More Than 1,000 Students to Present During GREAT Day April 25

GREAT Day

Erich JarvisGENESEO, N.Y.— SUNY Geneseo students will be involved in a daylong campus celebration April 25 by presenting their creative and scholarly endeavors during the college’s 11th annual GREAT Day—Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement & Talent. For the first time since its inception, more than 1,000 students will showcase their work throughout the day with presentations, performances and exhibits.

Erich Jarvis, an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a professor and head of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Languages at The Rockefeller University, will deliver this year’s Jack ’76 and Carol ’76 Kramer Endowed Lectureship at 1 p.m. in Wadsworth Auditorium.

“GREAT Day is a marvelous annual tradition at Geneseo that the campus always looks forward to,” said Interim Provost Paul Schacht. “Students with guidance from faculty put a great deal of work into their undergraduate research and creative activities, and it all comes together at GREAT Day. I am particularly pleased to welcome Dr. Jarvis to campus for what promises to be a fascinating address.”

Jarvis received his degrees in biology and mathematics from Hunter College and further pursued his Ph.D and postdoctoral work in molecular neurobiology and animal behavior at Rockefeller University. He has continued his scholarly adventure as an associate professor at Duke University, and now, through his current role as a professor and head of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Languages at The Rockefeller University.

In addition to endowing the GREAT Day Lecture series, Jack and Carol Kramer—both 1976 Geneseo graduates—have provided Geneseo with major support for various programs, including The Carol Kramer Endowed Scholarship for Excellence in Psychology and The Jack Kramer Endowed Scholarship for Excellence in Physics.

The college will also be honoring 20 faculty members who have served as sponsors for 10 GREAT Days. The group includes Jennifer Apple, George Briggs, Harold Hoops and Susan Muench in biology; Christina Geiger, David Geiger, Eric Helms and David Johnson in chemistry; Meredith Harrigan and Atsushi Tajima in communication; Melanie Blood in English and music; Jim Kernan in geography; Dori Farthing and Scott Giorgis in geological sciences; Andrzej Kedzierawski in mathematics; Jeremy Grace in political science and international relations; James Allen, Monica Schneider and Joana Zook in psychology; and Leonie Stone in the School of Business.

No classes are scheduled at Geneseo April 25 to accommodate GREAT Day events, all of which are free and open to the public. The program and schedule are available online.

Pictured: 2017 GREAT Day keynote speaker Erich Jarvis.

Media Contact:
David Irwin
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu