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“Students who are most successful at CNR are those
who are willing to
make the extra effort to learn. I don’t mean just studying for exams
and handing papers in on time. I mean students who seize opportunities
to learn beyond the requirements of their classes by attending
conferences and lectures, by getting involved in activities on campus,
by seeking internships and by studying abroad.”
Dr. Faith
Kostel-Hughes
Associate Professor of Biology
School of Arts & Sciences
The College of New Rochelle
B.S., St. Francis College
M.S., Ph.D., Fordham University
Joined CNR: September, 1999
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How was CNR involved in
the recent
Focus the Nation Teach-in on Climate Change?
CNR was one of 1800 colleges nationwide to participate
in the Focus the
Nation Teach-in on Climate Change in January. Our event was certainly
one of the most ambitious for a school of our size. We hosted a 3-day
event that began with a keynote address by the award-winning
environmental reporter of the NY
Times, Andrew Revkin. This was
followed by a day of presentations by faculty, administrators, alumni,
and an evening panel of political leaders.
How were our students
involved with the recent Focus the Nation at CNR?
The third day of our event was a teach-in for 4th and 5th graders from
the New Rochelle area. CNR may be the only college to develop
programming on climate change for elementary school children for the
Focus the Nation event. Our education majors were deeply involved in
leading these activities. Student posters, demonstrations, and
art work
on the theme of climate change were featured at our Student Showcase.
Why is it so important for
women to pursue science-related careers?
We live in a society that is
increasingly dependent on science and we
will need more trained professionals to continue to advance our
scientific knowledge. We need to encourage everyone with a real
interest in science to pursue it, especially women since they currently
make up more than half of all college students in the U.S. It is also a
time of enormous career possibilities for those with degrees in the
sciences and women should take advantage of this. And science is fun!
What sort of student is
most successful at the College?
Students who are most successful at CNR are those who
are willing to
make the extra effort to learn. I don’t mean just studying for exams
and handing papers in on time. I mean students who seize opportunities
to learn beyond the requirements of their classes by attending
conferences and lectures, by getting involved in activities on campus,
by seeking internships and by studying abroad. This takes initiative,
but it also takes an attitude that just about any experience is an
opportunity to learn. These students also tend to be among our
strongest leaders on campus, creating opportunities for themselves and
others.
Can you describe some of
the opportunities available
to science students outside the classroom?
Many of our science majors do
internships, mostly during the summer.
Some have gotten highly competitive internships at such renowned
institutions/agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency,
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine,
Harvard School of Public Health, the National Institutes of Health, to
name a few. The faculty strongly encourages internship experiences and
provides a great deal of guidance to students seeking internships.
Our science students are also
active in student clubs on campus
including the Science and Math Society and the environmental club,
Women in Lasting Defense of the Environment (WILDE). These clubs
organize alumnae panels, host movie nights and other campus events such
as the Earth Day Game Show, conduct fundraisers, and go on field
trips. These are wonderful opportunities for students to become
leaders on campus.
Where do your graduates go after leaving CNR?
Most students in biology
and/or environmental studies have gone on to
graduate schools including M.S. and Ph.D. programs or professional
schools such as medical school, physical therapy, or other
health-related programs. Some of our students get positions as lab or
field technicians, assisting in research. Most of them stay in touch
with faculty, which is great. We invite a few each year to share their
career experiences with our current students. These alumnae panels are
a great opportunity for everyone involved. This year we had one student
describe her MS program in environmental science and policy. Another
described her work as a research technician in genetics at Rockefeller
University.
From your experience here
at CNR, what do you think
makes the School of Arts & Sciences a special place?
The faculty and
administrators of the School of Arts & Sciences are
extremely committed to our students. Our students are our top priority.
That may seem strange to say but students are not necessarily the top
priority in all colleges. In many cases, students compete with
research, grant writing, and publishing for faculty attention in
colleges. In SAS, our faculty are active scholars and professionals in
our field while still keeping our focus on our students. In fact,
faculty make efforts to involve students in these scholarly activities
as much as possible. This is to the advantage of faculty and students,
alike.
For more information about CNR's participation in Focus The Nation click here.
