A message from the Interim Dean: Evolving challenges, new opportunities
A message from the Interim Dean: Evolving challenges, new opportunitiesFor a brief moment in summer 2021 we looked to the near future and thought we saw a scene in which all the things we do in the College of Arts and Sciences might actually get back to the ways we did them before the pandemic. What we experienced instead was stranger and more complicated than that vision of a simple recovery of familiar modes of teaching, learning, creating, discovering, collaborating, and living. The challenges of the pandemic did not fade away; they evolved.
As the people of the College of Arts and Sciences—students, faculty, staff, and administration—worked through this year of evolving challenges, we did find opportunities to experience again the kind of interaction that we need and cherish as a community. The breakthrough art exhibition Visible Man, the civically invigorating exchanges with distinguished speakers Laura Coates and Jeffrey Rosen on Constitution Day, the public recognition of the life and work of Dr. Robert Perry and the dedication of the Shatzel Hall veranda in his name, the palpable connection that Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black formed with students during his Creative Minds visit, the chance for Governor DeWine to learn from our faculty and student researchers about their work on the watershed ecosystems of our region: These were all moments that brought us together, recovered vital histories, illuminated persistent problems, clarified a new sense of possibility, and reminded us that the experience of each other’s voices, perspectives, and ideas—without the electronic filter—is one of the most precious gifts we have as human beings.
At the same time, we continued our digital campus lives, continuing recently established practices or improvising new ways to lead and participate in class, pursue collaborative creative work and research, connect through service, and engage stakeholders on and beyond campus. I invite you take a little time to review the stories and images in this year’s digital Transformations. An annual magazine can’t hope to capture everything important from a year. But for me, and perhaps for you as well, this issue provides a chance to re-live some meaningful moments and find out more about those that one didn’t have a chance to catch in real time.
For me as Interim Dean, time was running out from the start. Perhaps that gave me additional impetus to take in and be present for as much as I could. What I witnessed was by turns joyful, exciting, thought-provoking, humbling. The challenges that we face as a society and as a species are great, which makes our work in the College of Arts and Sciences vital. Each day in our life as a college, students are developing the broadly applicable knowledge and skills required to meet those great challenges, and we are equipping them to put their learning to work in the professional, civic, and community settings that will define their lives. Thank you for stopping by to learn about this year in the College of Arts and Sciences and thank you for your support of our critical work.
Ted Rippey, Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Visible Man a landmark for BGSU School of Art
Visible Man: Art and Black Male Subjectivity addressed the intersection of representation and perception in the portrayal of Black men through cultural, racialized and personal lenses. This impactful, ambitious art exhibit featured contemporary African American & Afro-Caribbean artists.
In Photos: 17th annual ArtsX celebrates work of BGSU arts community
This annual holiday event features works by all of the arts units on campus: School of Art, Department of Theatre and Film, Creative Writing, and College of Musical Arts.
Community collaboration: First-ever “Art of Diversity” highlights artists from Wood, Lucas and Erie counties
The Art of Diversity: An Introspective Journey to Belonging was a visual and performing arts showcase featuring the works of BGSU students, faculty and staff, and community members.
BGSU Students Meet with Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker Dustin Lance Black
The storyteller, social activist, and Oscar Award-winning screenwriter (Milk, 2009) shared his own creative, personal, and political stories to help shine a light on the incredible, transformative power of personal storytelling.
A trailblazer for diversity and belonging: BGSU honors Dr. Robert L. Perry ’59, ’65
The University honored Dr. Robert L. Perry ’59, ’65, inaugural director of the BGSU ethnic studies program, with the naming of the Robert L. Perry Veranda located at Shatzel Hall.
BGSU to host Constitution Day with conversation, Q&A
The College of Arts and Sciences hosted a moderated conversation, “The Constitution & Political Polarization,” with special guests, Laura Coates, CNN Host and Senior Legal Analyst, and Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, to commemorate Constitution Day.
BGSU researcher wins top international criminology award
Dr. Peggy Giordano, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of sociology, received the 2022 Stockholm Prize in Criminology. This top international prize in criminology is given annually with the support of the Swedish Ministry of Justice for outstanding research within the field of criminology.
Win for BGSU Model UN team highlights opportunities, experiences for students
Students on the BGSU Model UN team won an award for their performance at the 2021 American Model UN Conference in Chicago. “The award is the direct result of collaborative teamwork and a passion for learning,” said Dr. Marc Simon, chair and associate professor of political science and advisor to the BGSU International Relations Organization.
Research into female leadership in Asia by BGSU faculty, alumni hailed as pioneering
Dr. Louisa Ha, School of Media and Communication (SMC) professor, co-edited the book, Asian Women Leadership: A Cross-National and Cross-Sector Comparison, which received two awards from the National Communications Association. Dr. Lisa Hanasono, SMC associate professor, and seven BGSU alumni also served as contributing authors for the book.
Falcon Forensics, Speech and Debate Team places third in National Online Forensics Championships
The Falcon Forensics, Speech and Debate Team enjoyed another outstanding performance at the 2022 National Online Forensics Championships. Of the 38 colleges and universities from around the country competing, BGSU placed third in the nation.
BGSU researcher chosen for PITCH X video series
Dr. Alexis Ostrowski, associate professor of chemistry and Dr. Thomas Kinstle Professor, was one of just nine people selected for the PITCH X: From Lab to Market video series announced by Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. Her hydrogel technology is on track to move from her lab to commercialization.
BGSU computer science mentorship program for girls receives “Inspiring Programs in STEM Award”
The CODE4her Computer Science Mentorship Program for Girls received the 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for inspiring and encouraging a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM.
Honors chemistry student to attend prestigious ACS conference
Chemistry student Brie Bradshaw will attend the prestigious, highly competitive LEADS (Lasting Encounters between Aspiring and Distinguished Scientists) Conference, hosted by the American Chemical Society in July, before pursuing her Ph.D. in chemistry. According to Bradshaw, her BGSU experience has been life-changing.
BGSU researcher studying use of photoresponsive sponges as environmental difference-makers
Dr. Joseph Furgal, assistant professor in chemistry, received a National Science Foundation grant to study photoresponsive sponges as environmental remediators. The breakthrough technology may someday be used to remove toxins from the water.
Governor DeWine visits BGSU to highlight importance of water quality research
Calling it a “moral obligation” to care for Lake Erie, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine visited BGSU to reinforce the importance of the state’s H2Ohio initiative and hail the ground-breaking research being conducted by faculty and students in the School of Earth, Environment and Society, Department of Biology, and Department of Chemistry.
BGSU Professor earns international honor in photochemistry
Dr. Jayaraman Sivaguru, professor of chemistry and associate director of the BGSU Center for Photochemical Sciences, was named the Honda-Fujishima Lectureship awardee by the Japanese Photochemistry Association.
2021-22 highlights of faculty, staff and student accomplishments
From research and scholarship to service and public good, the College of Arts and Sciences faculty, staff and students have recorded many successes during the past academic year.
Dr. Valeria Grinberg Pla, professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, was awarded a Radboud Excellence Initiative Professorship at Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
College of Arts and Sciences alumnus, Leon Bibb ’66, received the 2021 Academy of Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the University. Bibb earned his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from BGSU.
Dr. Heath Diehl, teaching professor in the Department of English and Honors College affiliate, received the 2021 College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award.
Dr. Rebecca Skinner Green, director of Africana Studies and associate professor in the School of Art, received the 2021 College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Award.
Dr. Joshua Grubbs, associate professor of psychology, is the principal investigator on a $400K+ grant recently awarded by the International Center for Responsible Gaming. This is the first grant of its kind, with funding from several major companies to study sports wagering behavior and problematic sports wagering.
Dr. Richard Hebein, associate professor emeritus of world languages and cultures, recently published The Old Professor’s Cookbook. More than a collection of recipes, his book is instructive. It’s “the teacher in me,” he pointed out. “I’m trying to teach people how to do it on their own.”
Dr. Laura Stafford, director and professor, of the BGSU School of Media and Communication, is among the world's top 2% of scientists in terms of the impact of her research according to a database created by a research team at Stanford University. The study considered career-long impact and single-year impact in 2020.
Dr. Michael Decker, assistant professor of computer science, received the Most Influential Paper Award at the 21st Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE) International Working Conference on Source Code Analysis and Manipulation (SCAM ’21).
Dr. Stefan Fritsch, associate professor of political science, was awarded a yearlong fellowship at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, to further research international regulations surrounding artificial intelligence.
The BGSU Ethics Bowl Team qualified for the Association of Practical and Professional Ethics Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl National Competition by finishing 3-0 in the Central States Regional competition. In the national competition, the team competed with the 36 best teams from across the country, including those from Stanford University, University of California San Diego, Occidental College, and Seattle University.
Dr. Melissa Miller, political science professor and Kaitlyn Kuch Finkler, WBGU-PBS producer, received a grant from the Ohio History Fund for their television documentary, “Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics.”
Dr. Philip Peek, chair and professor, Department of World Languages and Cultures, was selected as the recipient of the 2021-2022 Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS) Award for Excellence in College Teaching.
The Industrial and Organizational (I-O) Psychology doctoral program was ranked the #3 Best Industrial and Organizational Psychology Graduate Program by U.S. News & World Report for 2022.
Animation Career Review (ACR) has again ranked the BGSU School of Art among the best animation schools in Ohio and the nation. For 2022, the BGSU digital arts program was ranked in the top 20% at No. 19 among public schools for animation in the nation and No. 12 in the Midwest.
Dr. Angélica Vázquez-Ortega, an assistant professor in the School of Earth, Environment and Society, and Drs. Kevin McCluney and Shannon Pelini, both associate professors of biological sciences, received a USDA grant for research aimed at improving soil health and water quality through the use of more sustainable farming practices with less impact on watersheds.
The BGSU Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program received accreditation from the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). It is one of 29 accredited undergraduate degree programs in the United States, and one of only two in the state of Ohio.
Dr. Lewis Fulcher, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, retired from BGSU. We thank him for his lasting and important contributions in teaching, research, and service during his 49 years at the university.
Dr. Jayaraman Sivaguru, professor of chemistry and associate director of the Center for Photochemical Sciences, was conferred the title of Distinguished University Professor at the 2022 Faculty Excellence Awards.
Dr. Annette Mahoney, professor of psychology, received the 2022 BGSU Distinguished Research Professor Award.
Sociology professors, Drs. Peggy Giordano, Monica Longmore, and Wendy Manning (not pictured), received the 2022 President’s Award for Collaborative Research and Creative Work.
Dr. Valeria Grinberg Pla, professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, was awarded the title of Professor of Research Excellence for 2022.
Dr. Joseph Furgal, assistant professor of chemistry, received the 2022 Outstanding Early Career Award.
Dr. Cynthia Mahaffey, teaching professor of English, and Dr. Sue Carter Wood, associate professor of English and director of Rhetoric and Writing Studies, each received Faculty Senate Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Dr. Jolie Sheffer, professor of English and director of the Institute for the Study of Culture and Society, received the Faculty Senate Mentor Award.
Ann Westrick, teaching professor of English, was conferred the title of Professor of Teaching Excellence at the 2022 Faculty Excellence Awards ceremony.
Dr. Sandra Faulkner, professor in the School of Media and Communication, received the 2022 Olscamp Research Award.
Updated: 06/15/2022 03:56PM