Professor Stephanie Kelly of Geography and Regional Planning (GARP) at Westfield State University (WSU) is no novice to the department. For a long time, she was the only female in the department where she began teaching in 1986. Since that time she has attracted nearly 700 non-planning majors to her courses. Best known for being a role model to young female students, she has mentored 102 female students and explained how women play an active role in the field to over 300 male students. She has many connections and frequently connects students with internships. It’s no surprise that with all this hard work, she’s being recognized with the Faye Seigfriedt Award.

Each year, Massachusetts’ Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-MA) honors one planner who has significantly contributed to the advancement of women in the field of planning. Kelly was the 2011 recipient. Kelly received her honor at the Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors Annual Awards and Holiday Luncheon at Faneuil Hall in Boston this past December.

The award efforts were led by colleague professor Marijoan Bull. In addition to sending a letter recommending Kelly for the award to the APA-MA, Bull had to collect a total of 15 letters of support from fellow professors, former students now working in the planning field, and one current student.

Though the process was a long one, Bull was happy to support her colleague.

“It is important to acknowledge the work of people who choose careers where they can make a difference, and we so infrequently take the time to celebrate accomplishments,” Bull said. “Professor Kelly has nurtured the Regional Planning program at Westfield into a strong, well respected degree.  I have seen how hard she works and the long hours she puts in to support her students. I felt that her 25 years of work deserved recognition.”

Former student Christine Flynn attributes Kelly as the reason she is currently working in the field. Originally a political science major, Flynn took several geography and planning classes for fun, something Kelly noticed.  One day during her junior year, Flynn was approached by Kelly and encouraged to meet with her to go over the requirements for the GARP department just in case Flynn ever wanted to change her major.

Now the Economic Development and Affordable Housing Planner for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Flynn remains grateful for Kelly’s support and encouragement both during her time at Westfield State and afterward.

 “Professor Kelly has always provided candid and honest advice, and has been a great sounding board for both students and colleagues,” said Flynn. “Her constant support throughout my academic and professional career has made my life that much easier and for that I will always be grateful.”

In many cases, Kelly is directly responsible for placing female GARP students at internship sites. Students joke that she has professional connections in nearly every state and can always find the right match for them.  Current student Elizabeth Abate ’12 already had a deep respect for Kelly after she dropped everything to help her improve her grade in her “Legal Issues in Zoning and Planning” course to prevent her from withdrawing, so naturally Abate turned to her when looking for an internship site. Kelly placed Abate with a developer in Worcester, but her support didn’t end there.

“Even after I got my internship she would call me with encouragement and see how everything was progressing,” Abate said.

Once students graduate, Kelly remains in touch with them, often inviting them back to campus to speak to her classes about their work.

“Her commitment to women students does not end at graduation, as she is there down the road to assist with graduate school decisions or forward job opportunities,” Bull said.

Kelly also reaches to students outside the GARP department. Her course “Introduction to Community Planning” is a big hit to non-GARP majors and has taught them the importance planning plays in communities. Recently, she collaborated with a general mathematics course that required students to use Google Sketch-Up to model buildings in downtown Westfield, applying practical math skills to the field.

Kelly is humble, yet appreciative of the award.

“It was extremely gratifying to me that the American Planning Association recognized my lifetime work,” Kelly said. “The award validates my career goal to mentor and serve as a role model for future planners.”

Throughout her career, Kelly has worked in a variety of different planning environments including developing strategic plans for medical clinics in Brazil, Australia, and Thailand. She has both studied and taught abroad during her sabbaticals. At local level, she served on the Sustainability Committee in Northampton that developed action plans to create pedestrian-friendly pathways across the city, improve energy efficiency in municipal buildings, and develop pocket parks. 

Despite her experience in the field, Kelly says she’s most proud of her work inside the classroom.

“My passion still is teaching students professional planning skills, and preparing them to make decisions that will shape our communities for a sustainable future.”

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There are many different traditions associated with the month of February: Valentine’s Day, President’s Day Weekend, February Vacation if you’re lucky. At Westfield State University, students have a different kind of tradition that has lasted a decade and is still going strong: a performance of The Vagina Monologues.

Since 2002, Westfield State students have hosted a production of The Vagina Monologues, a play that highlights female empowerment by intertwining monologues that mix tragedy, comedy, and dramatic scenes. The play was introduced ten years ago by student intern Jessica Castro who was helping organize “Month Celebrating Women” on campus and it quickly began a tradition.

The play’s monologues tackle subjects as serious as rape and genital mutilation and the more light hearted issues of sex, love, and birth. Each year, there is a different spotlight monologue. Last year’s was dedicated to the women and girls of Haiti who faced increased violence after the 2010 earthquake.  This year, the spotlight is on the women of Port-Au-Prince, New Orleans, and Bukavu.

This year, male students will participate for the very first time. The Vagina Monologues director Shawna Manning ’12 said the incorporation of men is long overdue.

“We are thriving for gender equality, so it seems silly to keep the sexes separate,” Manning said. “The men involved are very passionate about women's rights, and I am very excited to show the audience how great they are.”

Manning also said that though the play has a stigma of being targeted towards women, men might just enjoy it too.

“I have had many men confess to me that they were frightened to buy a ticket for the show, but were pleasantly surprised after the final bows,” Manning said. “I mean, who doesn't have a woman in their lives that they love? Whether it be your mother, sister, girlfriend, aunt, wife, or yourself. It is important for everyone to see the show for that special woman in their life.”

Event organizer Katelyn Anderstrom ‘12 agrees that men can both enjoy the show and appreciate its importance.

“All of the issues brought up in The Vagina Monologues are completely relevant to our life and everyone should be aware of them,” Anderstrom said. “The show allows for women and men to become more empowered by the voices in the production.”

The Vagina Monologues will be performed on Friday February 24^th and Saturday February 25^th at 7:30 pm in Dever Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the door at $3 for students and seniors and $5 for the general public.  One hundred percent of the proceeds from the shows go to charities. This year, the money will be going towards the V-Day Campaign which raises awareness about violence towards women and issues affecting women, and the organization SAFER, Students Active For Ending Rape.

Faculty Advisor and performer Dr. Rebecca Burwell of the psychology department has been involved in the production for five years and believes it is a must see in order to create more awareness of women’s issues.

“Student-run and directed The Vagina Monologues is not just a performance; it reflects a movement to raise awareness about issues affecting girls and women across the globe,” Burwell said. “Males and females alike will benefit from attending this performance; it not only educates us on these important issues, but it also reminds us that we're all in this together.  Awareness can make the difference.”

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There will be an artist reception at the gallery on Wednesday, February 29  from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm  and on Wednesday, March 7 at 9:30 am, Trombly will present a lecture on his work , entitled “Confluence of Creativity: Similarities between composing music and making visual art.”

““For me, the need to make art has been a driving force in my life,” said Trombly. “Whether it’s working with and organizing sounds over time, or more recently colors, materials and shapes in space; my work is about turning initially vague, fleeting and amorphous ideas into solid, concrete and comprehensible works of art.  My experiences composing and creating musical structures inform my current work in the visual arts.”

“We are thrilled to host the work of Preston Trombly at the WSU Arno Maris Campus Gallery,” said Faith Lund, gallery curator.  “His idea of putting musical compositions in visual fine art form is very innovative.  We witness the combination of two artistic disciplines.  He has a very impressive resume and is happy to share his background with Westfield State University students and faculty as well as the community of Westfield.  He is bringing his creative genius to our doorstep.”

Regular gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday from 2-5 pm, Thursday from 2-7 pm and Saturday 1-5 pm. You may call 413-572-4400 or visit westfield.ma.edu/galleries for more information. To learn more about the artist, visit prestontrombly.com.

Public Comment on Westfield State University

Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

209 Burlington Road, Suite 201

Bedford, MA  01730-1433

E-mail: cihe@neasc.org

Public comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution.  The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups.  Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments.  Public Comments must be received by April 4, 2012.  The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.

• Self-Study for Reaccreditation Spring 2012

Since 1974, Westfield State has held special events during the month of February dedicated to informing students, faculty, and staff as well as the community about the importance of black history, culture, and traditions. The events were originally organized by retired Emeritus Professor Dr. Robert Brown and Donald Ford, the first Affirmative Action Officer on campus. Multicultural Affairs Director Waleska Lugo-DeJesus said there are advantages for people of all races in celebrating Black History Month.

“For people of color I believe it is a time to take a pause and remember our history and how far we have come since the Civil Rights Movement,” Lugo-DeJesus said. “For others it is a time to enter into conversations they have never had and to be open to new ideas. Maybe most importantly, it is a time to be proud of our heritage while fully appreciating and sharing our diverse culture.”

Events include a screening of the film A Prince Among Slaves on February 9^th , a performance by Step Afrika!, the first nationally recognized company dedicated to the tradition of stepping on February 10^th,  and the Sankofa Black History Month Luncheon complete with a traditional ethnic menu on February 24^th. 

Westfield State’s month of events blends historic elements of black culture with contemporary issues.  Because African Americans are at a higher risk for heart disease, the Emergency Medical Services club will provide testing for high blood pressure on February 8^th and the 22^nd. Career services will hold meetings on how to prepare for job interviews.

For more information about Black History Month events, please visit www.westfield.ma.edu/bhm or contact Waleska Lugo-DeJesus at 572-8836.

“It is reality that higher education has become a major economic driver in mid‐to‐large markets. This change represents a shift in how these towns do business and how they think about themselves,” said Dr. Dobelle, president, Westfield State University. “Understanding the value and extent of influence these institutions contribute should provide leverage for future economic development.”

The influence of Metroversities extends beyond teaching and research. They have evolved into the role of community and business partner, positively contributing to the quality of life for all who work, live, and study there. This is especially true as many metropolitan economies have experienced significant downturns in business, financial, and manufacturing activities while becoming home to larger numbers of students, now living and spending money in cities across America, who have become what Dobelle calls “permanent tourists.”

Metropolitan policy experts agree. "In providing an empirical look at higher education expenditures and their multiplier effect, the Metroversities study helps to confirm the huge impact colleges and universities have on metropolitan economies," says Jennifer S. Vey, fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution.

Specifically, Dr. Dobelle examines the metroversity economic effects in annual per capita higher education expenditures as well as the economic multiplier effect of those expenditures within a given metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and/or metropolitan division (MD). The economic multiplier is the amount spent by an institution’s employees, students, etc. who buy enough goods to support additional numbers of other local jobs. Dobelle also breaks out annual business and finance expenditures as well as production expenditures.

Ranking of Top 10 Metroversity - Impacted Urban Areas:

1.    Boston
2.    Raleigh
3.    Baltimore
4.    San Jose
5.    Philadelphia
6.    San Francisco
7.    Seattle/Nashville (tied)
8.    Atlanta
9.    Pittsburgh
10.  Washington, D.C.

Dr. Dobelle published his first higher education economic impact survey in 2006, when he was president of the New England Board of Higher Education, one of the four federally authorized regional consortiums of colleges in America. His 2009 re‐examination of the initial rankings was prompted in part by the change in the United States economy and the desire to track the evolution and growing sophistication of efforts by institutions of higher learning to save their cities from increasing blight.

Evan Dobelle is president of Westfield State University in Westfield, Mass. He has served as president of five other institutions of higher education, as well as in government positions at the federal, state, and local level. Dr. Dobelle is an internationally respected educator and public official who has been honored for his hands-on experience spearheading public/private partnerships to significantly enhance the campus and community at each of the institutions he has led. He holds bachelors and master’s degrees and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a master’s in Public
Administration from Harvard University.

To view the complete study, visit www.westfield.ma.edu/metroversities.

Phase two of the $1.5 million project, to be completed in sumPhase One of Renovations Complete: Westfield State Opens Library to Students, Faculty, and Staffmer of 2012, will include new lighting and furniture, additional study rooms, a larger classroom, updates to the university archives, and safety and infrastructure upgrades. This last phase of the library renovation is being coordinated with the larger Ely Hall renovation project, and is closely tied to the new 400-bed dormitory north of Ely Hall.

“Together, these projects constitute a significant commitment to the future of the university and to its students,” Raffensperger said.

The competition, entitled “Words With Friends”, will be similar in format to the Scripps National Spelling Bees that have become a television staple. Students will be given a word and have 20 seconds to spell it correctly. If they do so, the next student will attempt a word, and so on.

The Circle K Club, the collegiate affiliate of Kiwanis, is focused on community service on campus and in the surrounding local area. The Westfield State Circle K Club is a highly active branch, boasting one of the largest memberships in the New England region.

“In an effort to keep current and fresh, we had a club assignment last year to think of some new events we could hold on campus that would be large, “ said Circle K co-president Sarah Fregeau. “So a few of my friends and I were talking and the idea of a Spelling Bee on campus for 5th graders came to mind. We haven't directly connected with the children yet so we saw this as an amazing opportunity to get the children involved and have a small, playful competition among them.”

 “The idea for this project came entirely from the Circle K members with the support of the Kiwanis Club of Westfield,” said Barbara Trant, volunteer coordinator for the Westfield public schools. “That is where I come in as a member of the Westfield Kiwanis Club and an employee of Westfield Public Schools. I have been happy to support this opportunity for our Westfield Public Schools students.”

Adam Wright, President of the Kiwanis Club of Westfield will be reading the selected words to the competitors. The bee will also be televised and aired on channel 15 at a later date.

“This will hopefully be a great experience for the kids because it's a light-hearted competition and they are exposed to our college and it gets the community together to see what good things WSU is doing for them,” said Fregeau. “We truly just want to show the community a good, fun time and hope they have as much fun as we have had planning this for them.”

The 12 finalists are Caleb Hazzard and Corey Fiddler from Munger Hill Elementary, Saniya Khawaja and Alanna Barzola from Paper Mill Elementary, Michael Lurgio and Lilya Biley from Southampton Road Elementary, Halie Stone and Tetyana Panchelyuga from Franklin Avenue Elementary School, Tanner Beebe and Brooke Frisbie from Highland Elementary, and Damon Lansing and Nadezhda Belokopytova from Abner Gibbs Elementary.

For more information, please visit schoolsofwestfield.org.

A sure-fire way to revive a downtown area is a steady influx of young people with money to spend at coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques. At least that’s what city officials are banking on as Westfield State University plans to expand its off-campus housing offerings in downtown Westfield.

Westfield State Foundation, the financial arm of the university, announced last Tuesday it has sold one of its original buildings to University Housing LLC, a Peter Pan Bus Lines Company.

The former Westfield Normal School at 27 Washington St., built in the 1800s, will be converted into a 23-unit market-rate apartment building that will house up to 100 students. The property, which will be managed by Opal Real Estate Group of Springfield, another Peter A. Picknelly company, will complement nearby Landsdowne Place, an apartment complex that houses 216 WSU students.

The rehabilitation of the historic red brick building is the kind of project that has helped older downtown districts – Northampton immediately comes to mind – jump start other developments.

The addition of new residents near downtown is a critical piece of Westfield’s downtown revitalization efforts. As we have noted before, there is no reason why Westfield – with a 6,000-student university nearby – cannot create its own version of downtown Northampton, where student from Smith College, the University of Massachusetts and other nearby colleges helped turn into a restaurant and entertainment mecca.

The city of Westfield, which retains much of its 19th and early 20th century charm – and the university are planting the right seeds. We hope the university’s partnership with the city helps downtown Westfield achieve that critical mass.