Dozens of UUP members this year have earned SUNY’s distinguished ranks for extraordinary research, teaching and service.

The Voice this month continues to highlight these exceptional educators. Below are eight more faculty members to be granted the highest rank SUNY has to offer.

The distinguished professor rank is

conferred on individuals who have achieved international prominence and are recognized for significant contributions to the research in their chosen fields.

The rank of distinguished teaching professor recognizes and honors mastery of teaching, as well as exceptional service to students and a commitment to furthering their own intellectual and professional growth.

The distinguished service professor rank is awarded to

individuals who demonstrate substantial service to SUNY and the community at large. Their service over multiple years goes above and beyond that which is expected of them in the performance of their SUNY duties, and brings their scholarly and research findings to issues of public concern.

“Achieving this rank is the pinnacle of a faculty member’s career, and once again proves that our members are dedicated to research, teaching and service, as well as to their students and the community,” said UUP President William Scheuerman. “SUNY is lucky to have these hard-working, committed faculty on their campuses.”

Seth Asumah, a distinguished teaching professor of political science at Cortland, has taught and written extensively on comparative and international politics, African and Middle Eastern politics, foreign policy, public administration and multiculturalism. He is currently director of the Summer Institute for Infusing Diversity into the Curriculum at Cortland. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society in 2006.

Timothy Baron , a distinguished professor of biological sciences at Cortland, is an international expert in the field of tropical mycology. He has made significant contributions to the area of systematics and biogeography of the mushroom-forming fungi. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the diversity and systems of microfungi. Baroni is the fifth Cortland faculty member and the first in eight years to receive the honor.

Paulette Bernd of Brooklyn HSC, a distinguished teaching professor in the department of anatomy and cell biology at Brooklyn HSC, is block director for the musculoskeletal block and discipline director for gross anatomy. She also teaches embryology in the medical school and molecular and cellular biology in the graduate school. She is currently researching the role of neurotrophins in avian development.

Stephen Cole, a distinguished professor of sociology at Stony Brook, is internationally respected for his seminal contributions to the sociology of science and to understanding the dynamics of social stratification by race and gender. In January 2003, Harvard University Press published his monograph, Increasing Faculty Diversity: The Occupational Choices of High Achieving Minority Students. He is currently working on a book tentatively titled Fixing Education.

James Grillo, a distinguished teaching professor in the School of Management and Engineering Technology, has worked at Alfred in a variety of capacities for 35 years. He began his service as a residence hall director in 1972; moved to the Office of Admissions; served as dean for admissions, records and financial aid; and was named an associate professor in 1989. He received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 1992 and was Business Teacher of the Year in 1993.

Vicki Janik, a distinguished teaching professor of English and professional communications, has been teaching for more than 30 years. She has authored four books, including A Guide to The Merchant of Venice, and more than 20 articles in medieval and Renaissance literature, film and detective fiction. She is also involved in feminist studies and received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2001.

Janet Nepkie, a distinguished service professor and chair of the music department at Oneonta, is an accomplished musician who has performed as principal cellist for the Catskill and Utica symphonies and Glimmerglass Opera. On campus, she co-chairs the SUNY Celebration of the Arts; chairs the University Faculty Senate Undergraduate Academic Program and Policies Committee; and is founder of the college’s Music Industry Program that now has more than 650 majors.

Robert Rees, a distinguished service professor in the School of Management and Engineering Technology, has been teaching at Alfred since 1986. He is the college’s engineering science transfer coordinator, advising students intending to continue their engineering studies. He is former chair of the both the mechanical and electrical engineering technology departments, and served a short stint as dean of Information Technology. In 1992, Rees received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

— Karen L. Mattison