A message from the Dean:
A message from the Dean:As you can see in the articles featured below, the 2024-25 Academic Year was a whirlwind of activity in the College of Arts & Sciences. We started the academic year with a transformative $5M commitment to the School of Art to support hands-on, experiential learning for students. Since then, we have busily expanded opportunities for students in the College to create public good with faculty through three major initiatives.
First, we’ve launched the new Democracy and Public Policy Network. Led by new hire Dr. Robert Alexander, professor of Political Science, the DePo (as we call it) is a non-partisan group of scholars at BGSU who promote citizenship, innovation, and the public good. Housed in the Department of Political Science, the DePo includes faculty, students, and staff in their work involving a Polling Lab, podcasts, public engagement programming and—soon to launch—public policy writing opportunities.
The College has also worked to enhance our Actuarial Science program. Another new hire, Dr. Douglas Bujakowski, associate professor of Mathematics and Statistics and the O’Brien Distinguished Professor of Actuarial Science, has been leading efforts to deepen student engagement opportunities and building industry partnerships to provide greater mentorship opportunities for students.
The third initiative involves the expansion of the Center for Great Lakes and Watershed Studies (CGLWS). In January, Dr. Sarah Emery, a professor of Biological Sciences and the holder of the Patrick L. and Debra Scheetz Ryan Endowed Professorship in Biology, came to BGSU to serve as Director of the CGLWS. Already, the Center has added several new affiliate faculty to the team and seeded student opportunities for involvement across the disciplines.
These opportunities are excellent examples of the dynamic, learner-centered work happening in the College, but there are so many other faculty-led initiatives that have blossomed this year. I’m most proud of the new degree programs that faculty created around Environmental Science, Environmental Studies and World Languages & Cultures—each one a revision of existing degree programs that put students’ career pathways and community engagement at the core of their learning. We’ve also launched a first-of-its-kind in the nation AI + X program, where students draw upon the critical and creative thinking skills in various majors to practice core understandings and skills around artificial intelligence. It’s critical at this time of great technological change that our students not only understand how new technologies work, but are mindful, critical, and creative about when and how to deploy them.
In all this curricular work, our goal has been to ensure students get a global view of the world of work with hands-on learning opportunities, thus graduating from BGSU ready for the challenges and opportunities that our fast-changing technologies, geopolitical environment, and scientific understanding require. I’m proud of how our faculty, staff, and students demonstrate each day how the research we conduct across disciplines as varied as Chemistry to Sociology make critical contributions to the world around us. You don’t have to look very hard in this issue of Transformations to see the ways in which faculty-led research, our visual and performing artists, and our public engagement activities provide students with rich opportunities to apply their classroom learning to the world around them.
I hope that after reading this issue of Transformations, you are as proud as I am of the work that is happening across the College. And, I hope that you will help to support this important goal of providing barrier-free experiential learning to every student we graduate; any gift, small or large, to the College of Arts & Sciences Fund for Experiential Learning & Student Success will support this goal!
Thanks for all of your support to the College and BGSU!
Ellen Schendel, Dean
College of Arts and Sciences
BGSU School of Art receives transformational $5 million donation to expand experiential learning, career development opportunities for students
The increased commitment to funding will provide support for all students in the BGSU School of Art.
BGSU graduate stars in behind-the-scenes role at Disney Entertainment Television
Film production graduate Natalie Thompson ’14 used her time at BGSU to refine her skill set and find a niche with her profession.
BGSU Department of Theatre and Film to present 'The SpongeBob Musical' April 10-13
The BGSU theatre department brought SpongeBob and his underwater friends to life in the Donnell Theatre with five sold-out performances.
BGSU Department of Theatre and Film to host 25th annual BG Film and Media Festival
Organized by students, the three-day festival included film screenings, panel discussions, poster presentations and filmmaking workshops.
Graphic Design USA names two BGSU students to their '2025 Students to Watch' list
Madelyn Arnold and Breanna Thomas-McDuffie's shared passion for graphic design and strong portfolios created at BGSU results in prestigious recognition.
BGSU to celebrate 20 years of ArtsX, featuring three guest artists
Connecting BGSU artists and community members through a love of art, ArtsX 2024 explored rhythm and resonance in art, dance, theatre, film, creative writing and music.
Democracy and Public Policy Research Network at BGSU continues to build momentum statewide, welcoming former Ohio governors to campus
Former Ohio governors Dick Celeste (Democrat) and Bob Taft (Republican) headlined the Democracy and Public Policy Research Network's inaugural Leadership Luncheon. Over 500 students and community members enjoyed a bipartisan discussion on leadership, civility and lessons learned.
BGSU partners with city of Toledo on $2M Department of Justice grant to combat gun violence
The collaborative project underscores the University’s steadfast commitment to creating public good.
BGSU research finds clear link between children's education level and parents' risk of dementia
Research finds that when children don't graduate from high school, their parents are more likely to suffer from cognitive decline and dementia.
BGSU to host 29th annual Latino/a/x Issues Conference, celebrating cultural visibility
The full-day event featured more than 20 presenters, including BGSU faculty, alumni and undergraduate and graduate students.
BGSU computer science student expands professional network during year-long study abroad experience
BGSU computer science major, Layne Woodruff, expanded his professional network and picked up a second language during his year-long study abroad experience in Austria.
BGSU leads first-of-its-kind global United Nations study into motivations, ethical standards of digital content creators
Research led by BGSU faculty, students and alumni finds content creators have significant gaps for fact-checking and determining source credibility.
BGSU to be first in the nation to offer AI + X bachelor’s degree
Building on its reputation as a leader in technology, BGSU is introducing this degree at a pivotal time when AI is being integrated across industries.
BGSU scientists conducting unique freshwater research into Lake Erie plastic pollution
A research team from BGSU is studying the effects of bits of pre-production plastic, called nurdles, leaching chemicals into water systems.
BGSU professor at the forefront of space sustainability research
An assistant professor in the BGSU School of Earth, Environment and Society, Dr. Timothy Pape is collaborating with the PlanetStewards project at Utrecht University in the Netherlands to shape how humanity manages resources beyond Earth.
BGSU geology students to perform high-level research in Antarctica
Three BGSU students are involved with a research trip to Antarctica in which scientists aim to better understand undersea volcanoes in the region.
BGSU forensic science program only in Ohio with unique Bureau of Criminal Investigation partnership
BGSU students benefit from faculty members’ extensive experience in forensics through the collaborative degree program.
BGSU students create nonprofit organization to provide free cybersecurity testing
The Secure Signals Project offers small and medium-sized business owners free cybersecurity services and penetration tests.
2024-2025 highlights of faculty and staff accomplishments
From research and scholarship to service and public good, College of Arts & Sciences faculty and staff have recorded many successes during the past academic year.
Dr. Joseph Furgal, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, was honored with the President’s Award for Collaborative Research and Creative Work in recognition of his innovative research conducted in collaboration with graduate students. He also received the Paul J. Olscamp Research Award.
Dr. Xiaohong Tan, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Outstanding Early Career Award.
Dr. Kate Dellenbusch, teaching professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, was honored with the Faculty Senate Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding continuous service to the University.
Dr. Amy Robinson, associate professor in the Department of World Languages & Cultures, received the Faculty Senate Faculty Mentor Award. This award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding professional support of their colleagues.
Dr. Amílcar Challú, chair of the Department of History, was honored with the Faculty Senate Leadership as a Chair/School Director Award for his significant contribution to the University.
Dr. Jayaraman Sivaguru, professor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Elliott L. Blinn Award for Faculty-Undergraduate Student Innovative Basic Research/Creative Work for his collaborative research with undergrad students.
Dr. Louisa Ha, professor in the School of Media & Communication, was conferred the honor of Distinguished Research Professor for her outstanding national and international recognition through research and publication in the discipline of media and communication.
Dr. Kei Nomaguchi, professor in the Department of Sociology, was conferred the title of Professor of Research Excellence for her outstanding national and international recognition through research and publication in the discipline of sociology.
Dr. Hans Wildschutte, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, was conferred the title of Professor of Teaching Excellence for his extraordinary achievements as an effective teacher in the biological sciences.
The Department of Physics & Astronomy chair, Dr. Andy Layden, accepted the Faculty Senate Unit Recognition Award on behalf of the department. This award recognizes the importance of faculty who work together to make a difference in the educational environment at BGSU.
Nearly 300 BGSU faculty and staff members were honored for their dedicated service and contributions to the learning community during the annual employee Service Awards. BGSU employees are honored beginning with their fifth year of service and then every five years thereafter.
Jenn Stucker, associate professor in the School of Art, was selected as BGSU’s nominee for the 2025 MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success. This student-focused award celebrates the commitment to a holistic student experience that supports success in school and in life.
Dr. Amílcar Challú, chair of the Department of History, received the Outstanding Faculty Award at the 2025 Latino/a/x Issues Conference.
The BGSU graphic design program was selected for the GD USA Top Design Schools list for the third year in a row.
Dr. Apollos Okwuchi Nwauwa, professor in the Department of History and the Africana Studies Program, completed a fellowship at Durham University in England, where he researched Durham University’s unusual decision in 1876 to acquire an affiliated “overseas campus” in Fourah Bay, Sierra Leone, to educate the African elites, despite many decades of refusal to teach African cultures and histories.
Dr. Abhishek Bhati, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, received a Fulbright Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. He will study the “Impact of Artificial Intelligence Technology on the Civil Society Sector” as a research fellow at the Centre of Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University in India.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Center for Photochemical Sciences at Bowling Green State University, The Spectrum — the Center’s long-running journal — has been digitized and is now accessible through BGSU Libraries’ ScholarWorks platform. This project was made possible by Dr. Emily Gattozzi, scholarly communication strategist in University Libraries; Dr. Alexis Ostrowski, associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences and professor in the Department of Chemistry; and Ms. Mara Norton ’25, BS in Chemistry who led the effort to preserve and share the journal’s full archive, from 1989 through 2008. There have been 4,577 full-text downloads from the journal since it was made available online in February 2025. You can explore the full archive here.
BG Falcon Media received several honors at the Ohio News Media Association News & Collegiate Fellowship Day:
- Overall Excellence in Collegiate Journalism Award (runner-up)
- In-Depth Reporting (1st place)
- Multi-Media Package (1st place)
- Newspaper Design (1st place)
- Arts & Entertainment (2nd place)
The 2023-24 College of Arts & Sciences Staff Awards were announced at the 2024 Fall Staff Breakfast
Mentorship Award: DeeDee Wentland, senior secretary in the School of Cultural & Critical Studies (retired)
Problem Solver Award: Steffen Jockusch, instrumentation specialist in the Department of Chemistry
Rising Star Award: Terrilyn Meel, graduate secretary in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Best of Arts & Sciences: Christian Bloomfield, assistant to the associate deans in the College, and Amber Snyder, administrative assistant in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics
2024 BGSU Academy of Distinguished Alumni
Dr. Larry Benz ‘84, founder of Confluent Health; Seshadri S. Tangutur ’87, a leading technology industry developer; and Jeff B. Witjas ’68, a top talent agent and entertainment industry leader were inducted into the BGSU Academy of Distinguished Alumni, the highest honor bestowed by the University.
This year, BGSU One Day raised $2,704,776 to support student scholarships and University programs from 5,367 donors from all 50 states.
Please consider making a donation to the BGSU College of Arts & Sciences. Support for the College can be directed to programs that offer critical scholarship support, bolster experiential learning opportunities for students, promote faculty research, and more. Your gift helps ensure that students in the College benefit from the rich, liberal arts curriculum that encourages self- and community transformation to serve the public good. To make a gift, visit bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences and click the “Give” button, or contact Karmen Concannon in the BGSU Advancement Office at 419-372-4263.
Transformations is a publication of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowling Green State University. Comments or questions should be directed to artsandsciences@bgsu.edu.
Updated: 07/22/2025 09:11AM