www.justthewayyouare.com  personal web site
www.avisioninmotion.com/paulbio.html  school assemblies page

Education

Ph.D., Environmental Science, Atmospheric Science option, 2008.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Emphasis: mesoscale atmospheric modeling, land-atmosphere interactions
2001 New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Graduate Scholar
Cumulative GPA: 3.647 / 4.0

M.S., Meteorology.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Emphasis: forecasting heavy snowfall during East Coast cyclogenesis

B.S., Meteorology.
Cook College, Rutgers University
Class Rank 43rd of 532. Graduated with Honors

Employment

Motivational and Keynote Speaker (self-employed), 1981 to present.
Seminars, workshops, and school assemblies focused on peer leadership, disability awareness, anti-bullying strategies, and character education.

Audiences: K-12 students; colleges and organizations; and private companies, nationwide (20 U.S. states). Keynotes: United Nations (annual Special Session on Children); Special Olympics; youth / peer leadership conferences; as well as to numerous educational, social, and human service organizations. A private contractor for A Vision in Motion Speakers Bureau since 2001. This speakers bureau coordinates all aspects of the presentations. Designed and maintain the entire A Vision in Motion web site.

Webmaster / Web Designer (self-employed), 1999 to present.
Clients include Rutgers University, county government agencies, and private businesses (e.g., A Vision in Motion Speakers Bureau).

Extensive knowledge of HTML, Javascript, CSS Proficient with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

Grant Recipient, Land Cover Change Sensitivity Study, 2002 to 2005.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

Used a coupled mesoscale model to examine the sensitivity of regional weather and climate to historical changes in land cover in the northeastern United States. Created a high-resolution and thematically-detailed digital reconstruction of the late 19th-century regional landscape for use as the lower boundary of the numerical simulations. Compared differences in surface meteorological variables, surface heat and radiative fluxes, mesoscale wind fields, and mean monthly boundary-layer thermodynamics between ensemble simulations initialized with late 19th-century land cover (historical) and with late 20th century land cover (present-day) for this region. Examined the mean climatological effects of dominant human land use trends during the roughly century-long period, including urbanization, reforestation, and deforestation.

Aviation Cooperative Meteorologist, 1994 to 1996.
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
Office of Research and Applications, Suitland, Maryland.

Developed and refined McIDAS-based software to evaluate the applications of GOES-8 6.7µm imagery in estimating upper tropospheric humidity. A member of the team that processed Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data to establish a global soil wetness climatology. Verified an experimental precipitable water product that combines SSM/I data, GOES-8 soundings, and ETA model guidance to enhance flash flood forecasting. Participated in explaining features of satellite imagery and model output to students involved in a science awareness program sponsored by NOAA. Presented daily satellite discussions and model forecast briefings.

Cooperative Education Meteorological Intern, Summer 1992.
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.

Updated the operations manual to reflect the latest global climate modeling programs. Developed a series of programs to perform mathematical computations and conversion of climate history data.

Honors & Awards

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Board Member: 1999-2005
U.S. Customs and Homeland Security, Disabilities Program Appreciation: 2002
New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Graduate Scholar: 2001
Vice-President, Kappa Theta Epsilon, Cook College Chapter: 1996-1997
New Jersey Cooperative Education Association's "Student of the Year": 1995
Cooperative Education Association's "Student of the Year" finalist: 1995

one of ten finalists selected for this national award

NOAA Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Council (EEOAC) Recognition: 1994
Dean's List: 1989 - 1994, 1996 - 1998
Selected by the Dean of Cook College to represent the college at the Rutgers University Masters/Ph.D Commencement Ceremony: 1993

The student selected by the undergraduate dean of Rutgers to represent Cook College at the 1993 Masters/Ph.D Rutgers University graduation ceremony

Wehr Scholarship (for community service): 1992
Golden Key National Honor Society: 1991
"Freshman of the Year," Alpha Zeta: 1990
"Three Top Freshmen at Rutgers," Sigma Phi Epsilon: 1990
Presidential Academic Fitness Award: 1989
Who's Who of American High School Students: 1989
Bill Bradley Young Citizenship Award: 1988
Clairol Sea-Breeze Award (for community service): 1988

Publications

Wichansky, Paul S., Louis T. Steyaert, Robert L. Walko, and Christopher

P. Weaver (2008), Evaluating the effects of historical land cover change on summertime weather and climate in New Jersey: Land cover and surface energy budget changes. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D10107, doi:10.1029 / 2007JD008514.

Wichansky, Paul S. (2007), One man can make a difference: A letter

from Paul Stuart Wichansky, in Appendix I of Don't Hassel the Hoff (David Hasselhoff: The Autobiography), edited by Peter Thompson, pp. 273-278, St. Martin's Press, New York, NY.

Wichansky, Paul S., Christopher P. Weaver, Louis T. Steyaert, and

Robert L. Walko (2006), Evaluating the effects of historical land cover change on summertime weather and climate in New Jersey, p. 128-163, in New Jersey's Environments: Past, Present, and Future, edited by Neil M. Maher, Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ.

Wichansky, Paul S., and Robert Harnack, 2000: A diagnosis of tropospheric

effects upon surface precipitation amount for a sample of East Coast snowstorms. Wea. and Forecasting, 15, 339-348.

Wichansky, Paul S., 1998. Access to Success: A Dream, Motivation, and a

Winning Attitude. Professional Presence Network, Published.

Wichansky, Paul S., 1996: The correlation of upper tropospheric humidity

(UTH) with 6.7µm GOES-8 brightness temperatures. Proc., Fifteenth AMS Conf. On Weather Analysis and Forecasting, Norfolk, VA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 44-47.

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Professional Activities

Motivational Speaker, Taking the "Dis" out of "Disability"

Since I was ten years old in 1981, I have been invited to schools, colleges, and conferences within ten states to deliver programs that focus upon the topics of disability awareness and character development. By sharing personal experiences with humor, while encouraging students to ask questions that would help positively shape their understanding of people with disabilities, I try to instill a sense of hope, energy, and inspiration that motivates them to realize their own goals and dreams.

My audiences have ranged from first-graders through high-school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students at Rutgers University, as well as hosting certification workshops for teachers at the annual NJEA Conventions and at county NJEA conferences.

This bureau, which is presently coordinating my speaking activities, specializes in motivators who have overcome tremendous adversities and inspire and positively shape the lives of others. I have also designed the full web site of this speakers bureau, at www.avisioninmotion.com.

Invited speaker, United Nations: May 7, 2002
United Nations Special Session on Children

Three motivators of our speakers bureau, A Vision in Motion, were invited to deliver respective programs to United Nations representatives and area middle-school children visiting the organization as part of a multi-day workshop at the 2002 Special Session on Children. Addressing U.N. representatives, I focused my program on the perspectives and realities of growing up with a physical challenge.

Excerpts from a report to the United Nations, Agenda & Activities: "A Vision in Motion, an organization of presenters who have overcome major adversities to inspire and positively influence the lives of others, provided a series of speakers who demonstrated ways in which they find peace. One of these speakers was Paul Wichansky, whose personal story is inspirational. He has overcome the challenges of cerebral palsy to become a Ph.D. candidate in Atmospheric Science at Rutgers University."

Keynote speaker, Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey
2002 Annual Conference

I was invited to keynote and deliver two workshop sessions at the Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey conference of therapists, counselors, and administrators. The keynote's theme was heroes and role models. The first workshop was focused upon instructional strategies to teach disabled students, and the second on the essentials of leadership. Organized through A Vision in Motion.

Keynote speaker, United States Customs and Border Protection
Newark / New York Region Disabilities Program
Newark Liberty International Airport

At the first disabilities program to be established at the United States Customs & Border Protection, I was the invited keynote speaker at the kickoff event. The theme of the event was disability awareness and overcoming adversity, topics which I addressed to an audience of about 150 Customs workers and several top government officials at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Keynote Speaker
2001 Special Olympics Fall Festival, Villanova University.

Addressing a crowd of about 7,000 athletes, coaches, parents, and student volunteers, I was given an opportunity to motivate them to be the best they can be! I emphasized that, if you strive to try your best and not give up on your own dreams, your perseverance shall faithfully guide you through the brightest sunshine and fiercest storms of life. Stressing that the question, "Why me?" is an unusually selfish attitude, I affirmed to my audience that your own challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, but to help you discover that all life is yours - to conquer, to love, to live.

Judy Wallace, Director of Public Relations for the Special Olympics Pennsylvania, had this comment: "The highlight of our Special Olympics Fall Festival was an amazing motivational speech by Paul Stuart Wichansky. Wichansky, who has cerebral palsy, has turned challenges into opportunities throughout his life and shared his message with The Pavilion's boisterous crowd."

Spoke at Christopher Reeve VIP Reception

I explained to Mr. Reeve that, at the time of the original Superman movie (1978), his character portrayal on-screen reaffirmed my parents' encouragement to reach for the stars, reminding me that my dreams indeed had wings and I needed to learn to use them! He smiled at my compliments, and it was a priceless moment. His presentation which followed was inspirational and funny -- proving that a man of steel has a heart of gold.

Professional development workshops, 1998 - 2002.

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) has invited me to deliver workshops to teachers participating in the annual Conventions in Atlantic City. In 2002, I have also delivered certification workshops at the Morris County Education Association conferences.

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International: 1999 to 2005

Elected to the Board of Directors, Mid-Jersey Chapter. Communications committee.

Vision 2000 Conference, People Helping People Pursue Self Determination, 1999.

A workshop where I was invited to provide examples of how people with disabilities can become more self-sufficient in their lifestyles. Invitation by former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Co-presented with Bill Freeman, Transition Program Specialist of the New Jersey Department of Education.

Reference

Jay Gittleson, President
A Vision in Motion, Speakers Bureau
380 Washington Avenue
Rutherford, New Jersey 07070
(800) 883-4147
www.avisioninmotion.com

Additional references available upon request.

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