(732) 932-3890  office telephone

www.justthewayyouare.com  web site

Education

Ph.D candidate, Environmental Sciences.
Atmospheric Sciences option. Rutgers, the State University.
2001 & 2002 N.J. Agricultural Experiment Station Graduate Scholar
Degree anticipated in 2006.

M.S., Meteorology.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 1999.

B.S., Meteorology.
Cook College, Rutgers University
Class Rank 43rd of 532. Graduated with Honors, 1993.

Honors & Awards

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Board Member of the Mid-Jersey Chapter: 1999-2005
U.S. Customs Service, Disabilities Program Appreciation: 2002
N.J. Agricultural Experiment Station Graduate Scholar: 2001, 2002
Kappa Theta Epsilon, Cook College chapter: 1996 through 2001

An honors society for students demonstrating leadership, character, and personal excellence from their cooperative education placements

N.J. Cooperative Education Association "Student of the Year:" 1995

Representing all four-year colleges in the state of New Jersey

Cooperative Education Association "Student of the Year" Finalist: 1995

Selected as one of ten finalists for the national award

USA Weekend's Make-A-Difference Day Appreciation: 1995
NOAA's Equal Employment Opportunities Advisory Council certificate of recognition: 1994
Dean's List: 1989, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1997
Recipient of Prestigious Rutgers University Graduate Recognition: 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

Publications

Wichansky, Paul S., Christopher Weaver, Louis Steyaert, and Robert

Walko, 2004.  Evaluating the Effects of Historical Land Cover Change on Summertime Weather and Climate in New Jersey.   In Tending the Garden State: Environmental Science, History, and Policy in 20th-century New Jersey. 1st ed. Edited by Neil Maher.  New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, in press.

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.

Top of Page

Professional Employment

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 Service
Newark / New York Region Disabilities Program
Newark Liberty International Airport

At the first disabilities program to be established at the United States Customs Service, 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 in northeastern New Jersey.

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-New Jersey Chapter, Communications committee. Volunteer position.

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.

Help us share our vision with others!
We invite you to visit our motivational speakers bureau

and help us bring a genuine smile to a child's face!