SUNY Plattsburgh AdjunctFaculty Awarded for Excellence

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Sept. 30, 2013) —SUNY Plattsburgh awarded Adjunct Professors

Andrew Black and Marco Turco, along with Lecturer Nora Montanaro,the 2012-2013

Teaching Excellence Award for Adjunct Faculty and Lecturers.

Andrew Black, from the Department of Anthropology, has participated in hundreds of

archaeology and history preservation projects in the United States, Ghana and Somalia. He

received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology (with honors) from the University of

California-Santa Cruz in 1983. In 1989 he received the Master of Arts in Anthropology

from SUNY Binghamton, where he also completed his work toward a Ph. D.

Black has taught at SUNY Plattsburgh since 2010 and has received letters from students

stating that his courses were both challenging and highly rewarding. Department Chair Dr.

Deborah Altamirano writes, “What [she] finds particularly impressive is that, despite the

multiple challenges and often harsh conditions they face during site excavation, his

students can hardly wait to get back into the field.”

Marco Turco has taught courses in African Studies, food security, and organic farming at

SUNY Plattsburgh since 2004. Dr. Turco received the Master of Science in Environmental

Studies degree from Lacrosse University in 2004 and the Ph.D in Rural Development from

Bircham University in Madrid, Spain in 2007. In her letter of nomination, Dr. Kathleen

Lavoie says that he is “stellar in every course,” and Dr. Richard Robbins, who has audited

Dr. Turco’s food course, writes, “No student who has taken his organic agriculture course

will ever look at food the same way again.”

Nora Montanaro has served as lecturer in several departments at SUNY Plattsburgh since

1985. Arriving at SUNY Plattsburgh as a 15-year-old freshman, she received her B.A with

dual majors in Psychology and Communication Studies. She earned two masters degrees

from SUNY Plattsburgh, an M.S. in Administration, Psychology, and Anthropology and an

M.S.T. in Elementary Education. Montanaro is respected both for her passionate love of

teaching and learning. In student evaluations of her public speaking course, students often

write,“She made it easy not to be nervous during speeches.”

Awardees receive a certificate of recognition and a $500 towardtravel, training or supplies

in support of teaching.