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Neil Humphrey was a man of the West, but he certainly made his impact here at YSU. A native of Idaho who worked in high-level government and higher education positions in Nevada and Alaska, Humphrey moved East in 1978 to become vice president for finance at YSU. Six years later, he was named president, here he served until his retirement in 1992. He then moved back West, to Reno, Nev., where he passed away earlier this year at the age of 89. Known for his business acumen and low-key nature, Humphrey is pictured here at 1985 Homecoming activities. Behind him to the right is Youngstown Mayor Pat Ungaro, and to the left is Youngstown Councilman Richard Hughey.
(Editor's note: In the print edition of the magazine, we misidentified Richard Hughey. We thank our readers for calling this to our attention and apologize for the mistake.)
Youngstown State University – a Magazine for Alumni and Friends, is published twice annually for YSU alumni, faculty and staff by the YSU Office of Marketing & Communications.
- Making the obvious true - Our impact is immense Look closely at the illustration below and a quote from the late New York Times columnist William Safire comes to mind: “Never assume the obvious is true.” It’s fair to say that all of us take for granted that Youngstown State University - with nearly 100,000 alums, more than 1,000 faculty members, about 13,000 currently enrolled students and an annual operating budget in excess of $180 million - has had and continues to have an immense impact on our surrounding region. That is to say - it’s obvious, right? Well, taking Safire’s suggestion to
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One of the great things about walking through the corridors of Bliss Hall - home to the Dana School of Music at YSU - is the variety of sounds you’re likely to hear seeping from the many studios and recital halls and classrooms along the way. There’s the roaring strings of the Dana Symphony Orchestra rehearsing for its next concert, and the soothing vocal harmonies of the Dana Barbershop Chorus practicing for an upcoming gig. Across the way, someone’s tickling a cheerful piano ditty, while nearby the Percussion Ensemble drums away. There’s a strumming guitar, a soaring operatic aria and the - Multiple million dollar gifts push capital campaign closer to completion YSU’s historic We See Tomorrow capital campaign is now more than three-quarters of the way to its $100 million fundraising goal. At more than $80 million raised, the YSU Foundation credits the generosity of YSU alumni and friends for its success thus far. The campaign had raised $51.7 million when the public phase began in October 2017. Several gifts of $1 million or more will fund facilities, scholarships and professorships. Changing the face of campus It’s a classic case of a good problem to have—just when the campus
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The new Millennium belongs to... the Class of 2022! Mostly born in the year 2000, they arrived on the YSU campus in August as freshmen. These students were born into a world of Y2K, constantly evolving technology and social media. What do they think of this world we live in? We asked them. We surveyed over 400 members of the Class of 2022 as they represent a snapshot of our collective future and what's to come on the horizon. They opened up to us about who they are, what their hopes are and what they see as the biggest challenge facing their generation. They describe themselves as outgoing - Strategic planning team prepares for YSU’s future “Things change quickly, we’ve got to make sure now, as we move forward into strategic planning for 2020 and beyond that we get input from everywhere, that we get real, verifiable data to help us make good decisions.” – President Jim Tressel at the 2018 State of the University. The strategic planning process at YSU is underway! Strategic planning creates a space for informed collaboration and becomes the roadmap that guides the university into the future. As the Strategic Planning Organization Team ramps up its work on the next strategic plan
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Just about every university has one — an old, iconic signature building that hearkens to the institution's beginnings. At YSU, it's Jones Hall - the stately "Old Main" on the corner of Lincoln and Wick avenues. But, after reigning over the university for nearly 90 years, the old gal was starting to show her age. So, this past year, university facilities completed an extensive renovation of the outside of the structure, including replacement of the original slate roof and copper flashing, gutters and downspouts. All rotted substructure was also repaired or replaced, and some of the building's - Steel & Concrete Here’s another championship banner to add to the Penguin collection - Ohio Valley Student Conference. The YSU American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter claimed the Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge Championships at this year’s OVSC at Ohio University. It’s the first time that teams from YSU have taken first in both categories in the same year. YSU bested teams representing 15 schools from Ohio, Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania, including Carnegie Mellon, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Pittsburgh and Ohio State University. Both teams advanced to their
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Athletics Hall of Fame - The best of the best Seven of the top student athletes in YSU’s 110-year history, including a record-setting track and field star, an All-American football standout and the MVP of the Horizon League softball tournament, were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame this fall: Bethany Anderson (pictured), 2004-08, Track and Field, thrower, eight-time Horizon League Champion, two-time Horizon League Field Performer of the Meet and 2006-07 YSU Female Athlete of the Year. McKenzie Bedra, 2005-08, Softball, two-time First-Team All-Horizon League, MVP of the 2006 Horizon - Image
Sports are full of superstitions, from specific routines before every game to certain lucky meals or items. We asked YSU Student Athletes if they believe in athletic superstitions, and here are some of their responses. Angela Lock — Track and Field Junior Integrated Language Arts major. The same exact warm up and an even number of steps for everything! Jake Coates — Football Sophomore Business Management major. I have songs I listen to, what I wear for games and the order I do things in. Shelby Marken — Track & Field Senior Psychology major. I have to braid my hair for every meet. I need to - Image
In recognition of YSU’s first graduating class from the new Master of Athletic Training program, and in anticipation of the upcoming calorie-filled holiday season and the still-to-come New Year’s resolutions for 2019, we thought we’d turn to someone in our newly named Department of Kinesiology and Sports Science to talk about an exercise method that, while more than 100 years old, is surging in popularity in recent years. Here’s C.J. Moser-Flately, a part-time YSU faculty member and a YSU Exercise Science graduate who has been practicing and teaching Pilates for nearly 20 years: Q. What is - 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's ’60s Alex Delbene of Girard, 1960, BE, Education, was featured in an article in the Warren Tribune Chronicle about meeting with Pope Pius XII more than 60 years ago. Delbene, drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950, was in Italy, went to the Vatican, asked for an audience with the pope and was turned away. Undeterred, he noticed a group of officers headed toward the area where the pope received visitors, got in line, was escorted inside, met the pope and kissed his papal ring. “It was the greatest feeling of my life,” Delbene said in the article. He later
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Entrepreneur cooks up unexpected business in kitchen Carmella Williams, 2005, BSBA Working with local businesses and creating natural hair care products in her kitchen may seem like very different activities, but to Carmella Williams, they are not that far apart at all. Both roles allow her to help others, something that she has always felt is important. Williams graduated from Hubbard High School in 2000, YSU with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2005 and Cleveland State University with a master's degree in Public Administration in 2008. She spent the first 11 years of her - With YSU’s Homecoming theme of Penguin Roots, what better way to honor our roots than by welcoming YSU grads back to campus for the All Alumni Reunion? Alumni from 14 states including South Carolina, Texas, Florida and California came home to YSU to reconnect, reengage and celebrate. Alumni were highlighted at the following events Oct. 5 – 6: Chapter Leaders Summit Alumni chapter leaders from around the country got together for the first time to discuss their events and share ideas at the chapter leaders summit. The day included a campus tour, a working lunch at Republic Pizzeria (a campus
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Bedside respiratory therapist forges path to EPA Teresa (Tracey) Mitchell, 1988, AAS When Teresa (Tracey) Mitchell graduated from YSU with a degree in Respiratory Therapy, she never would have guessed that one day she would work for the Environmental Protection Agency. She credits her YSU education with giving her the academic and real-world skills to create a unique career path. Whether working directly with patients or policy, she feels all her roles have allowed her to help others. Born and raised in Youngstown, Mitchell graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1983 and then from YSU - Since 2013, YSU Magazine has been sharing the love stories of married YSU couples in our popular “Penguin Mates” column. We introduced the couples featured below in the Fall 2018 print edition – you can read about how they met and see all their photos here. Gary M. Lazor, 1985, BA, Combined Social Studies, and Jeanne Spinosa Lazor, 1986, AB, Accounting, were married June 25, 1988, in Warren. They live in South Bend, Indiana and celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this year. He is CEO of Lazor Advisory LLC, an international business development and talent acquisition consulting firm, and