New leadership
Geneseo community
Anjoo Sikka leads the School of Education
A tradition of family
eneseo is starting the school year with a new dean of the Ella Cline Shear School of Education. Anjoo Sikka, a longtime professor who has held leadership roles in Texas and Mississippi universities, is overseeing undergraduate and master’s degree programs at Geneseo. “When I first stepped onto the Geneseo campus, I was very excited to feel an atmosphere of excellence, and I want everyone to experience that,” says Sikka. “My goal is to foster an active, thriving academic and learning community in the School of Education so our students and faculty feel energized and excited about teaching as a profession and a lifelong learning experience.” With faculty assistance, Sikka hopes to enhance partnerships with school districts so Geneseo students have additional opportunities to become even more familiar with the demands of teaching and managing all aspects of a teaching career. She also is encouraging more contact between school district personnel and the School of Education so teachers and
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PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS ’11
New Ella Cline Shear School of Education Dean Anjoo Sikka seeks to enhance student opportunities.
principals can bring their perspectives on current issues into the curriculum. Sikka served in various academic capacities at the University of HoustonDowntown since 1994, most recently as professor of education in its Department of Urban Education. She also served as associate dean in the university’s College of Public Service and associate dean for
dent researchers, and in collaboration with other institutions. The three-year award includes funding for three summer student research assistants, Alex Mandarano ’14, Erika Valentine ’13 and Leanne Chen ’14 (pictured). The team will also use the award for supplies and to present their findings at professional conferences. Militello and students previously discovered the DNA base and are now focusing on the genetic function of the molecule to better understand how the organism operates and could ultimately be destroyed. "The group of students working on this research are receiving invaluable laboratory experience on a project that can make a real difference in understanding this infectious disease,” says Militello. — Kris Dreessen
graduate and off-campus programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Before going to Houston, Sikka taught at Mississippi State University’s Meridian Campus and worked on several federally funded research and training projects in the area of blindness and visual impairment. Sikka received her doctorate in educational psychology from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Maharaja Sayajirao University in India. She is a founding member of the Association for Psychological Science. Provost Carol Long says Sikka “brings a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience to Geneseo that will benefit both students and faculty members in the School of Education. She has a keen grasp of the issues facing education in this country and innovative ideas to create a more agile system of teacher preparation.” — David Irwin
During his first year on campus, AJ Smith ’14 lived with other freshmen in Onondaga residence hall. He didn’t know any of them the day he unpacked. Within two months, he had made good friends. He knew Geneseo was the right fit. On Parents Weekend, he invited his family to get to know his life on campus. “Immersing ourselves into Parents Weekend activities provided my family and me a better understanding of the overall Geneseo experience,” says Stephen Smith, “and helped us more fully appreciate all the ways in which our son’s life experience is being enriched.” A growing annual Geneseo tradition since 2008, families participating in Parents Weekend get an intimate look at daily life, from academics to the Union on a Saturday night. On Oct. 19 and 20, nearly 1,000 parents and guests celebrated the Geneseo experience. Activities included athletic matches, tours of science facilities, and Kaleidoscope, a showcase of Geneseo’s dance, music and other ensembles. Families heard a special address by President Christopher C. Dahl, and a panel of young alumni also shared wisdom about what they wish they had known while in college. More than 400 parents attended Parents College sessions, in which professors discuss issues and ideas in their disciplines, from the role of women in the civil rights movement to the presidential election. — Kris Dreessen
Fall 2012
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