#SUNY Geneseo Environmental Science

[9jacompass]

Geneseo State University of New York Merit Scholarships For International Students - Apply Now

Geneseo State University of New York Merit Scholarships For International Students – Apply Now

Applications are currently invited from interested and suitably qualified students for Geneseo State University of New York Merit scholarships for International Students who wish to start their academic program at the University for 2023-2024 academic session. For the 2023-24 academic year, SUNY Geneseo has increased funding to merit scholarships. New students who have been admitted to Geneseo…

[fredenglish]

Michael Sheehan

What’s up, #FeatureFriday fans? Today, we talked to Michael Sheehan -- SUNY Fredonia’s newest professor -- about his career, his views on genre, and his hopes for the future of Fredonia!

1. Talk a little bit about your career leading up to SUNY Fredonia.

Well, my career began as a SUNY undergraduate, studying creative writing at Geneseo. As a freshman, I knew I wanted to be a writer but hadn't really been exposed to writing, had never taken (or heard of) a workshop course. I didn't really know creative writing was an option until college. Then after Geneseo, I got a Master's degree in the St. John's College Great Books Program in Santa Fe, New Mexico, both because I felt there were big gaps in my reading and knowledge, which I felt I would need to fill in to be a writer, and also because I wanted to live in the southwest. I stayed in the southwest for six years, in Santa Fe and then in Tucson, Arizona, for my MFA. After all that time in the heat, I moved to Madison, Wisconsin, for a fellowship and then to DC before heading back to the heat (and humidity) for a chance to teach creative writing in the BFA program at Stephen F. Austin. So, I've spent a lot of time in creative writing classrooms, but also a good bit of time working outside creative writing as a tutor, a technical writer, and as an editor. But ever since the first creative writing class I took as an undergraduate, I've known this is what I want to do and where I want to be. 

 2. What originally drew you to SUNY Fredonia as an institution?

I grew up in Western New York, so, for one thing, it feels like a sort of homecoming. Not one I'd expected when I left years ago for the desert, but one I'm very excited about. But beyond that, a lot about SUNY Fredonia as an institution feels familiar to me in the best sense: the place, the size, the students. My background is fiction but I have more recently been writing creative nonfiction and have taught poetry and multigenre classes, so I'm drawn to the program for its opportunities to teach across genres. I also have a lot of experience working with literary magazines like The Trident and with reading series and am really looking forward to contributing to both at Fredonia. I'm also excited about the opportunity to help the creative writing program grow and to consider its future.

 3. What are you hoping to achieve as an educator at SUNY Fredonia?

Lots of things, many of which I think I will discover as I go. But mainly I'm hoping to help expand the creative writing program and help make it a destination within the region and the larger SUNY system. Fredonia has such a great foundation already that I think there is a lot of potential to provide more for students interested in creative writing and draw in new students. I also want to find ways to connect creative writing to technology and professional skills but without losing the sense of it as an art. I think too often people see a disconnect between creative disciplines and career qualifications, and sometimes I think we view the art of writing as divorced from twenty-first-century media. But I think there is a lot of possibility to push the boundaries of the art by exploring how it fits into our contemporary modes of communication.  

 4. Do you have any advice for students who may be just entering into university?

It's hard to say what advice will serve all students entering the university, but I guess I'd just say: take your time. When you first get to college, there is a lot to learn about how the university works even before you really focus in your own discipline. You have to also give yourself time to discover what you're really interested in pursuing. To that end, it can be good to take classes early on that might expose you to something you'll want to study more. College should not be a direct career-training program, but should instead be an open intellectual endeavor. This includes self-discovery and opportunities to see the connections across disciplines rather than simply choosing one path and sticking with it. But, that said, it's also okay to enter with a plan and pursue it. Mostly I think just don't mistake the ends for the means: enjoy the experience of learning while it's happening and let it happen.

 5. What do you find most helpful, in your own experience, for effective creative writing?

Practice. I think the most important thing is just doing the work, making writing a part of your daily life. The more you read and write, the better you will become as a writer. Along with developing a writing routine, though, I think it's really important to let it be fun. As a writer, if you're writing what you'd want to read, it will be a better experience and probably better writing. There's a balance you have to strive for between doing the thing you love (which should be fun) and also really committing to the work it takes to achieve what you're aiming for (which can be hard and take time). The fun should hopefully include discovery, being open to the unknown. The essayist Naomi Kimbell says, "Write bravely," and I Iove that. Write a lot, take risks, allow the possibility of failure, welcome the possibility of unexpected success. 

 6. Do you have any specific genres that interest you as a writer? As an educator?

I've become much more interested in writing creative nonfiction, especially the lyric essay, in the past few years. This actually came out of a class I taught. I had been interested in teaching nonfiction and when I had the chance, one of the assignments was an experiential essay, for which students had to do research like attending an event, interviewing subjects, and reading relevant sources. I did this assignment, too, by going to the trial of a local environmental activist, and I basically fell in love with what the essay form could do. I started reading a lot more nonfiction and have taught more classes and written more essays. I've also been interested in writing and reading fiction that incorporates elements of science fiction. As an educator, I'm also really interested in fusions of creative writing and new media, including interactive essays and graphic memoirs, as well as the use of narrative craft for audio and video stories. So much of the information we take in on a daily basis connects text and image or connects one story or perspective to a wider vantage point. Some of the earliest storytellers wove narratives together into a larger whole, like Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Cervantes, or the 1,001 Nights and The Ocean of the Stream of Stories. I think Somadeva's title could serve as a metaphor for the internet as a great body made up of many intermixing streams of information. 

 7. You have an interest in newer, emergent mediums. What benefits do you think that non-prose mediums can give an audience?

First I should say that I love text--and print in particular--as a medium. No objections from me. But I also feel there are areas of exploration that relate to digital media, and ways we can enrich our stories and our stories can enrich our increasingly mediated lives. So, I think part of the interest is finding new ways for creative writing to tell us about us, to make sense of our Instagram-selfie selves, our social media friendships, our globally-connected community. And another part of it is opening up the elements of craft to more media than just the printed word. I don't want printed prose to go away; but digital media allow different types of interaction, different means of navigating narratives, new possibilities. 

 8. Finally: what do you believe is the most important lesson that writing can teach us?

There are a lot of things I think creative writing teaches, so it's hard to pick the most important. I think good writing teaches empathy and helps us understand even those who are not like us, who make choices that are totally opposite the choices we'd make. I think in that way, good writing can teach us that there are others who feel like us, that we are not alone. But I also think creative writing can maybe teach a different lesson. There are so many stories, poems, essays, books written across centuries of human civilization. But they haven't exhausted human experience; when we read something written in 2019, it can still feel new. This isn't because the subject has never been written about before, but instead, the way the subject is written can be newly revealing. And a poem or story or essay can resonate with my experience and show me something, even if it's a poem written six hundred years ago or one I've read many times before. I think there is something really powerful in recognizing universal themes as they exist in particular human moments. It helps us appreciate our shared context while also seeing how each individual is importantly distinct. 

[nypaenergy]

Summer Intern Series

New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) intern program provides top college students with the opportunity to gain broad experience working for the nation’s largest public power organization.

Christopher Hamilton

Christopher Hamilton is entering his senior year at New York City College of Technology. He works as a full time Developmental Intern in the IT Department at NYPA’s headquarters in White Plains, NY.

Hamilton is seeking his bachelor’s degree in Emerging Media. “The reason I chose this degree is because I am very interested in game design and story writing,” says Hamilton. His favorite course so far is Tech Production because “it was the only class where I was able to produce games that my team of friends wanted to create. With all of our skills, we could essentially create anything."

With regard to current industry trends, Hamilton believes we should focus our attention toward renewable energy. He explains how naturally replenished renewable resources lessens the amount of greenhouse gases, which in turn, helps prevent global warming.

“I chose NYPA because the amount of time I will be working will give me valuable experience in a workplace that I lacked. My other goals were to increase communication, listening and IT skills.” In just a few years’ time, Hamilton sees himself creating game ideas and mechanics that are both innovative and fun.

In his spare time, Hamilton loves to play video games, read books/articles and crack jokes.

Alexandra Carey

Alexandra Carey is entering her senior year at Clarkson University. She is a Civil Engineering Intern at NYPA’s office in Niagara.

Carey majors in civil engineering. “I picked civil engineering because of my interests in structures and construction management as well as the challenge it brings.” Her favorite classes so far include Engineering Materials, Geographical Information Systems, Reinforced Concrete Design and Soil Mechanics.

Her goal while interning with NYPA is to get involved in everything that she can and learn about the inner operations and maintenance of a hydroelectric power plant. “I chose NYPA, specifically the Niagara Power Project, because of its massive structures. It is very impressive and just getting to work here has been very rewarding.” In just a few years’ time, she sees herself working in a full time position as a civil engineer.

Carey enjoys spending time outdoors. Her hobbies include camping, hiking, and skiing during the winter months. “I am certified as a professional ski instructor and have been giving ski lessons since I was fifteen.” At school, she enjoys hanging out with friends. She is also an active member of her sorority at which she is currently treasurer.

Orsolya (Renata) Hegyi

Renata Hegyi just graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences and a concentration in Environmental Science. She will be returning to Dartmouth in the fall for another year to complete her Bachelor of Engineering degree, concentrating in Energy Systems. She interns in the Energy Efficiency Department at NYPA’s headquarters in White Plains, NY.   

Hegyi studies Energy Systems Engineering because she finds the energy industry fascinating and plans to “make the world a better place by solving challenging and pressing problems.” Her favorite classes include Energy Conversion and System Dynamics for Policy Change. “Both of these courses had a very interesting, challenging, and fun term project component and excellent professors.”

During her internship with NYPA, her goal is to learn as much as possible about the many aspects of the work of energy engineers and develop professional skills related to energy efficiency design and implementation. “I chose NYPA because of the developmental nature of the intern program and because of NYPA’s commitment to serving the people of New York by moving the utility business progressively into the 21st century with a more sustainable future in mind instead of taking a reactionary stance that discourages progress and innovation.”

The digitalization of the grid with a focus on decentralization and decarbonization are some of the more interesting trends that currently strike Hegyi’s attention. “The deployment of smart grid technologies and the market mechanisms supporting them is bound to change the way electricity is generated, delivered, and used across the world.”

Her most rewarding accomplishment so far has been becoming trilingual. “I only spoke Hungarian until my family moved to the U.S. when I was thirteen.” Now, she is fluent in English and proficient in Spanish. “I discovered that learning new languages opens up whole new worlds and brings valuable perspectives into my life, so I plan to continue learning as many languages as I can and improving my existing skills.”

Molly Higgins

Molly Higgins is a rising senior studying Economics at SUNY Geneseo. She is a Developmental Intern in the Operations Portfolio Management Group at NYPA’s headquarters in White Plains, NY.

Molly chose to major in Economics because the economic-related courses that she took throughout her early undergraduate years were the ones she found most interesting.  A couple of her favorite courses include Environmental Economics and Economics of Sports. She is also an active member in the marketing club at SUNY Geneseo.

During her internship with NYPA, her goal is to develop a better understanding of how a utility operates.” She chose to work at NYPA because “they are the largest utility in the country.” She also adds how NYPA “has a more complex way of operating than most utilities.”

Her most rewarding accomplishment so far is when she travelled to Barcelona for a week with her college field hockey team to volunteer at a care center. “We ran clinics that taught mentally disabled people how to play field hockey.”  

With regard to current energy trends, Molly believes we should focus our attention toward the integration of emerging and innovative technologies into the grid.  

Caitlin McMahon

Caitlin McMahon is a rising sophomore at Union College. She is a Developmental Intern in the Electrical Engineering department at NYPA’s office in St. Lawrence.

McMahon is majoring in Electrical Engineering with a minor in mathematics. “I chose to study Electrical Engineering because it’s heavily based on calculus and physics. My dad encouraged me to major in EE since he also studied it at Union. He’s sparked my interest in the field.” Her favorite class at Union so far is Principles of Electromagnetics.

In terms of current industry trends, McMahon is interested in dissolved gas analysis and how monitoring units have recently become available for use. “It amazes me how they can help predict faults in transformers and set off alarms when certain levels in transformers begin to indicate declining health.”

During her internship with NYPA, her goal is to explore the variety of opportunities in the electrical engineering field and to clarify which direction she plans to go in. “I chose NYPA because it’s a highly respected employer in my hometown where I can grow and gain invaluable experiences.”

Where role models are concerned, McMahon says all of her family members have been heroes to her for various reasons. “They’re selfless and compassionate and make the best out of what life throws at them. Their endless support and encouragement has given me the confidence to set high goals and challenge myself.”

Damir Hodzic

Damir Hodzic is in his second year of his graduate program at Iona College. He is a Developmental Intern in the Information Technology Department at NYPA’s headquarters in White Plains, NY.

He is currently pursuing his degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber Security.  “I chose this major because of my interest in malware and programming.” Regarding his classes, Hodzic prefers those that cover cyber security topics with a focus on intrusion.

When asked about current trends in the energy industry, generating clean sustainable energy that is both cheap for the consumer and safe for the environment is at the top of Hodzic’s list.

During his Internship with NYPA, his goal is to learn as much as possible about the professional side of cyber security.  “I chose NYPA because of the work they were doing and its reputation.” Five years down the road, he sees himself relishing the role of a cyber-security professional with specialties in malware and intrusion.

Where role models are concerned, Hodzic says his father is his hero because he “came to America with nothing and made an amazing life for himself and his family.”