New Faculty Members Appointed to Full-Time Positions at SUNY Rockland Community College For the First Time in Three Years

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: July 31, 2007

CONTACT: Lisa Saunders

(845) 574-4244

New Faculty Members Appointed to Full-Time Positions at SUNY Rockland Community College
For the First Time in Three Years

Suffern, NY - Seven new instructors will join the full-time faculty at SUNY Rockland Community College beginning with the Fall semester. This is the first time in three years that the College has appointed new full-time faculty. Most previously taught as part-time adjunct faculty at the College.

The new faculty members are:

Dr. Kristopher Baker, Instructor, Biology

Kristopher Baker, A SUNY Rockland graduate in ’97, earned a Ph.D. in Coastal Oceanography from Stony Brook University, an M.S. in Molecular Biology and a B.S. in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He began teaching at RCC in '04, and previously taught at RPI. Dr. Baker breathed new life into the Science Lecture Series and developed an online course in oceanography. He is currently developing a new course in marine biology for the Study Abroad program.

Ms. Josephine Coleman, Instructor, Business

Josephine Coleman earned an M.B.A. from St. John’s University, and is a certified C.P.A. She has taught at RCC since 1999 and has also served as an adjunct faculty member at both Bergen Community College and Dominican College. She is looking forward to developing and teaching online courses as well as incorporating current technology into her class presentations.

Ms. Dale Crispell, Instructor, Nursing

Dale Crispell earned an M.A. in Nursing Education from Columbia University, and a B.S. in Nursing from Cornell University. She has taught at RCC since 1983. She contributed a chapter about the nursing care of patients with upper respiratory disorders to a Nursing textbook, presented at the Writing Across the Curriculum National conference in Ithaca, NY. She was a member of the Nyack Hospital Nursing Research Committee.

Ms. Wendy Greenspan, Instructor, Nursing

Wendy Greenspan earned an M.S. in Nursing education from Mercy College, and a B.S. in Nursing from Dominican College. She has been teaching at RCC since Fall ‘03 and was a clinical instructor at Dominican College. She was a nursing staff development instructor at Nyack Hospital, and a registered staff nurse at Nyack Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, and New York Presbyterian Hospital. She uses technology in the classroom to engage her students.

Ms. Kathleen Hopkins, Instructor, Nursing

Kathleen Hopkins earned an M.A. in Nursing from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.S. in Nursing from SUNY New Paltz. She was a lecturer at RCC the ‘06-‘07 academic year, and an adjunct clinical instructor from ‘02-‘04. She also served as a skills lab instructor at the College from ’81-‘86. She utilizes technology in the classroom, and is looking forward to developing and teaching an online course in nursing for the College.

Ms. Shamika Mitchell, Instructor, English

Shamika Mitchell earned an M.A. in English and American Literature and a B.A. in English and Textual Studies from Syracuse University. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at RCC, Pace University, and Seton Hall University. She is looking forward to developing a new course to be offered both “live” and online. She is currently a doctoral student at Temple University, expecting to earn her Ph.D. Degree in 20th century Multicultural American Literature, in May ‘09.

Dr. Melanie Rie, Instructor, Biology

Melanie Rie earned a Ph.D. in Biology and a B.A. in Biology from Boston University. She has taught courses in anatomy and physiology, human sexuality, general biology, and introduction to the human body at RCC. She has research experience and several publications. Rie has developed vision in her field, and demonstrated initiative and creativity in her approach to problems.

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.