October 20, 2010
Since St. John’s created its Vincentian
Institute for Social Action (VISA), professors, students and
administrators have collaborated to advance the Institute’s goal of
finding solutions to poverty and injustice — and putting those
solutions into action.
Professors have taken a leading role by guiding students who
develop projects that bring VISA’s goals to tangible life on and
off campus. At a special luncheon this semester, VISA thanked
faculty for their leadership and announced new projects the
professors and students are launching this academic year to make
the world a better place.
According to Rev.
James J. Maher, C.M., Vice President for Student Affairs and
Executive Director of VISA, the luncheon was an expression of
gratitude to faculty as well as a preview of new VISA research
projects planned this year. The projects range from helping local
high school students prepare for their SATs to combining research
with service in Guatemala.
Photo Gallery
“Through VISA, our faculty and students have made a measurable
impact on the lives of people and communities living in poverty,”
Fr. Maher said. “More than 40 faculty have been involved in various
committees with our Ozanam Scholars Program, designing service
interventions and community-based research to help those in
need.”
Faculty described the research, which embodies VISA’s
mission of “service with impact.” The research is part of “capstone
projects” by seniors in the Ozanam Scholars
Program, a select group of students dedicated to academics and
service. Capstone projects ultimately will be published through a
new University Press — a key VISA component showcasing social
justice research by scholars from within and beyond the
University.
Faculty realize VISA’s aims in other ways as well. For example,
they serve with VISA community efforts such as St. John’s
Bread and Life and the
Advantage Academy.
“We wanted to show our faculty how deeply we appreciate their
embrace of VISA and its important role in a St. John’s education,”
said
Richard Sinatra, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean in The
School of Education. Dr. Sinatra chairs VISA’s Faculty Research
Consortium, which provides leadership and direction for the
program’s research components.
Achieving Action with Impact
“We wanted to show our faculty how deeply we appreciate their
embrace of VISA and its important role in a St. John’s education,”
said Richard Sinatra, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean in The
School of Education. Dr. Sinatra chairs VISA’s Faculty Research
Consortium, which provides leadership and direction for the
program’s research components.
St. John’s created VISA to more visibly embed its Catholic, Vincentian
mission into its students’ educational experience. VISA unites new
and ongoing programs that empower students and professors to combat
global poverty and injustice through teaching, research and
service.
Faculty at the luncheon shared a number of exciting projects on
which they will partner with students to bring the mission of VISA
— service with impact — into greater focus. Faculty mentors
discussed some of the groundbreaking capstone projects from the
prior year as well as upcoming research partnerships.
For example, Nancy Colodny, Ph.D., Associate Professor in The
College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, presented on
research by one of her students serving low-income populations in
Guatemala suffering with dysphagia (difficulties swallowing). The
student, Lauren Miller, created a video to instruct staff at a
local hospital on feeding children with dysphagia.
Dr. Colodny brought her graduate students on a 10-day trip to
Guatemala to study a variety of swallowing disorders and render
whatever assistance they could. This month Lauren accompanied Dr.
Colodny to work on her capstone project at the orphanage in
Guatemala.
“Great Things Are Going On”
Other projects addressed needs as varied as homelessness and
helping struggling businesses to obtain loans. A small sample
includes the following:
-
Nina Dorata, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting mentors a
student team led by Kaitlyn Miller as they gather research data on
local for- and non-profit microfinancing efforts.
-
Mary Beth Schaefer, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Education,
works with a student team led by Tracey Cannova on coaching
low-income 11th graders for the SAT; the 11th graders participate
in St. John’s GEAR-UP program.
-
Robert F. Pecorella, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Government
and Politics, guides student Meaghan Mapes in an effort to inform
residents of a local homeless shelter about services available once
they leave.
-
E. Francine Guastello, Ed.D., Associate Professor and Chair of
Human Services and Counseling, oversees Megan Chadzutko on
comparing “emotionally-laden vocabulary instruction” techniques
among middle-school students.
The relationship between VISA faculty and students is especially
strong in the Ozanam Scholars Program. Professors are primarily
responsible for mentoring junior and senior Ozanam Scholars in the
development of their Independent Study and Capstone projects.
VISA faculty also have collaborated in the development of academic
programs and activities, and served as liaisons between academic
departments and the Ozanam Scholars.
“We have great things going on,” said Dr. Sinatra. “Through their
research projects, and faculty assistance, our students are really
moving the needle forward on issues of poverty and social justice.”
Many of those projects, he added, will very likely be published or
presented at conferences.
“As we move to the future,” Rev. Maher added, “the entire staff of
VISA looks forward to working with our dedicated faculty who has
been so instrumental to the success of VISA.”