2008 Woodie Awards
SSU honors distingished alumns
Rachel Berry
Issue date: 10/4/06 Section: News
The 2006 Distinguished Alumni Day and Awards Ceremony will recognize SSU professor John Kornfeld, and Michael L. Fulton, a pioneer in thin-film technologies. Photographs and biographies of the distinguished alumni are currently displayed in the Commons. The alumni will be celebrated on Oct. 12, and some of the events honoring them will be open to the public.
At the beginning of each year, the Alumni Association puts out a call for nominations via announcements on campus and press releases in the community. Once the deadline has passed, a committee of campus-wide representatives reviews the nominees. This committee includes professors, students, members of the community, and members of the Alumni Association board.
"They have a specific set of criteria that they look at, including professional achievement and philanthropic work," said Kate McClintock, director of alumni relations. This is the 19th year that the association will award its distinguished alumni.
"I'm really looking forward to the dinner because my wife and children will be there, and the moment they found out about it, they said, 'We're coming,'" Kornfeld said.
Asked about how it feels to be considered a distinguished alumnus, he said, "It's pretty overwhelming. I'm honored by the award, but I'm even more honored by all of the people that have said it's deserved, and they respect my work and they like me. It's wonderful; I'm very touched by the kindness of so many people here at Sonoma State."
Kornfeld received his master's degree in Education from SSU in 1991. Prior to that, he earned an A.B. degree (Artium Baccalaureatus-the equivalent to a bachelor's degree) in English from Princeton University. He continued his education by earning a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana University.
He has been a teacher and educator for more than 30 years, including the last 11 as faculty member of the SSU School of Education. Kornfeld devotes much of his time to the students at SSU, where he chairs the School of Education Graduate Committee and the university's Graduate Studies Committee. He also mentors students as program advisor for the Single Subject Credential Program. His efforts do not go unnoticed by students; Kornfeld regularly receives high student evaluation ratings.
At the beginning of each year, the Alumni Association puts out a call for nominations via announcements on campus and press releases in the community. Once the deadline has passed, a committee of campus-wide representatives reviews the nominees. This committee includes professors, students, members of the community, and members of the Alumni Association board.
"They have a specific set of criteria that they look at, including professional achievement and philanthropic work," said Kate McClintock, director of alumni relations. This is the 19th year that the association will award its distinguished alumni.
"I'm really looking forward to the dinner because my wife and children will be there, and the moment they found out about it, they said, 'We're coming,'" Kornfeld said.
Asked about how it feels to be considered a distinguished alumnus, he said, "It's pretty overwhelming. I'm honored by the award, but I'm even more honored by all of the people that have said it's deserved, and they respect my work and they like me. It's wonderful; I'm very touched by the kindness of so many people here at Sonoma State."
Kornfeld received his master's degree in Education from SSU in 1991. Prior to that, he earned an A.B. degree (Artium Baccalaureatus-the equivalent to a bachelor's degree) in English from Princeton University. He continued his education by earning a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana University.
He has been a teacher and educator for more than 30 years, including the last 11 as faculty member of the SSU School of Education. Kornfeld devotes much of his time to the students at SSU, where he chairs the School of Education Graduate Committee and the university's Graduate Studies Committee. He also mentors students as program advisor for the Single Subject Credential Program. His efforts do not go unnoticed by students; Kornfeld regularly receives high student evaluation ratings.