 135 of the HSS building.

In memoriam: Marion Rappe
Marion L. Rappe, professor emeritus of history, died Nov. 17 in San Francisco. He was 77 years old.

Rappe taught 19th century European history and European intellectual history at SF State for 31 years, before retiring in 1996. His research focused on Austrian intellectual history and the political history of Mittel Europa, with additional interest in the history of Germany since 1800 and central Europe.

Rappe's colleagues in the History Department and students appreciated his vast knowledge of European history, sense of humor, and exceptional teaching abilities.

"Marion was a wonderfully droll man with something witty to say about a range of topics," History Professor Anthony D'Agostino said. "He was an engaging teacher and a superb pianist. To some extent, he taught German history through German music."

Rappe, a native of Silverton, Ore., served in the Navy for two years before earning his bachelor's degree from University of Oregon in 1952. He earned his master's degree from University of Indiana and doctorate from University of California, Berkeley. Rappe also studied abroad in Germany, and, on a postdoctoral Fulbright scholarship, in Austria. He taught history at University of California, Riverside, for seven years before joining SFSU.

Rappe is survived by his sister Colleen Lance; wife Susan Wheeler Rappe; daughters Claudia Wheeler-Rappe, Sara Rappe, and Audrey Rappe; and sons John Wheeler-Rappe and Gene Rappe.

December STAR of the Month: Bridget McCracken
Photo of Bridget McCracken Bridget McCracken, the December STAR, serves as academic support coordinator for both the Public Administration and Criminal Justice programs. Like many, she began working on campus as a student and enjoyed the environment so much that she stayed.

"What I like most about the campus is definitely the diversity in the campus," McCracken said. "And I like working with faculty and students who are passionate about justice and public service."

Although originally hired part time to manage the Public Administration Program's office, she moved to full-time status in August 2004 when the offices for Public Administration and Criminal Justice were merged.

"It was a daunting and challenging task ...," wrote Genie Stowers, professor and director of public administration, and Mike Musheno, professor and director of criminal justice, in their STAR nomination. "In what seemed (to us) to be a very seamless process, Bridget reorganized the various offices into one, creating new office procedures and processes; hired work-study students and trained them to effectively assist in helping students and faculty; and integrated all of the files and faculty into one office."

McCracken also serves as a member of the Smoke-Free Campus Task Force.

Before being hired as academic support coordinator, McCracken worked as a student assistant in the Public Administration Program. She began her career at SFSU in 2002 as a student assistant in Academic Affairs and then as publicity coordinator for the Theatre Arts Department.

A 2004 graduate, McCracken earned a master's degree in public administration with an emphasis in arts administration and nonprofit management. She is active in the Bay Area theater community and is working with a group of friends on a series of workshops that will help seniors and high school students create masks and large scale, pageantry puppets made from recycled materials.

McCracken earned a bachelor of fine arts in theatre performance (with a minor in dance) from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio. She is also a graduate of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre and worked for five years as The Dell'Arte Company's production manager.

McCracken is a resident of San Francisco's Richmond District. Her sister Jessie is also an alumna.

Nominate a staff STAR: www.sfsu.edu/~news/star/starform.htm

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Last modified January 23, 2006, by the Office of Public Affairs & Publications