Quietly and loudly, from the arts to the sciences, our students, alumni, faculty, staff and guest speakers continue to put Eckerd on the map. Whether in the news media, through personal and professional achievements, or via community outreach, our people and programs are making headlines. Discover more about these excellent ambassadors by perusing this newsletter.

Bill Covert Leaves a Legacy

Photo credit: Chris Zuppa of the Tampa Bay Times

After 42 years at Eckerd, Bill Covert has retired as Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Waterfront. The following is excerpted from an announcement shared by Dean of Students Jim Annarelli, Ph.D., with the campus community:

"Bill began his career at Eckerd in 1971 as the part-time Coordinator of Activities and Sailmaster at the Waterfront. He was, in those early years, instrumental in developing the Florida Presbyterian Search, Rescue, and Safety Team, later to become EC-SAR. In 1973, Bill was appointed to the full-time position of Director of Waterfront Activities and, a few years later, was given responsibility for Campus Recreation, Intramurals, and the Game Room. Under his leadership, what were initially recreational activities only - sailing, water skiing, and wind surfing - became, in the 1980s, varsity sports. The College's beautiful Waterfront facilities, well-established Waterfront recreation, EC-SAR, and Sailing programs, and recognition by the regional boating community and U.S. Coast Guard stand as a tribute to the indelible mark that Bill has made on the Eckerd community."

Give Them a Warm Welcome

These critical staff positions have been filled. Please welcome these new members of the EC community should you see them around campus. 

 

Advancement

John Johnson,  

Associate Director of Grant Development

John comes to Eckerd from New York University, his alma mater and employer for 20 years. He earned a B.S. degree in Management and International Business in 1993 and his Master's of Public Administration degree in 2002. John's most recent position at NYU was as Director of the Office of Research and Doctoral Studies for the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. His grant experience encompasses working with faculty, researching funding opportunities, pre- and post-award administration, and work with public and private sources. 

 

Business Office

Terry Dowdy, 

Environmental Health and Safety Officer

As EH&S Officer, Terry will provide leadership for the College's Environmental Management System by assisting members of the EC community in maintaining compliance with all federal, state and local environmental requirements as well as College policies and procedures. Terry has served as Director of Risk Management and Security at Intrepid Potash, and Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management at the Universities of Alaska and South Florida. In 1986, he was responsible for the planning, development and administration for all compliance programs for the City of Tampa as Safety Director. Terry is a graduate of Tampa College with an M.P.A. degree. Upon joining the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, he progressed though the enlisted ranks and earned a commission as an officer. 

 

Leadership Development Institute (LDI)

Karen Modzelewski,  

Manager of Business Development

Karen transitioned to LDI from the Program for Experienced Learners (PEL), where she served as the Admissions Director. Prior to her arrival at Eckerd in June 2011, she served as the Community Relations Coordinator for Webster University's St. Petersburg campus, as a community representative for the American Cancer Society in St. Petersburg, and as the Associate Director of the Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART) in Tampa. In 2008, Karen was selected as one of 11 Governor's Fellows in Tallahassee where her responsibilities included strategic planning with the Florida Department of Management Services. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and an M.P.A. from Florida State University.

 

Center for Conflict Dynamics  

Roger W. Sorochty, Ph.D., Senior Associate for Higher Education 

Roger will introduce colleges and universities around the country to the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) for use in staff development and student leadership programs. He returns to Eckerd after retiring from a 41-year career in higher education with more than half of that time in the role of vice president for student affairs at a number of institutions including Newman University and Eckerd College (in the 1990's). He spent the past 12 years as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at The University of Tulsa. Roger holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Ottawa in Ontario, a Master's degree from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor's degree from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y.

 

Center for Career Planning and
Applied Learning

Julie Carr,

Director of Career Services

With more than 13 years of experience in academic and career counseling, Julie has been a career counselor at St. Petersburg College (SPC) and University of South Florida in Tampa, and the coordinator of academic support services at University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. Julie earned both her Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from UCF. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Career Counseling from USF. Recently, she completed her Global Career Development Facilitator training with the National Career Development Association. 

 

Ronald Porter '05, Ph.D.,  

Director of Service-Learning

After graduating from Eckerd with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Ronald earned both his Master's degree in Education and his Ph.D. from the Social and Cultural Studies in Education program, with a designated emphasis in Critical Theory, from the University of California at Berkley. Ronald's passion and commitment for service learning has been demonstrated via his volunteerism and work experience at Amnesty International and The Studio@620, along with his research for the Stop AIDS project in San Francisco and environmental research for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis. Ronald was a visiting lecturer at San Francisco State University, and a Graduate Student Instructor at UC Berkeley.     

 

Oct. 18-19, Eckerd Exhibits at  

St. Petersburg Science Festival 

Read more 

Pulitzer Prize Winner Katherine Boo Finds Hope in Lives of Indian Slum Dwellers 

Two Activists--A Former Death Row Inmate and Hip-Hop Head Challenging Hip-Hop Culture--Bring Messages to Eckerd College

Eckerd Professor and Students Excavate Archaeological Site in Thailand 

Eckerd Professors Laura Wetzel and Arthur Skinner Receive Special Faculty Awards 

2013-14 Presidential Events Series Inspired by The Human Experience 

International Cinema Series Opens Fall Semester with Joshua Oppenheimer's The Act of Killing 

Eckerd College Mourns the Tragic Loss of Jessica Gartenberg 

Fourteen Eckerd Student-Athletes Earn NCAA Division II Academic Achievement Award 

Eckerd College Featured in 2014 Edition of The Princeton Review's The Best 378 Colleges 

Tampa Bay Times
10/10/2013

Obituary profile on ASPEC member Leo Nussbaum 

Executive Profile: Dr. Steven Warner, Northrop Chief Scientist of Federal and Defense Technologies
GovCon Exec Magazine
10/07/2013

Feature on Biology graduate Steven Warner '77

Combat aviation chief has top goal for brigade at Fort Bliss
Las Cruces Sun-News
10/06/2013

Feature on Col. Carey M. Wagen '91, the new female commander of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division

Eckerd College Loses a Beloved Staff Member and Mentor to Countless Adult Students
Sarasota Patch
10/01/2013

Guest column by Program for Experienced Learners (PEL) student Forest Balderson on the impact of Linda Johnson, Director of PEL Academic Advising and Student Services

Campus Highlight: The Eckerd College Rescue Team
About.com
09/30/2013

Feature mention about EC-SAR due to the feature story in the Tampa Bay Times (see below)

At Eckerd College, students see life and death on the waterways
Tampa Bay Times
09/28/2013

Feature story on EC-SAR and retired Waterfront Director Bill Covert. Comments by Murray Fournie '89, Cynthia Zahnow '83 and Dominic Campanella '98. Photos of Andrew Kerbs '14, Aino Pihlava '16 and Ashley Chambers '14.

Eckerd College's Bob Fortosis on DII Resources, Alumni Relations, and Technology
Winthrop Intelligence
09/24/2013

Q&A with Athletics Director Bob Fortosis

Crispers' CEO Dawn Voss Is Eager to Resume Its Growth
The Ledger
09/18/2013

Feature on Dawn Voss '76, who is appointed CEO of Crispers, the Lakeland-based fast-casual restaurant chain.

Local Storm adds big piece to the puzzle
The Journal Pioneer
09/16/2013

The Island Storm, a National Basketball League of Canada team, reenlists Greg Plummer '05.

Pets welcome at some Eckerd College residences
Tampa Tribune
09/12/2013

Photo feature of Eckerd's Pet Registration. Comments by Tonya Womack '05, Assistant Director of Campus Safety and Security. Photos of Heather Gosnell '15 and Ayla Brooks '17.

MOOCs keep getting bigger. But do they work?
The Hechinger Report
09/12/2013

Comments by Eckerd President Donald R. Eastman III, Ph.D. 

Program acquaints Eckerd freshmen with college life, expectations
Tampa Tribune
09/03/2013

Feature story on Autumn Term orientation. Comments by Dean of Students Jim Annarelli, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Faculty Margie Sanfilippo, Ph.D., Nick Bernabe '17, Carly Gilmore '17 and Sadie Schulte '17. Photos of Carolyn Bohlman '15, Kelly Ejnes '15 and Jocelin Gardner '15.

Hi Voltage Volcanic Ash with Johnny Wardman '07
Bell Media Creative
08/30/2013

Feature video on volcanologist Johnny Wardman '07

3 things to remember before wading into Syria
CNN.com
08/27/2013

Guest column about the situation in Syria by Tony Brunello, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science

Double major. Introducing STEM II: Symmetry, Truth, Empathy and Meaning
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
08/24/2013

Professor Emeritus of Literature and Poet Laureate of St. Petersburg Peter Meinke pleas for consideration of the humanities when talking about STEM

Colleges are more than sticker prices, salaries
Tampa Bay Times
08/23/2013

Guest column by President Eastman written in response to President Obama's higher education plan on affordability and accountability

The Scubi Jew
Reform Judaism Magazine
08/21/2013

David Steren '15 writes about his experience as president of Scubi Jew -EC Environmental Divers

Guest column by Bill Felice: What the liberal arts hope to teach
Tampa Bay Times
08/14/2013

Bill Felice, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, lauds the value of a liberal arts education

Southeast names Watkins boys basketball coach
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
08/13/2013

 
Read more 

Sun., Nov. 3, 3 - 5 p.m., Elliott Gallery

On display Nov. 3 - Dec. 6

CPS: Dave Morgan, "Curing Alzheimer's Disease by 2020" 

Tue., Nov. 5, 4 p.m., Lewis House

CPS: Poetry Reading, "An Evening with Anna Ross" 

Wed., Nov. 6, 7 p.m., President's Dining Room

CPS: Theatre, "Some Girl(S)" 

Nov. 7 - 10 and 14 - 17, Bininger Theatre

Thur. - Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.

$10, public; $5, Eckerd community; $1, Eckerd students w/ ID. Pay at the door, no reservations.

International Cinema, "Endless Desire" 

Fri., Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Miller Auditorium

"A Celebration of the Life and Works of Mark Twain" 

Sat., Nov. 9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lewis House

Creative Arts Collegium's "Celebration of the Arts" 

Sat., Nov. 9, 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Darlene Saindon '02

Kelly Vaughn Schiller '09

Lisa M. Sibley '12

Col. Carey M. Wagen '91

Steven Warner '77, Ph.D.

Christie Wilcox '07

Nichole Clark '13 is a researcher on the Benthic Ecology Research Cruise, which is part of the Deep-C Consortium, a long-term, interdisciplinary study of deep sea to coast connectivity in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Nichole recently graduated with a B.S. in Marine Science and is participating in this cruise by assisting with the operations involving the multicore and piston core. She is a research technician at the Sedimentology Geochronology Laboratory at Eckerd College.

Last February, Mark Lewis '92, Ph.D., a professor at Cornell University's School of Operations Research and Information Engineering, was elected as the Chair of the 400-member Applied Probability Society, an international organization concerned with the analysis of systems that entail random phenomena. Prior to his arrival at Cornell, he double majored in Mathematics and Political Science at Eckerd, received his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology and taught at the University of Michigan. Prof. Lewis, who specializes in Stochastic Processes with an emphasis on queueing theory, is a featured faculty member on Cornell's homepage.

As a new environmental scientist with the Suwannee River Water Management District, Darlene Saindon '02 analyzes water quality and biological data and develops remediation strategies to address impairment. Prior to the District, she worked as a biological scientist at the University of Florida, where she served as a lab manager and field coordinator for several contracted research projects on water quality and submerged aquatic vegetation along the Gulf Coast of Florida from Steinhatchee to Pasco County. Darlene earned her B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College and her M.S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida.

Kelly Vaughn Schiller '09, a production manager and co-owner of Greenheart Creative, recently edited a series of 40 micro documentaries for the Institute of Emerging Issues, which is addressing "North Carolina's most pressing challenges in education, economy, health and its environments." Kelly, who double majored in political science and environmental studies and minored in international relations at Eckerd, has combined her skills and interests in international travel and service, documentary video production, and dance and performance to produce socially-conscious films and engaging performance entertainment for a wide range of audiences.

After nearly 18,000 submissions from 104 countries across the globe, Lisa M. Sibley '12 has been awarded two Honorable Mentions in the 2013 International Photography Awards Competition. Her Special Effects entry Game On, a series which displays modes of transportation to get to the game on time, was created with iphonography panoramic using post-processing of color only. Her entry (above) in the Nature: Trees category, Old Southern Pines, is an infrared black-and-white photograph. 

Steven Warner '77, Ph.D., serves as the chief scientist for the federal and defense technologies division within Northrop Grumman's information systems sector where he is responsible for the leadership and technical oversight of a broad range of technology strategy and investment activities. As chief scientist, the 33-year information technology veteran is also responsible for developing technical strategies to meet customer requirements and for improving collaboration among Northrop's technical leadership, its internal and external partners, academia and working groups. Dr. Warner, who majored in Biology at Eckerd, received a doctorate in Biochemistry from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Emily "Emma" White '04 recently accepted a tenure-track position at the University of Hawaii at Maui College. Emma, who majored in environmental studies and minored in English at Eckerd, went on to work as a community organizer for the Sierra Club. She earned a law degree from the University of Florida where she fell in love with teaching as a teaching assistant and adjunct professor. After passing the bar in Hawaii and working briefly as an attorney, Emma found her dream job teaching English and Rhetoric in the University of Hawaii system. She then added a Master's degree in English to her J.D. In her teaching role at Maui College, Emma writes about technology in education and study developmental education solutions. She is the co-founder and co-director of Reading Across the Disciplines and serves as the faculty advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. (Photo credit: Univ. of Hawaii at Maui College)         

Christie Wilcox '07 has established herself as an expert on the use of social media for science. Christie, who received her B.S. in Marine Science with a minor in Chemistry from Eckerd, is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A leading advocate for using online tools to facilitate scientific research, outreach and communication, Christie has been freelancing as a science writer and blogger since 2008. She now pens the blog "Science Sushi" for Discover Magazine. Her writing has won numerous awards and honors, including being selected for publication in the annual anthology of the best science writing online, The Open Laboratory, for four years running. Christie created Social Networking for Scientists: a beginner's guide to compliment interactive in-person workshops and an online collaborative wiki on how and why social networking is an important part of scientific research and outreach.