Teaching, advising, and student life award recipients announced

Wells recognized outstanding contributions made in teaching, advising, and student life by faculty and staff members during the 1998-99 academic year through its annual awards presented this month.

Associate Professor of Political Science and Herbert J. Charles and Florence Charles Faegre Professor of Political Science Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo is the recipient of the 1999 Wells College Excellence in Teaching Medal. He earned his B.A. from the Université Libre du Congo, his M.A. from Harvard University, and a second master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Professor Lumumba-Kasongo joined the faculty in 1993 and teaches Politics of Developing Countries, Old and New Paradigms in World Politics, and Approaches to International Relations, among other courses

The Excellence in Teaching Medal is awarded to the instructor who exemplifies enthusiasm for teaching, is impartial and willing to share time outside of class, encourages students to think critically and act independently, and best embodies the spirit of a Wells education in addition to having a strong command of a given field of study.

The recipient of this year's Academic Advising Award is Assistant Professor of History Michael Groth. He joined the Wells faculty in 1994 and earned his B.A. from Williams College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Binghamton University. Professor Groth teaches Interpreting U.S. History, Topics in American Social History, and The African-American Struggle for Human Rights, among other courses.

The intention of the Excellence in Academic Advising Award is to recognize the fundamental importance of academic advising to Wells students and to support the faculty in their advising work.

Erna Coon, assistant to the dean of the college, received the Student Life Award. Before coming to Wells in 1991, she worked for 10 years as superintendent's secretary in the public school system.

This award is given to the member of the of the Wells staff, faculty, or administration who through her or his enthusiasm and campus involvement has had an encouraging and positive influence on student life.

May, 1999

Wells president receives state award

President Lisa Marsh Ryerson has been named a Woman of Distinction by the New York State Senate. Nominated by Senator Michael F. Nozzolio, she will be recognized in a celebration in the Legislative Office Building in Albany, New York, on Tuesday, May 25.

Senator Nozzolio said, "Lisa Ryerson has not only set a positive example for our young people, her extensive involvement in both the college and surrounding communities has made an immeasurable impact on making the Finger Lakes Region a better place to live."

Launched last year, the Women of Distinction program is designed to recognize women who make our community a better place to live and set a positive example to young people.

May, 1999

Wells students excel in math competition

"You really don't want to get out of a burning building, do you?" was the title of a mathematics project which earned an honorable mention for three Wells College students who competed with 478 teams representing 229 colleges and universities from nine different countries. The competition was sponsored by the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications (COMAP), and award recipients were announced in April.

The Wells team was made up of Thy An Bui, a sophomore from Syracuse, New York; Jennifer Ellsworth, a sophomore from Geneva, New York; and Siu Lan Zhang, a junior from Brooklyn, New York. Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Carol C. Shilepsky served as the team's advisor.

Students selected one of three open-ended modeling problems to research which required an optimal solution. The Wells team chose to develop a linear optimization model of maximum room capacity for deciding what number to post on a "maximum capacity" sign as being the "lawful capacity." Students were asked to construct models considering different room types and compare and contrast what might be done for a variety of environments.

This was the 15th annual Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM). COMAP's MCM is unique among modeling competitions in that it is the only international contest in which students work in teams to find a solution. Centering its educational philosophy on mathematical modeling, COMAP uses mathematical tools to explore real-world problems.

May, 1999

Former Assistant to President Jimmy Carter and advocate for leadership by women is Wells Commencement speaker

Nationally known attorney and spokesperson on leadership and public issues Sarah Weddington will be the 1999 Commencement speaker at Wells College. Her topic is women and leadership. Ceremonies begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 outside Macmillan Hall on the Wells campus.

After serving three terms in the Texas House of Representatives, she went to Washington in 1977 as USDA General Counsel. From 1978 to 1981, she served as Assistant to President Jimmy Carter. From her office in the west wing of the White House, she directed the administration's work on women's issues.

In 1973 she successfully argued the landmark Roe v. Wade case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She is considered to be the youngest woman ever to win a case in the Supreme Court. Her first book, A Question of Choice, details the historic event.

Currently a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Weddington is also a popular speaker and commentator. She has been a guest on television programs including Today, Good Morning America, and the CBS Morning News.

Time magazine named her one of its Outstanding Young American Leaders. Ladies Home Journal presented her with its Woman of the Future award. She has been featured in such publications as Working Woman, People, the Washington Post, and for a number of years she wrote a regular column for Glamour magazine.

Ms. Weddington has received numerous honors and awards. In 1998 she was the recipient of Leadership America's Hummingbird Award for contributions to the advancement of women's leadership. She is also the recipient of the Colby Award for Public Service from Sigma Kappa Sorority, the Woman Who Dares Award from the National Council of Jewish Women, and a Best College Lecturer Award from the National Association for Campus Activities, among others.

She holds honorary doctorates from McMurry University, Hamilton College, Austin College, and Southwestern University. She received her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

May, 1999

Other Articles in Wells College News:

September, 2002	September, 2000. - May.,2001	May,1998	May - June,1997
August, 2002	September, 1999 - August, 2000	April,1998	March - April,1997
September, 2001. - May.,2002	August,1999	March,1998	February,1997
	May,1999	February,1998	November - December,1996
	April,1999	January,1998	October,1996
	February -March, 1999	December,1997	September,1996
	January,1999	November,1997	June - Aug.,1996
	Fall,1998	October,1997	May,1996
	August,1998	September,1997	April,1996
	June -July, 1998	July - August, 1997	February - March, 1996