Our Campus
It’s been a busy few months across campus – from changes to the Board of Trustees and new programs in Nursing, Education and more, to statewide recognition for YSU’s efforts to serve military veterans, comply with state transparency laws and provide top-notch law enforcement training for the region. Oh, and did you hear? President Jim Tressel is stepping down! Read all about it:
“A blessing and a labor of love”
Just in case you missed the coast-to-coast media coverage earlier this summer, YSU President Jim Tressel announced that he will leave his position effective Feb. 1, 2023. “It has been truly a blessing and labor of love to serve Youngstown State University,” Tressel, president since 2014 after earlier serving 15 years as Penguins head football coach, said in an email to the campus in June. “I cannot thank my family enough for allowing my schedule, and the needs of our university, to take priority and center stage,” he added. “It is now only fair to have Ellen, our wonderful children and grandchildren, extended family, friends and former students, set the schedule.” Board Chair John Jakubek said, “The YSU Board of Trustees extends our deepest gratitude and appreciation to President Tressel and First Lady Ellen for their decades of service to YSU, the Mahoning Valley region and the entire state of Ohio. The Tressels’ contributions of time and treasure are immeasurable and will be felt across the region for years and years to come. We wish them well.” The board met in July to begin discussions on finding Tressel’s successor. Jakubek said details on the search will be released when they become available. Read more.
Three named to YSU Board of Trustees
Gov. Mike DeWine recently named two new members and one new student member to the YSU Board of Trustees:
Dr. Sergul A. Erzurum, a well-known local ophthalmologist and vice president of Eye Care Associates in Poland, Ohio, will serve a term that runs through April 30, 2031. She replaces Atty. James E. “Ted” Roberts, whose term expired.
Laura Lyden, sales and operations manager and corporate secretary of Lyden Oil Co., was appointed to a term that runs through April 30, 2026. Lyden, who holds a bachelor’s degree from YSU and pursued graduate studies in Chemistry, fills the unexpired term of Capri Cafaro, who resigned from the board earlier this year.
Julie Lynn Centofanti, a junior Biology major, was appointed a student member of the board through April 2024. A graduate of South Range High School, Centofanti is a member of the YSU Sokolov Honors College and a member of YSU’s BaccMed program.
“Continued national leadership in advanced manufacturing”
YSU received a $2.3 million research and development award from the Air Force Research Laboratory to create a hub-and-spoke consortium on hybrid manufacturing. The consortium includes the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, among others, and will focus on further advancing work to fabricate, inspect and repair metallic machine parts, molds and dies, as well as defense components. “This award is yet another reflection of YSU’s continued national leadership in advanced manufacturing,” said Pedro Cortes, associate professor of Chemical Engineering. Read more.
We’re No. 1 – AGAIN!
It’s now 10 consecutive years and running that YSU has ranked #1 in the state of Ohio for recycling. The campus earned the top spot in the annual nationwide Campus Race to Zero Waste competition earlier this year, collecting 173,108 pounds (nearly 87 tons!) of paper, publications, bottles and cans for recycling from every building across campus, a diversion rate of nearly 60 percent. YSU placed 11th nationally, out of more than 400 schools. Read more.
Deck flattened after nearly half century
The rumblin’ and thunderin’ of crumblin' and crashin' concrete and steel reverberated across campus this summer as big orange and white machines knocked down the M60 parking deck. The demolition on the corner of Lincoln and Fifth avenues makes way for a new 163-space surface parking lot that should be completed by the end of October. The parking structure was built in the 1970s and approaching the end of its useful life after nearly 50 years. Nearly all materials will be recycled.
Calling all nurses and teachers!
YSU has launched new programs to help address shortages in two critical professions – nursing and teaching. The YSU Centofanti School of Nursing starts a new two-year associate degree in Nursing program this Fall Semester. “We are pleased to help alleviate the nursing shortage and workforce issues in our community,” said Nancy Wagner, director. Meanwhile, the Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Education received a $200,000 state grant to boost the number of people entering the teaching profession, especially special education. The College reports that, as of this past Spring, school districts in the Youngstown area alone had 26 unfilled special education positions. “These funds will spur innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing the educator shortage in Ohio,” said Chancellor Randy Gardner of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
“This is what it’s all about”
Nearly 1,600 students walked across the stage and received their hard-earned diplomas at 2022 Spring Commencement in May at Stambaugh Stadium. Bill Kennedy Jr., president of Redex Industries, the manufacturer of Udderly Smooth creams and moisturizers, was the featured speaker, while Kathryn Kimes, a native of Pittsburgh who graduated with a bachelor’s in Music Education, was the student speaker. Mary Yacovone, a YSU graduate and now chair of the YSU Department of Health Professions, was the macebearer for the ceremony. Video highlights here. Full ceremony here.
YSU partners in job creation initiative
As industrial-sized robots whirled in the background, YSU’s Excellence Training Center at Kohli Hall hosted the launch of a $10 million national tech initiative to create jobs and bolster the manufacturing supply chain. The meeting included representatives from YSU, the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining and the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency. The University of Northern Iowa is also a partner. Read more.
DPT tops in state
For the second consecutive year, the Ohio Physical Therapy Association named YSU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy as Program of the Year, besting the state’s 10 other PT programs. The DPT at YSU, a 2.5-year full-time doctoral program, has graduated 376 students since its start in 2008, including 35 at Spring Commencement in May. The OPTA honor recognizes community service activities conducted by YSU DPT students. Read more.
University Theatre announces 2022-23 season
There’s a little bit of something for everyone in University Theatre’s 2022-23 season. “Our 2022-23 season includes productions that challenge our students to grow and develop within their craft while offering our patrons unique theatre experiences of the highest quality,” said Stephanie Smith, chair, Visual and Dramatic Arts. Season subscriptions for adults are $50 and are available at ysu.edu/theatertickets. The season includes four mainstage productions: The Revolutionists, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, Oct. 7 – 9; Godspell, Nov. 11-13 and 18-20; The Last Five Years, Feb. 16- 19, 2023; and Antigone, March 31-April 2 and April 7–9, 2023. More information at 330-727-7514. Read more.
“Tradition of Excellence and Love of Learning”
YSU Phi Kappa Phi hit the half-century mark this year. “For 50 years, Chapter 143 has kept the tradition of excellence and the love of learning alive at YSU,” said Emilie Brown, chapter president. PKP is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective multi-disciplinary academic honor society. At YSU, PKP started in 1972, with the induction of 22 students, faculty and staff. Since then, more than 4,800 students, staff, faculty and community leaders have been added to their ranks. The YSU chapter has consistently earned national recognition, including Love of Learning Awards, study abroad scholarships, fellowships and literacy grants. Read more.
Three initiatives earn stars for statewide excellence
The stars were shining across the YSU campus this Spring as the university received the Collegiate Purple Star, a STAR training center recognition and a four-star rating for initiatives involving the state Sunshine Law:
The Ohio Department of Higher Education designated YSU a Collegiate Purple Star campus for supporting students with military backgrounds. “YSU’s dedication to military-connected students is a prime example of what a Collegiate Purple Star school should be,” said Randy Gardner, ODHE chancellor, who joined Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in making the designation. YSU opened the YSU Office of Veterans Affairs in 2009, located in the Carl A. Nunziato Veterans Resource Center on Wick Avenue. The office provides a variety of services for more than 300 military-connected students at YSU.- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost designated the YSU Police Academy a STAR Training Center, a distinction recognizing excellence in state law enforcement programs. Yost’s office created the STAR Academy program last year in partnership with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. Since opening in 2000, the YSU Academy has graduated nearly 1,200 cadets and implemented several innovative initiatives.
Finally, YSU received the top rating – four stars – in the Ohio Auditor of State’s Star Rating System for open and transparent government. “We take seriously our role in ensuring that YSU is a transparent, open institution,” said Holly Jacobs, YSU general counsel. The rating system measures the success of public institutions across Ohio in fulfilling public records requests under the state’s Sunshine Law, including the Ohio Public Records Act and the Ohio Open Meetings Act. It’s the second consecutive year YSU has scored four stars.
Museum “steel” going at 30
The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, aka the Steel Museum, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Among the events is a free lecture series featuring local historians and community leaders. Remaining lectures include Thursday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m., “Labor experiences in the Spanish-speaking community of Youngstown,” with members of Organización Cívica y Cultural Hispana Americana, and Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m., “Reflecting on the Steel Museum’s Creation and Growth,” Donna DeBlasio, former YHCIL director.