Simonsays January 31, 2007

January 31, 2007

Sara Katzoff '97 Joins the Office of Public Affairs

A Note From Sara Katzoff:
Welcome to the January edition of Simonsays!
As Judith Monachina heads to Milan on a Fulbright until May 2007, I embark on my own adventure—into some rather large shoes—as acting associate director of Public Affairs. As an alumna, I am especially honored to begin my interim work here at Simon's Rock during such an exhilarating time in the College's development.

Since graduating with my B.A in 2002, I have been living in New York City and working as a freelance company manager, teaching artist and actor. In 2003, with Peter Wise and Timothy Ryan Olson '95 I cofounded Bazaar Productions/the Berkshire Fringe where I continue to serve as publicist and coartistic director. Bazaar Productions/the Berkshire Fringe is a theater company and festival dedicated to presenting contemporary works by emerging artists.

Sharing my enthusiasm and passion with the public is a skill I first began to hone while I was a theater student here at Simon's Rock. When presented with the idea of returning to my alma mater to write about the excitement and growth happening on campus, I leapt at the opportunity.

For the next four months I will be here in the Liebowitz building (where I once had my first semester of Freshman Seminar) overseeing several editions of Simonsays and other exciting news and events. Over the coming months, I encourage you to e-mail me at skatzoff@simons-rock.edu, with any questions, comments, news flashes, or suggestions. Happy New Year!

Simon's Rock Alumna and Faculty Member Tanya Marcuse Awarded 2006 Photographer's Fellowship from the Center for Photography at Woodstock.

Tanya Marcuse '81, faculty member in studio arts has recently been awarded a fellowship from the Center for Photography at Woodstock to continue developing her body of work entitled "Fruitless."

"Fruitless," a series of platinum/palladium prints, chronicle the seasonal transformation and majesty of fruit trees growing within the Hudson Valley. While capturing the beauty of these trees, Marcuse also documents the rapidly vanishing orchards of the region.

"Fruitless" has also been supported by two Simon's Rock Faculty Development Grants. Marcuse is also working on a collector's edition of the project for Nazraeli Press that will be released later this year. Images from "Fruitless" will be featured in the upcoming issue of Orion magazine. The complete project will be exhibited at the Julie Saul Gallery in New York City to accompany the release of Marcuse's book.

In the Berkshires, selections from "Fruitless" can be seen as part of the 40th Anniversary Alumni Art Exhibition at Simon's Rock. Held in the Gallery at the Liebowitz Building, the alumni exhibition will feature photography, sculpture, ceramics, and paintings by Simon's Rock graduates working professionally in the arts. Also included in the exhibition are Perry Hall '84 and Michael Lavin Flower '75. The Gallery at the Liebowitz Building will be open from March 16 - May 27, 2007 Friday - Sunday from 12-5 pm. (Photo by Tanya Marcuse)

Simon's Rock Welcomes Susan Lyon and the Arrival of the Win Academic Resource Commons

Simon's Rock is pleased to welcome Susan Lyon who has recently been appointed to serve as the director of academic and career resources for the Win Academic Resource Commons. Lyon comes to Simon's Rock from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where, as a doctoral student, she worked in the office of student affairs for the College of Engineering.

Lyon's responsibilities at UMass included advising students and creating initiatives for women in engineering and multicultural programs. In February of 2006 she left her employment with the office of student affairs to give birth to her daughter, and devote more time to writing her dissertation. The opportunity to bring the Win Academic Resource Commons to life here at Simon's Rock inspired Lyon to return to work.

The Win Commons is an academic and career center now open at the ground level in the Hall College Center (formerly the offices of student life). The center provides a wealth of resources to the student body, including academic and career advising, moderation preparation, and extensive information regarding transfer, internship, and study abroad opportunities. Other services include tutoring and writing, critical thinking, study skills and accessibility services. The Win Commons will also sponsor seminars to help students prepare for life after Simon's Rock.

Susan Lyon writes, "Since coming to campus I've had the opportunity to meet with students and faculty in order to reach an understanding of how the Win Commons can be of value. The Commons will continue to evolve only with input from the Simon's Rock community and I welcome your thoughts on how we can best serve you. I look forward to working together with each of you to build the Commons and meet the needs of our past, present, and future students".

Members of the Simon's Rock community are welcome to visit http://library.simons-rock.edu/SRC/index.php to learn more about the services provided by the Win Commons. Any alumni interested in publicizing a job or intern opportunity is encouraged to contact Susan at slyon@simons-rock.edu or by calling (413) 644-4282. (Photo, left to right, of students Roxann Fellerman and Rosalind Holmes-Duffy, with Susan Lyon, by Sara Katzoff)

You Can Come Home Again
By Michael Bergman, Division Chair of Science, Mathematics, and Computing

Isaac Bao, faculty in biology, retired after the spring of 2006. Although this was a big loss, the College was lucky to have a strong applicant pool for the position, and even luckier that Joy Lapseritis '90 accepted our offer. After receiving her A.A. from Simon's Rock, Joy received a B.A. in biology and marine science from Smith College. She then taught high school for a couple of years, received her master's from Smith, also in biology, before receiving her Ph.D. in biological oceanography from the joint MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 2006.

Joy studies endocrine disruption in marine mammals. Most of Joy's work is bench work using recombinant DNA and molecular biology, work which she intends to continue here at Simon's Rock, also involving students in her research. This term, Joy's first, she is teaching cell biology and marine mammals, including two field trips, a whale watch, and a trip to Woods Hole for a dolphin necropsy. Joy intends to take tissue samples from the dolphin for the students in cell biology to do histology.

When asked about what it's like to return to campus, Joy said one surreal experience was eating in the dining hall (of course, current students might say that too!). She also says that so much of the campus has changed physically that it is a very different place, but that the students still remind her of when she was a student here. In addition to Sue Mechanic-Meyers, students have also commented on how pleased they are to see another female faculty member in the sciences.

One of Joy's ideas is to bring back science alumni to share their work with current Simon's Rock students and encourage them to pursue their science studies. If interested, contact any of us! Joy would also like to hear from her classmates. (Photo of Joy Lapseritis by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Bazaar Productions Welcomes Emmy Winning Writer to Lead New Young Playwright Mentorship Program
Young Writers Scripts to be Read at 2007 Berkshire Fringe

Bazaar Productions, presenter of The Berkshire Fringe, (Timothy Ryan Olson '95, Peter Wise and Sara Katzoff '97) is pleased to announce that Laura Maria Censabella, Emmy Award winning writer and professor of playwriting at the New School for Drama, will mentor three young writers in the first ever EarlyStages program as part of The 2007 Berkshire Fringe.

Three talented young writers, who either reside or attend college in the Berkshires or surrounding counties, will be selected for the intensive two-week residency on the beautiful campus of Simon's Rock College. Ms. Censabella, will tailor the program to address the objectives of each participant. Each writer will also work with a professional director and actors to prepare for a free concert reading at The Berkshire Fringe.

Participants will be supplied with room and partial board, complimentary tickets to each Berkshire Fringe performance, and the opportunity to attend community workshops.

Ms. Censabella's professional career spans theater, film, and television. For two years she wrote for daytime television for which she won two Emmy Awards. Her plays have been seen across the nation at renowned institutions, including Ensemble Studio Theatre, where she runs the Playwrights Unit. Her short play Posing was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and The Actual Footage won the Tennessee Chapbook Prize for Drama. She has been awarded numerous fellowships and has participated in prestigious conferences such as the Eugene O'Neill Playwright's Conference and the New Harmony Project.

Ms. Censabella also brings her passion and expertise as a teaching artist to EarlyStages. Her teaching experience includes the New School for Drama, the Actors Studio Drama School, Columbia University's School of the Arts, The Sewanee Writers' Conference, and The Summer Literary Seminars in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Bazaar Productions is requesting application submissions from talented young writers ages 18-26 who either reside or attend school in the Berkshires or surrounding counties. For application guidelines, more information about EarlyStages, and Ms. Censabella's complete biography please visit www.berkshirefringe.org. Inquiries can be answered by contacting co-artistic director, Ryan Olson, at ryan@berkshirefringe.org or by calling (413) 320-4175.

All applications must be received by March 15, 2007.