M E M O R A N D U M November 17, 2010 To: Members of the Board of Trustees From: Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor Subject: Appointment of Distinguished Professors I recommend that the Board of Trustees adopt the following resolution: Whereas the State University of New York Board of Trustees has proudly established a historic tradition of acknowledging and honoring extraordinary faculty achievement through appointment to Distinguished Faculty Rank; and Whereas the appointment to Distinguished Faculty Rank at state-operated campuses is both a system-wide distinction and a promotion in rank; and Whereas the SUNY Board of Trustees has the authority to bestow system-wide distinctions; now, therefore, be it, Resolved that each faculty member listed below be, and hereby is, appointed to the rank of Distinguished Professor at the State University of New York campus indicated, effective November 17, 2010: Professor Ronald W. Toseland, University at Albany Professor Venugopal Govindaraju, University at Buffalo Professor Mark Aronoff, Stony Brook University Background Appointment to the rank of Distinguished Professor is conferred upon individuals who have achieved national or international prominence and a distinguished reputation within a chosen field. This distinction is attained through significant contributions to the research literature or through artistic performance or achievement in the case of the arts. The candidates� work must be of such character that the individuals� presence will tend to elevate the standards of scholarship of colleagues both within and beyond these persons� academic fields. It must be of such quality that students and scholars on other campuses of the State University could and would wish to benefit by lectures and seminars or other appropriate presentations the faculty members might bring to them. The contributions of these scholars far exceed those mentioned in this resolution. Several important characteristics are omitted for brevity's sake. The candidates are also considered superlative teachers, setting the highest academic standards for their students. Beyond their scholarship, the candidates have contributed meaningfully and consistently in several notable areas including extensive and superior service to the profession; leadership and ongoing participation on influential disciplinary committees; membership on prestigious editorial boards; service as reviewer or consultant on regulatory, advisory, and award-making bodies; and invited presentations at conferences and symposia. The following encapsulates their disciplinary accomplishments: Ronald W. Toseland � Dr. Toseland is currently Professor of Social Welfare and Director of the Institute of Gerontology. Professor Toseland is known internationally for his seminal scholarship in the field of Gerontology. His research has reframed the ways in which scholars and practitioners think about social work group interventions and social services for the elderly, and their caregivers. He has authored seven books and more than 100 book chapters and journal articles. An Introduction to Group Work Practice, now in its 7th edition, is widely regarded as the most reliable and important textbook on the subject. Many of his books have been translated into other languages, and he is often invited to collaborate and lecture in other countries. His research has attracted more than $10 million in grants from federal, state and private sponsors. He was recently one of the several inaugural Fellows to be inducted into the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. He is also a valued teacher and mentor at the University at Albany, as well as a dedicated campus leader and citizen. Venugopal Govindaraju � Professor Govindaraju is a world-renowned expert in pattern recognition and biometrics. Dr. Govindaraju�s research and innovations have had a level of practicality that is virtually unparalleled in academia. His handwriting recognition techniques are scalable across languages, document types and applications; and have been adapted and licensed to the United States Postal Service, the Australia Post and the United Kingdom�s Royal Mail. Professor Govindaraju is a Fellow of highly selective, prestigious societies such as ACM and IEEE, and has received numerous international honors, including the 2010 IEEE Technical Achievement Award. His publications record comprises over 300 refereed works, and he is a highly sought-after speaker. He also has an extraordinary record of funding, and has been an investigator on over $55 million of research funding from federal, state and industry-based sources. He has tremendous potential for continued success, and the university is proud of his pioneering contributions to Computer Science. Mark Aronoff � Professor Aronoff is a distinguished leader in the field of Linguistics. He is often referred to as the �father of morphology,� because he almost single-handedly created the field of morphology within the Chomskyan framework, arguing that morphology (the study of the internal structure of words) involves more than just the interaction of syntax and phonology, as had previously been thought. He makes this argument in his MIT dissertation, later published as Word Formation in Generative Grammar, 1976. His research since then has continued to bolster this position through books such as Morphology by Itself, 1994, the edited book Morphology Now, 1992, and the textbook What is Morphology?, 2004 (with Kirsten Fudeman). In recent years, Professor Aronoff has been one member of a team of four linguists studying an emerging Bedouin sign language. This important work sheds light on how languages begin and thus, also on how language intersects with human cognition. Professor Arnonoff has served the profession of Linguistics in many capacities, most prominently as editor of Language, the journal of the Linguistic Society of America, and as the Society�s President. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the Linguistic Society of America, among many other honors. It is my pleasure to present the three faculty members named in this resolution to the Board of Trustees for its approval. A copy of the President�s letter for each professor is attached. The letter highlights the individual�s major career achievements, and provides the campus rationale for recommending appointment. The full dossier is available in the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Attachments 2 -2- Board Resolution November 17, 2010