What makes a university great? First and foremost, the answer is faculty.

That’s why UUP has worked so aggressively to ensure that all UUP faculty have the resources they need to perform their jobs —delivering high-quality services to students and the community in classrooms, residence halls, financial aid offices, opportunity centers, athletic centers, teaching hospitals and more.

Our members are the key to SUNY’s status as among the finest public universities in the nation.

Happily, the University itself acknowledges our outstanding academic faculty in particular, with special honors every year.

This year, the SUNY Board of Trustees recognized the academic excellence of dozens of UUP members by appointing them to the ranks of the University’s “distinguished” faculty.

What follows are profiles of some of these UUP members, whose academic achievements typify the high standards of the union that makes SUNY a great institution of higher education.

UUP members recognized with distinguished ranks

Their areas of expertise range from engineering to nursing to earth science and philosophy. While their disciplines vary widely, they all hold one thing in common – their appointment to the rank of “distinguished professor” by SUNY.

In all, 28 SUNY academics achieved that highest level of distinction this year.

UUP President William Scheuerman stresses the awards are proof of the high quality of education, training and experience offered by union members.

“I am proud that SUNY recognizes the dedication of our members to excellence. Their achievements underscore the quality of the educational environment within the University,” he said.

“SUNY faculty who receive appointment to the distinguished ranks provide a glimpse of the broad service contributions and the career achievements being made on our campuses across New York,” former SUNY Chancellor John Ryan said in announcing the appointments earlier this year.

In May 2007, two UUP members rose to the rank of distinguished professor, SUNY’s highest academic credential. The high honor goes to individuals who have achieved national or international prominence and a reputation within their academic discipline. Their work must raise the standards of scholarship of their colleagues within and beyond their field of expertise.

Gregory Belenky of SUNY Stony Brook earned the honor for his groundbreaking research and scholarship. A professor of electrical and computer engineering, Belenky’s work on semiconductor devices and laser diodes is credited with creating new frontiers.

Miriam Rafailovich is a renowned researcher and professor of materials science and engineering at Stony Brook. Her work on X-ray and neutron reflectivity in polymer films generated a new field of polymer physics.

“The appointment of Doctors Belenky and Rafailovich as distinguished professors continues a pattern of officially recognizing our best and brightest faculty,” said Stony Brook Chapter President John Schmidt. “These appointments honor the individuals and simultaneously bring honor and prestige to Stony Brook and UUP.”

Distinguished service professorships are awarded to faculty exhibiting substantial distinguished service within SUNY and at the community and regional levels. Their service over the course of multiple years goes far beyond the minimum expectations required of all faculty. They apply intellectual skills, and bring their scholarly and research findings to issues of public concern.

Arnold Moses of Upstate Medical University in Syracuse is one of nine UUPers who earned a distinguished service professorship. Moses won worldwide recognition for his research activities that included clinical trials of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. Besides teaching medicine, Moses is director of Upstate’s clinical research unit and medical director of its Metabolic Bone Disease Center.

Upstate Chapter President Phillip Smith said the honor accorded to Moses was long overdue and well deserved.

“Dr. Moses has contributed to the education of our medical students for nearly half a century and has been important in the lives of many, many patients,” he said. “In addition, he is an internationally recognized expert in his field of endocrinology. Thus, countless other students, physicians and, ultimately, patients will benefit from his thoughtful and insightful medical investigations.”

UUPers from Oswego and Delhi also earned distinguished service professorships this year.

Alfred Stamm, chair of Oswego’s earth sciences department, is lauded for his service on and off campus. Stamm is credited with giving research and scholarly activity a major role in campus culture, in part due to his 18-year leadership of the college’s Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee. Off campus, he’s been active with an organization that helps children with disabilities. Stamm and his wife are foster parents raising three children with severe handicaps.

“Al’s unselfish service to our campus, the community and his profession stand as a role model throughout the state and make us proud to be numbered among his colleagues,” said Oswego Chapter President Charles Spector. “When anything important is happening on this campus, Al is not only there, he’s contributing.”

Joseph Greenfield is the first faculty member from Delhi to be named as a recipient of a distinguished service professorship. A professor of computer-aided drafting and design, Greenfield formerly served as UUP chapter president and now serves as the chapter’s grievance chair. His extensive community service includes serving as past president of the Delhi Kiwanis Club.

He currently represents local labor through his membership on the Delaware County Zone Administration Board, which reviews applications from groups seeking inclusion in the county’s economic zones.

“This recognition of Joe reflects his excellence and commitment to the students and the campus community at Delhi,” said Delhi Chapter President John Taylor. “Throughout his 40-year career, Joe has been actively involved in all aspects of community service both on and off campus. Everyone who works at Delhi knows that Joe is SUNY Delhi.”

Distinguished teaching professorships honor SUNY faculty who consistently demonstrate a superior mastery of teaching, excellent service to their

students, and a commitment to furthering their own intellectual and professional growth. Twelve UUP members earned this distinction this year, including members from Binghamton, Potsdam and Albany.

Gale Spencer of Binghamton is recognized as a national leader in community health nursing education. Her students are motivated by the enthusiasm and creativity she brings to the classroom. For example, in her epidemiology class, Spencer takes case studies of actual epidemics and requires her students to create case studies of an epidemic.

“Gale exemplifies the qualities of excellent teaching,” Binghamton Chapter President Darryl Wood said. “She is very involved in research and then transfers that knowledge to the classroom. Her students benefit from her extensive experience as well as her commitment.

Joseph DiGiovanna of Potsdam is known for the enthusiasm he brings to teaching an introductory course in philosophy, enlightening his students with ideas and new concepts. He reaches out to each of up to 55 honors and upper-division students each semester.

“DiGiovanna is not only a dedicated teacher, but he has always gone the extra mile for his many students over the years,” said Potsdam Chapter President Laura Rhoads. “He has given his time to the honors program and was a principal author to our General Education Program.

“We could count on his wise commentary during UUP chapter meetings.”

Jeffrey Berman of UAlbany takes pride in showing his students how literature personally impacts them. He’s taught 30 different courses at every level during his 34-year career at the campus.

“Berman has a great love for teaching, for his students and for the campus community,” Albany Chapter President Candace Merbler said. “He exemplifies the true dedication of educators at the University at Albany.”

“In their own way, each of these faculty members exhibit their dedication to teaching and shaping future generations,” said UUP Vice President for Academics Frederick Floss. “They are indicative of the talent inherent within the membership of UUP.”

— Donald Feldstein