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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 pursue a master’s degree in Financial Economics.
“I was looking for the best programs, and YSU was always on that list,” she recalls.
After earning the master’s at YSU, she plans to return to Egypt or the Middle East-North Africa region to work on poverty issues.
Students earn top honors
Two YSU students have earned academic recognitions that are among the highest in the nation and the world.
Emily Henline, 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 for a master’s degree in Korean Studies at Yonsei University in South Korea beginning this fall. (Note: Henline could defer her studies until Spring 2021, depending on the status of the coronavirus pandemic.)
And junior Alexandra Ballow was selected for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a premiere national award for undergraduate students in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering. Ballow, a mathematics and physics double major at YSU, is among only 396 college students nationwide to receive the Goldwater Scholarship this year, from a field of 1,343 Mathematics, Science and Engineering students from 461 colleges and universities. In total, 16 Ohio residents were selected.
YSU, IBM join forces to launch IT Workforce Accelerator
YSU AND IBM HAVE PARTNERED TO LAUNCH THE YSU IT WORKFORCE Accelerator, designed to provide students and the local workforce with skills needed for high-tech jobs in the growing digital economy.
Representatives from more than 40 companies throughout the region, ranging from Goodyear and General Motors to FirstEnergy and First National Bank, attended a workshop earlier this year to learn more about the program.
The initiative provides pre-apprenticeship training and apprenticeship programs so that local companies can train area workers in fields ranging from software engineering and data science to analytics, cybersecurity and mainframe systems administration.
“As the region’s leader in post-secondary education, YSU is thrilled to partner with IBM to provide greater access to skills and training in the tech industry,” said Brien Smith, YSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
In search of the next great ballerina
THE DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM, WHICH HAS PERFORMED IN 41 COUNTRIES spanning six continents over 50 years, visited Youngstown in February as part of YSU’s Donald P. Pipino Performing Arts Series, an event that Phyllis Paul, dean of the Cliffe College of Creative Arts and Communication, called “a monumental performance opportunity” for the region.
DTH’s last trip to Youngstown in the mid-1970s resulted in the discovery of what would become one of the company’s most celebrated prima ballerinas, Stephanie Dabney, who danced as a child with Ballet Western Reserve and was 16 when she attended a master class during DTH’s stop in Youngstown. We’ll have to wait to see if this year’s trip proves to be as productive.
Bitonte celebrates successful alumni, faculty, staff
THE DR. DOMINIC A. AND HELEN M. BITONTE COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN Services honored alumni, faculty and staff during the 11th annual alumni recognition dinner in February.
Awardees pictured from left are Richard Haybarger, Physical Therapy; Patrick Williams, Veteran’s Center; Nick Savage, Kinesiology & Sport Science; Kimberly Johnson, Nursing; Courtney Jenkins, Social Work; Rachel Detec, Criminal Justice & Forensic Sciences; Abdul Bari Lateef, Criminal Justice & Forensic Sciences; Joseph Mistovich, Health Professions; David Long, Military Science; Matthew Ozanich, Health Professions. Not pictured: Victor Cruz, Human Ecology.
Judge Nathaniel Jones
YOUNGSTOWN NATIVE NATHANIEL R. Jones, a 23-year federal appellate judge and civil rights activist, died earlier this year at his Cincinnati home. He was 93.
Jones graduated in 1951 with a BA in Sociology from then Youngstown College. After serving as NAACP general counsel for 10 years, Jones was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit by President Carter in 1979. He published scores of opinions and law review articles before retiring in 2002. The Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and the U.S. Courthouse opened in Youngstown the following year.
Williamson College honors outstanding alumni
THE WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZED FOUR outstanding alumni at the 24th annual banquet last fall. Pictured from the left are Michael Metzinger, CPA, senior manager, HBK CPAs & Consultants, Outstanding Recent Alumnus; Dean Betty Jo Licata; David Coy, president/general manager, WKBN/WYFX-TV and WYTV/MyYTV, Outstanding Business Alumnus; Lisa Metzinger, CPA, partner, Cohen & Co., Outstanding MBA Alumna; Todd Finn, CFA, assistant vice president, Farmers Trust Co., Outstanding Recent Alumnus; and President Jim Tressel.
YSU Campus Rec to expand kayaking, add paddle boarding, thanks to state grant
THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AWARDED $16,506 TO YSU CAMPUS Recreation to help fund the expansion of its boating safety education program to include paddle-boarding.
R.J. Markowitz, coordinator of Adventure Rec at YSU, said the addition of multiple launch sites and infrastructure projects on the Mahoning River, combined with the availability of low-cost kayaks and paddleboards, has resulted in more folks venturing back onto the river.
“However, remnants of the industrial past still pose hazards to unexperienced paddlers,” he said. “Multiple low head dams still exist throughout Trumbull and Mahoning counties that pose a risk to paddlers venturing out for the first time. Our goal is to educate the YSU community on not only skills and rescue, but also hazards that are specific to the Mahoning River and other area waterways.”
Phillips returns to Ice Castle as head coach
THE YSU PENGUINS WELCOME HOME new Middletown native Doug Phillips to serve as new head football coach. Phillips previously coached at YSU as a graduate assistant in 1991 and 1992 under current President Jim Tressel.
“I’ve been fortunate to work at great places to prepare me for this position. We’re going to play with fire and proudly represent our great university and community on and off the field. Go Penguins!” said Phillips, who becomes the eighth coach in YSU history.
Phillips spent the past three seasons on the University of Cincinnati football staff and previously was head coach at Springfield Local and Salem high schools. He replaces Bo Pellini who left after five seasons to become LSU defensive coordinator.
WCBA wins accreditation extension
AACSB INTERNATIONAL, the premier accrediting agency for Business schools worldwide, has extended the accreditation of the Williamson College of Business Administration for another five years. The designation places the college among the top 5 percent of Business programs in the world.
Betty Jo Licata, WCBA dean, said the college’s faculty are to be commended.
“Each and every day they are driven to fulfill our mission of preparing students to be successful business professionals and leaders,” she said. “Our accreditation reflects the faculty’s commitment to excellence through engagement with our students, the profession and business.”
Beeghly aces national evaluation
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON TEACHER QUALITY GIVES YSU’s Beeghly College of Education an “A” grade for early reading instruction in its Early Childhood Intervention Specialist program, placing YSU among the top quarter of schools across the country.
Charles Howell, dean of the Beeghly College, said earning an “A” is yet another indication of the quality of the college’s teacher preparation programs.
NCTQ evaluated reading courses, textbooks and other materials at more than 1,000 elementary teacher preparation programs nationwide and determined grades based on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
“Bahama Ron” bolsters study abroad’s future
A FACULTY MEMBER WHO HAS INTRODUCED MORE THAN 1,000 YSU students to the physical environment and cultural setting of the Bahamas is helping future students study abroad.
Ron Shaklee, professor and chair of the department of Geography and Urban-Regional Studies, has established the Shaklee Honors Study Abroad Scholarship with the YSU Foundation.
“Travel study courses are an integral part of my teaching,” said Shaklee. “This award is one way to ensure students will continue to benefit from the experience.”
Shaklee has taken YSU students to San Salvador, a small island in the Bahamas, every December since 1988, as part of an International Area Studies course. Currently, he also teaches a cross-listed honors Tropical Ecology course.
Shaklee’s long-standing relationship with the Bahamian community has resulted in an affiliation between YSU and the Gerace Research Centre, which is part of the University of the Bahamas. Shaklee, who conducts historical research on the island, has had multiple articles published in Bahamian professional publications.