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Four Ohio University teams selected for I-Corps@Ohio 2016 cohort
Four Ohio University research teams have been selected for the second I-Corps@Ohio cohort. For seven weeks beginning on May 13, the OHIO teams will join 20 teams representing universities from across the state to validate the market potential of their own proposed technologies and to learn about launching startup companies. Each team will receive intense experiential learning in business modeling, commercial opportunities, product development, and much more, as well as $15,000 to aid in their startups. After completing the program, the teams will be eligible for significantly discounted match funding requirements should they be selected for Ohio Third Frontier's Technology Validation and StartUp Fund program. The teams that applied from OHIO were admitted to this year's cohort largely because of the new " Bobcat Research Course: Moving Innovation to Commercialization" seminar series managed by the Center for Entrepreneurship and co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. The course introduced topics on value creation, technology licensing, and utilizing university resources for commercialization, with the hope of giving faculty and students more preparation for competitive programs like I-Corps. "The I-Corps@Ohio program, along with supportive educational offerings at OHIO, provide new pathways toward entrepreneurship and commercialization for faculty and students," TechGROWTH Ohio and Center for Entrepreneurship Executive Director Lynn Gellermann said. "These programs have quickly become part of the fabric of our entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem."
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Voinovich School hosts return of statewide prevention and recovery conference
Nearly 500 prevention and recovery professionals from throughout Ohio will soon return to Athens as the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs hosts the Ohio Promoting Wellness & Recovery (OPEC) Conference for the second time, June 27 - 29, 2016 at the Ohio University Baker Center.
"Enhancing Access, Quality and Connection," is the theme of the 27th Annual OPEC Conference. The goal of the conference is to promote collective impact through building the capacity of Ohio's prevention, early intervention and treatment workforce for children, families and communities through continuing education.
"It is an honor to welcome the OPEC Conference back to Ohio University this year. The Voinovich School has worked collaboratively with OhioMHAS to feature over 80 speakers representing a diverse range of perspectives, expertise and roles in prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery," Dr. Holly Raffle, Voinovich School assistant professor, said.
The OPEC Conference will offer six subject tracks this year with more than 60 sessions, including alcohol literacy, school safety, prescription drug misusage, and helping children heal from trauma. An interactive awareness exhibit titled, "Hidden in Plain Sight" will be featured on June 28 to model the signs of potential drug habits in a teenager's bedroom.
Ohio University's own delfin bautista, director of the LGBT Center at OHIO, will be featured in the Cultural Competency track, focused on creating a more welcoming, safe and inclusive environment that contributes to improved health care quality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and their families. Also speaking at the conference from the Voinovich School are Master of Public Administration alumni David Keller and Justin Kirschner, research associate Mary Haines, and Voinovich Scholar Kate Pellegrini. Additional speakers from Ohio University include Christine Bhat, associate professor of the Patton College of Education; Steve Evans, professor of psychology; and members of the Career and Leadership Development Center.
The conference, traditionally held in Central Ohio, shifted to Athens in 2015 in order to expand the outreach to other areas of the state. To accommodate organizations on a limited budget, the conference registration fee has been held to $100 for the four days, and participants are offered an opportunity to stay in the residence halls on campus for an additional fee.
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On- and Off-Campus Student Move Out Recycling and Reuse Efforts a Huge Success
This year's Ohio University Move Out provided students with more opportunities to recycle and donate unwanted items than ever
before. For four months leading up to graduation weekend, a planning committee convened with the goal of improving the Move Out process. Rural Action coordinated meetings between the City of Athens, Ohio University, Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers (AHRC), local nonprofit organizations, area landlords, and other community partners to encourage collaboration and increase opportunities to recycle, reuse and donate during Move Out. "As a landlord I've seen 26 of these Move Out weeks," Ann Moneypenny, co-owner of Kleinpenny Rentals and volunteer for Upgrade Athens County, said. "Years ago everything from mattresses to clothes to empty kegs rolled down Mill St. and all our other in-town student rental areas. The efforts made in the past few years have been transforming. It is still a challenging weekend to be sure, but this effort is working and as a community member I am thrilled to see such progress!" The planning process resulted in several new initiatives to enhance Move Out efforts. One of the most notable was the pilot of a mattress recycling program. AHRC, which does all waste and recycling collection for the City of Athens, picked up 275 mattresses from off-campus rentals that filled two semi-trailers and were sent to Ohio Mattress Recycling. Athens Mold & Machine donated dock area space for loading the mattresses. Ed Newman, board member of AHRC and developer of the mattress collection pilot, explained more about the benefits of the project. "This project was intended to help reduce bulk materials going in dumpsters, public rights of way and disposal trucks. This allowed for greater capacity for dumpsters, and for disposal trucks to hold more trash before leaving the service area during the critical times, generally during the AM hours of the day. This results in less trips to the landfill and less downtime and less cost of disposal and wear and tear on equipment." The planning committee also came up with new marketing strategies. Kleinpenny Educational Fund, in partnership with Kevin Morgan Studios, Upgrade Athens County and the OU Campus Involvement Center, created graphics to educate students about proper disposal during Move Out. Emails encouraging off-campus tenants to visit their closest drop-off site were sent out to 8,300 off-campus students, and 1,600 Avalanche pizza boxes were distributed with the educational graphic pasted on top. "Our marketing and communication efforts were significantly improved this year," Kate Blyth, student zero waste coordinator at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, noted. Blyth managed a project of Athens Beautification Day wherein student volunteers handed out Move Out educational flyers in off-campus neighborhoods.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Alumnus honored for outstanding public service at OHIO State Government Alumni Luncheon
More than 130 Ohio University alumni in Ohio public service gathered at the Athletic Club of Columbus to honor OHIO alumnus Matt Evans for his outstanding service to the state at the 33rd Annual State Government Alumni Luncheon on May 3. The luncheon, hosted by Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis on behalf of OHIO's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, recognizes acts of community and public service by alumni to the betterment of the state of Ohio.  The criteria for the award include significant achievement in the profession, outstanding public service to Ohio, and service contributions for the public affairs programs at Ohio University. The award winners serve on the Ohio University Leadership and Public Affairs Advisory Committee, and individual members of the committee may also be active in teaching, internships and job placement of Ohio University students. Matthew T. Evans is the President of Boich Companies, a privately-held coal mining and marketing company headquartered in Columbus. Boich is an investor in many projects throughout the United States, including ownerships in real estate, telecom, retail and financial service businesses.
After serving as the president of College Republicans at Ohio University, Evans built 23 years of experience managing legislative and regulatory issues at both the state and federal level, with specific expertise in energy policy. He began his career working as an aide in the Ohio Senate and later served on the staff of Governor George V. Voinovich. Evans also spent five years managing legislative and regulatory affairs for Duke Energy. Evans credits much of his outlook on his public affairs career to former OHIO political science professor Frank Henderson, who taught Evans to defend himself among people of different ideologies.
"There's no safe spaces in the real world," Evans said. "College kids need to be taught how to stand up for themselves, because there will always be someone on the other side pointing a finger at you."
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FACULTY & STAFF NEWS
Voinovich School seeks
Online Program Administrator
The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs is seeking an Online Program Administrator. The Online Program Administrator will work in collaboration with faculty and staff members on various duties including content development and design, instructor management,outreach and marketing, student retention, and program assessment. Based on education and experience, the successful candidate may be asked to assist with management of the Ohio University on-campus and blended Masters of Public Administration (MPA) programs as needed.
Closing: Apply by June 23 for full consideration.
Read the full posting here.
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JOB HIGHLIGHT
Analyst - Scorekeeping for the Congressional Budget Office
The Budget Analysis Division seeks an analyst to work in its Scorekeeping Unit, which is primarily responsible for preparing cost estimates for the 12 annual appropriation bills at each stage of House and Senate action. The analyst will coordinate those estimates, collaborating closely with other analysts in the division. The analyst also will work closely with key Congressional staff members on the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and also with staff members on other committees and in the offices of individual Members.
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27th Annual Ohio Promoting Wellness & Recovery (OPEC) Conference
June 27 - 29
Baker Center
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Voinovich School in the News
"Our partnership with Global Cooling is not only creating jobs, but is helping to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeastern Ohio."
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Impact & Innovation is a newsletter for the students, faculty and professionals of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.
Have an article idea? Contact Laura Alloway, Voinovich School Director of Marketing and Communications.
Impact & Innovation is written and created by Voinovich Scholar
M.C. Tilton.
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