Alumni Spotlight: Mark Newman `71

That realization inspired Newman to endow the largest scholarship of its kind in Binghamton's history: literally, a fully paid scholarship for four years. A lucky, deserving Harpur College student will receive fully paid tuition, fees, and housing and meals, thanks to Newman's generosity. The scholarship will be awarded to an incoming freshman with an SAT score of 1400 or above who has financial need. The student must meet ongoing criteria to receive the scholarship for all four years.

A product of the American dream, Newman has dedicated the last 28 years of his life to DRS Technologies, Inc., a company his father founded in 1969. DRS provides products and services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Focused on defense electronics, DRS develops and manufactures a broad range of mission critical systems and components in the areas of communications, combat systems, rugged computers, electro-optics, data storage, digital imaging, flight safety and space.

Newman left a position with a large accounting firm to work in the family business. "At the time, " he recalled, "DRS was 32 people on top of an electrical-appliance store in Mount Vernon, N.Y." The company has come a long way since then. "At that time, we did $750,000 in sales. Now we've got 2,600 employees and we're doing over half a billion dollars in sales," he said. After holding several finance-related positions, Newman took the reins as CEO of DRS Technologies in 1994.

He is able to steer the ship through many challenges. A publicly traded company since 1981, DRS shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange on April 30th. To mark this momentous occasion, Newman rang the opening bell at the NYSE. (see photo)

"It has been a great pleasure getting to know Mark," said Harpur Dean Jean-Pierre Mileur. "Mark is one of those alumni who are successful in their careers and their lives and generous with the resources that success has brought."

Newman feels his liberal arts background at Harpur College helps him look at the big picture. "It gave me a curiosity that I apply to the technical side of the business. In running a company of this magnitude, I've learned to think outside the box and take a broad view of issues that will encompass the financial and technical side. That's what I got out of my education and how I would apply it to business today. I've always had a deep interest in history, and although I majored in economics at Harpur, I read quite a bit in that area. The liberal arts background ignited that."

Newman's history coursework at Harpur College has also helped him enormously in dealing with the military, DRS Technologies' biggest customer. A deep understanding of global politics and, currently, the war on terrorism, is imperative when working with senior military officials and federal legislators. Newman said he feels Harpur College prepared him for that.

"I'd like to say that going to Binghamton was a very formative thing in my life," he said. "It took me from being just a kid who'd never been away from home to someone who was ready to face the rigors of adulthood and my life. I feel I was very well prepared coming out of the school. I owe a lot of that not just to the faculty, but the people I was fortunate to get to know while I was there. It is a good memory for me."

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Annual Reception Delights Alumni

Event hosts Jim Bauer `68 and Lynne Federman `74 with President DeFleur and Harpur College Dean Mileur.

Alumni in financial services careers gathered at JP Morgan Chase & Co. on May 21, 2002 for an evening of networking and fun, thanks to the generosity of Jim Bauer `68 and Lynne Federman `74. This reception, hosted by different alumni each year, takes place in a different business setting in Manhattan every Spring. Click here to see photos from the big event!

In her address to alumni, President DeFleur thanked Bauer and Federman for hosting the event and recognized past hosts Mitch Lieberman `80, Mark Zurack `78, Joseph Yakura `83, and Jim Ludwig `81.

"Today's event is poignant for all of us, since it is the first time that we have come together since the terrible events of September 11, and I know some of you were very directly affected," said DeFleur upon requesting a moment of silence to remember those who perished. She also shared the latest news from campus: a memorial garden to remember lost alumni from September 11, a 7% rise in applications, a new union, construction of new dormitories and the Field House, and the conclusion of the Believe in Binghamton campaign one year ahead of schedule.

Alumni events such as this one are always a terrific way to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. For more information on future activities, please contact alumni@binghamton.edu or call 607-777-2431.

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Harpur College Brings Aspiring Young Poets Together

Nearly 400 aspiring poets from 30 local schools gathered in the Anderson Center Concert Theater on May 22 for the 25th annual Poetry and the Children Day.

"Any day that the surrounding community comes to visit our campus is a special day for Harpur College," said Don Blake, associate dean for academic affairs, "When the occasion for the visit is a celebration of young poets, that is a most special day."

Each year, Harpur College brings a published poet share his or her work with the audience. Tony Medina `02, who recently earned a Master's in English from BU and is now working towards a Ph.D., enthralled the young writers with his own lyrical prose. "I was raised in the projects in the Bronx and we didn't have books in our home," he explained, "Kids were raised on TV." In the 9th grade, reading Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon for a book report changed his life. "From then on, I read anything I could get my hands on. I taught myself to write by reading." Medina won his first poetry contest in 12th grade and has since published 10 books.

"When we watch TV, we all get the same impression, but when we read a book, we all get something different because we add our imagination," Medina said. He read from DeShawn Days, based on his own life and family. He told students to always read and write. "Be grateful for your early start in poetry."

A child poet, all grown up, Tony Medina `01 read his latest work to a packed audience of like-minded children.

After Medina's presentation, students read their own work to one another in the Lecture Hall. Each student received a bound anthology of their collected works, prepared by the Harpur College Dean's Office.

Each child took center stage for a moment and read his or her own poetry to students, teachers, relatives and friends.

Poetry and the Children Day was established as a memorial to Robert Pawlikowski, a published poet, creative writing instructor, and campus administrative assistant, who died in 1975. The event is a tribute to the efforts he made during his lifetime in nurturing the expressive and intellectual powers of his students as well as those of his own children.

Poetry and the Children Day is also sponsored by the Oakdale mall and Susan Clark-Johnson `76, the former publisher of the Binghamton Evening Press, the predecessor of the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin.

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Harpur College Mourns Bartle Professor Leon J. Goldstein

Leon J. Goldstein, 75, who taught philosophy at Harpur College for 39 years, died Friday, May 24, 2002, just over a month before he was to become a Bartle professor, a pre-retirement status with reduced hours and teaching loads. Goldstein was buried Monday, May 28, following ceremonies at Beth David Synagogue, Binghamton. He received his BA from Brooklyn College and his master's and doctoral degrees from Yale University, and taught briefly at Brandeis University, the University of Maryland, and City College of New York. Goldstein joined Harpur College's faculty in 1963. He was the author of two books and more than 30 papers and was a past editor of International Studies in Philosophy. Goldstein was a member of several professional societies including the American Philosophical Association. Locally, he was past president of Beth David Synagogue and chairman of the school board for Hillel Academy of Broome County. Goldstein is survived by his wife, Claire, a daughter and a son.

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Faces of the Future 2002: Jay Oddi`02

This is the third article in a 4-part series highlighting seniors graduating from Harpur College, written by Kimberly Gilboord `02.

These words exemplify the true purpose of having student activities and the value of their existence. Jay Oddi was a psychology major who recently graduated from Harpur College. He calls both Liverpool, NY, and South Carolina home, but he plans on studying public administration at SUNY Albany this coming fall. Oddi added, "I'm sad about leaving the friends I've made here over the past four years, but I'm definitely looking forward to meeting new people and having new experiences."

Oddi has certainly made a large and varied group of friends during his time spent in Harpur College. His campus involvement has introduced him to many different kinds of people. Oddi worked in many areas around campus, such as the Harpur Academic Advising Office, and he was a Binghamton University Tour Guide. In addition, Oddi served as the senior class president and the program director of WRHW, the campus radio station. When asked about his numerous and impressive commitments, Oddi off-handedly commented, "Well, I used to be involved in a lot more, but I just didn't have the time, so I decided I would be happier to be able to give more attention and time to just my favorite group activities." Oddi’s motivated personality has also inspired him to help plan Senior night, Spring Fling and Picnic in the Park, to just name a few.

Oddi's extracurricular activities are not the only impressive part of his resume. His academic work and experience are also quite extensive. One of Oddi's goals is to become a guidance counselor. "My psychology classes have helped me put more focus to my future. I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Westerman’s Cognition class. I was nervous about the subject when I signed into the course, but she made it interesting and enjoyable for me." Another one of Oddi's favorite classes was Dr. Vos's Shakespeare seminar. "I still talk about that one!"

Oddi’s incredible academic and leadership skills have made him a leader among the students here. He is a strong voice not only of the class of 2002, but of Binghamton's campus as a whole. His natural motivation and outgoing personality will take him far. We can expect great things out of yet another exceptional Harpur College graduate.

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In response to your much-appreciated feedback, the Harpur Hotline has begun a regular feature of alumni news. Send us anything you want: publications, promotions, marriages, babies, graduations, retirements, or anything else you wish to share. We want to share the good news about our Harpur friends and family. A great, big thank you to everyone who sent in their stories. Here's what a few of your fellow Harpur alumni are doing:

1965: Abigail (Abbie) Mohn Cable has retired after teaching special education in a prison and an alternative school for 25 years. She graduated in May 2002 from the two-year Professional Crafts - Fiber program of Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC. Cable lives in Asheville, NC, where she spins, weaves, and teaches the fiber arts.

1975: Matthew Melmed graduated from SUNY Buffalo Law School in 1978. Since 1995, he has served as executive director of ZERO TO THREE: The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families in Washington, D.C. Melmed explained, "It is the leading national resource on the first years of life. We have an extensive program in five areas: Knowledge Development, Professional Education and Program Consultation, Public Awareness and Parent Education, Leadership Development, and Policy Analysis and Development."

1995: Kasi Binder was married on August 19, 2001 to Stephen Bowen at the former Windows on the World in New York City. Theresa Macalisang `95 served as Maid of Honor.. Other alumni who attended the wedding include Sonal Bhalla, eric Fields, Price Fradin, Elana (Powers) Mari, Marc Mayer, Lisa Miller, Brad Schwartz, Mami Sheren, Mami Silverman, Felice Wohlstetter, all from the class of 1995, Alan Delman, Michelle Mayer, Christie Sudol, all from the class of 1996, and Rex Macalisang `94. Binder is a Senior HR Representative at ISO, where her husband works as an actuary. The couple resides in Manhattan.

1998: Alex Weider spent the month of May starring in the New York premiere of "Reading Hebron," a Canadian play about the 1994 Hebron Massacre. Following graduation, he went to London to study theater at the British American Drama Academy. Upon his return, he acted in the Berkshire Theater Festival and toured with the National Theater for Children. Weider's future plans include remaining in New York, pursuing his acting career, and continuing to act in short films and Off-off Broadway productions.

Please send all information and photos (.jpg preferred) to Ingrid Husisian, Hotline Editor, at husisian@binghamton.edu or by mail to the Harpur College Dean's Office, LN 2430, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000. We look forward to hearing from you!

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