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DR. ANIS MAIZE HELPS STUDENTS EXPAND THEIR WORLDVIEW
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Dr. Anis Maize (right) with his son and Saint Vincent student Kareem.
r. Anis Maize, chairperson and professor of physics, was born in Egypt, about an hour from Cairo. Even as a young student, Dr. Maize was interested in science. He enrolled at Cairo University and earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and a second bachelor of science in physics. He later pursued a master of science degree in solid state physics at the University of Louisville and a Ph.D. at Purdue University, where he completed his doctoral dissertation on nuclear physics, using electron beams to study the nucleus. He was a post-doctoral research associate at Brown University from 1984 to 1987. After brief teaching assignments at the University of Rhode Island and the University of Maine, he joined the Saint Vincent College Physics Department in 1990, being drawn to the idea of a small school and the special attention that can be given to students. His son, Kareem is a junior studying computing and information science at Saint Vincent. Dr. Maize hopes that he can continue to be helpful to students in appreciating a world view beyond the region.
population—a steady increase over the previous four years. Minority and international students comprise 11 percent of the freshman class this fall, and the on-campus population of minority and international students has grown to nearly 200. Last year Dr. Osaro Airen was named to the newly-created position of Assistant Director of Diversity and Engagement. This southern California native, whose family is first generation Nigerian, assists international students and students of color in adjusting to their new environment. Dr. Airen provides leadership to the Office of Multicultural Student Life, which operates under the auspices of Student Affairs. The multicultural
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office is run with the philosophy that “diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.” He meets with students of color and serves as advisor to the Multicultural Student Coalition and the International Student Union. He provides academic guidance through Academic Affairs, and is involved in the planning of special events such as the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, International Week in November, and Black History Month in February. For the past few years, the international students have had a