At a Glance
N E W S F R O M T H E S T E I N H A R D T S C H O O L O F C U LT U R E , E D U C AT I O N , A N D H U M A N D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M U N I T Y
FA L L 2 0 0 9
Cross-Cultural Study Looks at Role of
School in Students' Development
Despite empirical studies showing
that children’s psychological and
academic outcomes are influenced
Photo by Chianan Yen
by school context in the United
Agnieszka Roginksa and Robert Rowe of the NYU Steinhardt Music Technology and Music
Composition programs in the brand new, state-of-the-art James L. Dolan Music Recording Studio.
States, few cross-national studies
have been done on school climate
and its effect on adolescent
development. New research led by
Niobe Way, professor of applied
psychology at NYU Steinhardt and
Yueming Jia, a researcher at China’s
Yueming Jia, a visiting scholar at Steinhardt’s
Institute of Human Development and Social
Change, with Niobe Way, professor in the
Department of Applied Psychology
Southeast University and a visiting
Steinhardt Unveils State-of-the-Art
James L. Dolan Music Recording Studio
This past December, the Depart-
ing studios in an academic setting.
ment of Music and Performing Arts
Audio connectivity allows for live
Professions unveiled the new James
recording from the Frederick Loewe
L. Dolan Music Recording Studio, a
Theatre, located on the ground
7,500 square foot teaching and
floor.
production complex located on the
“We’re thrilled to open the new
scholar at NYU’s Institute of Human
Way and Jia, along with a
Development and Social Change,
research team of scholars from the
adds significant findings to the
U.S, Canada, and China, studied
literature on the similarities and dif-
1,400 middle school students in
ferences between the two cultures.
continued on page 3
Macinko Awarded $435,000 to Study
Black-White Mortality Disparities
6th floor of 35 West 4th Street.
James L. Dolan Music Recording
James Macinko, associate professor in Steinhardt’s
Made possible in part by a generous
Studio,” said Dean Mary Brabeck.
Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public
donation by the Dolan Family
“The combination of audio excel-
Health, has been awarded a grant from the National
Foundation, this state-of-the-art
lence, research focus, and educa-
Institute of Child Health and Development titled “Explain-
research area and recording studio
tional possibility strengthens both
ing Black-White Differences in Avoidable Mortality in the
was designed by the Walter Storyk
the pedagogical and research
USA, 1980-2006.” The $435,000 award will be shared
Design Group, legendary designers
missions of our school. The new
between Macinko and the project’s co-principal investi-
of recording studios and audio
studios provide our faculty and
gator, Irma Elo, professor and director of the University
facilities around the world.
students with a stunning environ-
A genuine architectural and
ment and the latest technological
James Macinko
of Pennsylvania’s Population Studies Center. Macinko and
Elo’s project proposes new ways to analyze black-white mortality dispari-
acoustical showcase, the studio is
equipment to support their
ties by investigating the contribution of causes of death considered pre-
one of the most advanced record-
creative and scholarly work.”
ventable by high-quality medical care and health policy interventions.
INSIDE
2 Working at the Hyphen 3 School Success 4 Promotion and Tenure Awards 5 From Our Blogs 6 Six Floors of Art
2 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Working at the Hyphen: Spotlight on Collaborations
CELLIST DUO-LIN PENG SEARCHES FOR THE ORIGIN OF
WRIST PAIN WITH HAND SPECIALIST JANE BEAR-LEHMAN
Educational Theatre Meets Nutrition for
Active Learning Exercise on World Hunger
Duo-Lin Peng, a docLast spring when Niyati Parekh, an
toral candidate in the
Department of Music
assistant professor in Steinhardt’s
and Music Professions,
program in public health, and
is an award-winning
Christina Marin, an assistant
cellist who stopped
professor in educational theatre,
playing because of wrist
were having lunch, they began to
pain. Jane Bear-Lehman,
wonder what it would be like for
associate professor and
students studying world hunger to
chair of the Department
experience it firsthand rather than
of Occupational Thera-
reading about it.
Christina Marin, left, and Niyati Parekh
well as affluent nations, who had
Marin explained to Parekh that in
come together to discuss policies
orthopedic and upper
educational theatre courses the stu-
and strategies to combat hunger.
limb rehabilitation and a member of Peng’s dissertation committee.
dents often take ‘experiential jour-
py, is a specialist in
Duo-Lin Peng and hand specialist Jane Bear-Lehman
To further simulate the experi-
neys’ where they step into roles and
ence of hunger, “fasters” found a
“The Unpublished Manuscripts of Cellist and Teacher Luigi Silva:
explore unfamiliar experiences.
buffet of food in their classroom
Implications of The Vademecum for String Playing.”
Parekh wondered if the ‘role play’
that they could not afford, but they
approach could work in her Intro-
did have an unlimited supply of
duction to Public Health Nutrition
brown water to drink.
At-a-Glance spoke to them about Peng’s dissertation proposal,
Tell us about your research.
Duo-Lin Peng: Early in cellist Luigi Silva’s studies, his teachers suggested that he consider another instrument because his hands were
too small for the cello. For this reason, he spent a lot of time exploring studies of the human body and movement. Silva’s philosophies
and methods toward string playing saved me from abandoning the
cello. My goal is to investigate, restore, and interpret Silva’s unpub-
class, and the two came up with an
World leaders debated the most
exercise that combined in-class
effective policies for eradicating
fasting with a discussion on interna-
hunger.
tional nutrition and public policy.
Parekh’s students were divided
“Each country came up with
strategies and there were argu-
into groups. There were students
ments and fights,” Parekh said.
who fasted overnight and arrived in
“There were some furious discus-
the classroom hungry and those
sions that lasted until we ended the
What is your role in Duo-Lin’s dissertation study?
that came to class fed and ready to
session.”
Jane Bear-Lehman: My passion and my area of specialization is hand
participate in a surprise activity. All
therapy. As Duo-Lin explained when we first met, Silva’s great talent
students were assigned roles as
ate and reflected on what they had
rested in his amazing ability to teach young people, and he had a
conference attendees, and were
learned, and both Parekh and Marin
special interest in developing the left-hand technique for cello play-
provided with information about
saw a deepened understanding of
ing. Duo-Lin sought me out for my ability to help him interpret the
major nutrition issues facing their
hunger and poverty.
actual biomechanical use of both hands for cello playing.
country as well as background
lished manuscript, and to explore his playing methods and philosophies and the implications of these theories on the string community.
Duo-Lin Peng: If Silva’s work sustained my playing career, then studying with Dr. Bear-Lehman widened my vision toward cello playing.
She has helped me to know my body parts and how they move in
relation to my specific requirements as a musician.
After the exercise the students
information about the country’s culture, language, religion, and gross
domestic product. In addition, students played the role of leaders and
representatives from developing, as
How do you think your collaboration will help others?
Jane Bear-Lehman: I was amazed to learn that in playing cello the
right and the left hands have different roles. I learned that the advent
of the endpin, which allows the cello to rest on the floor, significantly
altered the position of the cello against the player. By following the
technique recommended by Silva, Duo-Lin tells me that he can hear
whether his students are using the correct biomechanical alignment
and movement patterns while playing. For an occupational therapist,
it is very interesting to analyze how posture and motor control
patterns create music, and then express that for those in the world
of music to understand.
Duo-Lin Peng: I cannot stress enough the importance of this kind of
cross-departmental research. Not every musician has the kind of
opportunity we have here at NYU. But for me, the best part is that
I can now play the cello with greater biomechanical understanding —
and I won’t need painkillers for a while.
In Niyati Parekh’s Introduction to Public Health Nutrition, students took part in an in-class
exercise that combined fasting with a discussion of international public policy. “We absolutely
took the students out of their learning comfort zone,” said Christina Marin of Steinhardt's
program in educational theatre, who collaborated with Parekh on the exercise.
STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 3
Words and Music
Steinhardt’s Programs in
Foreign Language Education and
Jazz Studies Colloborate
Carolyn Graham and Lixing (Frank) Tang of
Steinhardt’s TESOL program wrote the words.
Dave Schroeder, director of the jazz studies
program, composed the music. The result is
China Chants II: Practicing the Rhythm of
American English (Shanghai Foreign Language
From left to right: Dean Mary Brabeck, Fabienne Doucet, Bridget Hamre, and C. Cybele Raver
Education Press, 2008).
The book and CD have become a popular
learning tool for instructors of English as a s
econd language.
The interactive jazz background tracks
created by Schroeder for China Chants II were used to give rhythm and
cadence to the short English poems and chants that Graham, an adjunct
Policy Breakfast Series Kicks Off
with Panel on Strengthening
Chances of School Success
instructor, and Tang, director of the TESOL program, wrote together for
The focus of this year’s Steinhardt
validated in more than 3,000 class-
recitation by Chinese learners. The tracks were produced and played by
Policy Breakfast series is educa-
rooms and is currently used by the
Schroeder and Combo Nuvo, the
tional transitions from early child-
Office of Head Start to train its
NYU Jazz Faculty Artist Ensemble
hood through young adulthood.
Head Start grantees nationwide.
in Residence.
The three-part series recently
kicked off with a discussion called
C. Cybele Raver, professor of
tion” between two TESOL faculty
“Strengthening Children’s Chances
applied psychology and director of
members and a jazz musician has
of School Success before Kinder-
Steinhardt’s Institute of Human
been rewarding for the authors.
garten: Integrating New Evidence
Development and Social Change,
from Research and Practice.”
and Fabienne Doucet, assistant
“It was this element of surprise
Frank Tang, left, and Dave Schroeder
collaborated on China Chants II.
Responding to Hamre were
This “seemingly odd collabora-
throughout the project that was
most fulfilling,” Schroeder said.
Featured speaker Bridget Hamre,
professor of teaching and learning.
associate director of the Center for
Raver discussed her work with the
“Each of us was forced to work outside of our areas of expertise, where in
Advanced Study of Teaching and
Chicago School Readiness Project,
the end we discovered our creative connection.”
Learning at University of Virginia’s
a model that provides professional
Curry School of Education, noted
development and coaching to Head
that now is an “exciting, but scary”
Start teachers, and her use of the
time for those who work on early
CLASS measurement tool. Doucet
childhood development, as the
discussed the importance not only
Obama administration begins
of children’s school readiness but
funding states to scale up early
also teacher’s school readiness.
childhood interventions. Hamre
In her view, teachers can best
developed an observational tool
succeed when there is information
that measures three distinct
sharing between parent and
domains of teacher-child interac-
teacher.
Steinhardt Researchers Explore Adolescent
Development in China and U.S.
continued from page 1
account for this difference between
New York City and Nanjing, China.
the Chinese and American cohorts.
The researchers were interested to
The study also revealed that
see how students’ perceptions of
higher levels of support from
school climate (as measured by
teachers and peers resulted in
teacher support, student support,
increased self-esteem and fewer
and opportunities for autonomy in
symptoms of depression in both
the classroom) vary by nationality
China and the United States.
and sex. They also examined how
“Our research shows that we
these factors affected psychological
have to stop thinking of schools as
development and academic
only influencing children’s grades
achievement.
and test scores,” said Way. “The
The study showed that the
Future events in the series will
support, classroom organization,
focus on educational transitions
and instructional support. The
during the middle school years and
measure, Classroom Assessment
the post-secondary transition to
Scoring System (CLASS) has been
college and career.
school context, including the teach-
Chinese students perceived higher
ers in them, impacts all aspects of
levels of support from teachers and
child and adolescent development.”
fellow students and reported more
tions in pre-K settings: emotional
Funding for the research came
THE NYU STEINHARDT MISSION
NYU Steinhardt advances knowledge, creativity, and innovation at the
support for autonomy in the class-
from China’s Ministry of
crossroads of human learning, culture, development, and well-being. Through
room than did the U.S. students. The
Education, New York University,
rigorous research and education, both within and across disciplines, the
authors speculate that the longer
the China Fund at Harvard
school's faculty and students evaluate and redefine processes, practices,
school day in China and the greater
University, The William T. Grant
and policies in their respective fields and, from a global as well as community
number of opportunities for student
Foundation, and the National
perspective, lead in an ever-changing world.
interaction during the day help
Science Foundation.
4 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Dean Announces Fall 2009 Promotion and Tenure Decisions
Steinhardt Dean Mary Brabeck has
Spencer Foundation as well as from
nals including Developmental Psy-
announced fall 2009 promotion and
the New York University and Stein-
chology, Early Childhood Research
1998), co-editor of Learning Togeth-
tenure decisions. “These are faculty
hardt School's Research Challenge
Quarterly, Journal of Educational
er Online (Erlbaum, 2005), and edi-
members who excel in research and
Funds. She has published her find-
Psychology, American Journal of
tor of Video Research in the Learning
teaching and contribute in impor-
ings in many journals, including
Community Psychology, and the
Sciences (Erlbaum, 2007). She is a
tant ways to their professions and
Research in the Teaching of English,
Journal of Applied Developmental
founding editorial board member of
the NYU and Steinhardt communi-
Educational Researcher, and the
Psychology. McWayne has received
the International Journal of CSCL, a
ties, as well as our local and global
Journal of Literacy Research. Beck is
funding from the National Institutes
board member of the Journal of the
society,” Brabeck said.
the co-editor (with Leslie Nabors
of Health, the Administration for
Learning Sciences, and has served as
Olah) of “Perspectives on Language
Children and Families (USDHHS),
the associate editor of the Journal
& Literacy: Beyond the Here & Now”
and the Society for the Study of
for Interactive Learning Research.
(Harvard Educational Review, 2001).
School Psychology.
Awarded Tenure
Ethnographer’s Journey (Erlbaum,
Goldman has been awarded
grants from the National Science
Susan A. Kirch (Department of
Teaching and Learning) is a science
Charlton McIlwain (Department of
Lisa Stulberg
Foundation, the Sloan Foundation,
educator and a biologist whose
Media, Culture, and Communica-
(Department
and Canada’s Social Sciences and
research
tion) studies issues related to the
of Humani-
Humanities Research Council,
includes
language and imagery of racial dis-
ties and
Natural Science and Engineering
investigations
course in American political life.
Social Sci-
Research Council, and National
of teaching
McIlwain is
ences in the
Centers of Excellence in
and learning
co-author of
Professions)
Telelearning.
science in
the forthcom-
researches
urban ele-
ing book Race
the politics
C. Cybele Raver (Department of
mentary
Appeal: The
of urban schooling, race and educa-
Applied Psychology) directs NYU's
schools and
Prevalence,
tion policy, affirmative action in
Institute of Human Development
studies of teacher learning in the
Purposes &
higher education, and school choice
and Social Change. Her research
areas of science and inclusion. She
Political Impli-
policy and politics. Stulberg is the
focuses on young children and fam-
has published chapters and articles
cations of
author of Race, Schools, and Hope:
ilies facing economic hardship, and
on school funding, inclusion, femi-
Racial Discourse in American Politics
African Americans and School Choice
examines the mechanisms that
nist pedagogy, and co-teaching in
(Temple, 2010), and co-editor of the
after Brown (Teachers College Press,
support chil-
such journals as Science Education,
forthcoming Routledge Companion
2008) and the co-editor (with Eric
dren's positive
School Science and Mathematics,
to Race & Ethnicity (Routledge,
Rofes) of The Emancipator Promise
outcomes in
Cultural Studies of Science Education,
2010). His work has also been pub-
of Charter Schools: Toward a Pro-
the policy
and the Journal of Science Teacher
lished in the International Journal of
gressive Politics of School Choice
contexts of
Education. Kirch is currently the
Press/Politics, Semiotica, Journal of
(SUNY Press, 2004). She is also
welfare reform
principal investigator of “The Scien-
Black Studies, TAMARA Journal of
co-editor (with Sharon L. Weinberg)
and early
tific Thinker Project,” an exploratory
Critical Postmodern Organizational
of the forthcoming Diversity in
intervention.
study of teaching and learning the
Science, American Behavioral Scien-
American Higher Education: Toward a
nature of scientific evidence in ele-
tist, and Communication Quarterly.
More Comprehensive Approach
research team currently conduct
(Routledge, 2011).
the Chicago School Readiness
mentary school, funded by the
Raver and her
National Science Foundation Dis-
Christine McWayne (Department of
Project (CSRP), a federally funded
covery Research, K-12 program.
Applied Psychology) studies how
RCT intervention. The Chicago
Promotion to Professor
School Readiness Project tests the
involvement,
Ricki Goldman (Department of
training and mental health
and neighbor-
Administration, Leadership, and
consultation services on Head Start
hood can
Technology) is co-director of the
classroom processes, on young
children's early skills, parenting,
family
Promotion to Associate
Professor with Tenure
impact of comprehensive teacher
Sarah Beck
affect low-
CREATE Lab.
children's self-regulation, and on
(Department
income chil-
She is a media
their academic achievement later
of Teaching
dren's social
in learning
on in kindergarten and first grade.
and Learning)
and academic
theorist, a
Raver has received a William T.
studies the
competen-
digital video
Grant Faculty Scholar award as
literacy devel-
cies. Her community-based
ethnographer,
well as support from the Spencer
opment of
research has taken place in Head
and software
Foundation, the MacArthur
adolescents
Start programs in New York City
inventor.
Foundation, the National Institutes
in school contexts. Beck's work has
and Philadelphia, and her research
Goldman is the author of Points of
of Health, and the National Science
been supported by grants from the
has been published in many jour-
Viewing Children’s Thinking: A Digital
Foundation.
STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 5
From Our Blogs
The Boring, Invisible Future of the Internet
Finn Brunton, a postdoctoral research fellow in
Steinhardt Institute Forums
Focus on Community Colleges
Steinhardt’s Department of Media, Culture, and
Communication, studies the history and politics of
Community colleges currently
computing, digital media, and information systems,
educate nearly half of all
“specifically the history of data mining and obfus-
undergraduate students, provide
cation — how people hide patterns.” When asked
vocational and occupational
about the future of the Internet he said: “I think
training, offer basic skills and ESL
the effect of networking our computers is only
programs, and support local
beginning to be felt, but the glamorous visibility of
community economic growth and
the Internet will be short-lived. Soon it will be
development. In the current
entirely boring, ubiquitous and invisible, and then the changes will really
economic climate, policy-makers,
kick in. There was a concept in the 1920s and 30s of ‘air-mindedness,’ an
foundations, and legislators are
evangelical fervor for flight, this utterly modern and thrilling technology
looking to community colleges
that evaporated as flying became increasingly banal — and increasingly
to retrain dislocated workers,
Teachers College, Columbia
profound in its effects on matters as diverse as commerce and war and
increase attainment and persist-
University, and director of the
migration. The same is true of the prefix ‘electro-,’ which was very exotic
ence rates for degree-seekers,
Community College Research
until electricity became a quotidian aspect of most every appliance and
and educate a larger and more
Center; Augusta Kappner, former
home. I’m watching with fascination as the Internet becomes truly boring as
diverse population of students
assistant secretary of education
a topic — saying you ‘read something online’ is as redundant as saying you
than ever before.
under Bill Clinton; and Gail
have an electro-blender — even as the changes we can make on ourselves
and our society through it ramify.”
The role of the community
college in New York City public
higher education was the focus of
Putting NYU Tweets in One Place
From left to right: Thomas Bailey, John
Mogulescu, and Augusta Kappner
Mellow, president of LaGuardia
Community College.
All of the institute’s guest
this fall’s Steinhardt Institute for
lecturers acknowledged the vital
Natan Edelsburg, a junior in the Department of
Higher Education Policy. Institute
role that two-year colleges play in
Media, Culture, and Communication, is interested in
public forums featured John
our nation’s higher education
new digital media, PR, social media tools, and
Mogulescu, senior university dean
system. The community college
advertising. He also likes Twitter, and through an
for academic affairs at the City
sector, which has typically been
intership with SawHorse Media, he created Global-
University of New York (CUNY)
severely underfinanced, has
Quad, a Twitter aggregation site. “GlobalQuad links
and the head of CUNY’s planning
received new attention from such
different schools across the country and the globe,
team for the new community
philanthropic organizations as the
and you really get a sense of those who have been
college; Thomas Bailey, George &
Gates Foundation and the Lumina
smart enough to venture onto Twitter to try and
Abby O’Neill Professor of
Foundation, as well as from the
Economics and Education at
federal government.
connect with current and prospective students,” Edelsburg said. Visitors
can read posts generated from Steinhardt’s Undergraduate Student
Government, NYU’s Alumni Association, and even select NYU faculty.
To read all official tweets from NYU and the Steinhardt School, visit
http://globalquad.com/school/nyu.
To learn more about what the Steinhardt community is thinking, visit our
blogs at http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/portal/news.
Musician and HIV Advocate Marcus
Ostermiller Is Cooke Foundation Scholar
Marcus Ostermiller, a pianist and master’s
degree candidate in Steinhardt’s Department of
Music and Performing Arts Professions, is the
Susan Kirch Awarded NSF Grant
recipient of a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Susan A. Kirch, an associate professor in the Department of Teaching and
Graduate Scholarship.
Learning, has been awarded a $448,800 grant from the National Science
Ostermiller, who attended three colleges as
Foundation (NSF) to study how 3rd and 4th grade students understand the
an undergraduate and struggled to succeed
nature of scientific evidence. Kirch, the principal investigator of the two-
en route to a piano performance degree at the
year exploratory project entitled “The Scientific Thinker Project,” is
University of Denver, was chosen by the
undertaking the study with co-investigators Catherine Milne, associate
foundation for his “extraordinary academic
professor of science education at Steinhardt, and Anna Stetsenko,
associate professor of psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center.
The researchers will develop and test two science curricular modules on
achievement, will to succeed, and the breadth of
his interest and activities.” An advocate for HIV/AIDS treatment and
awareness, Ostermiller has performed in benefits for the Colorado AIDS
students in the New York City public schools to provoke questions about
Project, the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network of Colorado, and the
scientific evidence and engage the students’ thinking.
HIV/AIDS Awareness Committee at the University of Denver.
“We aim to devise approaches that educators will use to teach the
nature of scientific evidence to young people, a population of students that
is routinely underestimated,” Kirch says.
The scholarship provides $50,000 a year for graduate study.
Exhibition at Straus Institute Features
Major New Works by Steinhardt Artists
Jesse Bransford is among Stein-
(Sisters), a photographic project
hardt faculty, student, and alumni
by Lyle Ashton Harris, and two
artists whose work is exhibited
large-scale outdoor relief sculp-
this fall at the School of Law’s
tures by Dave Hardy. Nancy
newly established Joseph and
Barton, artist and chair of Stein-
Gwendolyn Straus Institute for the
hardt’s Department of Art and Art
Advanced Study of Law & Justice.
Professions, curated the exhibit of
The mission of the institute is
100 artworks spread throughout
informed by the Jewish concept
six floors of the institute’s newly
of Torah LiShmah, ‘study for the
renovated townhouse.
purpose of study.’ Located at
22 Washington Square, the Straus
Institute creates an intellectual
community for scholars from
around the world and facilitates
their research, writing, and
scholarship on law and justice.
(‘We celebrate the glory of the
wandering and wondering mind,’
writes J.H.H. Weiler, director of
the institute.)
This ambitious exhibition
includes a mural by Bransford,
new video works by Peter Cam-
Jesse Bransford’s
artwork references
ancient texts from
religious, scientific,
and humanistic
sources. The symbols
in his work are a rich
source of discussion
for the Straus
Institute’s legal
scholars in residence
who study biblical
law. Bransford serves
as director of the
Steinhardt Department of Art and Art
Professions’ BFA
program.
Above and far left : A portion of
Three Pillars, 2009, Acrylic and
graphite on wall. Courtesy of
Jesse Bransford and Feature Inc.
At left, the artist Jesse Bransford
stands before Fortress, 2004,
which is also part of the Straus
exhibition.
pus (Beneath) and Sue de Beer
www.steinhardt.nyu.edu
Brady Galan
Chris Nichols
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tim Farrell
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Debra Weinstein
EDITOR
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education,
and Human Development
Office of the Dean
Joseph and Violet Pless Hall
82 Washington Square East
New York, NY 10003
FALL 2009
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