I can't tell you how impressed I was with our
Outstanding CoLA Alumni acknowledged at our reception for them last Friday evening in the Berry Room. They are so engaged in what they do whether it is here in the Dayton region or further afield nationally and internationally. They are focused on making a difference in people's lives, many serving the under-resourced and under-privileged members of society. And they told us where they got that foundation - right here at Wright State. Most of the awardees talked about the huge impact that a broad, liberal arts education provided for them and that helped them be successful and to give back. Their talks were impassioned and moving - so much so that I basically could hardly get through my final remarks I was so moved. Kudos to you all! You are all making a difference in the lives of our students and they pass that along. Now that is life-changing!
Tonight I am attending the Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony where we will honor additional Wright State graduates chosen by the Wright State Alumni Association. I am thrilled to see that five of the seven honorees are from CoLA:
Alumni Network Award of Excellence
Graduate of the Last Decade Award
Volunteer Service Award
Alumna of the Year Award
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
The annual Employee Recognition Ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 15, at 3:00 p.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room. This occasion is our opportunity to honor employees who have completed between 10 and 40 years of service. Congratulations to all those in CoLA who will be honored at this event:
40 Years
Leanne Moeller, English
35 Years
D. Bartlett Blair, Theatre, Dance & Motion Pictures (retired May 2015)
30 Years
Donna Schlagheck, Political Science (retired May 2015)
25 Years
Sandra Jo Crews, Theatre, Dance & Motion Pictures (retired May 2015)
Jane Dockery, Center for Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA)
James Guthrie, English
Russell Johnson, Theatre, Dance & Motion Pictures
Roy Vice, History
Kelli Zaytoun, English
20 Years
David Booth, Music
Ava Chamberlain, Religion, Philosophy & Classics
Michelle Metzner, English
Theresa Irene Myadze, Social Work
Penny Park, Art & Art History
Kimberly Warrick, Music
15 Years
Dorothy Alvarez, Modern Languages
Liam Anderson, Political Science
Jacqueline Bergdahl, Sociology & Anthropology
In-Hong Cha, Music
Elfe Dona, Modern Languages
Elliot Gaines, Communication
Kirsten Halling, Modern Languages
Angela Johnson, English
Jerri Killian, Urban Affairs & Geography
Bruce Laforse, Religion, Philosophy & Classics
Marjorie McLellan, Urban Affairs & Geography
Carol Murray, Center for Urban & Public Affairs (CUPA)
Susan Schultheis, Sociology & Anthropology
Alpana Sharma, English
10 Years
Shirley Barber, Urban Affairs & Geography
Erin Flanagan, English
Awad Halabi, History
John Haught, English
Pramod Kantha, International Studies
Kathleen Kollman, Center for Liberal Arts Student Success (CLASS)
Noeleen McIlvenna, History
Damaris Serrano, Modern Languages
Sarah Twill, Social Work
Jonathan Winkler, History
Penny Wipert, Center for Liberal Arts Student Success (CLASS)
I am excited to spend next Friday at TEDxDayton a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED experience. I am so proud to see Wright State's heavy involvement in this important sold-out event. Not only is the university a sponsor, but many of our students will perform with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company, and our faculty and graduates will play a prominent role in the day. Wright State speakers include:
Wright State also recently hosted the first annual TEDxYouth@Dayton in the Student Union where fourteen students from five Dayton area high schools gave their own TED talks about topics important to them. It was a resounding success!
This week's New Faculty is James R. Carter, an Assistant Professor in Social Work. James received both his Ph.D. in Social Work and his M.P.H. from The Ohio State University. He also holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Franklin University. This semester, James is teaching an Intro to Social Work class for Undergraduates and an Intro to Social Work Research class for Graduate students. James' research focuses generally on aging people's sexuality and gender identity, and he is developing an elective course in that area. His dissertation specifically explored intimacy and sexuality in assisted living facilities. James loves the atmosphere at Wright State and is glad that the university is so close to his hometown of Columbus. Welcome James!
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Next Friday we will take a break from the CoLA Weekly to bring you our fall e-newsletter full of many exciting stories that celebrate our very diverse and engaged college. I hope you enjoy it as much as we've enjoyed putting it together for you.
