Empire State College

College Displays Its 

Presence at 2006 

Olympic Games

We are always saying that Empire State 

College is everywhere. The 2006 Winter 

Olympic Games were no exception. 

Tony Benshoof, a current student of the 

Center for Distance Learning, placed 

fourth in this year’s men’s singles luge 

event. Benshoof has been a member of 

U.S.A. Luge’s National Team for 15 years 

and also competed in the 2002 Winter 

Olympics. At this time, Benshoof is 

considered the number one men’s singles 

luger in the United States and holds the 

world record for the fastest luge speed 

at 86.8 mph. While he claims that there 

have been unoffi cial speeds that have 

exceeded 90 mph, he holds the offi cial 

fastest speed. He has secured 18 inter-

national medals and is on his way to 

becoming the top men’s singles medal 

winner of all time. When Benshoof is not 

competing or training for luge, he enjoys 

waterskiing, motorcycling, and playing 

both the piano and guitar. Currently, he 

is working with his mentor, Ian Jacobs, 

towards his bachelor’s degree in business, 

management and economics and hopes to 

graduate in the fall of 2006. 

 

This is not the fi rst time that Empire 

State College has had a presence at the 

Olympic Games. In 2002, Erin Porter 

’03 competed on the Olympic short-

track speed skating team. Short-track 

speed skating in contrast to long-track 

speed skating, has shorter straight-aways, 

sharper corners, and a lineup of up to 

six skaters racing towards the fi nish 

line. In 1997, Porter had earned a gold 

medal in the National Championships. In 

2003, Erin graduated from Empire State 

College with her bachelor’s degree in 

human development from the Center for 

Distance Learning. 

Current student Tony Benshoof is considered the number one men’s singles luger in the 

United States and holds the world record for the fastest luge speed.

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College Building 

Receives Design Award 

T

he Eastern New York Chapter 

of the American Institute of 

Architects (AIA), has selected 

the renovation of Empire State College’s 

111 West Avenue building in Saratoga 

Springs for a 2005 Merit Award. Noting 

that vacant box stores have become 

a blight of many communities, the 

award recognized the renovation for 

its “intriguing level of cleverness in the 

adaptive use and social responsibility” 

of turning a vacant 50,000-square-foot 

former Grand Union grocery store into 

a working space for college offi ces and 

programs, helping to revitalize a neigh-

borhood. The citation playfully called 

this “thinking inside the box.”

The building was designed by JMZ 

Architects and Planners, P.C., of 

Glens Falls. The Empire State College 

Foundation purchased the parcel for 

$2.15 million in March 2003, and 

completed a $3.5 million renovation 

on the property the following year. It 

opened in June 2004.

 The 

offi ces and programs that were 

relocated include the college’s printing, 

bookstore, mailroom and distribution 

operations, (which were able to make 

use of the existing loading dock); the 

college’s Saratoga learning location; 

the Center for Distance Learning; and 

student fi nancial services, business 

services, admissions, academic records 

and assessment. The Academy for 

Learning in Retirement, a program 

aimed at lifelong learning for senior 

citizens, also relocated. 

 

The AIA jury noted that Kristen 

Schmitt, the project architect, 

“responded to the challenge by creating 

an open cityscape within the building. 

Departments were clustered around 

sky-lit intersections that punctuate the 

circulation paths.” The skylights, which 

bring natural light into the building, are 

accented with fabric skirts. The building 

also is green – featuring a geothermal 

heating and cooling system. The group 

noted that this further reduced the 

“modest construction cost of $70 per 

square foot.”

Adirondack Residency 

Celebrates 10th Year

 

Every year, about 35 Empire 

State College students come from 

across the state, board a boat to 

cross Raquette Lake, and converge at 

Camp Huntington, a national historic 

landmark owned by SUNY Cortland 

in the Adirondack Park. They come to 

attend the Environmental/Adirondack 

Studies Residency, entering its 10th year 

this fall. According to Wayne Ouderkirk 

and Elaine Handley, two of the faculty 

coordinators of the residency, it is the 

longest continuously running residency 

in the college. 

 

This year, the theme is Ecological 

Living: Planning for Alternate Futures. 

Students will be able to choose a course 

from eight offered at the residency: 

Environmental History of the 20th 

Century; Ecopsychology; Out Among 

the Basic Shapes: Finding Form and 

Structure in the Wilds; Environmental 

Science; Plants and Society; Root, Word 

and Ritual; Nature in American History; 

and Microeconomics and Environmental 

Policy. During the residency, students 

meet in study groups – twice in plenary 

sessions on the residency theme, run 

by Robin Voetterl, a mentor with the 

M.A.T. program; go on fi eld walks; 

a historical tour of the camp; attend 

lectures; and enjoy evening entertain-

ment with folklorist Bill Smith who 

will present Songs and Tales of the 

Adirondacks. Those who choose to 

also can attend optional pre-residency 

sessions October 9: Environmental Field 

Observation and Writing About Nature.

 The 

Environmental/Adirondack 

Residency draws both students who are 

focusing on environmental studies as 

their academic concentration, and others 

who are just interested in environmental 

issues, and want to take a course that 

focuses on them, as well as be around 

people who share their concerns. 

Interested students can learn more at 

www.esc.edu/Adirondackres.

 

It all began as an offshoot of an 

annual faculty retreat held at the same 

camp. When it was decided not to 

continue the retreat, a few who enjoyed 

the getaway and the rustic surround-

ings began to think of ways they could 

continue the experience, but open it 

up to their students. In 1996, several 

mentors, including Ouderkirk, Handley, 

Dora Ingofsdottir and Chris Evans 

(now retired), who went on to coordi-

nate the yearly residency, got together 

at the camp to begin to hammer out a 

plan. The following October, the fi rst 

33 students enrolled. Enrollment has 

been steady ever since, seeing a dip only 

when the college instituted the SUNY 

general education requirements. Last 

year, for the fi rst time, all of the courses 

offered were designed to fi ll these 

gen. ed. requirements, and enrollment 

rebounded.

 

Falling in October, the weather at 

the residencies has been variable. One 

residency was particularly memorable 

because of a soft early snowfall, said 

Ouderkirk. “It was really beautiful – this 

was the fi rst or second week in October. 

The next day was one of those crystal 

clear days and the colors were brilliant.” 

 

“We’ve had snow and days we’ve 

been out in shorts,” added Handley. 

 

Another time, in an effort to raise 

money to give as a donation to the 

camp, participants dared Ouderkirk to 

jump in the frosty waters of the lake one 

evening. He did, and a record donation 

was gathered.

 

Besides the wide array of academic  

offerings, Handley explained that the 

appeal is “that it really is a retreat from 

our every day life. There is a sense of 

community – food is served family style, 

we take turns preparing for meals and 

cleaning up, and we have dormitory 

living.” She added, “It’s rustic, but it’s 

not camping.” 

m

Center News

A R O U N D

 

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NORTHEAST CENTER

Women’s Networking 

Luncheon a Success

M

arcia J. White, executive 

director of the Saratoga 

Springs Performing Arts 

Center (SPAC), was the keynote speaker 

at Empire State College’s Northeast 

Center Women’s Networking Luncheon 

last fall. White took the reins of the 

renowned performing arts center a year 

ago to try to put it on the right track 

after it was beset by fi nancial and leader-

ship troubles.

 

About 75 women turned out to meet, 

mingle, network, and to hear White’s 

speech.

 

White had been press secretary to 

New York State Senate Majority Leader 

Joseph L. Bruno since 1994, and a 

top advisor on state issues, policy and 

budgetary matters, and communications 

strategies. 

 

White came to SPAC as the orga-

nization began crucial fundraising, 

marketing, program planning and gover-

nance activities and changes. The former 

nurse talked to the women gathered for 

the luncheon at the Northeast Center 

about being a working mother and 

returning adult student, and some of the 

challenges that women face in the work-

force.

   “I doubt anyone in this room is 

conventional,” she told them. “We have 

been able to fi nd success because we 

have juggled family, work, our school 

and our classes. Women have an inner 

strength,” she said. “We get it done.” 

She recalled touring Ground Zero a few 

days after 9/11 with Senator Bruno, and 

said that at times of crisis, “women have 

a powerfully calming effect. People look 

to us for guidance and leadership.” She 

noted she was the only woman among 

four males that day – then-Mayor 

Rudolph Giuliani, former police commis-

sioner Bernard Kerik, Gov. George 

Pataki and Bruno. 

 

White lauded the women for being 

able to complete their educations. 

“Education creates confi dence; you 

develop a new interest, and a different 

way of viewing the world.”

 

SPAC celebrates its 40th season 

this year. She said that attendance was 

up seven percent and sales were up by 

fi ve percent. But, “if there’s one thing 

I learned from the political world, it’s 

that you cannot rest on your laurels.” 

She spoke about how SPAC had hired a 

marketing group to promote and brand 

SPAC , and design a new logo. “Its name 

benefi ts this region’s economy and way 

of life.”

 

Maureen Winney, director of alumni 

and student affairs at Empire State 

College, said, “We started this event in 

New York City and it was apparent that 

our alumnae truly enjoyed the oppor-

tunity to meet and network with each 

other. Clearly, alumnae in the Capital 

District feel the same.”

GENESEE VALLEY CENTER

Jonathan Franz Named 

GVC Dean

 

Empire State College has appointed 

Jonathan R. Franz as dean of its Genesee 

Valley Center in Rochester. 

 

He replaces Dean Robert P. Milton, 

who was promoted to vice president for 

enrollment management in July 2005. 

Most recently, Kenneth Cohen served as 

interim dean.

 

Dr. Franz was provost and academic 

vice president at Tusculum College, in 

Greenville, Tenn. Prior to that, he was 

vice president for academic affairs and 

professor of psychology at Newberry 

College, in Newberry, South Carolina. 

He also held a number of other 

Attendees at the luncheon pose with Marcia J. White (center), NEC Dean Carol Zajac 

(second from right), and Beth Chiquoine (far right), representing her husband, President 

Joseph Moore.

Jonathan Franz

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C e n t e r   N e w s

academic posts at St. Andrews College, 

in Laurinburg, North Carolina, including 

dean of students, associate dean for 

faculty development, and special assis-

tant to the vice president for academic 

affairs. In addition, he has been 

instructor or professor of psychology at 

several institutions.

 

Joyce Elliott, college provost and vice 

president for academic affairs, said, “Dr. 

Franz brings to the college an excellent 

academic and administrative back-

ground, a strong commitment to student 

service, and an open, collaborative style. 

He is a wonderful addition to our lead-

ership team.” 

 

Said Franz: “I am very pleased to join 

Empire State College as the dean of the 

Genesee Valley Center. I look forward 

to participating in the exciting changes 

underway at the college to better serve 

the educational needs of adult students 

in the Genesee Valley region and across 

the state.”

 

Franz earned his Ph.D. in biopsy-

chology from the State University of 

New York at Buffalo, and his Bachelor 

of Arts degree in psychology at Hiram 

College in Ohio.

 

As dean Genesee Valley Center, 

Franz will be responsible for enroll-

ment management, budget development, 

faculty evaluation and supervision of 

all center personnel. He also will work 

toward promoting diversity among 

students and faculty and integrating 

learning technologies into the academic 

program. As a member of the college’s 

President’s Council, he will participate 

in long-range planning and the overall 

administration of the college.

 

Among his honors and awards, 

Franz is a member of the Hiram College 

Alpha Society, Phi Beta Kappa and of 

the Newberry College Bachman Honor 

Society. He has published widely in 

peer-reviewed journals and presented 

numerous papers on a variety of issues.

CENTER FOR 

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Carol Batker Named 

M.A.T. Program 

Director

 

Empire State College has appointed 

Carol Batker as associate dean and 

director of its Master of Arts in Teaching 

Program, which offers an innova-

tive model for addressing the teacher 

shortage in high-need schools. In this 

position, Dr. Batker will forge collabora-

tions with partner schools, and continue 

building an exceptional faculty and 

implementing a complex curriculum for 

the program, which is in its second year. 

 

“I am delighted to join such a 

talented group of faculty, staff and 

students, who are making a difference in 

high-need schools across the state,” said 

Batker. 

 

Batker has a wide range of teaching 

experience focusing on multicultural 

literature and women. Most recently, 

she was a visiting associate professor 

at Skidmore College in Saratoga 

Springs, teaching online and traditional 

undergraduate courses in the English 

Department. Prior to that, she was an 

associate professor of English at The 

Florida State University, in Tallahassee, 

Florida. She also was visiting assistant 

professor at Boston College in Chestnut 

Hill, and a teaching assistant at the 

University Massachusetts, Amherst.

 

Batker also was recently director 

of research, Center for Women in 

Government and Civil Society, working 

with the Liberty Partnership Program 

(2005), which assists students at risk of 

leaving high school in the Albany area, 

and Voices for Change, which helps 

immigrant populations access public 

services. She has been upstate coordi-

nator for the New York State Pay Equity 

Coalition and acting director of Holding 

Our Own, A Women’s Fund. 

 Her 

book, 

Reforming Fictions: 

Native, African, and Jewish American 

Women’s Literature and Journalism in 

the Progressive Era, was published by 

Columbia University Press in October 

2000. She has also contributed articles 

and book chapters, as well as making 

numerous presentations at conference 

and invited lectures.

 

Batker earned both her Ph.D. and 

M.A. in English at the University of 

Massachusetts, Amherst; and her 

bachelor’s degree in English and 

communications from Pacifi c Lutheran 

University.

COORDINATING CENTER

Laure-Jeanne Davignon was appointed 

assistant director of alumni and student 

relations for Empire State College in 

January of 2006. Prior to that, she was 

with the Research Foundation of SUNY 

in Albany where she oversaw statewide 

educational programs for alumni and 

development staff and volunteers, as 

well as the establishment of “All SUNY” 

alumni events in cities throughout the 

U.S. She also laid the groundwork 

for and managed the SUNY Spring 

Campaign, the annual employee appeal 

at SUNY System Administration and the 

Research Foundation, and implementa-

tion of the statewide charitable payroll 

deduction program for the SUNY 

campuses.

 

Prior to her tenure at the Research 

Foundation, Ms. Davignon worked in 

college admissions and academic coun-

seling for Strayer University in Virginia. 

Davignon holds a B.A. in geological 

sciences from SUNY Geneseo.

Marna S. Redding was appointed 

assistant director of annual giving for 

Empire State College in January of 

Laure-Jeanne Davignon

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13

F

our students from the college’s 

Center for International Programs 

in Prague have won a major 

business competition sponsored by the 

international accounting giant KPMG. 

The four students, Tomas Kubica, 

Alexander Raiman, Peter Turner and 

Tomas Valach presented the winning 

case during the national fi nals on 

February 20 at the KPMG offi ces in 

Prague, representing the Czech Republic. 

 

All of the students (except Alexander 

Raiman, who will enter in the fall) are 

enrolled in Empire State College through 

its partnership with the University of 

New York in Prague.

 

Eighteen teams applied to the 

national fi nals, and KPMG selected six 

from among them. The Empire State 

College/New York University at Prague 

team competed against fi ve other teams. 

The teams were divided into two groups, 

and the winners from the two groups 

competed against each other. During the 

full-day competition, the teams had to 

solve two business cases. The teams each 

had three hours for preparation and 20 

minutes for presentation, followed by 10 

minutes of Q and A. The world fi nals 

took place in Lisbon, Portugal in April.

 

“Empire State College students in 

Prague fi nd that they have a wonderful 

opportunity to test their knowledge and 

skills on an international platform,” 

said Evelyn Wells, academic program 

coordinator for the Prague location. 

“They learn and study with students 

and faculty from over 55 countries, 

including the United States and Canada. 

Our four bright winners of this competi-

tion are a refl ection of the excellence in 

education that is found here in Prague. 

These young men were drawn together 

to pit their knowledge against others in 

a highly competitive environment and 

came out winners. We are extremely 

proud of them and wish them well as 

they prepare to represent the Czech 

Republic in the fi nals.”

 

According to the KPMG web site, the 

case competition gives an opportunity 

for students to show they have what it 

takes to succeed in business. The teams 

solve real business problems, and have 

the opportunity to showcase their skills 

in competition with some of the best and 

brightest minds in Europe. According 

to the rules, a team of four needs to be 

from the same university and to have a 

strong interest in business and communi-

cations. 

2006. Redding comes from St. Lawrence 

University in Canton, NY where she 

served as the associate director of co-

curricular education and programming 

for the past three and a half years. In 

this role, she was responsible for direct 

oversight of the fraternity and sorority 

system along with planning major 

campus events such as orientation and 

family weekend. 

 

Directly prior to her time at St. 

Lawrence University, Redding received 

her Master of Science in college student 

personnel from Miami University (OH) 

where she served for two years as the 

graduate assistant in the Offi ce of 

Development and was responsible for 

the phonathon program on campus.

Redding earned her Bachelor of Arts 

degree in psychology from Gettysburg 

College, Pennsylvania.

Marna Redding