Parents and Friends
Print | Go back to the Magazine
|
For our Alumni, Parents and Friends |
| Spring 2006 |
 Dr. Michael Meyer |
Faculty Profiles
By Barrett Baker
Starting New Traditions at CNU
Dr. Michael Meyer
Assistant Professor of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science
Looking for a job in his chosen field of study didn’t “bug” Dr. Michael Meyer for long — he discovered that Christopher Newport University was looking for a science instructor to teach entomology, the scientific study of insects.
“When I looked in the Chronicle of Higher Education for potential positions,” said Dr. Meyer, “I found that CNU was looking for someone to teach a number of disciplines in the science realm — one being entomology — and that struck my interest because there really weren’t that many entomology positions available.
“When I came out for the interview, everybody was so welcoming, straightforward and friendly, I just felt like I was already part of the family,” said Dr. Meyer, now in this second semester at CNU.
Dr. Meyer came to CNU from California, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California-Davis. He then continued his studies there to receive a multiple-subject teaching credential and started teaching in the public school system.
“I did that for seven years and discovered that I really missed science,” said Dr. Meyer. “So I ended up going back to graduate school at Purdue University, where I earned both a master’s and doctorate in aquatic entomology.”
Dr. Meyer is finding the area rich with research opportunities, and he already has his five-year plan in mind. “I am very interested in the biodiversity of aquatic insects, both locally and throughout the United States. I’d like to conduct fieldwork to get a feel for what species are found here, where they are found, and then determine why they are where they are. I’ll try to put a bigger picture together to see how it all fits.”
Dr. Meyer is joined by his wife and two children and thrilled with life at CNU. “I get to teach entomology, which is one of the things I really wanted to do, and share my interests with students. The department seems to appreciate my efforts and is willing to let me take my research in any direction I choose. What more could I ask for? I’m delighted to be here!”
 Dr. Martin Buoncristiani |
“Whatever happened to ... ?”
Dr. Martin Buoncristiani
Professor Emeriti of Physics, Computer Science and Engineering
Catching up with Dr. Martin Buoncristiani is a challenging task — the Christopher Newport University professor emeriti of physics, computer science and engineering spent our winter in Australia’s summer.
“I plan to do consulting work in science and education,” said Dr. Buoncristiani from 16 time zones away. “In education, I plan to promote teaching of skillful thinking in grades K–12, both in the U.S. and in Australia. My company, ‘Thinking and Learning in Concert’ will be giving workshops throughout Australia for the next few months, and in the U.S. when I return in June.”
With a doctorate in physics, Dr. Buoncristiani came to CNU in August 1974.
“One of the reasons I came to the college was its proximity to the NASA Langley Research Center,” said Dr. Buoncristiani. “In the late ’60s and early ’70s, support for scientific research was difficult to obtain because the Vietnam War was taking much of the country’s resources. So I wanted to be closer to the source of funding. However, I was able to secure research support from Langley continuously from 1975 to 2002, when I became director of CNU activities at the Applied Research Center.”
Dr. Buoncristiani continues his scientific interests by examining light and the way it interacts with matter. He studies lasers and the subtle effects of electromagnetic radiation, but his interests have expanded to include how people learn and how understanding the brain and how it functions can be used to create better learning environments.
Dr. Buoncristiani reflects positively on his CNU days. “I have seen four presidents at CNU. Each of them has added an important ingredient to the development of the school at just the time it was needed. The successful development of CNU has been due to this fortuitous sequence of leaders as well as through the efforts of a dedicated and industrious faculty.
“One of the last things I did before leaving for Australia was to attend a production of Handel’s Messiah conducted by JoAnn Falletta at the Ferguson Center for the Arts. It was a brilliant production in a brilliant venue. It makes me proud of the progress CNU has made, and it makes me proud to think that I have had a small part in this progress.”