Occupation: Associate Professor Emeritus
Company: Cornell University
Education:
PhD, Harvard University (1977)
Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies, Princeton University (1963)
Career:
Associate Professor Emeritus, Cornell University (2019-Present)
Associate Professor, History Department, Cornell University (1974-2019)
Research Associate, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (1970-1972)
Teaching Fellow, History Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Career Related:
Director, Institute for European Studies, Cornell University; Visiting Scholar, Various Universities Including Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, France, Korea University, University of Tuzla, Bosnia, and National Defense University College of International Security Affairs, Washington, DC
Military:
With, United States Army
Civic:
Coordinator, Various Protest and Fundraising Activities During War/Genocide, Relief Supplies and Communications Equipment, Bihac and Tuzla, Bosnia (1992-1995); Elder, Deacon, First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, NY (1988); Founder, First President, Center Supporting People in Ithaca Dealing with Homelessness, Friendship Center (1988); Project Director, Small Claims Study Group, Sponsored by Ralph Nader (1965-1974); Founder, Caceres-Neuffer Genocide Action Group; Member, Leadership Committee, Together for Ukraine, Binghamton, NY; Member, Ithaca Welcomes Refugees; Member, Various Anti-genocide Groups; Supporter, Rescue James Madut, Operation Broken Silence; Volunteer, Teacher, International Summer University
Creative Works:
Producer, Cable Television Series, “Unity with Ukraine: A High Five from America,” YouTube and Podcasts (2024); Producer, Weekly Cable Television Series, “How to Spell Presbyterian” (2004-2010); Author, “The Making of Technological Man: The Social Origins of French Engineering Education,” MIT Press (1982); Author, “The Professions and the French State”; Producer, Over 100 Documentaries, Local Television Channel
Achievements:
Producer of “How to Spell Presbyterian,” which made 130 programs, including the first American-made video about the Darfur genocide (2004-2010); Being the only American in contact with the Srebrenica massacre in July (1995); Being the only unsponsored American to go to Bosnia (1992-1995); Project director for Ralph Nader during a pioneering national survey of small claims courts, conducting groundbreaking experiments and influencing legislative changes, in which results were printed in “Little Injustices: Small Claims Courts and the American Consumer,” two volumes (1972); Helping to found the Princeton African Affairs Committee, the first organized study of the continent at that university (1961); Producing over 100 documentaries on their local television channel; Contributing to the internationalization of higher education in Bosnia through his volunteer teaching at the International Summer University; Teaching over 5,000 students and personally crafting recommendations for 1,300 students at Harvard University; Active supporter of the ROTC program and helped to build Cornell Cinema into one of the top film programs in the country
Awards:
Recipient, Award for Contribution to Restoring the University’s International Status After the War/Genocide of 1992-1995, University of Tuzla; Two-time Recipient, Peggy Award; Recipient, Awards for Teaching and Advising, Cornell University
Memberships:
Member, Warrior Writers; Member, Princeton University Alumni; Member, Alumni Association, Rome Free Academy; Member, The International Association of Genocide Scholars
Family:
Married: Elaine (1999-Present)
Child: Amity Vastow
Hobbies:
Kayaking; Gardening; Hunting; Walking in the woods; Spending time with his wife