Falcon News In Brief: A bite-sized briefing of notable BGSU faculty, student and alumni news

Congratulations to faculty, students and alumni on recent accomplishments

BGSU assistant general counsel completes 2023 Institute for Leadership & Advocacy

BGSU Assistant General Counsel Lizbeth M. Chavez was one of 34 individuals who completed public service and leadership training as part of the 11-week 2023 Institute for Leadership & Advocacy, presented by Huntington, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce announced on Thursday.

As part of the 2023 cohort - the largest the program has ever seen - Chavez took part in the professional development program that was created to help strengthen the foundation of the region's business and community leaders to help them better serve their organizations and communities. The graduates were honored for their accomplishments at an April 3 ceremony at the Glass City Pavilion with a keynote address by Ohio Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson.

The cohort took on a capstone project for the first time in program history, the goal of which was to identify an issue within the region and provide a solution. This year's group chose to address how to connect existing resources to those in need without duplicating services in the region and to become ambassadors to regional resources.

This class now joins an alumni network of more than 500 previous participants and with the completion of the 22nd year, the institute is the longest-running program of its kind in Ohio.

BGSU alumna and Owens Community College President Dr. Dione Somerville featured on podcast

In the March episode of the podcast "In The Arena: Conversations of a Lifetime," which profiles prominent local leaders, host Brad Rieger features the life and accomplishments of Dr. Dione Somerville, president of Owens Community College.

Somerville, who earned her master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University in 1995, is known as a thought leader in higher education and has led Owens Community College since 2021. She takes a collaborative approach to leadership, enabling her to build partnerships with businesses, government entities and educational institutions. A testament to this skill is the partnership entered into by BGSU, Owens Community College and the University of Findlay to create the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics.

The "In The Arena" podcast, timed to coincide with International Women's Day, shines a light on Somerville, her leadership journey and her dedication to serving others and making a positive impact. Listen to the podcast episode here.

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