The Academic Minute for 2018.03.05-03.09

Academic Minute from 3.05 – 3.09

Monday, March 5th
Vincent Schiraldi – Columbia University
Growing Parolee Population
Vincent Schiraldi has extensive experience in public life, founding the policy think tank, the Justice Policy Institute, then moving to government as director of the juvenile corrections in Washington DC, and then as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation. Most recently Schiraldi served as Senior Advisor to the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. Schiraldi gained a national reputation as a fearless reformer who emphasized the humane and decent treatment of the men, women, and children under his correctional supervision.  He pioneered efforts at community-based alternatives to incarceration in NYC and Washington DC. Schiraldi received a MSW from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton University.

Tuesday, March 6th
Edward Guinan – Villanova University
Growing Food on Mars
Dr. Guinan is a pioneer in astronomy and space science research that studies our Sun, stars, and planets inside and outside our solar system as well as the search for potential life on these planets. His recent research efforts are primarily aimed at studying the effects that X-ray and UV from host stars… have on their planets and to determine if these exoplanets could be habitable. Dr. Guinan also carries out research in astrobiology on Earth to study extremophiles (life in extreme conditions) as proxies for potential life on Venus, Mars, and Titan. A principal and guest investigator on numerous NASA astronomy and NASA and NSF-sponsored research programs, Dr. Guinan is active in international outreach work in astronomy and in establishing and promoting astronomy education worldwide.

Wednesday, March 7th
Adam McLain – SUNY Polytechnic Institute
New Lemur Species Discovered
Dr. Adam McLain received his Ph.D. in biology from Louisiana State University in 2013, and prior to this an M.A. in anthropology from Hunter College of the City University of New York and a B.A. from Virginia Tech. He studies evolutionary biology and applied population genetics, predominantly in primate species, exploring the relationships between species and within populations using a combination of field, wet-bench and computational methods. He was previously a postdoctoral researcher in the Conservation Genetics Department of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, studying endangered primate populations in Madagascar. Dr. McLain teaches Introductory Biology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics.

Thursday, March 8th
Jonathan Pruitt – University of California Santa Barbara
Great Man Theory
Jonathan Pruitt performed his graduate studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville under the direction of Susan Riechert. He then conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Davis with Andy Sih and Jay Stachowicz. He joined EEMB in 2016.

Friday, March 9th
Rebekah Piper – Texas A&M University San Antonio
Multicultural Education and Literacy
Rebekah E. Piper earned her Ph.D from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in literacy education and Cultural Studies International Multicultural Education (CSIME).  Prior to earning her doctorate, Dr. Piper was a kindergarten teacher in Historic West Las Vegas where she had a unique connection with children, families, and the community. She also has served as a consultant for the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program; training multiple young adults to work with children during a six-week summer literacy program across the United States. Her primary research interests include pre-service teacher education, children’s literature, multicultural education, identity development, and early literacy development.

Dr. Piper teaches undergraduate and graduate course work in literacy education and serves her community by working with organizations that promote literacy and service.