BGSU Zoom News

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Falter Thomas reaches out to Peruvian colleagues | Davis to help form action plan for New York lakes

Angela Falter Thomas and Blucar Ledesma (center) with the workshop participants in Comas

A TEACHING ODYSSEY
FALTER THOMAS REACHES OUT TO COLLEAGUES IN PERU

When Dr. Angela Falter Thomas, an associate professor of education, planned her faculty improvement leave for this year, her purpose was to write a textbook to fill a void in middle childhood education language arts materials. But in addition to spending intensive hours on that now nearly completed project, Falter Thomas has also managed to get far away from her computer to provide another kind of much-needed help to teachers in Peru. She also made a 10-day trip to Costa Rica in November to organize an inaugural 2019 winter session, and is visiting several of her former students in their schools to update her knowledge of what’s happening in U.S. classrooms today.

“I wanted to embrace every opportunity this faculty leave presents,” she said.

In December, Falter Thomas received a request for help from two Peruvian teachers, Blucar Ledesma and Dalia Panduro, who had visited Bowling Green State University in 2015 as part of the IREX program, which brings about 20 international teachers to BGSU each year for six weeks of professional development. Falter Thomas remembers the first, snowy night the IREX group arrived and she met them at a dinner in Mileti Alumni Center, where Ledesma and Panduro talked about being from very different parts of Peru. Falter Thomas connected with them and has stayed in touch ever since.

“It’s really hard not to develop bonds with these absolutely remarkable people, who come from really challenging places,” Falter Thomas said. “Their stories are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.”

Dobrzykowski on health care reform – WGTE
Miller on State of the Union speech – WTOL
Undergraduate Art Exhibition – BG Independent News
Black History Month – The Blade
Conrad Art Song Competition – BG Independent News

Timothy Davis

TIMOTHY DAVIS TO HELP FORMULATE ACTION PLAN FOR NEW YORK LAKES

Dr. Timothy Davis, associate professor of biological sciences, will serve as a national expert at upcoming harmful algal bloom (HAB) summits in New York. The summits are part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent announcement of a large-scale initiative to combat cyanobacterial HABs in upstate New York lakes.

The $65 million, four-point initiative will focus on 12 priority lakes vulnerable to HABs that are critical sources of drinking water and vital to tourism. The proposal includes the convening of four regional summits to bring together nation-leading experts and local stakeholders for each lake. Along with the state’s Water Quality Rapid Response Team, the participants will develop action plans to identify contributing factors impacting HABs.

Davis will participate in summits in Syracuse and Ticonderoga.

OBITUARIES
Marian Moore, 93, died Jan. 28 in Bowling Green. She was the wife of BGSU President Hollis Moore, who served from 1970 until his death in 1981. Moore Musical Arts Center is named in the Moores’ honor.

Marjorie Miller, 85, an assistant professor emeritus of family and consumer sciences, died Feb. 3 in Bowling Green. She taught at the University from 1973-96.

Hasoon Al-Amiri, 90, professor emeritus of mathematics and statistics, died Oct. 19, 2017, in Bowling Green. He worked at BGSU from 1964-99, and chaired the Department of Mathematics and Statistics from 1987-91.

IN BRIEF

Mona Augustin, an award-winning Haitian musician and activist, will perform a concert tonight (Feb. 8) to benefit Haitians who were displaced after the 2010 earthquake.

Get details In Brief