Conference & Workshop Speakers
Dr. Timothy Ecklund - "Why Earn a Ph.D." Panel, Thursday July 17th
Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Buffalo State College
Timothy R. Ecklund, Ph.D. is the Associate Vice President for Campus Life at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York. Tim has spent the past 20 years working in student affairs and exploring college student development. Most recently Tim received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University at Buffalo. His dissertation topic studied the relationship between psychosocial development and acculturation among American Indian college students. Tim serves as an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership and Policy program at the University at Buffalo and in the Student Personnel Administration program at Buffalo State College where he has taught Student Development Theory for the past 10 years. Tim has also worked as a diversity consultant with Genesis Project Associates and the National Coalition Building Institute. He recently co-authored “Transforming the first-year experience for multiracial/bicultural students” in L. Rendon, M. Garcia, & D. Person (Eds.), Transforming the first-year of college for students of color (Monograph No. 38) (pp. 161-176).
Mr. Folarin Erogbogbo - "Why Earn a Ph.D." Panel, Thursday July 17th
Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical and Biological Engineering
University at Buffalo
Folarin Erogbogbo is currently a 4th year PhD candidate in Chemical and Biological engineering department at SUNY Buffalo. He has served as an award winning research mentor for undergraduate students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas. He holds a four-year National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) grant in biophotonics and has published related work in peer reviewed journals of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Folarin is an active member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American chemical society, Materials Research Society, National Society of Black Engineers.
Dr. Letitia Thomas - "Why Earn a Ph.D." Panel, Thursday July 17th
Assistant Vice Provost and Director, Cora P. Maloney College
University at Buffalo
Dr. Letitia Thomas serves as the Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Cora P. Maloney College, (CPMC) at the University at Buffalo. CPMC houses a wealth of student support programs and offers undergraduates academic enrichment, scholarships and internships, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Dr. Thomas has been at the university since 1993, serving as the CSTEP Coordinator before becoming Director of CPMC. She was employed with Life Technologies Inc. (now Invitrogen), in Grand Island, NY before her appointment at UB. Dr. Thomas sits on the Board of Directors for the UB Graduate School of Education Alumni Association and Bethel Head Start, a comprehensive, community-based child development program for three to five year old children and their families. She has been recognized for her work with INROADS, receiving the “Educator of the Year” award in 1995 and 2002 from the Upstate New York affiliate. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and various professional organizations including the American Sociological Association (ASA) and American Educational Research Association (AERA). Dr. Thomas is native of Buffalo, earning a BS in Biological Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration and a doctorate in Sociology, both from UB.
Dr. Jennifer Zirnheld - "Why Earn Ph.D." Panel, Thursday July 17th
Research Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
University at Buffalo
Jennifer L. Zirnheld, born in Buffalo, NY, is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Acting Director of the Energy Systems Institute. Dr. Zirnheld has been the Co Investigator on grants, contracts, and fellowships totaling over $3 Million. During this time she has also directed the research of both graduate and undergraduate researchers. Dr. Zirnheld has a 100% placement rate for her post baccalaureate students and of her undergraduate students who do research with her, 75% go on to graduate school and 24 % go on to industry in an engineering profession (well above the NSF published average). Dr. Zirnheld’s areas of technical expertise are in the area of but not limited to dielectric phenomena, power and energy management, generation and distribution, multifactor stress aging, partial discharge analysis, systems of systems integration, pulsed power and plasma generation.
Dr. Zirnheld is a member of numerous technical professional societies including the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) where she writes and reviews manuscripts, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) where she has co-authored over 30 publications for journals and for IEEE-related conferences in Insulation and Dielectrics, Pulsed Power and related areas. In addition, she has co-authored two book chapters for Academic Press in the area of Low and High Dielectric materials and their applications.
Dr. Henry J. Durand, "University Welcome" - Thursday July 17th
Senior Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education
University at Buffalo
Dr. Henry J. Durand serves as the Senior Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education and the Executive Director of the Center for Academic Development Services (CADS) at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Almost 20% of UB’s 17,000 undergraduates are admitted or supported academically through one of the 11 CADS programs. CADS functions as a small college type unit within the University, and includes the Cora P. Maloney Residential College, the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), the Academic Challenge and Enrichment Individualized Admissions Program (ACE), the McNair and SSS TRIO programs, an NIH Bridge to the Doctorate program, public service and service learning internship courses (PSIP), three programs promoting undergraduate research and creative experiences, the Daniel Acker Minority Honors Program, the CADS Tutoring Program, Cads Mentoring Program, and the University’s Residential Summer Bridge Program. Professor Durand is a member of the Graduate Faculty of the University at Buffalo, a UB Senator on the SUNY Faculty Senate and a member of the UB Faculty Senate Executive Committee. He teaches for the Graduate School of Education. His course offerings include the quantitative research core courses Statistical Methods In Educational Research, Survey Research Methods and Statistical Analysis Using SPSS. His discipline is Educational Sociology and he also teaches classes in American Pluralism, Education and Social Class, African American Students In Higher Education, Race and Ethnic Relations and related subjects. He is the President of the Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs, and a founding member of Opportunity Programs United, the joint advocacy organization for NYS Opportunity Programs. Dr. Durand has received the SUNY wide Chancellor's Award for Professional Excellence. He has been cited as a distinguished alumnus of Denison University. He has been listed by Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in Black America, and Who's Who in Training and Development. He holds a B.A. from Denison University, M.Ed. from Xavier University of Cincinnati, the Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati, and is a graduate of the Harvard Management Development Institute.
Dr. Carol Bessel, "Keynote Speaker" - Thursday July 17th
Program Officer
National Science Foundation
Carol A. Bessel is the Program Director for the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic (IBO) Chemistry Program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Washington, D.C. The NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…". With an annual budget of nearly $30 million, the IBO Program supports fundamental studies on bioinorganic reactions, homogeneous catalysis and organometallic reactions, photochemical and charge transfer processes, and the rational synthesis of new inorganic molecular substances, self-assemblies, and nano-size materials.Dr. Bessel received her B.S. and Ph.D. Degrees in Chemistry from the State University of New York in Buffalo where she investigated the steric and electronic effects of ruthenium coordination compounds under the guidance of Professor Kenneth J. Takeuchi. In 1993, she was awarded a prestigious National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. As an NRC Fellow, she investigated zeolite-supported electrocatalysis for the decontamination of submarine engines. She joined Villanova University in 1995 and in 2001, became the first tenured woman in their Chemistry Department. As she continued towards Full Professorship, Dr. Bessel developed a number of research interests. Specifically, she studied graphite nanofiber-supported platinum catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells while a Mary Ingraham Bunting Biomedical Research Fellow at Harvard University. She also conducted research on the supercritical carbon dioxide-processing of microelectronics while on sabbatical leave at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Cassandra Lewis, "University at Buffalo McNair Alumni" - Friday July 18th
Project Manager
Department of Defense-National Defense University
Cassandra C. Lewis, Ph.D. is a Project Manager for Academic and Faculty Enhancement at the Department of Defense-National Defense University (NDU). Prior to joining NDU, she served in a variety of leadership positions in higher education. Most recently, she worked at the University of Maryland University College where she managed and conducted research on effective online teaching and learning practices, preferences and satisfaction of online faculty and students, and pedagogical approaches for the improvement of student retention and learning. In December 2007, Dr. Lewis founded the Academy for Global Engagement (AGE) a non-profit organization with a mission to develop underrepresented and underserved students into globally-engaged leaders through academically rigorous after-school, Saturday and summer programs. Dr. Lewis is also an instructor at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she teaches a graduate course in the School of Education. Dr. Lewis’s dissertation, “A Balancing Act: An Exploration of How a Public Flagship Institution Manages Pressures for Racial Equity and Institutional Excellence” reflects her intellectual interests for investigating how broad notions of equity and excellence are constructed in different organizational settings, and how statewide policies and sociopolitical forces shape student access and achievement in P-16. A native of Grenada, West Indies, she is committed to assisting students from minority and underserved populations to succeed academically and to become globally engaged citizens. Dr. Lewis received a BA in the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences: International Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo; MA in Higher Education from Boston College; and Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Dr. Esther Takeuchi, "Keynote Speaker" - Saturday July 19th
Professor, Electical Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering
University at Buffalo
Esther S. Takeuchi joined the University at Buffalo in September 2007 as a Professor in the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Director of the Advanced Power Sources Laboratory after a 22 year career in industry. Previously she was employed at Greatbatch, Inc. in a variety of roles including Chief Scientist and Executive Director of Battery Research and Development and Centers of Excellence at Greatbatch, Inc. While at Greatbatch, Dr. Takeuchi was active in lithium battery research, particularly on cells for implantable applications. A main focus was the development of power sources for implantable cardiac defibrillators. Greater than 90% of ICDs implanted today use the lithium/silver vanadium oxide technology developed at Greatbatch, Inc. Esther’s work has been honored by numerous organizations. These include the Jacob F. Schoellkopf Award given by the WNY American Chemical Society for creative research in batteries for medical applications, the Electrochemical Society Technology Award for development of lithium/silver vanadium oxide batteries and the Community Advisory Council of the State University at Buffalo for outstanding achievement in science. Dr. Takeuchi was inducted into the WNY Women’s Hall of Fame and is an inventor on over 140 patents. USA Today has credited her with having more patents than any other living woman. In 2002, Dr. Takeuchi was elected to the Board of Directors of Biomec, Inc., a medical technology incubation firm located in Cleveland, OH. In 2004, Dr. Takeuchi was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for successfully developing silver vanadium oxide batteries for implantable cardiac defibrillators and lithium/carbon monofluoride cells to powere implantable pacemakers. Most recently she was the inaugural recipient of a Life Time Achievement Award presented by The Technical Societies Council of the Niagara Frontier and The Niagara Frontier Intellectual Property Law Association and she was selected for the inaugural Astellas Foundation Award from the American Chemical Society for scientific work impacting public health.
Dr. Takeuchi received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a double major in chemistry and history and completed a PhD in chemistry at the Ohio State University. She also completed Post-Doctoral work at the University of North Carolina and the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Her research interests include novel power sources, development of power systems and investigation of medical device concepts. She is investigating novel electroactive materials to improve stability of batteries, and nano-structured electrodes to increase power density.
Dr. Napoleon Wells, "Keynote Speaker" - Saturday July 19th
Postdoctoral Fellow, Primary Care
Oklahoma City VA Hospital
Born in the Bronx, NY. Graduated from Evander Childs High School. Began college career at Morehouse College in Atlanta before transferring to Binghamton University in 2000. Became a McNair Scholar in the fall of 2000. Graduated with a degree in Psychology in May, 2002. Began doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University (Bronx, NY) in the Fall of 2002. Defended dissertation entitled “The Impact of Early Maladaptive Schemas on Mood, Coping and Adjustment Among African-Americans” in April of 2007. Confirmed Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in August of 2007 from Fordham University. Completed internship at the Tuskegee VA, currently Postdoctoral Fellow in Primary Care at the Oklahoma City VA Hospital. Will be the PTSD Psychologist for the Montgomery VA Hospital in Montgomery. Author of “A Field Negroes Handbook”, published in 2005. Was a Professor at Bronx Community College in 2005 and 2006, teaching introductory and Abnormal Psychology. Memberships/Affiliation: American Psychological Association, Association of Black Psychologists, 100 Black Men, Association of VA Psychology Leaders
Last Modified: 06/27/08
