Upcoming Alumni Events

• December 2011
• January 2012
• February 2012
• April 2012
  

Superintendent of the Year

Theresa J. Pollifrone-Sinatra, right, (M.E. '73), Superintendent, Metuchen Public Schools, was selected as the 2012 New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) Central Regional Superintendents of the Year. Under Pollifrone-Sinatra's leadership the district has seen a rebirth in the delivery of instruction for all students. She set the stage for professional standards for teachers by establishing a five year curricular review process. She led the district to national recognition as a pioneer in the area of inclusive education for students with disabilities and her noteworthy work in establishing anti-bullying practices. She is described as a collaborative leader who with her open-door policies throughout the district built a strong foundation of public support for education. She is extremely proud of the recent renovations and upgrades to all four schools. For more information, click here.

International Filmmaker

Mildred Brenner-Pollner (Ed.D. '76), President of Cinema Verite Int'l Inc., former lecturer at Columbia, was in 1993 sent by the U.S. government as a consultant to Russian Educational Television, in Siberia, where she produced educational programming. Pollner says that the most profound of her experiences were her interactions with the Russian people in closed cities - especially as one of the first American women to be there. She has been invited worldwide by a number of governments and companies to lecture, teach and provide her consulting services. This has taken her to the Former Soviet Union, China, Poland, Latin and Central America, Cuba, Europe and Middle East.
For more on Pollner's life and films, please visit her website at www.challengingfilm.com.

Runways to School Days

Christina Soriano (M.A. '07) received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University. Soriano had enthusiastic aspirations to work in fashion and found job in the apparel industry. But after the events of 9/11, she began to have thoughts about pursuing a field where she helped people. She made the transition and is now utilizing her creativity and her passion to help people as aK-5 art teacher at NEST+m: a public NYCDOE citywide gifted and talented school. For more on Soriano's journey from fashion to the classroom, visit A&H website here.

Nursing Haiti
Elise Lev (Ed.D. '86), Associate Professor at Rutgers Newark, conceived of and spearheaded development of a joint twinning project with the Rutgers University, College of Nursing, and Faculty of Nursing Science, in Léogâne, Haiti (FSIL), part of the Episcopal University of Haiti. "What we have created is a unique opportunity to help build the Haitian infrastructure. Both parts will consist of the first on-site and on-line nursing program offered in Haiti. Rutgers will be preparing graduates of FSIL to become faculty members and community health nurses." Participants in the program will complete a Certificate in Nursing Education before beginning a Masters Degree in Community Health Nursing. For more on the program, click here.

Neumann to Serve as ASHE President


Anna Neumann, Professor of Higher Education, has been installed as President of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). ASHE is the leading association in the U.S. for researchers who study higher education in its many forms: teaching and learning, faculty careers and intellectual growth, curriculum, student development and campus life, organization and leadership, public policy, social and cultural environments. As President, Neumann will lead association-wide efforts in research, publication, teaching improvement, development of graduate education, and faculty preparation throughout 2011-12. Click here to read more.


Director Chosen Hechinger Institute

Thomas James, Vice President and Provost of Teachers College, Columbia University, has announced that
Liz Willen, the Interim Director of the Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media at Teachers College, Columbia University, has been promoted to the position of Director of the Institute. Willen will remain as Editor of the Hechinger Report, an independent, nonprofit education news service published by the Institute. Click here to read more.

Views on the News

Being TC

Teachers College provides solutions to the world's most challenging questions and we are leaders in effecting change. As a valued member of the TC community, you know the far-reaching impact our work has on our faculty, students and the world at large. Our continued success is dependent on you. Your support of The TC Fund enables us to continue providing the resources we need to develop accomplished scholars, educators, and leaders in years to come.

Please act now and make a gift online at www.tc.edu/givetotc or call 212-678-4067. Every gift counts!

Plan Ahead for Year-End Giving to the Annual Fund

You can help both Teachers College and yourself by making a charitable contribution before December 31. Cash and securities are deductible charitable contributions. If you give a gift of appreciated securities that you have held for longer than one year, you can deduct the full fair market value on your 2011 tax return and avoid capital gains tax.

If you wish to give a gift of appreciated securities or mutual fund shares, contact your investment advisor soon to be sure your gift is completed by December 31. You can also use appreciated securities to establish a charitable gift annuity with Teachers College that will provide you with a fixed income for life, as well as a charitable deduction.

If we can be of any assistance as you plan a gift of stock, please see the stock transfer instructions on our giving web pages at www.tc.edu/supporttc or contact Mark Lee at 212-678-3411. Please note that a stock transfer can take up to seven business days to complete, so remember to plan early.

Did You Know That You Can Give to the Annual Fund with the Funds From Your IRA?
The Pension Protection Act, which was just renewed by Congress, provides for tax-free gifts to charities made directly from one's Individual Retirement Account (IRA). To take advantage of this opportunity, the following must occur:
• You must be 70 ½ or older and required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA account
• You transfer funds directly from an IRA or Rollover IRA with the help of your plan administrator. 401ks and 403Bs are not eligible giving vehicles.
• The gifts are not more than $100,000 in total
• You make the gift to a charity like Teachers College

Please note that these gifts cannot be used to establish a charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder trust and these gifts are not eligible for a charitable deduction. For more information, please visit the giving pages on our web site at www.tc.edu/supporttc or call the office of Development and External Affairs at 212-678-3723.

Informational Sessions
The Office of Admission is hosting information sessions to speak with prospective students about the TC experience and the admission process. We may be coming to your neighborhood and extend an invitation to alumni if you would like to take part in these sessions to share your TC experience and give an alumni perspective. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Deanna Ghozati, Associate Director of Admission, at dg2117@columbia.edu.


Thursday, December 15
Executive Masters Program in Change Leadership (online)

Alumni Publications
To read about our TC authors, please click on the links below.

Wounded by Reality: Understanding and Treating Adult Onset Trauma by Ghislaine Boulanger
(Ph.D. '81)

Struggle For Power The Longest School Strike In NY State History
by Leon Bock (Ed.D. '71) and Thomas Kavunedus (M.A. '60)

Out of the Classroom and into the World by
Salvatore Vascellaro (Ed.D. '99)

Power Source Parenting by Bethany Casarjian (Ph.D. '00)

Students Speak
by Abel Fink (Ed.D. '56)

Are you an alumnus or alumna with published works? Send information on your work to tcalumni@tc.edu, subject: Alumni Publications. we can feature you on our bookshelf section.

Gottesman Library

If you are interested in learning about events hosted by the Gottesman Library please visit http://library.tc.columbia.edu/.

Links and news from TC's Departments.

Arts & Humanities

Biobehavioral Sciences

Counseling & Clinical Psychology

Curriculum & Teaching

Education Policy & Social Analysis (Fall 2011)

Health & Behavior Studies

Human Development

International & Transcultural Studies

Mathematics, Science & Technology

Organization & Leadership

Continuing & Professional Studies

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Frequently Asked Questions
Need a new copy of your diploma? Forgot your password? Find the answers to all of these questions and more on our FAQ page. Click here for more.

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Simply visit http://uni.columbia.edu, click on "Forgot Password" and follow the prompts.

Alumni Relations
525 W. 120th Street
Box 306
New York, New York 10027

Phone: (212) 678-3215
Fax: (212) 678-3723
Email: tcalumni@tc.edu
www.tc.edu/alumni

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!
Wishing you and yours a happy holiday. Teachers College Offices will be closed from December 24, 2011 through
January 1, 2012. All the best in 2012.

Alumni Council Nominations Due Dec. 31
Are you interested in serving your fellow TC alumni? There's still time! TC alumni are represented officially by the Alumni Association's Council, a board of 35 members elected to serve three-year terms. If you are interested in becoming a council member or know someone who would be an asset to the council, please complete a nomination form. Deadline to submit nominations is December 31, the selection process will take place during the first quarter of 2012, and appointments will be made in May.

Office of Admissions Alumni Ambassador Program
The Office of Admission is excited to be launching a new Alumni Ambassador program. We are looking for alum who are interested in sharing their TC experience with prospective and newly admitted students. Ambassadors can serve in a variety of ways including being an e-mail contact, helping out with events such as online chats or Admitted Student Weekend, or being a speaker at one of our on or off-campus Information Sessions. If you are interested, please contact Deanna Ghozati, Associate Director of Admission, at dg2117@columbia.edu.

"Living in a Traumatic World": A Psychology Roundtable
The 9/11 terrorist attacks. SARS. Hurricane Katrina. The Gulf oil spill. The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.
Those are some of the stresses of life in the 21st century, along with the vicissitudes of love, aging and family relationships. The Office of Alumni Relations has partnered with TC's Psychology faculty to bring you "Living in a Traumatic World," the first in a series of TC Psychology Roundtables showcasing ongoing work across all psychological disciplines. Join us on December 14 for this dynamic event. More information below.

Calling All TC Sweethearts
Did you meet your significant other here at TC? We want to hear your story! Share your story with us - send us an email at tcalumni@tc.edu, subject: TC Sweetheart. You can also join us for a Valentine's event featuring a concert from the Teachers College Chamber Music program. A cocktail reception will follow the performance.

End of Year Giving
It's not too late to help both Teachers College and yourself by making a charitable contribution before December 31. For more information visit the TC Annual Fund corner below.

What's New in Your Program?
Be sure to visit the Department News section of our newsletter to learn more about what's happening in your program.

Update Your Information and Stay Connected to TC
Take a moment to update your information or share Class Notes. Keep up with what is happening around campus and with your fellow alumni by following us on Twitter and being a part of the conversation on Facebook and LinkedIn. We post pictures from our events on our Facebook page, so log on and tag yourself.

Forward this newsletter to your fellow TC alumni and help us to reach 1000 fans by the new year!

December 2011

December 7, 2011 - Job Search Strategies for Alumni: Finding Employment in a Difficult Market
Hosted by: Columbia's Center for Career Education
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
More information below in TCCS Career Corner or sign up for the final workshop here: Finding the Jobs.

December 8, 2011 - Education Alumni Career Panel
Hosted by: TCCS and HPSE Programming & Professional Development Committee
Time: 5:10 - 6:50 p.m.
Location: Gottesman Library Room 308, Teachers College
More information below in TCCS Career Corner.

December 8, 2011 - Success Charter Network Information Session
Time: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Horace Mann Room 144, Teachers College
More information below in TCCS Career Corner or click here.

December 1-January 5, 2012 - New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Middle School Spring Classroom Apprenticeship Announcement
More information below in TCCS Career Corner. For questions, please email studentteachercoordinator@schools.nyc.gov or call 718-935-2615.

December 14, 2011 - "Living in a Traumatic World": A Psychology Roundtable
The 9/11 terrorist attacks. SARS. Hurricane Katrina. The Gulf oil spill. The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.

Those are some of the stresses of life in the 21st century, along with the vicissitudes of love, aging and family relationships. The Office of Alumni Relations has partnered with TC's Psychology faculty to bring you "Living in a Traumatic World," the first in a series of TC Psychology Roundtables showcasing ongoing work across all psychological disciplines. "Living in a Traumatic World" brings together six diverse TC-affiliated experts to discuss and debate questions such as: What defines a traumatic experience or exposure to trauma? Do we learn or change from such experiences, or merely endure? Are there resilient and non-resilient types of people, and is their makeup genetically determined? How can we enhance resilience? What are possible therapeutic approaches?

Please join us for what promises to be a stimulating and wide-ranging discussion. Moderated by TC's Marla Brassard, Professor of Psychology and Education, the panel will include TC faculty members George Bonanno, (resilience, grief and trauma); Lisa Miller, (religion & spirituality) and Phil Saigh (post traumatic stress disorder). They will be joined by TC alumnae and clinicians Dr. Dale Atkins, an expert on relationships, stress and life balance ; and Dr. Ghislaine Boulanger, a Professor in the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis who is an expert on adult onset trauma.

Hosted By: TC Office of Alumni Relations
Location: Grace Dodge Hall Room 179, Teachers College
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.; Networking Reception immediately following
For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.tc.edu/calendar.htm?EventID=10157&date=/.
Join the dialogue on Twitter: #TCTrauma

December 14, 2011 - How to Reveal and Engage Your Whole Self at Work
More information below in TCCS Career Corner or click here.

December 31, 2011 - Alumni Council Nominations Due
Are you intererested in serving your fellow TC alumni? There's still time! TC alumni are represented officially by the Alumni Association's Council, a board of 35 members elected to serve three-year terms. If you are interested in becoming a council member or know someone who would be an asset to the council, please complete a nomination form. Deadline to submit nominations is December 31, the selection process will take place during the first quarter of 2011, and appointments will be made in May.

January 2012

January 11, 2012 - Washington DC Alumni Reception in conjunction with Federal Policy Institute program featuring TC President Susan Fuhrman and Professor Sharon Lynn Kagan.
Join fellow DC alumni, as well as current TC policy students for this annual event. Stay tuned for more information about the special guest speaker for this event.

Hosted By: TC Office of Alumni Relations
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: The University Club, 1135 Sixteenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036
For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.tc.edu/events/9844.
Join the dialogue on Twitter: #TCinDCFPI

February 2012

February 8, 2012 - Inaugural Celebration of TC’s Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis
The past ten years have seen remarkable ferment in the area ofeducational reform, with repercussions for states, local public school districts,and private schools. But where are we heading next? On the one hand, things currently seem to be in a holding pattern, with Congress unable to see its way through either to the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act or uncertainties surrounding the next presidential election. At the same time, this holding pattern coexists with a sense of volatility. The loose bipartisan coalition that has steered national education policy along a fairly steady course through Republican and Democratic administrations alike may be unraveling. Our panelists, Christopher T. Cross and Jack Jennings, will look beyond the 2012 election and explore the prospects of national education reform under various scenarios.
Location: Teachers College
Time: 5:00 p.m. Reception; 6:00 p.m. Panel Discussion
More event information to follow. More information on TC's New Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis here.

February 14, 2012 - TC Sweethearts Valentine Event
Calling all TC Sweethearts! Did you meet your significant other on campus? Join us for a Valentine's event featuring a concert from the Teachers College Chamber Music program. A cocktail reception will follow the performance.
Hosted By: TC Office of Alumni Relations
Location: Milbank Chapel, Teachers College
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.tc.edu/calendar.htm?EventID=9844&date=/.
Join the dialogue on Twitter: #TCSweethearts

February 17, 2012 - Houston Area Alumni Reception in Conjunction with AASA
Join fellow Houston area alumni, in addition to Education Leadership alumni, for this networking event featuring TC Faculty: Brian Perkins, Director of the Urban Leadership Education ED program.Networking Reception in conjunction with America Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Annual Conference.
Hosted By: TC Office of Alumni Relations
Location: Room 346AB, Hilton America's Hotel Houston, 1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.tc.edu/calendar.htm?EventID=10360&date=/.

February 29, 2012 - Speed Networking Event
Students and alumni from across all TC Departments will come together to network in a fast and fresh format, where all will benefit from this opportunity to hone the skills needed for success in today's job place. Whether you are happily employed, seeking new challenges, have advice to share or all ears...speed networking is the experience for you! Time will be devoted for alumni peer-to-peer networking, as well as student and alumni interaction.
Hosted By: TCCS and Alumni Relations
Time: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Teachers College
For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.tc.edu/calendar.htm?EventID=9846&date=/.
Join the dialogue on Twitter: #TCSpeed

April 2012

April 5, 2012 - International Week Student & Alumni Wine & Cheese Reception
Join the International Outreach Committee of the TC Alumni Association, International students & fellow alumni in celebrating International Week on campus. Celebrate the cultures of the world represented in TC's student body through the flavors of international wines and cheeses.
Hosted By: TC Offices of Alumni Relations & International Student Services
Location: Teachers College
Time: 6:00 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.tc.edu/calendar.htm?EventID=9847&date=/.
Join the dialogue on Twitter: #TCIntlMixer

April 21, 2012 - Academic Festival
Jeffrey Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, will be presented with the Teachers College Medal for Distinguished Service and will deliver the fourth annual Academic Festival Keynote Address. Additionally, TC Alumnus Matthew Pittinsky, CEO of Parchment & founder of Blackboard, Inc. will be honored with the Teachers College President's Medal of Excellence. Academic Festival, our signature homecoming event, is a day-long celebration of the rich intellectual traditions, past and present, that make TC the nation's leading school of education. Breakout sessions featuring TC faculty and alumni representative of all TC departments will offer interactive opportunities to learn and discuss the deeper ideas behind technology and its impact on the trajectory of learning. Topics will range from human connections and engaging with the world beyond ourselves to the evolution of learning spaces and social networks that will advance human development. Stay tuned as we unveil the full list of speakers and sessions, as well as the names of our Distinguished Alumni & Early Career Awardees, who will be honored by the Alumni Association at lunch.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Teachers College
More information coming soon.
Join the dialogue on Twitter: #TCAcFest

For additional information on Alumni Events and Programs, visit www.tc.edu/alumni/events,asp or email tcalumni@tc.edu.

For a full calendar of events happening on TC's campus, visit http://www.tc.edu/calendar/.

**Event times and locations are subject to change. Please check the website prior to the event for the most up-to-date information.

Alumni Mentor Spotlight: Andrew Cohen
Cohen runs his own company called Brainscape which is an adaptive web/mobile education platform that helps people study for languages and standardized tests more efficiently. Cohen graduated with an M.A. in Instructional Technology and Media in 2008.

Alumni Mentor Program
• Contact up to five mentors per month through email, that's 60 per year. Includes 660+ mentors who have graduated from all TC majors.
• Meet with professionals in various career fields, develop career plans, and create professional networks in various industries.
Interested in Becoming an Alumni Mentor? More information on the program here.

Recruit TC
Is your organization seeking talented professionals? Contact TCCS to discuss recruiting efforts. Please contact Vicki Gochenour, Assistant Director of Employer Relations at 212-678-3202 or via email at gochenour@tc.edu.

TCCS Events
Use TCCS Link through myTC Portal to RSVP for the events below, access online job postings, alumni mentors, online resources and more. Forgot your password? Simply visit http://uni.columbia.edu/, click on "Forgot Password" and follow the prompts. Registration for workshops/panels/information sessions is recommended, not required.

December 7, 2011 - Center for Career Education Presents Part II of a Two Part Series Workshop - Job Search Strategies for Alumni: Finding Employment in a Difficult Market
In this two part series, career professionals from the Center for Career Education will help you to launch or jump start your job search. You will also have the opportunity to share tips and insights about the job search process with other Columbia alumni.
Hosted by: Columbia's Center for Career Education
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Sign up for the final workshop here: Finding the Jobs

December 8, 2011 - Education Alumni Career Panel
Join us for a conversation about careers in higher education. Come and learn about career opportunities in the field of higher education. Hear about specific institutions, how current employees secured their position, and their role within their organization. Learn about skills, academic preparation or experience(s) necessary to be viewed as a quality candidate, as well as what working in the field of higher education entails.
Hosted by: TCCS and HPSE Programming & Professional Development Committee
Time: 5:10 - 6:50 p.m.
Location: Gottesman Library Room 308, Teachers College

December 8, 2011 - Success Charter Network Information Session
Success Charter Network is a fast growing CMO with seven schools and two more that will open this summer. Over the next decade, our network will grow to forty schools that provide a phenomenal education to children throughout New York City. (Recruiting for Teachers.)
Time: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Horace Mann Room 144, Teachers College
For more information or to RSVP, click here.

December 1-January 5, 2012 - New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Middle School Spring Classroom Apprenticeship Announcement
The MS-SCA is an exciting initiative of the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality to support the Chancellor's priority to strengthen the performance of middle schools in the NYCDOE. Through this initiative, we will identify a cohort of talented new recruits who are committed to making a difference with students in the middle school years. These teach-ers, some traditionally certified, and others coming through the NYC Teaching Fellows, will be paired with carefully selected Cooperating Teachers in their subject area for ten weeks of intensive classroom embedded training beginning in March 2012 and ending in May 2012.

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
· Enrolled (or Completed) in an approved teacher preparation program in NYC metro area (October 2011 and Spring 2012 graduates only)
· Interested in teaching middle grades
· Will be certified in one of the following areas by September 2012: English language arts, math, sciences, social studies, Students with Disabilities, English as a Second Language
· Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
· Must submit resume, unofficial transcripts AND letter from college/university
· Complete required essay question

The application will be available on Thursday, December 1st as part of the DOE student teacher registration portal. The link for the application will be sent to current student teachers and student teacher coordinators. Current student teachers must work with their university in order to participate in the program. The application deadline is Thursday, January 5th.

For questions, please email studentteachercoordinator@schools.nyc.gov or call 718-935-2615.

December 14, 2011 - How to Reveal and Engage Your Whole Self at Work
Are you doing a disservice to yourself--and to the organization where you work--by leveraging only parts of who you are? Perhaps you hide invisible attributes like a learning disability, or ignore visible identities such as your gender. Fact is, the freer you are to reveal and engage the full scope of your humanity, the happier and more productive you will be. Yet what exactly does it mean to bring your whole self to work? And what are the hurdles? Find out in this webinar, along with the "whys" and "how-tos" of this critical mindset. This and more from Haig Chahinian, Training and Development Consultant, Blogger at www.workplacenudity.com.
Hosted by: Columbia's Center for Career Education
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m
For more information and to register, click here.

Champion Columbia students at your Firm!
CU is seeking Columbia alumni who would like to champion the hiring of Columbia students at their respective firms and companies. Visit columbia.edu/hirecolumbians for more information.

IvyLife-Columbia
Networking Breakfasts and Evening Events Each Month
IvyLife-Columbia is a LinkedIn group, which is also part of the parent group, IvyLife. Both groups hold various networking events in NYC as well as around the world. For more information, visit the group on LinkedIn or http://www.ivylife.net. If you have questions, please contact William@caa.columbia.edu.

2011 Graduates and Degree Candidates Survey
If you are a 2011 graduate or degree candidate please take a few moments to fill out a brief TCCS survey.

For further assistance, please contact the TCCS office at careerservices@tc.edu.