President’s Award for Excellence lecture set for Sept. 21

Dr. Holly Lawson will address the university Monday, Sept. 21 as the 2009 recipient of the President's Award for Excellence.

Dr. Holly J. Lawson, a recipient of the 2009 President’s Award for Excellence at SUNY Fredonia, will explore the topic, “New Teaching Spaces: Visions for the Fredonia Science Center and Beyond,” during a lecture on Monday, Sept. 21, at 3 p.m., at the Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall on campus.

Dr. Lawson, a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 1987, earned her Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and her B.S. in Glass Science from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Bristol (U.K.).

She has taught courses which range from general education classes to general and organic chemistry and laboratories, introduction to research, and senior seminar. Dr. Lawson is also the Project Shepherd for the new Fredonia Science Center, the Director of the Science Education Partnership, and is the Program Coordinator for Fredonia’s new Master of Arts in Teaching graduate program in Adolescence Science Education. In addition, she has guided many undergraduate and graduate students through research projects leading to presentations and publications. Her research interests include chromatographic analysis of flavor components in distilled spirits, the synthesis and characterization of novel Ruthenium Fullerene complexes, and student learning through guided inquiry.

In addition to her teaching, research, and scholarship, Dr. Lawson has served on numerous campus committees in a variety of capacities, including chair of the university Planning and Budget Committee. She resides in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Established in 1986, the President’s Award for Excellence is presented each year to a teacher-scholar to recognize innovative and highly effective teaching, and each year that individual presents a lecture to the campus community. SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner will introduce Dr. Lawson.

In addition to Dr. Lawson, 2009 President’s Award for Excellence recipients included Michael Bleecher, former associate director of the Office of Admissions, and Deborah McCown, office manager for the Faculty Student Association. The three were honored during the spring at a lunch at the Williams Center during which service awards were also presented to faculty and staff.

A reception will follow Dr. Lawson’s lecture, which is free and open to the public.