Faculty & Staff

We have a distinguished and highly trained faculty and support staff, who aim to impart their knowledge and skills to produce students who will become leaders in the fields of science, technology and public policy. In recent years this faculty has produced five books, published numerous peer reviewed journal articles and are widely sought to offer well-informed positions on key policy issues in the local and national print and electronic media. This faculty has generated over $ 2 million dollars in externally funded research projects, won two Miller fellowships, and several FEAD, PLIG and faculty research grants.

Photo Not Available

Cathy Berry
Staff Assistant, Science, Technology and Society Program
Departments of Ecomonics and Political Science

1355 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-2198
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: cabgsm@rit.edu

Ms. Berry provides administrative support to the Science, Technology and Society Program within the department as well as support of the Economics and Political Science Departments.

   
Deborah Blizzard

Deborah Blizzard, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy

3254 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-4697
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: dlbgsh@rit.edu

B.A. Government, Smith College
M.S. Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Ph.D. Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Research Interests: sociocultural construction of fetoscopy (in utero fetal surgery); bereavement and hope in partially lost twin gestations; cultural analysis of contemporary close-up magic; feminist pedagogy; gender studies

Courses: Science, Technology and Values; Biomedical Issues: Science and Technology; Cyborg Theory: (Re)Thinking the Human Experience in the 21st Century; Gender, Science and Technology; Reality TV and the Construction of Reality; Magic, Science and Technology; Sexuality, Medicine, Science and Technology

   
Thomas Cornell

Thomas Cornell, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy
Department of History

3188 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-6029
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: tdcgsh@rit.edu

B.A. Physics, Rhodes College
M.S. Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Ph.D. History of Science, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests: particle accelerators (e.g., cyclotrons and Van de Graaff generators) in the 1930s; the history of the physical sciences in the U. S. since the Civil War; and the role of science and technology in American society

Courses: Science, Technology and Values; History of Science; History of American Technology; STS Classics

   
Photo Not Available

Paul Ferber, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy
Department of Political Science
Chair, Department of Political Science

1334 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-2938
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: phfgss@rit.edu

B.A. Political Science, American University
M.Ph. Political Science, George Washington University
Ph.D. Political Science, George Washington University

Research Interests: The study of the influence of communication technology on the politics of the United States, variously described as cyberdemocracy, e-government, digital democracy, and other manifestations of Internet-based communication

Courses: Social Consequences of Technology; Environmental Policy; American Politics; State and Local Politics

   
Franz Foltz

Franz Foltz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy

3242 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-5368
Fax 585-475-2510
E-mail: franz.foltz@rit.edu

BS, Physics, Pennsylvania State University
MS, Governmental Science Policy, Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D, Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Research Interests: cyberdemocracy, and digital government, science and technology policy, environmental policy, global change research policy, energy policy, science and technology studies, ideas of power, technology and religion, and democratic theory and increasing public participation (especially connected to science, technology, and power)

Courses: Science, Technology and Values; Science and Technology Policy; Energy and the Environment; Environmental Policy; Foundations of Public Policy, Seminar: Readings in Public Policy; Science and Technology Policy Seminar; Graduate Seminar in Science and Technology Policy

   
Ron Hira

Ron Hira, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Professor
Department of Science, Technology, and Society/Public Policy

1348 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-7052
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: rhira@mail.rit.edu

BS Electrical Engineering, Carnegie-Mellon University
MS Electrical Engineering, George Mason University
Ph.D. Public Policy, George Mason University

Research Interests: Competitiveness and innovation; offshore outsourcing; high technology workforce; R&D management; offshoring in the printing industry; the role of engineers in public policy; author of Outsourcing America, http.//www.amanet.org/books/book.cfm?isbn=9780814409893

Courses: Policy Analysis I, II and III; Seminar: Readings in Public Policy; Information and Communications Policy; Technological Innovation and Public Policy; Engineering and Public Policy; Foundations of Public Policy

   
M. Ann Howard

M. Ann Howard, J.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy
Environmental Science Program

1354 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-5104
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: mahgsh@rit.edu

B.S. Human Ecology, Cornell University
J.D. Rutgers University School of Law

Research Interests: relationship between environmental decision-making and the role of citizen involvement, especially on the local level; sustainable community development, community revitalization and citizen governance; university/community partnerships and community-based learning in higher education

Courses: Science, Technology and Values; Foundations of Public Policy, Introduction to Environmental Studies, Environmental Policy, Environmental Conflict Resolution, Risk and Environmental Decision-Making, Great Lakes I and II, Sustainable Communities; Values and Public Policy; Science, Technology, and Policy Seminar: Legal Perspectives

   
William A. Johnson, Jr.

William A. Johnson, Jr.
Distinguished Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy
Department of Urban and Community Studies

1327 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-4407
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: wajgpt@rit.edu

Biographic Information

B.A., Political Science, Howard University
M.A., Political Science, Howard University

Research Interests:The application of governmental policies to distressed cities, regional governments, state and local government reform, smart growth and sprawl, citizen engagement, community economic development.

Courses: Introduction to Public Policy; Public Administration and Management; Rochester: People, Politics and Planning; Urban Planning and Policy.

Special Note: This self-described “prac-ademic” has combined an early teaching career in political science with field experience in human services ( CEO of the Urban League of Rochester for 21 years), and electoral politics ( Mayor of Rochester for 12 years). He is also the recipient of four honorary doctorates from Rochester-area colleges.

   
Christine Keiner

Christine Keiner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy

3248 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-4698
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: cmkgsh@rit.edu

B.A. Biology, McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College)
Ph.D. History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests: history of ecology and biology, history of Cold War science and technology, U.S. environmental politics, and relations between science and politics, especially regarding the Chesapeake Bay

Courses: Science, Technology and Values; Introduction to Environmental Studies; History of Ecology and Environmentalism; Engineering in American Culture; History of Women in Science and Engineering; Historical Perspectives on Science and Technology Seminar

   
Robert Paradowski

Robert Paradowski, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy

3134 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-6950
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: rxpgsh@rit.edu

B.S. Chemistry, Spring Hill College
M.A. Physical Chemistry; Brandeis University
Ph.D. History of Science; University of Wisconsin

Research Interests: Life and work of Linus Pauling, history of chemistry, history of science and technology, Roman Catholic studies

Courses: Science, Technology and Values; Makers of Modern Science; History of Science; History of American Technology; History of the Environmental Sciences; Introduction to Environmental Studies; History of Chemistry; Science and Religion; Energy and the Environment; Social Consequences of Technology

   
Richard Shearman

Richard Shearman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy
Environmental Science Program

3236 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-6604
Fax: 585-475-251
E-mail: rlsgsh@rit.edu

B.A. Biology, Western State College of Colorado
M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University
Ph.D. Environmental Science, State University of New York at Syracuse

Research Interests: Environmental ethics, food production and environmental impacts, sustainability, biodiversity issues, science and advocacy

Courses: Science, Technology and Values; Introduction to Environmental Studies; Environment and Society; Environmental Values; Biodiversity and Society; Agriculture, Food Production, and the Environment

   
Debbie Steene

Debbie Steene
Staff Assistant, Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy

1358 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-5291
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: debra.steene@rit.edu

Ms. Steene provides support to the faculty and students of the BS and MS degrees of the Public Policy Program and administrative support to various grant programs within the department.

Background and Experience:
Debbie received two AAS degrees from Monroe Community College. She has 19 years of administrative experience working at the Eastman Kodak Research Laboratories. Prior to coming to RIT she was administrative manager and assistant to the President of the Advertising Council of Rochester.

   
Michael Waschak

Michael Waschak, MPA, MCRP
Visiting Assistant Professor
Department of Science, Technology, and Society/Public Policy

1325 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-6827
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: mrwgpt@rit.edu

B.S. Psychology, Kennesaw State University
M.P.A. Kennesaw State University
M.C.R.P. Georgia Insitute of Technology
Ph.D.(ABD) Public Policy; Georgia Institute of Technology

Research Interests: Federal mediation of Native American land disputes; environmental planning; strategies for urban brownfield redevelopment; community-based, partnered approaches to resolving local policy problems such as math and science education, collaborative governance models and the wider use of enviornmental adapative management principles.

Courses: Policy Analysis I; Public Administration and Management; Environmental Policy;Introduction to Environmental Science

   
James Winebrake

James J. Winebrake, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
Department of Science, Technology and Society/Public Policy

1356 Eastman
Phone: 585-475-4648
Fax: 585-475-2510
E-mail: james.winebrake@rit.edu
Website: http://people.rit.edu/jjwgpt

BS Physics, Lafayette College
MS Technology and Policy, MIT
Ph.D. Energy Management and Policy, University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests: Energy and environmental policy; transportation and the environment; alternative transportation fuels; environmental and energy modeling and analysis

Courses: Policy Analysis I, II and III; Seminar: Readings in Public Policy; Seminar: Advanced Theory and Methods in Policy Analysis; Seminar: Evaluation Research