New Paltz professor appointed to the rank of Distinguished Professor

The State University of New York Board of Trustees has appointed Lawrence A. Fialkow, professor of mathematics and computer science at the State University of New York at New Paltz, to the rank of Distinguished Professor, the State University’s highest faculty designation.

The Distinguished Professor designation is conferred on individuals who have achieved national or international prominence in a chosen field.

Dr. Fialkow is an accomplished mathematics scholar who has achieved worldwide recognition for his seminal research in functional analysis. He is acknowledged as a founder and international leader in elementary operators and multivariable moment problems and is perhaps best known for his work on the “truncated moment problem,” which asks whether a certain kind of physical or abstract system is determined by its sequence of “moments.”

Dr. Fialkow, a 2001 recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence, is also known for successful collaboration with other innovative mathematicians, which has expanded the impact of his efforts and served to more effectively advance his field. His work has influenced scholars throughout the world, and he is credited with inspiring significant new research and publication.

“Larry Fialkow is not only a treasured member of our faculty but a world-class scholar who brings great honor to this college,” said College President Steven Poskanzer. “He richly deserves this latest recognition."

Dr. Fialkow’s research has been supported by nine National Science Foundation (NSF) grants since his arrival at New Paltz in 1983. In addition, his research has integrated undergraduate student research projects supported by his NSF grant and by grants from the NSF-funded Alliance for Minority Participation program. He has been a strong advocate for minority and other traditionally underrepresented students intending to major in mathematics, science, engineering and technology.

Fialkow received his A.B. in Mathematics from Brandeis University and earned his doctorate at the University of Michigan. He taught mathematics from Western Michigan University from 1973 to 1983.

“Being named a Distinguished Professor is a wonderful honor, and I am most grateful to the College and SUNY for this recognition,” said Fialkow. “Throughout my tenure at New Paltz, the College has been most supportive of my research efforts, which include a variety of projects with both faculty colleagues and students.”

Dr. Fialkow joins a growing list of New Paltz faculty members who have received the Distinguished Professor distinction. The others are: Dr. Michael Adams and David M. Clark, SUNY Distinguished Professors of Mathematics; Gerald Benjamin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science; Peter Brown, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Foreign Languages; Arthur Cash, SUNY Distinguished Professor and emeritus professor of English; Amiya Chakravarty, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy; William J. Hageny, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Education; Laurence M. Hauptman, SUNY Distinguished Professor of History; Dorothy T. Hayes, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Education; Ronald Knapp, SUNY Distinguished Professor and emeritus professor of Geography; Dr. Keqin Li, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Computer Science; Jan Schmidt, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of English; Harry Schwartz, Distinguished Professor of International Relations and Economics; Gerald Sorin, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and emeritus professor of History; Dale Stein, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Art; Harry Stoneback, Distinguished Teaching Professor of English; and Henry Urbanski, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and emeritus professor of Foreign Languages.

Appointment to Distinguished Professor constitutes a promotion to the SUNY’s highest academic rank and is conferred solely by the SUNY Board of Trustees. The expectation is that individuals so appointed will be accorded such support as is appropriate to the individual’s academic endeavor, consistent with the resources of the campus, including a salary above the mean salary for full professors.