Scholastica Fall 2015

1 2

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

SCHOLASTICA

PACE UNIVERSITY-PLEASANTVILLE | HONORS COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

Apple-Picking at Wilken’s Farm Kathleen Hachmeyer F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” Well, I think this is a perfect description of autumn in New York. The air is crisp and refreshing.

The fallen leaves are crisp, waiting for a child, or the child in all of us, to go out of their way to hear them crunch under our feet. And most importantly, the apples at the orchards in and around New York State are crisp and ripe for picking.

On October 3rd, the Honors College traveled to Wilken’s Fruit & Fir Farm in Yorktown Heights to do just that.

While this particular October Saturday was rather rainy, the weather worked in our favor. For the most part, we had the entire Orchard to ourselves and filled up our bags with fresh apples. After wandering through the orchards, we headed inside to the bakery to stock up on everything apple from hot cider to jarred preserves to chocolate covered cider donuts. As always, this trip was a great way to spend an afternoon with fellow honors college students!

More About Wilken’s Farm— This year marked the family-run farm’s 99th harvest season.

The family's presence is felt throughout the farm, especially in the bakery where the walls are covered in family and employee photos. Their website even features several original recipes that you can try at home, which of course all feature fresh apples and you access through this link: http://wilkensfarm.com/re cipes/

Photo by Kathleen Hachmeyer

In this issue: Spring 2016 Honors College Courses

3

Honors Section at Alumni

6

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Mohsen

7

Course Spotlight: The Divine Comedy

7

Letter from the HCSC

8

Letter from Dr. Mohsen

8

What’s an Honors Thesis?

9

Meet Dean Dinan

10

•

Susan Dinan, Ph. D. Honors College Dean

•

Shobana Musti-Rao, Ph. D. Faculty Advisor

•

Carlos Villamayor Editor-in-Chief

•

Alexandra Franciosa Assistant Editor

1 2

SCHOLASTICA

Editor’s Note I cannot believe it has been almost four years since we re-launched Scholastica. Back then I wrote that college is a constant coming and going, but that I hoped this newsletter would remind us that the community remains, and it is this—us, our community—that we must work hard for.

In this cycle it will soon be time for some of us to part ways with the Honors College. I cannot express how grateful I am for the people—professors and students—that I have met during my time here. They have given me so much, and I only hope I have been able to give something in return.

Those first few weeks in the honors section at Dow Hall made all the difference my freshman year. I am a better person for having been a part of this, and I hope the Honors College only gets better—as it seems to be doing already.

In this issue you will find features on our new Director and our new Dean, as well as features on the honors section at Alumni Hall and Dr. Hundersmarck’s Divine Comedy

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015 course. There is also a letter from the Honors College Student Council.

As of Spring 2016, Scholastica is in the capable hands of Alex Franciosa and Dr. Musti.

Thank you.

Honors students during the apple-picking trip Photo courtesy of Kathleen Hachmeyer

A Few Words From the Honors College Dean, Dr. Susan Dinan Hello! Thank you for welcoming me so warmly to Pace. I arrived in August, and have been busy learning the ins and outs of the university. I spend two days of each week at the Pleasantville campus and three in New York City.

The campuses have two very different cultures, but both are populated with wonderful people.

This fall I have met many new people, attended many meetings, and read many documents. This December we asked all students in Honors courses on both campuses to complete evaluations of their Honors courses, which will help Dr. Shiri and me determine how we might update the curriculum and give us a sense what additional classes should be added to the Honors mix. In November, Jackie Kopel from the NYC office, Dr. Shiri, and I attended the National Collegiate Honors Council conference in Chicago. This meeting brings together Honors staff and students from across the globe to talk about how to improve Honors education, and it is a remarkably exciting event. I was fortunate to

2

attend a few events specifically for Honors Nursing students with the hope of making the Pforzheimer Honors College more welcoming to Nursing students.

I am looking forward to getting back into the classroom next semester. I love to teach, and I have not taught this fall as I have been learning about Pace. I will teach in Pleasantville in the spring, and my History 114S class is going to be great fun. I am a historian of Reformation and early modern Europe, France in particular, and, really, studying these topics can be fun.

Please know you are always welcome to stop into my office and say hello, or make an appointment if you would like a more formal meeting. I know the thesis has many people worried, and I would be happy to speak with you about it if you would like. I hope your semesters wrapped up well and finals exams proved manageable!

Happy New Year!

1 2

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

Spring 2016 Honors Courses CIS 102T: INTERGENERATIONAL COMPUTING 3 credits CRN 20624 Day: M 1:20-3:10pm Fulfills: AOK 1 Prerequisite: CIS 101 or INT 197B (Grade D or higher) Course Description: This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of the PC and digital media technologies as well as the social and sociological aspects of the aging process.

Students will work in teams visiting elderly seniors in adult day care centers and senior community centers to teach them to utilize digital media devices, web browsers, and email. This will provide students with an in-depth understanding and respect of both senior citizens and intergenerational computing.

CRJ 351: CRIMINAL EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE 3 credits CRN 21627 Professor: MaryEllen Martirano Day: T 12:15-3:15 pm Fulfills: N/A Prerequisite: CRJ 205 (Grade D or higher) Course Description: Comprehensive analysis of rules of evidence, especially as treated under the Criminal Procedure Law of 1970. Subjects include real and circumstantial evidence, burden of proof, hearsay evidence, confessions, admissions, witnesses' identification, etc., as they relate to criminal cases.

ENG 201: WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES 3 credits CRN 20697 Professor: TBA Day: W 6:10-9pm Fulfills: Core Requirement Prerequisite: ENG 120 or INT 197T. Upper sophomore standing (45 credits) Course Description: This course focuses on writing effective essays and research papers in disciplinary modes and in students’ fields of interest. Included are interviews, analysis of journal articles, and appropriate documentation style formats.

Students work collaboratively, approaching issues from the perspective of their chosen majors.

Professor: Janetta Benton Fulfills: AOK 2 or 4

Day: T 12:15-3:15pm

Course Description: Second half of a year-long introductory survey of the major monuments of western art from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century. Works of painting, sculpture, and architecture are studied within their historical contexts. The class may visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Students may be required to cover museum admission fees.

FIN 260: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 3 credits CRN 20756 Professor: Padmaja Kadiyala Days: MW 9-10:25am Fulfills: Business Core Prerequisite: ECO 106, ACC 203, ACC 204, MAT 104 or MAT 137 or MAT 134 or MAT 234 or MAT 117 (Grade of D or higher) Course Description: This course introduces students to the financial decisions facing the manager. Topics include: financial analysis of the firm's current and future financial condition; efficient management of the firm's assets; sources of short and long-term financing; introduction to financial theory, including valuation, capital budgeting, leverage, capital structure and the timing of financial decisions.

HIS 114S: CHURCH STATE AND SOCIETY 3 credits Professor: Susan Dinan Days: TR 9-10:25am

CRN 23475 Fulfills: AOK 2, WE

Course Description: This course surveys the history of the Mediterranean region and Europe from ca. 300-1500 C.E. Topics include: the "fall" of the Roman Empire and foundation of Germanic kingdoms in Europe; the emergence of the Byzantine Empire; the rise of Islam; early medieval empires; feudal society; the Crusades; Europe's economic expansion after ca. 1050; cultural life and literature; universities; papal monarchy and religious dissent; and the problems of late Medieval Europe.

ART 103: ART HISTORY—RENAISSANCE THROUGH MODERN ART

HON 499: RESEARCH METHODS

3 credits

1 credit

CRN 23422

CRN 22044

Honors courses are designed to be innovative and challenging. They may be interdisciplinary, focus on great works and ideas, cover issues of keen interest, or present a topic in great depth with a faculty member who has expertise in the subject. Honors courses are open only to students in the Pforzheimer Honors College. Students who are not in the Honors College may be permitted to register for an Honors course with written permission from the Director of Honors, contingent upon the student’s GPA and space availability in the course. Each Honors course carries Honors credit, which appears on the student’s transcript and counts toward completing the requirements of the Honors College.

3

4 3

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

Spring 2016 Honors Courses Professor: Mohsen Shiri-Garakani Fulfills: Honors requirement

Day: T 12:15-1:10pm

Prerequisite: Second semester sophomore or students in their Junior year Course Description: This course is designed to assist Honors seniors with the formulation of a thesis project by preparing them in the research methods needed to successfully produce a completed project.

Students will be expected to produce a thesis proposal as well as a significant portion of the project itself. A grade of Pass/Fail will be given in the course.

HON 499: RESEARCH METHODS 1 credit CRN 22046 Professor Melissa Cardon Day: T 7:55-8:50am Fulfills: Honors/ BHP requirement Prerequisite: Lubin students only. Second semester sophomore or students in their junior year. Course Description: This course is designed to assist Honors seniors with the formulation of a thesis project by preparing them in the research methods needed to successfully produce a completed project. Students will be expected to produce a thesis proposal as well as a significant portion of the project itself. A grade of Pass/Fail will be given in the course.

INT 299N: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY CLINIC II 6 credits CRN 22676 Professor: John Cronin Day: TR 12:15pm-3:15pm Fulfills: AOK 1 Prerequisite: Students must be a sophomore and Instructor permission is required.

Course Description: Students clinicians work as professional practitioners, in a team setting, with faculty from Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies and faculty from across Pace schools and colleges. Their primary responsibility is to design and implement policy reforms for real world environmental issues by representing and working with "client," non-profit organizations from the community and region, under the supervision of Pace Academy. Students will also learn the essential civicengagement skills necessary to serve their clients, such as legal, political and communication skills training, legislative history research, preparation of hearing testimony, oral and

written presentations, news release writing, bill drafting, lobbying and its requirements, the role of nonprofits and government, and use of social media and technology-based methods of influencing public opinion.

LIT 296B: BRITISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE 3 credits CRN 23091 Professor: Bette Kirschstein Days: TR 10:35am-12 Fulfills: AOK 2 or 4, WE Course Description: Great Britain is a county with a rich literary and artistic history. In this course, we will study how the country's arts - literature, painting, architecture, landscape architecture, and music - were shaped by and, in turn, reflected the country's history and culture. Using the arts as a mirror, we will see how the eighteenth-century Industrial Revolution changed Great Britain from a rural, agricultural society to an increasingly urban, wealthy, socially mobile, technological one. We will watch the rise and fall of the global British Empire. Changing gender roles will be examined, along with the many other social changes that occurred as Great Britain transformed itself into a modern society. Writers to be studied include Wordsworth, Blake, Austen, Tennyson, Kipling, Wilde, and Woolf.

MGT 250: MANAGERIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONCEPTS 3 credits Professor: Melissa Cardon Fulfills: Business Core

CRN 21195 Day: R 12:15-1:40pm

Prerequisite: Completion of 48 credits Course Description: This course examines basic managerial functions of planning, organizing, motivating, leading, and controlling.

Emphasis is also given to the behavior of individual and groups within organizations.

PSY 233: PSYCHOLOGY OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 3 credits CRN 20803 Professor: Elizabeth Tesoriero Day: R 5:40-8:30pm Fulfills: AOK 1, Inquiry and Exploration Course Description: This course will introduce you to the application of psychology principles to a variety of social service setting. A strong emphasis on civic engagement will be featured.

HONORS OPTIONS COURSES, 3 credits The Honors Option is designed for Honors-level work in a non-Honors course. To receive Honors College credit, an additional paper (10-20 pages), project, or presentation is required. Written approval of the appropriate professor and the Director of the Honors College are necessary. Depending upon the number of credits completed prior to entering the Honors College, Honors students are limited to either one or two Honors options; other Honors course requirements must be completed in Honors courses.

4

6 5

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

PSY 240: POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND HAPPINESS 3 credits Professor: Paul Griffin Fulfills: AOK 5 and WE

CRN 23138 Day: TR 10:35am-12

Course Description: This course will be devoted to a particular domain of research and clinical application, known as "positive psychology." In short, this class is about what psychology has learned about happiness and optimal human functioning. During the semester a number of different topics will be addressed, including: (1) identifying the goals and subject matter of positive psychology; (2) reviewing and critically examining theoretical perspectives and (most importantly) empirical findings on what predicts human happiness, from the biological to the environmental; (3) moving beyond what makes us happy and studying other aspects of the "good life," such as signature strengths, purpose in life, gratitude, and acts of kindness; and (4) examining whether these theories and findings can be applied to everyday life.

RES 244: GOSPELS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 3 credits CRN 23081 Professor: Lawrence Hundersmarck Day: W 5:40pm-8:30 Fulfills: AOK 2 Course Description: This course offers a scholarly introduction to the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John with an approach that seeks to situate these texts within their original historical, literary, and religious contexts. Through a comparison of the four Gospels the themes that distinguish each book regarding its portrait of Jesus and the demands of the Christian life will be studied.

Attention to the sources, audiences, the nature of multiple forms of oral communication within the written texts, and the perspective of each author will be emphasized

observe and reflect on different aspects of schooling with particular focus placed on the role language serves across all interactive domains of society and the role of the teacher as agent of change and empowerment. During this course, you will be challenged to examine the classroom as a diverse community where all participants can learn in a safe and appropriate environment. Professional seminars and field experiences accompany this course. This course is designed to be taken in the fall of the sophomore year. Successful completion of this course (with a grade of B or better) is required of all students seeking formal admission to the School of Education.

TRAVEL COURSES INT 197G: ROME THE ETERNAL CITY 6 credits CRN 20701 Professor: Lawrence Hundersmarck Fulfills: AOK 2, Learning Community Corequisite: RES 101 CRN 22405 or 22406 Course Description: Local trips and lectures will take place in Rome. There will be 2 Predate Meeting TBA. Travel dates to Rome: May 19th to June 11th, 2016. Trip Destination: Rome, Italy and day trip to Florence, Trip Cost: $5,100 (includes airfare, lodging, two group banquets, museum entrance fees, insurance, and excursion to Florence.) A $1,000 deposit is due the first week of December. For further information contact either the Office of International Programs & Services or Dr. Lawrence Hundersmarck, Dept. of Philosophy and Religious Studies (lhundersmarck@pace.edu) Please note: After registration for this spring class, students who register will receive, and fill out an application in order to obtain permission from the Instructor to enter the course. A strict limit of 24 students will go to Rome.

Students must also register for RES 101 – CRN 22405 or CRN 22406

SOC 212: FAMILIES IN CRISIS 3 credits Professor Marie Werner Fulfills: WE, AOK 5

Spring 2016 Honors Courses

CRN 23078 Day: MW 9-10:25am

Course Description: This course is a sociological exploration of structural and individual phenomenon leading to crises in the contemporary family, both domestically and internationally. Emphasis is placed upon functional and dysfunctional patterns of coping in both normative and situational crises within families TCH 201H: UNDERSTANDING SCHOOLS 4 credits Professor: TBA Fulfills: AOK 1, WE

CRN 21604 Day: TR 2:25pm-4:25

Course Description: This course examines schools in a diverse and changing society. By examining the history, philosophy, legal and social responsibilities associated with schooling, you are introduced to the interactions among society, families, schools, curriculum, teachers, students, and cultures. Through guided field experiences, you will

Michelangelo’s David, at the Accademia in Florence Photo by Carlos Villamayor

5

1 2 3

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

Honors Section in Alumni Hall Alexandra Franciosa This year, Alumni Hall is home to an Honors section divided in two groups, where students and faculty hold special events that cater specifically to Honors students.

Both groups are located on the fourth floor of Alumni Hall. One consists solely of upperclassmen, while the other is part of the First-year Interest Group (FIG) program, which allows freshmen with similar interests to live in a community and participate in activities together.

Each FIG in Alumni has a lounge designed to accommodate their theme.

Unlike the Extreme Sports & Pace Nation and Body & Mind FIGs, which were designed to host activities surrounding their theme, the Honors FIG lounge is suited more towards studying—independently and in groups.

Filling the room are tables of various sizes surrounded by chairs that are just comfortable enough to enjoy without falling asleep in.

Along with the themed lounges, each floor has two study lounges, which include long tables and dry erase walls.

Sophomore Anna Palazzi is the RA of the upperclassmen Honors group.

As an upperclassmen member of the Honors College herself, Palazzi plans events based on what she knows her residents would be interested in.

For instance, one of her first events was a meditation during which residents reflected on whom they were most grateful for. Participants wrote a letter to the person they were grateful for, and were then encouraged to call the person and read them the letter.

Although honors students are generally busy with work and other activities, Palazzi always has a significant number of students attend and participate in events.

“I love being the RA of the honors upperclassmen section—everyone is very respectful and kind,” Palazzi said, reflecting on her residents.

Honors students with Profs. Lawrence Hundersmarck and Len Mitchell at the second philosophical conversation Photo by Carlos Villamayor

6

Palazzi also hosted an event during which residents wrote letters to soldiers, and another that gave students a chance to reflect on specific things they believe in.

In addition to RA-run events, the Honors sections in Alumni Hall also hosted multiple events throughout the semester. These events gave Honors students in Alumni Hall the chance to meet each other, and to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow students and faculty.

Two of these were information sessions on the Honors Travel Course, Rome: The Eternal City. During the session, students who had previously completed the course and attended the trip joined Dr. Lawrence Hundersmarck, the faculty leader of the course, to inform Honors students about the opportunity. Over pizza and snacks, they presented a slideshow of pictures from previous trips, and encouraged students to join in on what they promised would be an enlightening, enjoyable, and unforgettable journey.

Dr. Hundersmarck also hosted a series of events titled Philosophical Conversations, as an Honors FIG program in collaboration with RA Jessica Alba. Sophomore honors student Dan Citardi attended both of these events.

“It was nice to participate in an educational event and to really get the mind going,” Citardi said.

Going forward, Alumni Hall will continue to act as a space for Honors students to study, learn, and grow closer as an organization.

1 2

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Mohsen was appointed as the Honors College Director in 2015. His plans as Meet Dr. Mohsen Shiri-Garakani, physics professor and director of the Honors College here Director include expanding the honor’s at Pace Pleasantville. Born and raised in Iran, he community through received his undergraduate degree from Tehran Polytechnic before moving to the United States to events and civic engagement, creating receive his Ph.D. in theoretical physics. His relationships between the academic interests include quantum theory and philosophy and he has done research in both fields faculty and students, and offering more honors courses to a variety of at colleges including California State University disciplines. He hopes to raise the level of the and Harvard.

Although Dr. Mohsen has been teaching at Honors College by keeping it competitive and Pace since 2005, it wasn’t until 2012 that he became challenging, while also continuing to grow in size. a faculty advisor in the Honors College. Since When he’s not busy on campus, Dr. then, he has successfully created the Honors Mohsen enjoys a variety of activities, including Thesis program and developed a course on spending time outdoors, cooking, photography, Research Methodology, which he continues to and reading poetry. He plays guitar and several teach. His goals for the program are to give ancient Persian musical instruments and hopes to honor’s students an opportunity to showcase learn to play the cello someday. He also avidly themselves as well as give them experience with pursues his interest in philosophy by reading and the research process. Additionally, he hopes to participating in monthly discussion groups. create a bridge between students and faculty by Dr. Mohsen looks forward to working having them work together throughout the thesis with students on their research and is excited to program. be a part of the changes happening in the Honors After serving as a Faculty Fellow in the College!

Provost’s Office from 2013 to 2015, Dr. Mohsen

Alexa Blanco

Looking for an honors course that is both enjoyable and educational? Then The Divine Comedy of Dante is the class for you.

Taught by Dr. Lawrence Hundersmarck, this course intensely studies the famous texts of Dante Alighieri and his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and, finally, Heaven. This course discusses the philosophical and religious meanings within the text, and puts into context what was occurring in Italy during Dante’s lifetime.

“It’s a very engaging course, and it’s kind of daunting at first to think that you’re going to read that whole work,” sophomore Kristin Costantin said. “But then he brings you through it in a way that makes it easy to understand.”

Hundersmarck’s lectures are intriguing and illuminating. His knowledge of The Divine Comedy makes it clear that he is actually interested in what he is teaching and wants his students to share his interest.

The Divine Comedy of Dante: A Review Amelia Gilmer This course has caught the interest of students who haven’t taken it yet but have heard about it from their classmates. This includes sophomore Daniel Citardi.

“I did a brief introduction to Dante in high school and it would be really cool to find out more about it,” Citardi explained. Citardi also attended one of the Philosophical Conversations events that Dr. Hundersmarck hosted along with Professor Len Mitchell.

“I would love to take a class with Dr. Hundersmarck,” Citardi added. “It would be very interesting to hear more of what he has to offer.”

Continued on page 9

7

1 2

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

A Letter from the Honors College Student Council The Pforzheimer Honors College Student Council is being run a bit differently this year compared to past years. We are redefining what the Honors College is on campus. Honors students are now taking a more active role in how the Honors College is run, with fewer interventions by the Honors College staff.

Changes were first made to the Constitution to make for a more smoothly run e-board and membership council. Some changes in the Constitution include the time to vote for the new e-board, which has been changed from the beginning of the Fall semester to the end of the Spring semester, so that the board members can ideally work on ideas for events and fundraising over the Summer.

Some of the duties of members and eboard members have also changed. The members are now expected to do more in terms of participation in decisions, and thinking and planning for ideas and trips.

Honors students that are interested are now able to be a part of the Event Planning Committee, where they come up with ideas for programming and trips and find group rates so that the students of the Honors College can afford it.

The Honors College will be hosting more events on campus that will be open to the rest of the school. One ongoing event is the “gently-used and new toy drive� to support the Pleasantville Cottage Schools. We want to give back to the children, because they deserve to get Christmas presents, and this is a good way for students to get involved in the community.

Next semester, we are holding a bingo night that will be a campus wide event. The money raised from that event will be going to our Relay for Life team.

Relay for Life is a chain of events that are held across the country to raise money for the American Cancer Society. We decided that the Honors community should participate more in school wide events, so beginning this year, we will be having our first Honors College Relay for Life team.

Overall, the changes to the Honors College Student Council have been successful, and we are all very excited to see what the future has in store for us as an organization. —Alexandra Parisi Pforzheimer Honors College Student Council, Treasurer

A Letter from the New Director of the Honors College Hello everyone!

It is with great pleasure to have served my first semester as the Director for the Honors College. I thank each of you for being an integral part of a very exciting and unique community of high achieving students at Pace.

As some of you may know, I am a theoretical physicist who has been at Pace since 2005; I joined the Honors College as a Faculty Advisor back in 2012. Working with the Honors community has been a rewarding experience, both on personal and professional levels. The College was restructured to acquire a Dean toward the end of this past summer and we were lucky to have Dr. Susan Dinan joining us as the Dean.

Under her guidance and supervision, we

8

have put a lot of effort in improving the Honors College in many aspects.

Earlier this year, the College moved to its new location in the Kessel Student Center. The larger space with its newly installed TV is a much more welcoming space for students to study, interact, or watch TV. And of course, the lovely new Alumni Hall now houses the Honors Wing as the main oncampus residence for the Honors students.

Under the direction of Dr. Dinan, we are working on making the Honors Thesis become a highly efficient and productive program. To this end, we are contacting various departments at Pace and creating a bridge for students to hook up easily with their faculty Continued on page 10

4 1 2 3

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

The Divine Comedy This class has even received high ratings on the well-known site RateMyProfessor. One anonymous review of the class had nothing but good things to say about the course and Hundersmarck.

“Honestly the best professor I have ever had. He makes the material understandable, exciting and interesting,” the review read. “Not to mention he is probably one of the most

intelligent professors I know, and he also even manages to intersperse humor into his lesson. I didn't know much about The Divine Comedy before this class, and now I love this book.”

Though this course is not scheduled to run during the spring 2016 semester, it is one that any student should look into when it is available.

Honors Thesis: What is it?

All Honors students on the Pleasantville campus who started at Pace in Fall 2013 or later will be required to produce a thesis in order to graduate with Honors. A thesis is required for all Business Honors Program students regardless of their start time at Pace. Due to its highly positive impact on students’ academic qualifications, the Honors thesis is strongly recommended for all students in the Honors College, regardless of academic year. In this short note I will explain what a thesis is and how to prepare for it.

An Honors Thesis is normally a twosemester project consisting of two courses: (1) A “Research Preparation” course which focuses on research methodology. Students normally accomplish this step by taking HON 499, which is a 1-credit course offered every semester. After taking HON 499, students are expected to have learned the principles, methods, and steps necessary to establish a rigorous research project. Most importantly, students are required to develop a concrete and well-defined thesis proposal which can be further explored in a subsequent research course as described below. Students are encouraged to take HON499 in their 5th or 6th semester. This leaves adequate time to conduct the research

Dr. Mohsen Shiri-Garakani in the following semester and have an opportunity to present the results in appropriate venues like the annual conference of the NCHC (National Collegiate Honors Council), usually held in early November of each year.

(2) A “Research Production” course, during which the students conduct the actual research under the supervision of a Pace faculty. Students normally accomplish this step by taking a so-called Springboard or Capstone course.1 If there is no Capstone course offered in the student’s major, then he or she can take Independent Study 395.

The thesis must be an original and high quality work so it can be presented as a sample of the student’s best scholarly work in his/her field of study. It is normally expected that the thesis must be a minimum of 25 pages unless an exception is granted by the Honors College Director. Upon the completion of the research and by the end of the senior year, the student is required to present the work formally in a Thesis Defense Presentation session. The defense committee consists of the thesis advisor and a second reader (an additional faculty member or individual) approved by the Director.

Dr. Shiri-Garakani is the new Director for the Honors College at Pleasantville. He can be reached at mshiri@pace.edu

1. For a list of approved Springboard courses see the Honors website.

9

4 1 3 2

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

Thesis Advisors to conduct research. We are also creating the Honors Lecture Series, where faculty members from different disciplines at Pace are invited to present their research activities to the Honors students.

In the meantime, we are studying the Honors curriculum to make necessary revisions in order to offer a wide range of interesting Honors courses.

The Honors College has now its own governing student body: the Honors College Student Council. The Council is involved in many activities including planning exciting and fun events for the Honors students. It also acts as a student medium to relay your suggestions and concerns to the College administration.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite each of you to contact me via email, stop

A Letter From Dr. Shiri-Garakani by my office in Kessel, or even my physics lab in Dyson, where I am trying to create a Quantum Theory of Space and Time! Our goal in Honors College is to create an academic environment so that all your true potentials actualize in the best way possible; and to achieve this goal, we rely a lot on your feedback and participation.

Take a moment to reflect on your successful endeavors this semester and enjoy the Holiday Season with family and friends.

Happy New Year!

— Mohsen Shiri-Garakani, Ph.D.

Pforzheimer Honors College—Pleasantville, Director

Meet the Honors Dean, Dr. Susan Dinan Carlos Villamayor Dr. Susan Dinan is the founding dean of the Pfhorzheimer Honors College. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Dr. Dinan is excited to be part of the Pace community and looks forward to seeing the Honors College and its students grow.

Here is a little bit about her to help Honors Students get a sense of who she is—or to have something to talk about the next time you come across her at the honors lounge. The truth is, she is always happy to talk with students.

Dr. Susan Dinan graduated from Cornell University with a BA in architectural design.

However, she saw that a something rather practical—she was always interested in history.

Dr. Dinan later received an MA in history from the University of Illinois and went on to receive her PhD in history from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Her doctoral work focused on women in 17th century France—a bit more specifically, on how a group of nuns dealt with the authorities in order to go out into the world and help those in need.

Dr. Dinan first taught honors students at Long Island University Post, where she taught European history classes. There she met Dr. Joan Digby, a fellow honors professor, whom she recognizes as a big influence on her.

While in LIU Post, Dr. Dinan had a great deal of freedom and had the chance to work with different people on campus, but circumstances

10

ultimately lead her to move on.

Before coming to Pace, Dr. Dinan was the director of the University Honors College at William Paterson University in New Jersey.

Eventually, however, she was ready for a bigger job.

Dr. Dinan became interested in the opportunity offered by Pace due to the challenges presented by a bigger Honors College and—what she considers the biggest challenge—by Pace’s two campuses, each with its own culture. But she was also enthused by the possibility of getting more done as Dean.

So far, she has enjoyed working with the staff, which she considers very friendly.

But what she has enjoyed the most is working with people who are dedicated to the students and to seeing worlds open up for them.

One of Dr. Dinan’s concerns is the idea of “aligning” the honors programs in the city and here in Pleasantville. She considers this something that needs to happen. For her, if degrees from both campuses say “Pfhorzheimer Honors College,” there should be some unity in the programs. However, she realizes it would be silly to impose one “way” on both campuses. Rather, she expresses her goal with the word coherence.

One of her first steps as Dean was to send specific course evaluations for honors

4 3

SCHOLASTICA

Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall 2015

courses at the end of last semester. The evaluations sought to find out what makes a class work (or not work), what skills are present and what skills are lacking.

Some of her other goals include bringing in more students to the Pleasantville campus, and getting more faculty—new and existing— interested in teaching honors. She wants the Honors College to offer a broader range of classes and to build a closer community,

especially in the residence halls.

Among Dr. Dinan’s passions are teaching, her 14-year-old daughter, and exercise—she’s in the gym by 5 a.m. or earlier.

For her, sharing ideas with people from different backgrounds at college can be something exciting, something that helps us think more and better.

SCHOLASTICA

11