2009 FCSM BUSINESS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Our recipient of the Business and Community Outreach Award earned bachelor and doctoral degrees from universities that span the breadth of the United States. Before joining the faculty at Towson, this faculty member worked in locations on both coasts and places in-between, and somehow managed to sandwich in a two-year Post-Doc Fellowship. Being the first one hired in his area of expertise, this person has been called upon and has answered the call to coordinate this program of study and to mentor newer members as they joined the faculty in this specialty.
While good teaching – an Honors College Teacher of the Year, and successful grant writing – four grants since arriving on campus, are part of our recipient’s repertoire; exceptional outreach efforts are the focus in all of the nomination letters. I always try to write these introductions so that the name of the person will not be obvious until near the end, in this case I cannot avoid using one word which will immediately identify our awardee – Watson-King Planetarium – well that was actually two words.
Since coming to Towson in 2000, Professor S has coordinated the monthly planetarium shows open to the community, and has personally presented about 40% of them. The annual “What Was the Christmas Star” is among the most popular presentations.
Other efforts reach out both near and far. This person is always available to give lectures and demonstrations in colleagues’ classes, and eagerly makes presentations to campus groups such as the Hillel, TOPS and Building Steps programs. He is actively involved in Project ASTRO which is an outreach program impacting many Baltimore Public School elementary and middle school children. When not personally involved, Professor S has trained other faculty on the use of the portable planetarium and Sun-spotter telescope.
As the prime mover behind the renovation and upgrade of the planetarium and the telescope, I have heard that our awardee has been seen with paint brush in hand making sure the progress is sure and steady.
Join me in congratulating Dr. Alex Storrs of the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences as our recipient of the 2009 Business and Community Outreach Award.
(As presented at the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Forum on October 30, 2009.)
The Jess and Mildred Fisher
College of Science and Mathematics
Smith Hall, Room 312 (campus map)
Phone: 410-704-2121
Fax: 410-704-2604
E-mail: fcsm@towson.edu
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