Science Center Campaign Passes $3-Million Mark
The campaign to raise $4 million for Keene State’s new Science Center has reached three-quarters of its goal, thanks to gifts, large and small, from businesses, foundations, members of the College community, and other private individuals.

Among recent gifts to the campaign were:

• $500,000 from Markem Corporation of Keene and the Putnam Foundation for a high-technology lecture hall;
• $100,000 from the Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, to fund instructional and meeting space in the chemistry complex;
• $100,000 from J.A. Wright & Co. of Keene and the Wright Fund to support a teaching laboratory for genetics, developmental biology, and microbiology; and
• $50,000 from the Kingsbury Fund for the Computer Science Department’s iSeries laboratory.

The goal of the effort is $4 million, the difference between the $19 million provided by the N.H. Legislature and the building’s $23-million price tag. The Legislature’s contribution came as part of the initiative KEEP-NH, the Knowledge Economy Education Plan, created to upgrade science and technology facilities on campuses of the University System of New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.keene.edu/science.

Honoring New Hampshire Women
Every March, in honor of Women's History Month, Keene State President Stanley J. Yarosewick presents four Outstanding Women of New Hampshire awards, based on recommendations from the President's Commission on the Status of Women. Representing the KSC student body this spring was Eliza Sieswerda, an English and sociology major from Peterborough, who received the award for leadership in programs designed to help prevent violence toward women. Maria Dintino, associate director of KSC's Aspire Program, received the award for a faculty or staff member, in part for her role in recruiting many first-generation and low-income students and helping them succeed. Among other accomplishments has been her work in programs to foster a healthy environment for women at the College. Receiving the award for a woman from the Monadnock region was Ruth Ewing. Acquiring part ownership of the Keene Sentinel in 1954 with her husband James D. Ewing, she also began an ambitious career as a community and state leader in many areas, including public health, education, and family assistance. She has served both as president of the Keene League of Women Voters and director of the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire. Representing the state of New Hampshire was Valerie Cunningham, historian and community leader of Portsmouth, who has spent more than 30 years researching and writing about New Hampshire's black history. She is the founder of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, a self-guided tour of more than 40 sites revealing three centuries of African-American history.

Nona Fienberg Appointed Dean of A&H
Nona Fienberg, professor of English, has been appointed dean of Arts and Humanities at Keene State. Dr. Fienberg, who served as interim dean for the 2003-04 academic year, will begin her appointment on July 14.

Dr. Fienberg began working at KSC in 1991. She earned her honor bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. At Keene State, she served as chair of the Department of English for eight years, helped to create the Holocaust Studies minor, and has participated in the activities of the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies since its inception. She has also had a long-time involvement in the Women's Studies minor.

Dr. Fienberg has published widely in the field of Renaissance studies, with a particular interest in Shakespeare and in Renaissance women writers. She is the author of Elizabeth, Her Poets, and the Creation of the Courtly Manner.

An Atlas for the Children
Schoolchildren in New Hampshire now have their own state atlas. Some even helped make it.

The New Hampshire Atlas, published in late March, was the brainchild of Klaus Bayr, professor of geography. Dr. Bayr, who teaches cartography, collaborated with his students and consulted with fourth graders and their teachers at Wheelock School in Keene during the production process, which began two years ago.

The atlas is in line with New Hampshire curriculum standards for fourth grade, said Dr. Bayr. He expects that the atlas will also be popular with children and teachers from other grades.

Dr. Bayr enlisted the help of several students from his cartography classes on the project. Together, they drew more than 100 maps for the atlas, using computer illustration programs. About 25 maps, representing New Hampshire landform regions, rivers and watersheds, Native American tribes, early industries, agriculture, transportation, population, and diversity are included in the 28-page atlas.

The New Hampshire Atlas costs $7 and is available from the N.H. Geographic Alliance at Keene State by calling 603-358-2508 or e-mailing arydant@keene.edu.

What Happened to Spring?

Whether or not you're a librarian cataloging this magazine, you may suspect that Keene State Today has jumped from winter directly to summer. You're right. Not having caught up with the schedule that slipped a year ago, we have decided to recognize that it is almost summer as we put this issue together, and so, as the black flies swarm, we're catching up with the stroke of a pen. This issue does include all the Class Notes in hand. Meanwhile, we're putting Class Notes online in advance of the print edition so that your news will be more current for those who visit us on the web. Go to www.keene.edu/kst and click "New Class Notes" at the left.