Department News

GENESEO, N.Y. - The State University of New York Board of Trustees has named David Geiger, professor and chair of SUNY Geneseo's chemistry department, a distinguished teaching professor. The distinguished rank constitutes the highest system tribute conferred upon SUNY instructional faculty.

Geiger is one of nine SUNY faculty members named a distinguished teaching professor this year (two in an honorific capacity). Fifteen other SUNY faculty received distinguished professorships: six were named distinguished professors for achieving national or international prominence within their field, and nine were named distinguished service professors (three in an honorific capacity). View complete list.

Geiger is among 40 Geneseo faculty members who have received the distinguished rank since 1973.

"It is with great pride that we recognize SUNY's most brilliant scholars and teachers and those whose service to the community and to SUNY merit the distinguished ranking," said Board Chairman Carl T. Hayden. "We are grateful for their contributions to our students, to SUNY, the communities we serve and the body of knowledge in their chosen field of inquiry."

The board said Geiger "employs a variety of best practices to engage his students and spark excitement about chemistry" but noted that his "unique contribution is the way he helps students develop self-confidence as learners and scientists by letting them know he recognizes their talents and has faith in their abilities."

The board also said Geiger's "ability to bring out the best in his student extends to the collaborative research he conducts with his undergraduates."

 College receives funding for new NMR spectrometer 

U.S. Congressman Chris Lee, whose 26th District in New York includes Livingston County, was on campus Dec. 4 to announce a $500,000 federal appropriation for 2010 to replace the college's nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer in the chemistry department.

"The work Geneseo faculty and students are doing with science and technology clearly has practical application in the private sector and I am pleased to have secured funding for this project," said Lee. "I was particularly pleased to see the amount of public/private collaboration that is happening here. This sharing of technology is the smart thing to do and will help private business prosper in this region."

President Christopher C. Dahl said the new spectrometer will be particularly helpful in boosting Geneseo's growing undergraduate research programs. A spectrometer employs a powerful magnet to analyze organic compounds, vital to the study of chemistry and biochemistry. The current spectrometer was obtained in 1996. Funding for the new spectrometer will come from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

David Geiger, chemistry professor and chair of the department, said the new equipment "will be state-of-the-art, with the ability to enhance Geneseo's teaching and research efforts."

Jamaica Exchange Program

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence

Faculty Awards for Excellence were presented to:   Associate Professor of Economics Christopher Annala and Professor of Chemistry David Geiger —Excellence in Teaching; Associate Librarian Kimberly Davies Hoffman — Excellence in Librarianship; Associate Professor of Music Gerard Floriano ’84 — Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities; and Associate Professor of English and Assistant to the Provost for General Education and Assessment Paul Schacht— Excellence in Faculty Service.

Awards for Student Excellence, recognizing achievement in GPA and contributions to the greater campus community, went to:  Amanda Brownsten ’07 (childhood and special education); Christy Finke ’07 (childhood and special education); Amanda Gitomer ’07 (English and Spanish); Jessica Gucwa ’07 (biochemistry) and Sarah Pinchoff ’07 (English and music).8/07

Geneseo has partnered with the University of the West Indies’ Mona campus in Jamaica to offer exchange programs for students and faculty in the chemistry departments at both schools. Geneseo Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ruel McKnight served as liaison between Geneseo and the University of the West Indies, his baccalaureate alma mater. The agreement between the two institutions is part of Geneseo’s rapidly expanding international programs, which include  study abroad, exchanges and dual degree programs with institutions around the world.  8/07