[gallery] Academy of Retired Professors Hosts Spring Luncheon

The Academy of Retired Professors (ARP) at the College of Staten Island recently held its annual Spring Luncheon, attracting a record number of enthusiastic attendees.

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The event began with greetings from ARP Co-Chair Dr. Irene Deitch, who also introduced College President Dr. Tomas D. Morales.

In his remarks, Dr. Morales recognized the presence of Rose Volpe, the wife of President Emeritus the late Dr. Edmund Volpe, and Helen Birenbaum, wife of  William Birenbaum, former President Emeritus of Staten Island Community College. After recounting his vision for re-engaging CSI’s faculty emeriti, which led to the formation of ARP, he noted that 2010-2011 had been a banner year for CSI in student achievement, including the College’s first Goldwater Scholar and another Goldwater honorable mention; the acceptance of a Teacher Education Honors Academy student into NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program; the tenth year of the Undergraduate Research Conference, which was visited by CUNY Chancellor Dr. Matthew Goldstein; and the largest Macaulay Honors College cohort, which will be welcomed to campus this fall. The President also mentioned highlights that included the inclusion of Dr. Michal Kruk in Thomson Reuter’s list of the Top 100 Chemists, 2000-2010 and the inauguration of the Phi Beta Delta International Honors Society.

After Dr. Morales’s comments and Dr. Deitch’s presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation to CSI Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs, Barbara Eshoo, ARP Co-Chair Jim Sanders informed members of ARP’s latest developments, noting that the group’s Steering Committee hopes to organize more activities in the future.

Dr. Deitch then introduced the current ARP Steering Committee Members and Mimi Tausner acknowledged past members of the Committee with Certificates of Appreciation.

Once the presentations concluded, the attendees enjoyed a sumptuous buffet and had the opportunity to catch-up with each other.

After lunch, the attendees each shared their dates of retirement, their department or program, and any other amusing memories during their tenures.

The Academy of Retired Professors has a number of upcoming events, including a reception at Dr. Morales’s residence for new retirees on September 20, visit and curator talk  at the Alice Austen House and Museum plus lunch at a local trattoria on October 21, and a Backstage at the Ballet event, which is yet to be scheduled.

For more information, contact Dr. Deitch at profid@aol.com.