From the Provost

Fall 2007

Once again, I am pleased to introduce a new issue of Hofstra Horizons. I am always proud of the academic excellence and commitment evident in the scholarly work of our faculty. In this issue, I am especially delighted to note our faculty’s dedication to community outreach as well.

It is evident that Hofstra faculty are willing to go beyond the walls of the University to bring their expertise and knowledge to all. We are fortunate to have faculty breaking new ground in their fields and across many disciplines at Hofstra.

In an engaging article, Christopher Matthews and Jenna Coplin expand on their research of 18th- and 19th-century captive Africans on Long Island. Featured on the cover is Jupiter Hammon’s Address to the African Society in 1786. Hammon, a captive African owned by the Lloyd family, is one of the first African-American writers to be published in the United States. The research of Professors Matthews and Coplin at Lloyd Manor in Lloyd Harbor, New York, will provide important historical data from that time period that is pertinent to an understanding of the development of the community.

In an educational piece by Professor Irene Plonczak, we learn about an innovative approach to teaching whereby Professor Plonczak takes her classroom outdoors to connect theoretical lessons with practical applications. This interdisciplinary method evokes lessons for several subjects, including math, science, history and technology.

Professor Sabrina Sobel updates us on her joint research with Dr. Harold Hastings (as well as a number of Hofstra undergraduates and advanced high school students) regarding the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. Their research has gained much acclaim and continues to progress toward groundbreaking heart-related research.

The last article in this issue focuses on the community service work of the Astronomy Outreach Program at Hofstra. As coordinator of the program, Professor Donald Lubowich has been able to expand the program to include on-site visits from surrounding Hempstead middle schools and to bring the astronomy experience to hospitalized children and their families. This program has received grant support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Excellence in teaching and scholarship, together with community outreach, should go hand in hand when considering the overall influence of an institution. At Hofstra, we are fortunate to have a faculty of outstanding teachers and accomplished researchers who also share the University’s commitment to community service.

I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I have, and please join me in applauding the authors for their achievements.

Sincerely,
Herman A. Berliner, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs