Shawnee State University Board of Trustees
Special Board Meeting April 14, 2007

             The Shawnee State University Board of Trustees will meet on Saturday, April 14, at 9 a.m. in the Deshler Rooms, Marriott Hotel at Columbus Airport, 1375 North Cassady Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.  This meeting is a Board retreat; no action items are on the agenda. 

(Article by Rebecca Cox, communications specialist)

Dr. James Day retires
(Globe-hopping SSU faculty member retires after 20 years)

            Shawnee State University is losing a charismatic and well-loved member of the faculty. After 20 years, James Day, Ph.D., business management, has retired.
            Students and faculty will always remember him for his exotic necklaces from around the world, accompanied with gripping stories of his exciting adventures.
            Day came to SSU in 1987, planning to stay a year. Luckily for students like Caroline Burkert, he decided to make SSU his start.
            “He liked to get to know his students,” she said. “He encouraged them to visit his office to talk about class assignments or life in general. During his free time he also visited with groups of students in local restaurants and pubs to eat and discuss class presentations.”
            Day taught business management classes, a business ethics class, which was his favorite class to teach, and senior seminar, another well-loved class. To SSU student Sandy Belford, he was a mentor.
            “He encouraged students to continue their educational pursuits. One particular memory I have is when I had Dr. Day for ethics class and he was talking about continuing one’s education past the Bachelor’s level. It was his encouragement, to a great extent, that made me decide to continue my education, getting an MBA and now pursuing a Ph.D.”
            One of Day’s favorite memories at the university occurred on Valentine’s Day, 2001, at the restaurant in the Ramada Inn. It was a Sunday afternoon, and Day was working on an oral presentation with two groups of students. Dr. Chapman, SSU’s president at the time, and his wife, came in for lunch, saw him with the students and asked him if he wanted to teach in China in September.
            “I walked home five blocks real quick and told my wife, ‘I’ve got a Valentine’s Day present for you,’” he said. No flowers, no candy. I just said, ‘We’re going to China!’ She didn’t believe me.”
            Day has traveled the globe. He has been to all of the continents, even Antarctica. These trips have served to enhance his classes, with numerous stories from a global perspective.
            “In the fall of 1995, I was teaching in a senior seminar class. I have students talking about South American countries, African countries, Asian countries. And I though to myself, ‘Well by golly, If I’m going to teach this class, I better go out and visit these places,’” Day said. “In December o that year, I was in South America. The next year, Africa. That senior seminar class got me traveling.”
          Day was nostalgic about his time at SSU.
           “It’s been a wonderful time here,” Day said. “I will miss Kricker Hall; it was my home. The most important thing I want my students to do is go get a Master’s degree. I tell them to go 500 miles away, and get into a different environment.”
            After retirement, Day is pursuing a teaching assignment in Gambia, Africa, for one semester. In January of 2008 he plans to go back to China.
            He is also planning to take his daughter and her new husband to the Grand Canyon.
            “I’m going to have to create some hobbies,” Day said.

(Article by Monica J. Bradbury, communications specialist)

Chanticleer to perform at SSU’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
(Two-time Grammy award-winning Chanticleer ensemble comes to Portsmouth, Ohio)

            Hailed by The New York Times as having sounds “fresh as a blade of grass, tightly focused and keenly expressive,” Chanticleer, the two-time Grammy award-winning ensemble, will perform at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts April 17 at 7:30 p.m.
            “Chanticleer appeals to audiences of all ages due to their expansive performance repertoire,” said Carl Daehler, D.M.A., executive director of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. “This group of 12 full-time professional male vocalists literally can sing anything from the earliest forms of vocal music to the most current popular titles.”
            Based in San Francisco, Chanticleer was founded in 1978 by tenor Louis Botto. More than 75 men have sung in the ensemble since its inception. According to its Web site, www.chanticleer.org, Chanticleer includes a “seamless blend of twelve male voices, ranging from countertenor to bass,” the reason it has earned international renown as “an orchestra of voices.”
            The mission of Chanticleer is to perform “a diverse and innovative repertoire, reaching audiences worldwide through live concerts, electronic media and education.” They are the only independent full-time classical vocal ensemble in the United States.
            Chanticleer performs world-wide at many noteworthy international festivals, including the Salzburg Festival in Austria, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Germany, the Brisbane Biennial Festival of Music in Australia, the Taipei International Choral Festival in Taiwan and the Festival Van Vlaanderen in Belgium.
            “The miracle of their performance is the extreme diversity of their program given that they sing without the benefit of any instrumental or rhythmic accompaniment,” Daehler said.
            Tickets range from $12 to $34 for this performance. Discounts are available for seniors, SSU students, faculty, staff and alumni. For more information or to order tickets, contact the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600 or visit the Web site, http://www.vrcfa.org.

(Article by Monica J. Bradbury, communications specialist)

Dr. Susan Haack to speak at SSU
(Haack to discuss the reliability of scientific testimony in the court of law)

            Is scientific evidence more reliable in a court of law? Susan Haack, Ph.D., of Miami, Fla., will discuss this important question at Shawnee State University April 26 and 27.
            “Her work focuses on whether or not there really is something specific about scientific testimony that makes it more reliable than other testimony,” Poirot said. “The courts have made a distinction between eye witness testimony versus scientific testimony using quotes. We often have this idea that science is going to establish some kind of grand, ultimate authority for us.”
            Haack will discuss how standards of scientific evidence have changed in court over time. After the lecture, there will be an open discussion.
            Haack’s presentation on April 26 at 7 p.m. in the Clark Memorial Library’s Flohr Lecture Hall is free and open to the public. She also will give a presentation on Friday, April 27, at 10 a.m. (location to be announced) for the university community, geared more toward the different definitions of pragmatism.
            “I thought the discussion about how legal standards for scientific testimonies have changed would be something that would have a wider appeal outside of Shawnee State University,” Poirot said. “Her presentation on Friday will be geared towards faculty interested in more academic questions about philosophy.”
            Haack is the author of several books, including “Deviant Logic,” “Philosophy of Logics” (Cambridge, 1978), “Evidence and Inquiry: Towards Reconstruction in Epistemology” and “Defending Science -- Within Reason: Between Scientism and Cynicism.”
            A former Fellow of New Hall, Cambridge, and then professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick, Haack is presently Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts and Sciences, professor of philosophy, and professor of law at the University of Miami. Her areas of interest include philosophy of logic and language, epistemology and metaphysics, philosophy of science, including issues of scientific testimony in court, pragmatism and feminism.
            Internationally known, Professor Haack's work has been translated into 10 different languages. She has been widely reviewed and cited in general interest publications such as the “Times Literary Supplement,” the “Wilson Quarterly,” and the “Chronicle of Higher Education,” as well as in specialized journals. Haack’s work is strongly interdisciplinary. She has published in literary, legal and scientific, as well as philosophical journals, and has been invited to speak not only in philosophy departments and law schools but also at the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale, the American Council of Learned Societies, the New York Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences.
            “So, what’s happened in modern pragmatism is that some people have focused on the aspects of pragmatism they consider to be directly applicable to them, how they can make it socially useful,” he said. “If an idea is socially useful, then, we’ll use it—if it’s not, we’ll reject it. Haack is arguing against that idea. When we ask if an idea is useful or practical, what we should be asking is how well that idea works out in experience over the long-term. We might want to make a distinction, for example, between something that seems to be immediately practical and immediately useful, but in the long run might not be good for us.”
            For more information, contact Poirot at (740) 351-3369.

(Article by Rebecca Cox, communications specialist)

Breast Cancer Awareness event to be held
(SSU’s Women’s Center organizing event in conjunction with the Spring Bear Run)

            More than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year in the U.S. To raise awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection, the Shawnee State University Women’s Center is organizing a breast cancer awareness event, held in conjunction with the Spring Bear Run/Walk 5K, on May 9, at 6 p.m.
“I think almost everybody has been affected by breast cancer in some way. Either they’ve experienced it, or a family member has, or a loved one, or a friend. It is a tragic, devastating disease,” said Barbara Duncan, professor, dental hygiene. “The more aware people are of early detection, maybe it will motivate them to be more vigilant about checking themselves.
            The deadline for registering for the Women’s Center “Breast Cancer Awareness” event is April 16th.
A free t-shirt will be provided to those who will wear the shirt as they participate in the Spring Bear Run/Walk event.
            Participants must pre-register for the Bear Run/Walk. A confirmation e-mail, with t-shirt size, must then be sent to Duncan, at bduncan@shawnee.edu.
            T-shirts may be picked up on the race day in the gym, from 4 p.m. until the start of the race.
“I just hope people will participate and wear the shirts not only during the Bear Run, but out into the community,” said Duncan. “If it causes one woman to go for a mammogram or an exam and saves one life, then it’s worth the effort.”
            To register for the Spring Bear Run, contact Jeff Hamilton, race coordinator at (740) 351-3393 or at ghamilton@shawnee.edu.                                             

(Article by Monica J. Bradbury, communications specialist)

SSU’s Fun in the Sun activities planned for summer 2007
(Classes offer everything from archery to soccer and painting to yoga)

            Think there’s going to be nothing for children to do this summer? Think again! Shawnee State University is offering students in grades K-8 a Fun in the Sun program with classes ranging from archery to soccer to scrapbooking to yoga. This program provides an opportunity for youth to complete at least one, 15-hour course in either athletics or the arts.
            “Students are invited from all areas but most of the students come from the local area, from Kentucky and southern Ohio,” said Ginnie Moore, director of University Outreach Services.
            Shawnee State’s Fun in the Sun will take place June 18-22 at Earl Thomas Conley Riverside Park. Students must be dropped off at the park ready for class.
            “The park provides a beautiful venue for us to have all kinds of activities and classes that kids love,” Moore said.
            Classes include archery, art, cartooning, cheerleading, digital photography, embroidery, basketball, football, golf, volleyball, tennis, soccer, softball, scrapbooking, Spanish language and yoga, among others.
            Moore said these classes are not only fun, but also worthwhile.
            “The classes are taught by terrific instructors. Participants will learn new things and make new friends,” she said.
           Each course is designed for a specific grade level, so participants will want to keep that in mind while registering for a course. Students can register for either the morning session from 9 a.m. to noon or the afternoon session from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Students can either bring their lunches or purchase them for an additional price.
           The deadline for registration is June 8. Early bird discounts will be given to those who register by 5 p.m. on May 18.
            To register or for more information and prices, call University Outreach Services at (740) 351-3274 or toll free at (866) 672-8778.

 (Article by Mistie Cook Spicer, communications coordinator)
 

SSU has earned provider status for continuing education
(Office of University Outreach Services has earned the provider status through the Ohio Nurses Association)

            Area nurses will now be able to take their state-required continuing education classes at Shawnee State University through the Office of University Outreach Services. The approval status was awarded on Jan. 11 by the Ohio Nurses Association.
            “It’s a real positive thing,” said Barbara Conn, associate professor of nursing at SSU. “Because, there are two nursing programs here on campus, an associate and a bachelor’s degree program, we are already educating registered nurse. Now we can maintain the licensure for all of the registered nurses in the area.”
            According to Conn all RN’s in Ohio are required to complete 24 continuing education hours every two years for license renewal. Conn said since 2003, the university has offered more than 20 continuing education programs for nurses. She said in order to receive the provider status, SSU will be required to provide a minimum of ten classes approved by the Ohio Nurses Association.
            “Registered nurses must seek out independently classes to complete their continuing education requirement before they can renew their license for two years,” Conn said. “Nurses in this area can now go through University Outreach Services at SSU and complete those education requirements.”
            For more information on upcoming nurse education courses, contact Conn at (740) 351-3109.

The Shawnee State University Development Foundation receives grant for breast cancer awareness campaign…

            Shawnee State University is reaching out to women of all ages in our region to help them reduce the risk of breast cancer and its impact on their lives.
            The Shawnee State University Development Foundation has received a $54,767 grant from the Columbus affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to fund “Never Too Young…Never Too Old.” The new program will provide education about breast cancer prevention and detection to Shawnee State students and women in Scioto, Pike and Lawrence counties.
            Susan Warsaw, executive director of development at SSU, said the program is a perfect fit with Poised for Tomorrow, the university’s capital campaign. “One of the campaign initiatives is to enhance the clinical experiences of our allied health students while reaching out to area residents. ‘Never Too Young…Never Too Old’ is right in step with that.”
            The funding will allow the university to raise awareness among women in Scioto, Pike and Lawrence counties about breast health and breast cancer and educate them regarding prevention and detection. Clinical examinations and referrals will also be a part of the program.
            Mattie Burton, chair of Shawnee State’s department of nursing, said that a program like this is very important to the area. “Unfortunately, Appalachian women don’t always get the screenings they need, which puts them at risk.”
            Burton said that Appalachian populations are predominantly rural and are more likely to have residents who are elderly, poor and uninsured with less access to preventative care.
            Currently, there are no other services of this kind being offered in the three-county area.
            “Not only is this program unique in our area, it is long overdue,” Burton said.
            The activities for “Never Too Young…Never Too Old” will begin with the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure May 19. Students, faculty and staff from Shawnee State University are inviting everyone in the three-county area to join them in a caravan that will take them to Columbus for the race.
            Anyone wanting more information about the race or “Never Too Young…Never Too Old” can contact the SSU Development Office at (740) 351-3284.
            Poised for Tomorrow is a $12 million capital campaign to support a broad array of campus initiatives. Those initiatives include undergraduate research, new technologies, specialized studies, faculty development, scholarships, enhanced clinical experiences and an enhanced quality of life for the region.
            Anyone wanting more information about Poised for Tomorrow can call the Development Office at (740) 351-3284 or visit the university’s website at www.shawnee.edu.

Boyles Named SSU Vice President for Finance and Administration

            Shawnee State University President Rita Rice Morris has named Elinda C. Boyles to serve as the university’s next vice president for finance and administration. Boyles is currently Shawnee State’s director of human resources. The appointment is pending approval by the Shawnee State Board of Trustees at its June meeting.
            “We are truly fortunate that Elinda has agreed to serve as Shawnee State’s next Vice President for Finance and Administration,” said Morris. “After conducting several searches for the position, it became clear to me that Elinda not only offered the most extensive administrative leadership and management experience, she also possesses an intimate familiarity with the campus’ operation, and offers a proven commitment to Shawnee State.”
            Boyles came to Shawnee State in 1988. As Director of Human Resources she has been responsible for the oversight and management of employee recruitment, compensation and benefits. She has been responsible for compliance with all state, federal and local regulatory matters, served as the affirmative action officer and served on a number of campus-wide committees.
            Prior to Shawnee State, Boyles served as Vice President of Operations for Celltech, Inc., and ExecuCell, Inc., both in Houston, Texas. She was also General Manager for Human Resources and Public Relations for the Illinois and Ohio divisions of the Central Telephone Company, and General Manager EEO/Affirmative Action for the Centel Corporation, headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill.
            Boyles is co-owner of the Short Stop Convenient Mart in South Shore, Ky. Since 1997 she has sat on the Greenup County Board of Education, currently serving her third term as board chair.
            Boyles has a master’s degree in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a B.S. in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University. A doctoral candidate at Ohio University, Boyles is completing her dissertation in higher education administration.
            “My work at Shawnee State has been very rewarding. As Vice President for Finance and Administration I look forward to the opportunity of using my skills and experience to make an even more profound contribution to the university,” said Boyles.

(Article by Monica J. Bradbury, communications specialist)

Build a successful market plan at SSU
(Revamp or create your own marketing strategies at SSU)

            Business owners can learn how to build or revamp their own successful marketing plan during a one-day workshop at Shawnee State University on April 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.
            “For all businesses owners, the key to marketing is to educate themselves on the new marketing opportunities that are available,” said Brenda Covert, manager of SSU’s Business and Industry Contract Training. “How to effectively market for your customers has changed over the last few years. Now, businesses must be sure their marketing plan addresses all generations of customers, including the Gen X and Gen Y customers.”
            In the workshop, participants will explore the following issues:

            What kind of marketing plan you need;
            What the focus of your marketing plan is;
            How you address your “uniqueness” in your marketing plan;
            Whether or not you should use the Internet for marketing; and
            How you budget for your marketing plan expenses.
           
            The instructor is Jackie LeBerth with EnterpriseWorks in Athens County, Ohio. LeBerth has over 20 years experience helping businesses with their marketing plan. She owns Bramble Creek Farms, and operates a bed and breakfast.
            Materials are included in the cost of $59. Deadline for registration is Monday, April 23. To register call the Business and Industry Training Center at (740) 351-3171 or 866-672-8778.

(Article by Rebecca Cox, communications specialist)

Toombs Children’s Learning Center celebrates ‘Week of the Young Child’
(CLC hosting a variety of events geared toward young children)

            The “Week of the Young Child” is April 22-28, and the Dr. Miller and Genevieve Toombs Children’s Learning Center at Shawnee State University has scheduled numerous events to celebrate. This year’s theme is “Building Better Futures for all Children.”
            According to the Web site for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, “‘The Week of the Young Child’ is an opportunity for programs, NAEYC affiliates, related organizations, communities, and states to focus on the needs of young children and their families.”
            “It is an opportunity for the kids to have a really good time. But in all of that fun, it is a good observational opportunity for teachers,” Cindy Ferguson, CLC director said. “Instead of just sitting down and doing an assessment, teachers can collect observational data on their children while they are participating in these events.”
            There will be an ice cream social on Tuesday and Wednesday, open to the campus community and community parents. Those present will have the opportunity to view children’s art.
            The main event of “Week of the Young Child” is the children’s fair, scheduled for Thursday, April 26, in the Rhodes Athletic Center, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. More than 300 preschool children from around the area are expected to attend.
            Ferguson said parents and grandparents are invited to enjoy the fun with their children at the fair. Other events include story time with the Portsmouth Library, a musical performance by Steve Free, acrobatic exhibits by Cirque d’Art, a chalk walk, Bear Ball and many other activities.
            Thanks to SSU President Rita Rice Morris, all children will be receiving T-shirts.
            In conjunction with the week’s activities, Ferguson said there will be a children’s art exhibit in the Marting’s display window for about a month. The artwork will come from participating entities, including children from the Carousel Center, Scioto County Head Start, Scioto County Even Start, Portsmouth City Schools, and the SSU Children’s Learning Center.
            Ferguson said “Week of the Young Child” is a rich learning experience for all involved.
            “It’s a cross-campus, cross-community, cross-university opportunity.”
            For more information, contact the Toombs CLC at (740) 351-3252.

(Article by Monica J. Bradbury, communications specialist)

Dr. Susan Haack to speak at SSU
(Haack to discuss the reliability of scientific testimony in the court of law)

            Is scientific evidence more reliable in a court of law? Susan Haack, Ph.D., of Miami, Fla., will discuss this important question at Shawnee State University April 26 and 27.
            “Her work focuses on whether or not there really is something specific about scientific testimony that makes it more reliable than other testimony,” said Chip Poirot, associate professor of economics at SSU. “The courts have made a distinction between eye witness testimony versus scientific testimony using quotes. We often have this idea that science is going to establish some kind of grand, ultimate authority for us.”
Haack will discuss how standards of scientific evidence have changed in court over time. After the lecture, there will be an open discussion.
            Haack’s presentation on April 26 at 7 p.m. in the Massie Auditorium is free and open to the public. She also will give a presentation on Friday, April 27, at 9:30 a.m. in ATC conference room for the university community, geared more toward the different definitions of pragmatism.
            “I thought the discussion about how legal standards for scientific testimonies have changed would be something that would have a wider appeal outside of Shawnee State University,” Poirot said. “Her presentation on Friday will be geared towards faculty interested in more academic questions about philosophy.”
Haack is the author of several books, including “Deviant Logic,” “Philosophy of Logics” (Cambridge, 1978), “Evidence and Inquiry: Towards Reconstruction in Epistemology” and “Defending Science -- Within Reason: Between Scientism and Cynicism.”
            A former Fellow of New Hall, Cambridge, and then professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick, Haack is presently Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts and Sciences, professor of philosophy, and professor of law at the University of Miami. Her areas of interest include philosophy of logic and language, epistemology and metaphysics, philosophy of science, including issues of scientific testimony in court, pragmatism and feminism.
            Internationally known, Professor Haack's work has been translated into 10 different languages. She has been widely reviewed and cited in general interest publications such as the “Times Literary Supplement,” the “Wilson Quarterly,” and the “Chronicle of Higher Education,” as well as in specialized journals. Haack’s work is strongly interdisciplinary. She has published in literary, legal and scientific, as well as philosophical journals, and has been invited to speak not only in philosophy departments and law schools but also at the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale, the American Council of Learned Societies, the New York Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences.
            “So, what’s happened in modern pragmatism is that some people have focused on the aspects of pragmatism they consider to be directly applicable to them, how they can make it socially useful,” he said. “If an idea is socially useful, then, we’ll use it—if it’s not, we’ll reject it. Haack is arguing against that idea. When we ask if an idea is useful or practical, what we should be asking is how well that idea works out in experience over the long-term. We might want to make a distinction, for example, between something that seems to be immediately practical and immediately useful, but in the long run might not be good for us.”
            For more information, contact Poirot at (740) 351-3369.

(Article by Monica J. Bradbury, communications specialist)

SSU forms team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
(SSU teams to promote breast cancer awareness)

            According to the American Cancer Society, over 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year and over 2 million women have been treated. To support breast cancer awareness and research, a team from Shawnee State University will participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on May 19 in Columbus. According to the Web site, nearly 32,000 participants last year raised more than $1.5 million to fund local grants and national research.
            “It’s a great event the Susan G. Komen Foundation holds every year for breast cancer awareness,” said Angela Henderson, assistant director of development and alumni affairs at SSU. “It also allows survivors and their families to get together and participate in different events. It should be a good experience.”
            This year’s run holds special significance for Shawnee State.
            “We chose this event as the kick-off for a new Shawnee State program, “Never too young, never too old,” funded by a grant from the Columbus affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,” Henderson said.
            The new program will provide education about breast cancer prevention and detection to both Shawnee State students and women in Scioto, Pike and Lawrence counties.
It costs $20 to register for the SSU team. The deadline to register online is April 27. There’s a drop-down menu on the Komen Web site to choose Shawnee State as the desired team. There are three different events participants can choose from, a 5K run, a 5K walk and a 1-mile fun walk.
            “The registration fee goes to Komen Columbus to pay for future grants to provide outreach and awareness,” Henderson said. “There is a program where if people want to get pledges, they can participate in that or they can just pay the $20 registration fee and walk or run. Participants get a t-shirt from Komen and if they register as part of the Shawnee State team, which I hope they will do, the first 100 people will get a Shawnee State t-shirt.”
            Henderson said she especially hopes a lot of students will get involved and will learn the things they need to know about breast cancer awareness.
            In 1983, Nancy Brinker created the first Susan. G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure in Dallas, Tx., with 800 participants. Today, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series is the largest of 5K runs and fitness walks in the world. The 2007 race day includes Survivorpalooza, a 5K run, a 5K walk and a 1-mile family fun walk. At 10:30 a.m., the survivor celebration and awards ceremony begins.
            For more information, visit the Web site www.komencolumbus.org and contact the SSU Development Office at (740) 351-3284.

(Article by Monica J. Bradbury, communications specialist)

Educators invited to Fabulous Friday at SSU
(Fabulous Friday offers childcare providers professional development training)

            Child care providers and early childhood educators are invited to Shawnee State University’s “Fabulous Friday” on April 27.
            “The conference title, ‘Fabulous Friday,’ is so very appropriate,” said Cindy Ferguson, director of the Dr. Miller and Genevieve Toombs SSU Children’s Learning Center. “As an early childhood educator, being part of an event that incorporates pre-service and practicing professionals across campus, across countries, across states and across institutions of higher learning, truly is fabulous. We are especially grateful to University Outreach Services for making this rich opportunity possible.”
            The keynote speaker will be Stephanie Schaffer, an occupational therapist who works with special needs preschoolers in Portsmouth. She has been influential in raising awareness of autism spectrum disorders. Schaffer