PortalY magazine goes digital
A note from the YSU Communications team
When we started working on the Spring 2020 edition of Y magazine in January, we intended to produce our usual printed publication. Yet, when the coronavirus arrived, the pandemic evolved and the world literally transformed before our eyes, we decided that a digital online edition, not a print edition, was the prudent way forward.
So here's your Spring/Summer edition of Y magazine. In addition to our usual wide variety of content, including the previously-planned stories on Our Colleges, we bring you stories about how YSU is responding to the pandemic and how our alumni "On the Frontlines" are aiding their respective communities.
This is a certainly a challenging, unprecedented time. The impact on us all, and YSU, is considerable, and the future uncertain. But, as President Jim Tressel says in his Macte Virtute message in this issue: "In difficult times, we step up."
We send heartfelt wishes of health to you, your families and friends. Be well, stay safe and Go YSU!
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“Ready to take on whatever comes our way” It was Spring Break 2020, the week of March 9, no classes, a quiet campus – then COVID-19 hit. The World Health Organization declared a pandemic. Major sports leagues suspended their seasons. The NCAA cancelled March Madness. Large gatherings were banned. Tom Hanks and his wife tested positive. And students and faculty have yet to return to the YSU campus. On March 23, in less than two weeks, YSU transitioned all on-campus classes to online remote courses, a task Jim Yukech, associate vice president of Information Technology Services - Image
Alumna Amy Acton Ohio’s top doc in coronavirus fight Dr. Amy Acton" alt="Dr. Amy Acton" height="324" width="250"> Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is getting national and international attention for taking proactive measures to combat the coronavirus in Ohio. So just how did he see it coming? DeWine himself praises the crucial role of Ohio Director of Health and YSU alumna Amy Acton. Acton has been a part of Ohio’s daily 2 p.m. televised news briefings since mid-March, when the health crisis began. She has become known for her calm demeanor and no-nonsense approach - telling it like it is but with - Image
Our Colleges Empowering aspirations, fostering growth, creating partnerships The Academic Division is at the core of YSU – teaching, mentoring, creating, achieving, succeeding. And at the center of that are Our Colleges – six distinct organizational units that carry out the primary mission, vision and goals of the university. In this edition of Y magazine, we recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Our Colleges – their talented faculty, their outstanding students, their successful alumni and their many nationally-recognized programs and initiatives that have helped shape the lives and - Image
Fund helps students struggling financially due to the coronavirus YSU is answering the call to help students suddenly facing financial needs due to the coronavirus. Last month, the YSU Foundation launched the Penguin-to-Penguin campaign to raise $50,000 over the next 90 days. In only two weeks, donors contributed more than $63,000. The total raised is now in excess of $75,000, and the fund has already served more than 70 students. The Penguin-to-Penguin fund provides YSU’s most vulnerable students with up to $500 for housing, car repairs, medical bills, food, toiletries, etc. "Many of our - Image
Alumni office creates new ways to connect during COVID-19 The Office of Alumni Engagement is creating new ways to bring alumni together during this challenging time. New additions include specialized lectures from noted alumni and faculty, personalized messages of hope from chapter leaders and alumni spotlights. A virtual book club is being launched in collaboration with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and Maag Library. The alumni team is also sending targeted messages of encouragement from alumni to current students. And in collaboration with the Office of Communications - In difficult times, we step up Dear Fellow Penguins, We have written often in this space about the far-reaching impact that Youngstown State University alumni, students, faculty, staff and supporters have on the region and the nation. This spring, as the coronavirus pandemic hit, that impact became even more apparent. YSU alums working as nurses, respiratory therapists, counselors, school teachers, police officers, entrepreneurs, social workers, researchers, scientists and in dozens of other careers across the spectrum have stepped up with great urgency, dedication and compassion in this time
- Fulbrighter: A YSU first DINA ABDO, A CITIZEN OF EGYPT who earned a bachelor’s degree at Nile University in Cairo, is attending YSU as a Student Fulbright Scholar, the first student ever to study at YSU under the prestigious international scholarship program. “This certainly speaks volumes about the growing reputation and quality of both our Economics program and YSU as a whole,” said Ou Hu, chair of YSU’s Department of Economics. After learning earlier this year that she had been selected as a Fulbright recipient, Abdo turned to the internet to search out a school in the United States to
- Alumnus, artist, educator, advocate Family honors Al Bright’s legacy with scholarship The world Al Bright was born into in 1940 didn’t offer the same opportunities to African American men as those born today. But that didn’t stop the budding artist and educator from pursuing his dreams and empowering others until his passing at age 79 late last year. Bright earned a bachelor's degree in Art from YSU in 1964 and a master’s from Kent State University in 1965. Later that same year, at age 25, he became YSU’s first African American full-service faculty member. Five years later, he helped found YSU
- Dear Editor and Dr. Tom Shipka, I was thrilled to read a letter from my favorite teacher at YSU, Dr. Shipka. (Actually my mother, Dr. Marilyn Solak, was my favorite, but Dr. Shipka was a close second.) He will be happy to know that I spent my adult life as a public school teacher. I have retired after teaching high school science for 33 years, mostly in Florida. I have always been active in the teacher union and am now president of the FEA Island Coast Retired Educators Association. Dr. Shipka inspired me and led me into a life of teaching. I want to thank him, my mother, and all the wonderful
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CLASS Acts Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, many students in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences met with a string of successes the preceding several months, making their marks across the country, and world. Emily Henline of Austintown, a YSU senior, was named a scholar in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, considered to be one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world. Henline is double-majoring in English and Education (Integrated Language Arts, 7-12), with a minor in Linguistics and a TESOL Endorsement. She will use the Fulbright award to study - Image
Alums get their students slammed – on poetry One day not too long ago, Ahmed Sutton, a 2016 graduate of YSU’s Beeghly College of Education and now an English teacher at Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, tagged along with one of his teacher friends to a poetry event at a local bookstore. The world’s your classroom "Bringing an international perspective to your teaching." - Image
Educate. Exercise. Empower. Unlocking the key to health and wellness is as simple as this: Move more, and sit less. That's the objective behind YSU's Walk with a Doc program. Athletic training camp connects high schoolers with college students, campus Not everyone has the opportunity to watch a football game from the sidelines, but for Morgan Bagley, this isn’t a bucket list activity…it’s just another day in the office, so to speak. Resilience over resentment “Unknowingly, I’d always been a resilient person, specifically through childhood. What I now recognize as a strength, was originally a - Image
puppets take center stage “I am from the first generation that was introduced to Sesame Street,” said Todd Dicken, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance. “So, from a young age, I was intrigued.” Art, music, literature “The definition of an art museum has changed so much over the last decade,” said Claudia Berlinski, McDonough Museum coordinator. “Our new initiatives are designed to create inclusive programming and increase community engagement and outreach.” Putting the “multi” in multimedia Journalism A collaborative initiative between the faculty and staff of the Communication - Image
Youngstown’s “Steel Museum” “Hard work, doing a good job and making a better life for our community and ourselves.” ‘Creating spaces of belonging’ You don’t need a social psychologist or anthropologist or even a genealogist to trace the origins of Nicole Pettitt’s passion. Leadership Understanding others, understanding yourself Flip through Joe Alessi’s vitae, and there’s a certain theme that keeps popping up: leadership. CLASS Acts Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, many students in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences met with a string of successes the preceding several months - Image
National Student Intern of the Year Kalliope Zembillas turned a trip to the semi-annual STEM Expo during her sophomore year into not only one but three successful internships – and the 2020 National Internship Student Achievement Award. STEM launches Y(SU) 2-RP “Y(SU) 2-RP provides undergraduate students an opportunity to participate in an immersive, faculty-led research experience,” STEM Dean Wim Steelant said. Home Sweet Home...in the lab Francisco “Frank” Oliva may be a long way from his hometown of Miami, Fla., but he’s found a second “home” in a research lab at YSU. - Image
understanding IMPOSTOR phenomenon ... and ourselves We’ve all been there…feeling unsure of ourselves and our abilities but for no logical reason. Despite evidence of success, we feel inadequate or like an intellectual phony. For WCBA students, career prep starts day one What do you want to be when you grow up? It's a question we've all asked or answered at some point in our lives. While the simple query is usually well-intentioned, it can evoke feelings of uncertainty for those about to embark on their careers. Landing that first post-college professional position is a common concern for - Image
Leadership Understanding others, understanding yourself Flip through Joe Alessi’s vitae, and there’s a certain theme that keeps popping up: leadership. Whether it’s teaching at the U.S. Military Academy, serving as an assistant professor of Leadership at Washington University in St. Louis, presenting at the International Leadership Association in Brussels, or serving as a mentor for his school football and hockey teams, Alessi’s career is defined by the subtleties and science of guiding, commanding and directing others to succeed. And all of that gushes out when you meet him face to face – - Image
‘Creating spaces of belonging’ You don’t need a social psychologist or anthropologist or even a genealogist to trace the origins of Nicole Pettitt’s passion. Just go back 70 years or so to the great plains of Jamestown, N.D., in the midst of the “Happy Days” of the 1950s, and to Pettitt’s grandparents. “They went to church every Sunday,” Pettitt recalls. “They’d look around church to see if there were any visitors, or anyone they didn’t know, or anyone that was alone – and they’d invite them back to their house for lunch. And they did that almost every single Sunday.” “They even hosted an - Image
Pictured in front of a wall-sized photo of workers at YST are graduate assistant interns Susan Lowery, left, and Allison Henline. Other GA interns at the museum are Mallorie Sutter and Jonathan Cambouris. " alt="Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor exhibition" height="748" width="1280"> Hard work, doing a good job and making a better life for our community and ourselves Youngstown’s Steel Museum Here at Y magazine, we like to say, “There’s a story around every corner.” And, you know, there is! But then there’s the place around the corner at Hazel and Wood streets on the far south - Image
The world’s your classroom Beeghly College of Education launches overseas student teaching initiative Two years ago, Courtney Lundgren and a group of students in YSU’s Beeghly College of Education set out on a study abroad trip to Palacky University in Czech Republic, with side trips to Poland, Austria, Slovakia and France. But there was one place in particular left on Lundgren’s European bucket list – Spain. “I’d love to have the opportunity to see Antoni Gaudí’s architecture,” she said. This spring, Lundgren was planning to fulfill that desire, and more. A senior Education major, Lundgren - Image
Alums get their students slammed – on poetry Poetry Slam contestants and Warren G. Harding students, left to right, are Cameran King (who graduated in 2019), Corey Cobb-Davis (who graduated in 2019 and is a current YSU student), senior Elyssa Hawkins, junior Brenden Freeman and Ahmed Sutton, English teacher, Poetry Club advisor and YSU alum." alt="High school students participate in a poetry slam" height="404" width="400"> One day not too long ago, Ahmed Sutton, a 2016 graduate of YSU’s Beeghly College of Education and now an English teacher at Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, tagged - Image
Home Sweet Home...in the lab Francisco “Frank” Oliva may be a long way from his hometown of Miami, Fla., but he’s found a second “home” in a research lab at YSU. After completing a master’s degree in Biology at YSU in December, Oliva stayed on campus to pursue a PhD in Health Sciences. Oliva, by his own admission, wasn’t always the best student. “You could say that I wasn’t a good student at all. I didn't get good grades, but I really always loved school. Then, I discovered research and working in the lab and found my passion.” Instrumental in Oliva discovering his love of research was Wim - Image
STEM launches Y(SU) 2-RP YSU students will have a new opportunity to immerse themselves in research thanks to the new YSU Summer Undergraduate Research Program in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Y(SU) 2-RP was scheduled to launch this summer but, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the program has been delayed until summer 2021. STEM Dean Wim Steelant" alt height="319" width="250"> “Y(SU) 2-RP provides undergraduate students an opportunity to participate in an immersive, faculty-led research experience,” STEM Dean Wim Steelant said. Participating - Image
2020 National Student Intern of the Year Kalliope Zembillas turned a trip to the semi-annual STEM Expo during her sophomore year into not only one but three successful internships – and the 2020 National Internship Student Achievement Award. Zembillas received the award from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association for her internship with Simon Roofing in Boardman. The award recognizes distinguished excellence for one student nationwide who excelled in work-integrated learning through an internship program. A senior Chemical Engineering major and Mathematics minor, Zembillas met - Image
Disney opens doors Experiences prepare alumnus for future of advertising, service When Joe Smith traveled to Kentucky in 1999 to pitch an advertising campaign for the Toyota Echo, he had no idea that the National Student Advertising Competition sponsored by the American Advertising Federation would spark the beginning of a successful 20-year career in advertising. Smith’s team came in third place, which marked the highest finish for YSU at that time. “What I did then - deciding who does creative, who does the media plan, who does the briefing - is basically the same type of work I’m doing now - Image
For WCBA students, career prep starts day one What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a question we’ve all asked or answered at some point in our lives. While the simple query is usually well-intentioned, it can evoke feelings of uncertainty for those about to embark on their careers. Landing that first post-college professional position is a common concern for parents and students alike, but for students in the Williamson College of Business Administration, getting ready for the world of work starts day one. Much of the efforts to socialize students into the profession are tied to WCBA - Image
Fighting Impostor Phenomenon begins with understanding it...and ourselves We’ve all been there…feeling unsure of ourselves and our abilities but for no logical reason. Despite evidence of success, we feel inadequate or like an intellectual phony. The popular media calls it Impostor Syndrome. Academics call it Impostor Phenomenon. No matter the name, it can rattle even seemingly confident individuals without warning. Studies suggest more than 70 percent of people feel like an impostor at some point in their career, and the experience can be accompanied by feelings of anxiety, stress or - Image
Resilience over resentment Personal experience inspires career strengthening families “Unknowingly, I’d always been a resilient person, specifically through childhood. What I now recognize as a strength, was originally a child just trying to survive. I want other kids to understand that while traumatic, their situations can absolutely be temporary, and don’t have to determine what happens to them long term.” Those are the words of Jessica Williams, two-time YSU alumna, who grew up in the child welfare system and is now rising through the ranks of Trumbull County Children Services, hoping to - Image
Athletic training camp connects high schoolers with college students, campus Not everyone has the opportunity to watch a football game from the sidelines, but for Morgan Bagley, this isn’t a bucket list activity…it’s just another day in the office, so to speak. You see, Bagley is an assistant professor of Kinesiology and Sport Science and athletic trainer who is passionate about exposing young people to careers in athletic training before they are even thinking seriously about college. Bagley sought out grant funding to create a camp at YSU that would allow area high schoolers to connect with - Image
Educate. Exercise. Empower. Walk with a Doc gets community moving Move more. Sit less. Unlocking the key to health and wellness is as simple as doing those two things, says Sara Michaliszyn, associate professor and chair of Kinesiology and Sport Science at YSU. Michaliszyn served as the January walk leader and speaker to launch YSU’s 2020 Walk with a Doc series. The free community event, led by the YSU Doctor of Physical Therapy program, pairs exercise and education to empower participants to meet their wellness goals. Entering its third year at the Southern Park Mall in Boardman, WWAD - Image
Putting the “multi” in multimedia journalism A collaborative initiative between the faculty and staff of the Communication department and student journalists has resulted in Jambar TV, an online student-run news program launched Fall 2019 semester. Rachel Gobep and Alyssa Weston, senior Journalism majors, are part of the student team that is the driving force behind Jambar TV. Gobep serves as editor-in-chief of The Jambar student newspaper and also an anchor for Jambar TV. Weston is the managing editor for The Jambar and executive producer of Jambar TV. “To become editor-in-chief of The - Image
Art, Music, Literature A welcome collision at the McDonough Museum ( Note: While the McDonough Museum of Art at YSU is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has launched numerous virtual offerings as part of C3 Cliffe Creative Connections. Currently, featured on the McDonough YouTube channel are C3 Virtual Gallery Talks featuring Department of Art faculty and MFA students and 360 Videos of past exhibitions.) YSU’s John J. McDonough Museum of Art is finding new ways to open its doors to the campus and community with three initiatives introduced this academic year. “The definition of an art - Image
Puppets take center stage Todd Dicken has always had an interest in puppetry. “I am from the first generation that was introduced to Sesame Street,” said Dicken, a lecturer in YSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance. “So, from a young age, I was intrigued.” Dicken, who graduated from YSU in 1988 with a degree in Speech Communication (with a Theatre emphasis), is now taking the lead in launching the department’s new minor in Puppetry. “The possibility for outreach across campus and throughout the community with puppetry is endless,” said Phyllis Paul, dean of the Cliffe College of Creative Arts - 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s YSU On the Frontlines YSU alumna overcomes obstacles, returns to Olympic Marathon Trials Earning a spot at the Olympic Trials is a dream for many athletes, and for one alumna, that dream has come true – not once, but twice. After six months of training, runner Laura Kaulen, 2000, BSE, Special Education, secured a spot at the Olympic Marathon Trials by running the 2019 Chicago Marathon qualifying race in 2:42:48. That means she ran approximately six-minute miles, 26.2 of them to be exact. The 2020 trials were held Feb. 29 in Atlanta, Ga., where Kaulen fell
- Since 2013, Y Magazine has been featuring married YSU couples in our popular “Penguin Mates” column since 2013. Kevin Chapel, 2009, AAS, Criminal Justice and 2016, BGS, and Emily (Mogg) Chapel, 2014, BGS, and 2017, MS, Criminal Justice, were married Oct. 19, 2018. She is a deputy clerk of courts for the Mahoning County Juvenile Court in Youngstown, and he is a sergeant for the YSU Police Department. The couple met at YSU in Spring 2014 while working at the YSU Police Department. They currently reside in Boardman. Sara (Paloski) Dunlap, 2007, BA, Biology, and Tanner Dunlap, 2006, BSAS