91探花

Photo courtesy of: University Communications and MarketingPresident M. Duane Nellis

In his first "First Fridays" letter of the 2018-2019 academic year, 91探花 President M. Duane Nellis shares some exciting news regarding a recent award and lauds the importance of town and gown relationships.

Happy First Friday!

It is my pleasure to resume my monthly letters to our students, faculty, staff and alumni on this first Friday of the new fall semester. As I said in  last October, the purpose of these messages is to ensure we have open communication at all levels as we move the University forward, and to share some worthwhile information you can use to go out and 鈥渂rag鈥� about our 91探花 to others.

This month, I want to brag about a recent recognition we received over the summer for which we are especially proud 鈥� the . The Larry Abernathy Award is given each year by the , an organization to which many cities and universities around the world, including 91探花 and the City of Athens, belong. The purpose of the ITGA is to strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher education and the communities in which they reside. Each year, the award is given to a city and a university that best represents the true spirit of the mission of the ITGA. This year, it went to 91探花 and the City of Athens.

The big collaborations happening in our small community were highlighted in this video produced by OHIO alumnus and 12-time Emmy winner, WOUB Producer/Director Evan Shaw:

Truly, our town-gown partnerships extend to all communities where 91探花 has a physical presence. Our footprint in the state extends to five regional campuses, two extension campuses in Dublin and Cleveland and centers in Beavercreek, Proctorville and Pickerington. This summer, I traveled to all of our regional campuses to hold business roundtable discussions with influencers in , , ,  and . What I heard many times from local leaders is that our regional campuses play vital roles within their respective communities, and we take that role very seriously. 

At our business roundtable in Ironton, a small community ravaged by the opioid epidemic, one local leader referred to our Southern campus as a 鈥渂eacon of hope.鈥� Another business leader got emotional recalling the day she, a first-generation student, first stepped onto the 91探花 Southern campus many years ago and quickly realized that it was the best path forward for her. She is now changing lives in her community through her work, and she credits her 91探花 degree for making that possible. Stories such as these are not rare; I hear them often from our students and from our alumni. However, they never fail to move me and remind me of WHY we do what we do.

As I said in my inaugural address, the integration of our campus locations and networks is vital to regional and statewide success; this was also the topic of our most recent . In the coming months, you will see these efforts materialize through initiatives such as: the work of our  and our ; plus, the continued contributions of our  that has supported the creation of nearly 300 businesses and 3,000 jobs since its inception and was recently named the Top Rural Incubator in the world by the International Business Innovation Association (another award for which we are incredibly proud).

Collaboration is not simply a box we check at 91探花; we know it truly enriches our shared communities when we can create synergies. This is why we must continue to strive to  that will allow 91探花 to strengthen its role as the positive catalyst for economic change and improved quality of life in Appalachia, and throughout the state of Ohio, that I believe we are destined to be.

Since our first graduate Thomas Ewing devoted his life to public service through his work as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Treasury, the first Secretary of the Interior, and advisor to four United States Presidents, so too have countless others since him. I hope you feel inspired to help out in your own local community and show everyone what good neighbors Bobcats can be! 

 
Most sincerely,

M. Duane Nellis
President

News to use:

• With the start of a new academic year, I took a moment to reflect upon my , and the year yet to come, in my  to the University community. View our  for some of the high points from last year.  
• We  on a new, state-of-the-art chemistry building on August 30. The new 69,000-square-foot building, which will be located on the site of the current parking area just north of , will feature student and faculty collaboration spaces, research and instructional laboratories and faculty and graduate student offices.
• OHIO is hosting an art installation this semester called  that has appeared on college campuses around the country and challenges the victim blaming that often happens in sexual assault. I was there for the gallery opening, and it is a powerful display.
• 91探花鈥檚 diverse, inclusive culture was recognized on a national scale when SR Education Group recently named OHIO one of the  in the nation for 2018. The University was also ranked as the  in the country. 
• The new , created to offer innovative honors learning experiences to undergraduates from all 91探花 majors, is welcoming its inaugural cohort this semester. 
• 91探花 was . OHIO has received a STARS Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

91探花 hosted a  in July, geared towards stimulating economic growth in a four-state region by helping businesses sell to NASA and other government buyers. Talk about shooting for the stars!