Mary Edwards, PT faculty

Mary Edwards, Adjunct Professor with CCE, Department of History of Art and Design; Senator in Current Term

I have been on the faculty at Pratt since 1985. I teach the Survey of Art History I and II, Twentieth-century Art, Native American Art and Italian Renaissance Art. If re-elected to Pratt's Academic Senate, I would continue to vote responsibly on motions discussed in camera; to serve on Board-of-Trustees committees; and to participate in senate-sponsored meetings and interviews. In addition, I would invite constituents to e-mail me their concerns so that I could carry them to the senate floor. As senator in the present term, I sat on the Academic Affairs Committee where I helped design the new course matrix, not ideal but necessary because of Pratt's limited classroom space. I also helped develop the new Intellectual Property Policy in a sub-committee, drafting its Frequently-Asked-Questions section.

Cheryl Gross, PT faculty

Cheryl Gross, Adjunct Assistant Professor; has been teaching in the Undergraduate Communications Design Department for eleven years. During her tenure in the COMD Department and as an instructor for the School for Professional Studies Pre-College program, she has not only worked tirelessly to maximize her students’ learning, but she has also developed new coursework to meet the demands of the changing landscape of communication arts, such as digital motion illustration and digital portfolio development.

In addition to fulfilling her responsibilities as a faculty member, Ms. Gross has also contributed in other ways to the success of the department. She has served on the Faculty Peer Committee, has attended Open House, National Portfolio Day, and Commencement activities on a regular basis, and has worked with Student Activities.

Ms. Gross also works as a professional painter, illustrator, and new media artist. Her work has been shown around the world.

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George Hirose, PT faculty

George Hirose, Adjunct Associate Professor, Media Arts Department

I have been teaching at Pratt since 1989 and I am currently the Photo Coordinator for the Media Arts Dept. I have served on various committees including Faculty Search and Peer Review Committees and I am currently chairing a Curriculum Review Committee. I am a strong proponent of modernizing our facilities and staying competitive on a technological level. At the same time I am particularly interested in how Pratt integrates its emphasis on new technology without destroying or ignoring the important aspects of a solid traditional base in a student’s education. I am an exhibiting artist and I also have many years of professional experience as a photographer working for a variety of museum and cultural organizations. I am always looking for ways that we can professionalize the Photo Program, expand our resources and connections beyond the campus, and prepare our students for life after Pratt.

Tom LaPadula, PT faculty

Tom LaPadula (Adjunct Professor CCE, Undergraduate Communications Design) has been an illustrator for 27 years, working in both reflective and digital media. Over the years, his work has appeared in every venue of illustration, both in this country and abroad. In 1986 he began teaching Methods and Media at Pratt Institute. He co-wrote the syllabus and curriculum for HD 511, The History of Illustration, and last year wrote two provisional courses, COMD-509P-02, Advanced Imaging in Photoshop, and COMD-481P-01, Digital Painting. Tom is currently serving on the Joint Committee on Visiting Status. Pratt is currently facing critical issues in structure and curriculum that will affect its academic future. The wealth of knowledge that Tom has accumulated both as a working illustrator and teacher will strengthen the senate and help Pratt navigate the road ahead.

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Jenny Lee, PT faculty

Jenny Lee is a sculptor and since 1997, has been teaching welding & sculpture in the Fine Arts Department. She is President of the Senate, where she served as Secretary-Treasurer in the previous term, 2001-04.

“I am running for re-election to the Senate in order to continue and advance the initiatives of the past two terms. My principal objective in the Senate has been to develop and strengthen faculty self-governance. On a structural level, we have clarified that the Senate is an independent representative of faculty. Our independence has enabled us to secure and maintain increases in budget & resources, which has helped us initiate and sponsor exciting, new programs and dialogs and connect faculty, students and administration by way of websites, listservs, corresponding print communications and in-person forums.

In addition to continuing these efforts, I would work to focus the Senate on five, key issues:
    1. establishing the primacy of learning and teaching at Pratt;
    2. strengthening faculty role in academic matters & governance;
    3. increasing budget available for academic initiatives;
    4. expanding the availability of our stipend policy to more
        functions, especially for part-time faculty; and
    5. supporting professional development, including advocacy of
        expanded health & other benefits for faculty, including part-timers.

I want to continue a Senate for the faculty, by the faculty"

Eric O'Toole, PT faculty

Eric O'Toole, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Grad Communications Design

Eric O’Toole is a graduate of Pratt Institute’s Industrial Design program and gleefully teaches in the Graduate Communication and Packaging Design Department where he has joyously educated students for nearly 15 years now. He is the owner and Design Director of an exhibition design firm that creates interpretive exhibitions for clients across the country. His clients have included Children’s Museums, History Museums and the National Park Service. This work has allowed Eric to work in a multi-disciplinary manner with artists, educators, historians, media specialists and designers of every ilk. This has been an extraordinary experience that he feels reflects the future of design as disciplines continue to merge with each technological advance.

Eric is a dedicated educator in both his work at Pratt and with his company and feels this passion and experience would be a great asset within the Senate.

Jack Schecterson, PT faculty

Jack Schecterson (AOS Program)

Kim Sloane, PT faculty

Kim Sloane, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Foundation Art
Biography: Graduated Yale University, 1977 and recieved the MFA from Parsons in 1993. My work and more information can be found at the following website.

I have taught at Pratt since 1999. Like many part timers I have a second job, and at times have held three. As part timers we carry a 75% load, and needless to say, do not recieve commensurate pay or benefits. Yet, we are the backbone of the school.

The adminstration, and often our full time colleagues, need to be reminded of the extraordinary difficulties we face in maintaining energy and quality in the classroom given the schedules we part timers must maintain in order to survive. A first step in recognizing this would be to review the compensation of part time faculty and open up the health benefits those who have given years of service to the Institute. On the senate, I would, at every opportunity, remind those in power of the difficulties that the we face as part time member of the faculty and work for change.

Robin Starbuck, PT faculty

Robin Starbuck, Visiting Assistant Professor, Associate Degree Programs; is a mult-media/installation artist who holds her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Installation & Performance Art. She exhibits her work in installation, video, and experimental drawing nationally & internationally. Before relocating to New York City in 2002, she taught as a full time Assistant Professor of Art in sculpture & new media for Wesleyan College in Georgia and as an Adjunct Professor in critical writing for the Atlanta College of Art.

In addition to teaching, Robin has significant experience in Academic Administration and has served on many committees including curriculum, gender studies, library, computer focus, visiting artist, and women's studies committees. She seeks to expand her service to Pratt and to become more closely involved with fellow faculty members and with curriculum development.

"I feel that the Pratt Manhattan program is a vital aspect of education at Pratt Institute and I would work towards establishing more open communication between faculty of both campuses. As one of our goals in the AOS program is to send well prepared students on to the Brooklyn campus for their BFA, I would like to see us work more closely in a shared understanding of curriculum goals for students and research opportunities for faculty."

Sean Sullivan, PT faculty

Sean Sullivan is an adjunct assistant professor in the department of Digital Arts where he has taught for ten years. An independent filmmaker, he has an MFA in fine art and currently serves as Secretary on the Academic Senate.

"I feel this is a positive and pivotal moment in Pratt’s history. The institute is facing important choices regarding the extent of faculty participation in determining its future direction from departmental to institutional levels. Pratt is a community and the Senate, among its other functions, serves a vital role in receiving input and communicating information between the faculty (part-time and full-time) and the administration and the board. The Senate is maturing as a representative body and I will strive to ensure meaningful faculty participation and stronger advocacy for all faculty, at all levels of the institute. I support stronger cooperation between the Senate and the Union. I will also look to promote better communication amongst our faculty and foster stronger bonds within our community."