Joining the band on the field for the 57th year was the Ohio State University Alumni Band. Quadruple Script Ohios closed the halftime show, with current band members in the south end zone and alumni band members in the north, east and west.

TBDBITL’s formations remain a program highlight. This weekend’s show featured the Statue of Liberty, Revolutionary War soldiers and the Liberty Bell.

Saturday’s i-dotters were Robert Gawdyda, from Hubbard, Ohio, and alumni Jeremy M. Rogers (north), Mark B. Enochs (east) and Tom Goodman (west).

Ohio State is one of seven universities partnering with Stanford University for a first-of-its-kind advanced manufacturing training program known as Foundry School. Foundry School is a national program to train the entrepreneurs, engineers, technicians and industrial leaders needed to rebuild American manufacturing.

Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the program details at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace on Thursday. During the launch event, Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda joined U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, Meta President Dina Powell McCormick and other manufacturing and technology leaders for a panel focused on revitalizing American manufacturing and creating jobs. The program also featured presidents and senior leaders from the universities working to deliver the Foundry School curriculum.

“Ohio State is a national leader in advanced manufacturing, and we're excited to partner with the U.S. Departments of State and Labor, along with university peers from coast to coast, to launch the Foundry School,” Bellamkonda said. “The university has a number of labs and centers, including the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME), already partnering with employers to educate the next generation of manufacturing leaders, and the Foundry School will further enhance our offerings and help us tailor Ohio State's student experience to grow Ohio’s economy and maximize job opportunities for our graduates. This work is core to our land grant mission, and Ohio State is proud to play a leading role.”

Bellamkonda offered several examples of how Ohio State was already working with industry to support advanced manufacturing. CDME is partnering with a company in Piqua to help manufacture a novel, high-pressure sand-casting technology for defense alloys. Students from CDME work directly with the company to help develop the technology. After completing their paid program with the firm, they can often join the firm as an employee.

American manufacturers will need an estimated 3.8 million skilled workers by 2033 in semiconductor, defense, energy and other technology fields, according to a report referenced by the State Department. The Foundry School is designed to help close that gap.

“I’m very proud that we have Ohio State front and center along with Stanford, Penn State, and a few other great universities,” Vance, an Ohio State alumnus, said. “I think it’s an amazing collection of people, of institutions, of businesses, of thought leaders, and of entrepreneurs that we’ve gotten together in order to make this possible.”

Stanford University has collaborated on the curriculum with Ohio State, Arizona State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, University of Kansas, Vanderbilt University and Washington University in St. Louis. At each campus, the program will run 17 sessions, each taught by founders and CEOs from advanced manufacturing firms. Industry leaders will come from the U.S. and the Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan and India.

The curriculum begins this year on supporting campuses and will cover topics like fundamentals of modern factory design, materials and supply chains and assembly-line engineering. A core program hosted by Stanford University starts in January 2027 and will focus on precision tooling, industrial automation, digital manufacturing, defense production and other sessions.

“The future is through manufacturing in states like Ohio and in the Midwest,” Bellamkonda said.

Trustees on Thursday honored each scholar as a Distinguished University Professor. The permanent honorific title is awarded annually to tenure-track professors who have been at Ohio State for at least five years and have demonstrated truly exceptional records in teaching, research, scholarly or creative work, and service. Distinguished University Professors become members of the President’s and Provost’s Advisory Committee and are awarded a $30,000 one-time grant to support their academic work. The university has awarded just 78 faculty since the creation of the honor in 1987.

The recipients are:

• Gail E. Besner, H. William Clatworthy Jr. Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine
• Shan-Lu Liu, professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
• Alan Luo, professor, Donald D. Glower Chair in Engineering, College of Engineering
• Giorgio Rizzoni, professor, Ford Motor Company Chair in ElectroMechanical Systems, College of Engineering
• Brent Sohngen, Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
• Claudia Turro, Dr. Melvin L. Morris Endowed Professorship in Inorganic Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

“Academic excellence is only possible because of our people,” President Ravi V. Bellamkonda told trustees on Thursday. “World-class research, exceptional scholarship, dedicated service — we have lots of reasons to be incredibly grateful for and proud of our distinguished faculty.”

Trustees also reviewed the tenure of Bellamkonda, praising his progress on goals including academic excellence, integrating AI into undergraduates’ academic experience, and driving transformative research and innovation. Bellamkonda was named the 18th president of Ohio State in March.

“You do a great job articulating a really compelling vision for the kind of university that we can be and ought to be,” Board Chair Jeff M. S. Kaplan said. “The urgency, enthusiasm and action that you bring to this role, we believe, are exactly what we need.” 

The board agreed to a 3% adjustment to Bellamkonda’s base salary as part of the university’s Annual Merit Compensation Process, and an annual performance award for achieving agreed-upon goals of $420,000, or 30% of his base salary.

Trustees approved the president’s fiscal year 2027 goals, focused on inspiring, innovating and empowering people across Ohio and beyond, and building upon the themes of the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan.

The goals are:

• Academic excellence, which includes enhancing Ohio State’s signature undergraduate experience, advancing life-changing research, cultivating dynamic people and leaders, and bolstering strong colleges and programs.
• Healthcare excellence, in which Ohio State will help to reshape and transform healthcare by providing world-class care for every person, pursuing relentless innovation to improve lives, and being the best place to work and learn.
• Athletic excellence, a space in which the university is positioned to define the future of college sports.

The following actions were taken during the full board meeting:

Establishment of academic programs approved
The board approved the establishment of the Bachelor of Science major in biotech science and the Bachelor of Arts major in civics, law and leadership. The major in biotech science addresses a growing workforce need within Ohio’s rapidly expanding biotechnology and life sciences sector, and the civics, law and leadership major offered by the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society advances Ohio State's land-grant mission by preparing students to participate thoughtfully and lead effectively in civic life through the study of history, constitutionalism, law and leadership.

Revision of program curricula approved
Trustees approved revisions to the classics major, comparative studies major, natural resource management major and the environmental policy and decision-making major.

Honorary degree approved
The board approved the awarding of the honorary degrees for the following:

• Douglas Laycock, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
• Dianne McIntyre, Doctor of Arts, honoris causa

Resolutions in Memoriam

• Edward “Ned” J. Behrman, who died on March 7. He was professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.

• R. Bruce Curry, professor emeritus in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

• James R. “Jim” Helt, who died on June 15. He was an associate professor emeritus in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

• Floyd L. Herum, who died on Jan. 12. He was professor emeritus in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

• Michael Jon Kindred, professor emeritus in the Moritz College of Law and former associate dean.

• Cheryl Lee Krueger, former member of the Board of Trustees, who died on June 13.

• Robert Frederic Lawson, professor emeritus in the College of Education and Human Ecology, who died on Aug. 9, 2025.

• Sheila J. Marion, associate professor emerita in the Department of Dance in the College of Arts and Sciences, who died on June 22.

• Thomas Edgar Noyes, assistant professor emeritus within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, who died on April 6.

• John D. Ong, former member of the Board of Trustees, who died on June 4.

• Russell “Russ” M. Pitzer, professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, who died on May 25.

• Richard P. Swenson, professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, who died on Feb. 20.

Personnel actions approved 
Trustees approved the following appointments and reappointments:

Appointments

• Karin Allenspach has been appointed professor (The Endowed Chair in Comparative and Translational Oncology and Biomedical Research) in the College of Veterinary Medicine for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2031.
• Natarajan Balasubramanian has been appointed professor (The Robert and Anne Hoyt Fund) at Fisher College of Business for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2031.
• Susie Breitenstein has been appointed professor (Centennial Endowed Professor of Nursing) in the College of Nursing for a term running from Aug. 20, 2026, through Aug. 19, 2031.
• Kristi Cheramie has been appointed professor (The Hubert Schmidt Chair in Landscape Architecture) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Edward Dodson has been appointed professor-clinical (The William H. Saunders M.D. Professorship in Otolaryngology) in the College of Medicine for a term running from August 15, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Kiely Fletcher has been appointed vice provost for strategic enrollment management in the Office of Academic Affairs effective June 15, 2026.
• Frank Jacobus has been appointed professor and director (Walter H. Kidd Designated Professorship KSA) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Osama Khalil has been appointed associate professor (Dr. Charles Saltzer Professorship in Mathematics) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Aug. 16, 2027, through Aug. 16, 2032.
• Kami Maddocks has been appointed professor-clinical (Natalie M. Knutsen Professorship) in the College of Medicine for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Antoinette Marsh has been appointed professor (Endowed Chair in Comparative and Translational Parasitic and Infectious Diseases) in the College of Veterinary Medicine for a term running from Sept. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2031.
• Dustin Mixon has been appointed associate professor (Russell C. Shaw and Lynn B. Shaw Endowed Professorship in Mathematics) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Nathan Mowery has been appointed professor-clinical (Margaret Bowers Hardymon Professorship in Surgery) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Michael Neblo has been appointed professor (Ann and Darrell Dreher Chair in Political Communication and Policy Thinking) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Kathy Northern has been appointed associate professor (Joanne Wharton Murphy/Class of 1965 and 1973 Professorship in Law) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Efthimi Parasidis has been appointed professor (The Robert J. Lynn Chair in Law) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Robin Queen has been appointed professor and chair (Bertha Lamme Professorship) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Jeffrey J. Walline has been appointed dean of the College of Optometry from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Balasubramaniam Shanker has been appointed interim dean of the College of Engineering from Aug. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Reappointments

• Elizabeth Cooke has been reappointed professor-clinical (Frank C. Woodside III Clinical Professorship of Trial Advocacy) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Monica Cox has been reappointed professor (Distinguished Professor of Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Laura Dugan has been reappointed professor (Ralph Mershon Designated Professorship of Human Security) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia Hernandez has been reappointed professor (Gregory H. Williams Chair in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties) in the Moritz College of Law for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Andrew Glassman has been reappointed professor and chair (Frank J. Kloenne Chair in Orthopedic Surgery) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
• John Horack has been reappointed professor and vice president (Neil A. Armstrong Chair in Aerospace Policy) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Igor Jouline has been reappointed professor (Rod Sharp Professorship in Microbiology) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Ahmet Kahraman has been reappointed professor (Howard D. Winbigler Designated Professorship) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Sanjay Krishna has been reappointed professor (George R. Smith Chair in Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Dhabaleswar Kumar has been reappointed professor (Distinguished Professor of Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Tasha Lewis has been reappointed associate professor-clinical (Nina Mae Mattus Professorship) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Jamie Lipp has been reappointed associate professor-clinical (Mary Fried Endowed Clinical Professorship) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• Rama Mallampalli has been reappointed professor and chair (S. Robert Davis Chair of Medicine) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Matthew Mayhew has been reappointed professor (William Ray and Marie Adamson Flesher Endowed Professor in Educational Administration) in the College of Education and Human Ecology for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2031.
• David McComb has been reappointed professor (Ohio Research Scholar in Materials) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Marta Nowak has been reappointed assistant professor (Christos Yessios Endowed Professorship) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• John Nusstein has been reappointed professor (Dr. William J. Meyers Endowed Chair in Endodontics) in the College of Dentistry for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2030.
• Phillip Popovich has been reappointed professor and chair (Ray W. Poppleton Research Designated Chair) in the College of Medicine for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Dongbin Xiu has been reappointed professor (Ohio Eminent Scholar in Scientific Computation) in the College of Arts and Sciences for a term running from Aug. 15, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Ahmed Yousef has been reappointed professor (Virginia Hutchison Bazler and Frank E. Bazler Chair in Food Science) in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
• Xiaodong Zhang has been reappointed professor (Robert M. Critchfield Professorship in Engineering) in the College of Engineering for a term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.

Trustees also approved a market compensation adjustment for Jake Wozniak, treasurer, vice president of financial services and innovation and deputy chief financial officer.

Professional services and construction contracts approved
The board authorized the university to enter into or increase professional services and construction contracts for the following projects:

East Hospital endoscopy expansion and catheter lab
Professional services totaling $3.6 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Hughes Hall renovation
Professional services totaling $5.2 million, to be paid for with university funds, state funds and partner funds.

Wexner Medical Center community facilities
Professional services totaling $20 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Ramseyer Hall renovation
Professional services totaling $3.1 million, to be paid for with university funds and state funds.

Research Center deferred maintenance, phase 1
Professional services totaling $4 million, to be paid for with university funds.

Airport capital improvements
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $1.3 million, to be paid for with university funds and partner funds.

Baker Hall portable air conditioning and electrical upgrades
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $4.7 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Blankenship Hall upgrades
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $1.5 million, to be paid for with university funds and partner funds.

Fawcett Center renovations
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $6.5 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Howlett Hall deferred maintenance
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $11 million, to be paid for with university funds and grant funds.

Knowlton Hall roof replacement
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $5.6 million, to be paid for with university funds.

North Towers renovations
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $145 million, to be paid for with university debt.

Outpatient Care East clinic renovations and relocations
Professional services and construction contracts totaling $14.2 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Tunnel rehabilitation, phase 1
Construction contracts totaling $6.1 million, to be paid for with university debt, university funds, state funds and partner funds.

University Hospital pavilion air handling units review/repair
Construction contracts totaling $37.8 million, to be paid for with auxiliary funds.

Fiscal year 2027 capital investment plan approved
Trustees approved the university capital investment plan for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

Joint use agreements approved
The board approved entering into joint use agreements between Ohio State and the following entities following funds appropriated in the state capital bill:

• Edison Welding Institute (EWI)
• Junior Achievement of Central Ohio
• Lifecare Alliance
• Rev1 Ventures

Settlement agreement and amendments to the concession agreement with Ohio State Energy Partners approved
Trustees approved a settlement agreement and amendments to the long-term lease and concession agreement for the Ohio State utility system.

Amendments to the bylaws of the Board of Trustees and Wexner Medical Center board approved
Trustees approved amendments to the bylaws of the Ohio State Board of Trustees and the bylaws of the Wexner Medical Center Board.

Board of Trustees committee appointments approved
Trustees approved the ratification of committee appointments for fiscal year 2027 as follows:

Academic Excellence

• Reginald A. Wilkinson, chair
• Bradley R. Kastan, vice chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler
• M. Katherine Holcombe
• Elizabeth A. Harsh
• Juan Jose Perez
• Patrick J. Tiberi
• Annabelle B. Feibel
• Phillip Popovich (faculty member)
• Eric Bielefeld (faculty member)
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Engagement & External Relations

• Patrick J. Tiberi, chair
• Elizabeth A. Harsh, vice chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler
• M. Katherine Holcombe
• Pierre Bigby
• Bradley R. Kastan
• Kara J. Trott
• Annabelle B. Feibel
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Finance, Audit & Investment

• Gary R. Heminger, chair
• Pierre Bigby, vice chair
• Tomislav B. Mitevski
• Juan Jose Perez
• George A. Skestos
• Kara J. Trott
• Patrick J. Tiberi
• Patrick C. Arp
• Amy Chronis
• Kent M. Stahl
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Governance & Institutional Accountability

• Jeff M.S. Kaplan, co-chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler, co-chair
• Gary R. Heminger
• Reginald A. Wilkinson
• Tomislav B. Mitevsk
• Juan Jose Perez
• Kara J. Trott
• Patrick J. Tiberi

Master Planning & Facilities

• Tomislav B. Mitevski, chair
• Suzanne R. Kiggin, vice chair
• M. Katherine Holcombe
• Elizabeth A. Harsh
• Reginald A. Wilkinson
• Pierre Bigby
• Bradley R. Kastan
• Annabelle B. Feibel
• Robert H. Schottenstein
• Keith Myers
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Talent & Compensation

• Juan Jose Perez, chair
• George A. Skestos, vice chair
• Elizabeth P. Kessler
• Gary R. Heminger
• Reginald A. Wilkinson
• Suzanne R. Kiggin
• Patrick C. Arp
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio)

Wexner Medical Center

• Robert H. Schottenstein, chair
• Kara J. Trott, vice chair
• Gary R. Heminger
• Suzanne R. Kiggin
• Tomislav B. Mitevski
• George A. Skestos
• Patrick C. Arp
• Leslie H. Wexner, chair emeritus
• Stephen D. Steinour
• Cindy Hilsheimer
• Amy Chronis
• Hiroyuki Fujita
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan (ex officio, voting)
• Ravi V. Bellamkonda (ex officio, voting)
• Trevor Brown (ex officio, voting)
• Michael Papadakis (ex officio, voting)
• John J. Warner (ex officio, voting)

Finance Committee, Wexner Medical Center

• Stephen D. Steinour, chair
• Tomislav B. Mitevski
• Juan Jose Perez
• Pierre Bigby
• George A. Skestos
• Amy Chronis
• John J. Warner
• Michael Papadakis

Quality & Professional Affairs Committee, Wexner Medical Center

• Kara J. Trott, chair
• George A. Skestos, vice chair
• Suzanne R. Kiggin
• Trevor Brown
• Michael Papadakis
• John J. Warner
• Eric Bourekas
• Stacy A. Brethauer
• David E. Cohn
• Scott A. Holliday
• Daniel Like
• Kami J. Maddocks
• Traci Mignery
• Elizabeth Seely
• Corrin Steinhauer
• W. Kimryn Rathmell
• Andrew M. Thomas
• Crystal Tubbs
• Nicole Williams

Foundation Board Representative

• Pierre Bigby

Alumni Board Representative

• Bradley R. Kastan

Fiscal year 2027 Clinical Quality Management, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience Plan approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the Clinical Quality Management, Patient Safety, and Patient Experience Plan for fiscal year 2027 for the university hospitals.

Fiscal year 2027 Quality, Safety and Experience Council Plan approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the Quality, Safety and Experience Council Plan for fiscal year 2027 for the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center — James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

Plan for patient care services approved
The board approved the annual review of the plan for patient care services for university hospitals.

Scopes of care approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the scope of patient care services the Ohio State Ambulatory Surgery Center — Outpatient Care New Albany, Dublin Ambulatory Surgery Center, Powell Ambulatory Surgery Center, and Extended Recovery Unit for Outpatient Care Dublin and New Albany clinical departments.

Direct patient care services contracts and patient impact service contracts evaluation approved
The board approved the annual review of the direct patient care service contracts and patient impact service contracts for the university hospitals.

Contracted services evaluation approved
Trustees approved the annual review of the contracted services for the Ohio State Ambulatory Surgery Center — Outpatient Care New Albany and Dublin Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Emergency General Surgery Program verification approved
Trustees approved the submission for verification of the Emergency General Surgery Program for university hospitals.

Ohio State Energy Partners utility system capital improvements plan for fiscal year 2027 approved
The board approved the fiscal year 2027 capital improvements plan for Ohio State Energy Partners.

University Foundation Report approved
The board approved, as of July 31, 2026, the establishment of two endowed chairs as part of the Provost’s Endowed Chair Matching Program: the James Mitchell Endowed Chair, the Barbara and Al Siemer Chair in Functional Medicine; one endowed professorship: the Jim and Christina Grote Professorship in Integrative Health Education; one endowed professorship fund: the Dr. Martha S. Pitzer Professorship Fund in Nursing; one fellowship: the Morell Family Fellowship; one scholarship as part of the Scarlet and Gray Advantage Endowed Matching Gift Program; 23 additional named endowed funds; and the revision of 26 named endowed funds.

Naming of spaces
Trustees approved the following namings:

• The Oklo Nuclear Reactor Laboratory in the College of Engineering
• The Christine Coultrip Dwarf Conifer Collection in Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens
• The CVS Health Innovation Hub in the Riffe Building
• The east-west portion of Carmack Road in the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory to Hess Road.
• The following internal spaces in the Engineering Research and Education Laboratories:
  • Ayanna Howard Innovation Space (room 2241)
  • Google Foundations Lab (room 1250)
  • Air Transport Services Group Charitable Foundation Office (room 2203)

Touring Disney Animation Studios and Tokyo Disney Sea with alumni executives, attending Q&A sessions with Disney engineers and having dinner with Mickey Mouse are just some of the highlights 29 students from The Ohio State University experienced during the inaugural Around the World with Disney Imagineering global education program.

Open to all majors, the four-week summer course allows students from diverse backgrounds to explore how their interests can contribute to collaborative creations like Disney parks. Students from 15 disciplines took part, including 16 engineering majors and one architecture major.

“The course was designed around Disney Imagineering as a model for large-scale creative collaboration, bringing together engineers, designers, storytellers, technologists, artists and business professionals to create immersive experiences,” said Yuri Melendez, an instructional designer for the College of Engineering. “What made the concept especially appealing from an educational standpoint was the opportunity for students from different academic backgrounds to see how their own skills could contribute to complex, multidisciplinary projects.”

The brainchild of Engineering Instructional Technology Director Chris Strasbaugh, it is the first course offered by the Office of International Affairs at Ohio State to combine both domestic and international travel.

Visiting Disneyland Resort in California and Disney Tokyo, students enjoyed a unique behind-the-scenes peek into the creative force behind Disney’s immersive experiences.

“We had the opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes processes that go into designing Disney parks through backstage tours and panels with Imagineers in Disneyland in California and in Tokyo,” said Haven Tan, a civil engineering major. “We learned about attraction design, interdisciplinary collaboration within Imagineering, and theming within the Disney intellectual property. This was a dream come true experience and I am so thankful for all that I was able to learn.”

The coursework included a group project focused on designing a new park attraction, individual response papers on how students envision their academic careers fitting into the Imagineering ecosystem, and maintaining a travel journal to document their experiences.

“As a part of our coursework, we worked in teams to create and film an attraction pitch. Our group was inspired by Pixar’s film, ‘Hoppers,’ which we used to theme a unique boat ride attraction,” said Kaylin Kerrick, a computer science and engineering major. “Individually, I explored interactive queue design through the Disney mobile app for my problem portfolios relating to computer science. This course was an incredible opportunity to combine my interests in both computer science and animation and see how it relates directly to Disney Imagineering.”

Ohio State alumni were essential in making the trip an impactful learning experience for students, organizers said.

“Planning for the course included contributions from Ohio State alumni and Disney professionals, which I believe is one of its strengths,” Melendez explained. “Meeting with alumni in person helps students feel a sense of belonging and realize that they are in this wonderful Buckeye community.”

In California, students toured Disney Animation Studios and shared an insightful Q&A with Technical Supervisor Rebecca Thompson, a computer science and engineering alumna. In Tokyo, landscape architecture alumnus Mark Schirmer, the recently retired executive portfolio creative producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, spent a day with students exploring Tokyo DisneySea, including the newest addition, Fantasy Springs, and sharing some of the park's unique aspects.

“Our walkabout provided the students with an up-close look into the storytelling and level of detail that Imagineers strive to produce at our parks,” Schirmer said. “The students and faculty were truly engaged and curious with their questions. Throughout the day, we shared our experiences in creating and operating these parks and attractions. Their interest and enthusiasm was an inspiration for us and we hope the time together will inspire them to look to their future and believe, ‘If you can dream it - you can do it.’”

Fellow alumni Brad Okeson, Kelli Ross, Machi McGuire and Robert Anderson also provided invaluable insight that made the trip successful.

“It’s the alumni who made this trip special,” Strasbaugh said.

In summer 2027, the program will travel to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and Disneyland Paris. Student applications are due January 7, 2027.

For fans who want to experience the build-up to the home opener, The Ohio State University Marching Band’s pregame Skull Session will be livestreamed — accessible on phones, tablets and laptops for those who cannot watch it live in St. John Arena.

This is the sixth year that University Communications will livestream Skull Session before each home game of the season. The livestream is available on the Ohio State News YouTube channel through the website or the YouTube app.

“We’re excited to be back for our sixth season of livestreaming Skull Session. We are bringing back our popular guest interviews as well as the flag giveaways,” said Director of National Broadcast Media Joe Camoriano. “If you tune in 2 1/2 hours before kickoff of each home game, you’ll get to see one of the best fan experiences in the country.”

Camoriano and a team of videographers will stream Skull Session using seven different cameras and multiple microphones to capture the action from all angles.

Skull Session originally served as a final music rehearsal for the Ohio State Marching Band before its performance on the field. It has evolved into one of the most anticipated game day traditions for Buckeye fans. Doors to St. John Arena open three hours prior to kickoff and the arena can quickly fill up.

TBDBITL marches into the arena and plays “Fanfare for a New Era” as the football team arrives. Coach Ryan Day, assistant coaches and players speak each week to the fans before they head to the stadium. The band then performs a final musical run-through of its pregame and halftime shows before game time.

When his family immigrated to the United States, one of his relatives fought for the Union Army in the Civil War. Once settled, his father’s family plotted out land that would be farmed for generations. Hinzman, a fifth-year student at The Ohio State University and member of the offensive line for the Buckeye football team, grew up on that same 300-acre farm.

“A dairy farm is an every day, twice a day, no breaks sort of thing,” he said. “It instilled in me a lot of values. I learned from my grandma and grandpa, who lived on a farm close by.”

As Hinzman puts it, farming isn’t a job; it’s a way of life – which made training for football the fun part of his day, no matter how challenging it was.

“Whenever we’re training, doing something really difficult, I’m like, ‘Man, this is fun,’” he said. “I don’t know if the guys understand that this is time when we’re allowed to go do something, hang out together.”

It is the values he learned from farming that have made Hinzman a success at Ohio State. He is currently working on his second bachelor’s degree and is a three-time university scholar-athlete, as well as a 2025 first-team All-American.

Now, he wants to help people with the same values give back to the communities that taught them. Hinzman founded the Grit & Grain Foundation with his father, Jon. The foundation will give kids from rural and blue-collar communities more opportunities to succeed, Hinzman said. 

“Through mentorship, athletics, education and service, we want to help young people build confidence, develop strong character and take pride in where they come from.

“I want people to hone in on their values, that work ethic that was instilled in you and let that take you to your next level,” he said. “It could be sports or something else, like engineering, that becomes your next great opportunity. You grow your own legacy and then come back to the community to pick up that teaching role.”

“Community is important to our players and to our team.,” said head football coach Ryan Day. “To see Carson take on this role of supporting the people and the industry that made him who he is today, I am very proud of him and his efforts.”

Ohio State football players are very visible to the public, and with that comes responsibility, Hinzman said,

“It’s only right for us to give back to the community. Those are the people that put us in this position and give us the opportunity to be Ohio State football players. They’re what makes Ohio State football great,” he said. “Without them, we’d just be a club team hitting pads.”

Having worked with his grandparents, Hinzman knows that older farmers often need help, either with immediate needs or longer-term goals.

“Those people that developed the community” deserve respect and support, he said.

“It’s important for the next generation to hear about farming because right now, people don’t think farming is the coolest thing to do,” he said. “It is hard work, it is demanding but it’s also one of the most rewarding things you can do, work the land.”

Hinzman is a fixture at the university’s annual Farm Science Review, where he emphasizes the significance of small farms. And he walks the walk, too. Hinzman has personally helped farmers clean up their land after storms. He brings his Buckeye teammates with him when he can.

“For the guys who grew up in the city, who grew up in the suburbs, this is a very different lifestyle,” he said. “For them to see that this is the backbone of America and how farmers support you, that’s important.”

And football players are made for lifting bales of hay, he added.

“We have a lot of big guys who can move a lot of weight, that’s for sure.”

For more than a decade, Ohio State faculty, students and postdoctoral scholars have played a role in designing Roman’s surveys. More than 20 Buckeyes, including nine undergraduates, traveled to Florida to watch the launch in person and also joined their peers on the Columbus campus for a virtual watch party.

David Weinberg, Distinguished University Professor of astronomy at Ohio State, was viewing the launch near NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building, where the Apollo rockets were assembled and rolled out onto the launch pad.

“We heard briefings recently from the NASA administrators and others, and everybody is very excited to see this go,” Weinberg said. “It’s been fun to be here and see people we’ve been working with for 15 years and have it all come together.”

Named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, the “mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,” Roman is designed to survey the universe a thousand times faster than Hubble.

The Roman telescope’s primary tool, the Wide Field Instrument, is a 300-megapixel infrared camera with 18 4K detectors – collecting photons of light that, according to NASA, will be “decoded into crisp cosmic panoramas.”  

Ohio State has deep ties to the Roman mission, showcasing the university’s academic excellence across multiple departments. Members of the university’s astronomy and physics departments have spent more than a decade developing the robust technologies and scientific programs in cosmology, exoplanets and stars to make the extraordinary mission a success.

Claire Lamman, a cosmologist and postdoctoral fellow at Ohio State, followed the launch from Columbus and looks forward to the discoveries the telescope will make.

“I care about what the universe looks like on big scales, how it changes and the forces that drive it, dark matter and dark energy,” she said. “Roman will be excellent for this… Not just figuring out where these galaxies are, but getting really good pictures of them will help us understand how galaxies are connected to their cosmic environment in ways that we haven’t seen before.”

Paarmita Pandey, an Ohio State graduate student, joined Lamman at the launch party. She said the telescope's surveys will help explore the lifecycle of stars, supernovae and black holes.

“I spend a lot of my time hunting for stars that should have exploded and didn’t. Some massive stars, instead of going out in a supernova, just collapse into black holes. No explosions. No fireworks,” she said. “So catching one of these failed supernovae in the act means staring at the same patch of sky over and over for years and waiting for a star to disappear. And that's exactly the kind of survey Roman is built for.”

Following the successful launch, the Roman telescope is on a million-mile journey toward the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point, or L2, where it will stabilize and begin to transmit back 1.4 terabytes of data every day, the highest data rate of any NASA astrophysics mission so far. 

Ohio State researchers expect the telescope’s first science findings in mid-2027.

While the card is easy to use, with just a tap, it requires users to always carry it, and it can be lost or stolen.

Now, Buckeyes on the Columbus campus can instead use a mobile BuckID that’s part of what they always have on them — a compatible smartphone or smartwatch.

“A BuckID provides access to all kinds of important things at Ohio State, and adding a mobile option makes it even easier for students, faculty and staff to use,” said Josh Bodnar, director of BuckID. “People who have already switched to mobile really enjoy how easy it is to use.” 

Mobile BuckID is free and available for the Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet. Users can simply tap their iPhone, Apple Watch, eligible Android phone or Samsung watch at readers, just like a physical card. If they have an iPhone or Samsung phone, it will still work for several hours after the battery dies.

Switching to the mobile BuckID is optional, and when a user begins using the mobile BuckID it will deactivate their existing BuckID card. If someone does not have a compatible device, or prefers to have a physical card instead, they will still be able to keep their current physical BuckID.

Students, faculty and staff who are eligible to switch to mobile BuckID received an email from the BuckID office on Aug. 25. Some people, including in the Wexner Medical Center and some health science colleges, are not currently eligible to switch. 

Mobile BuckID is initially open to the Columbus campus, with plans for a rollout in regional campuses in 2027. Students that are in online programs and remote-work employees can access a basic digital BuckID in the Ohio State App without needing to add the full mobile BuckID to their mobile wallet. All Columbus campus BuckID readers include mobile-credential capabilities in addition to the tap-enabled cards; if anyone on the Columbus campus still has a swipe-only BuckID, they will not be able to enter buildings or print until they switch to mobile or the tap-enabled cards.

Ohio State is one of the first colleges or universities in North America to integrate mobile functioning for student IDs into an existing app — here, the Ohio State app — instead of requiring an additional app for Apple users to download. To find out more about the mobile BuckID and how to easily switch to mobile, please see the BuckID website and answers to frequently asked questions.

The newly renovated Campbell Hall on The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus reopened last week, in time for the start of the new academic year. A host of facility upgrades are designed to enhance the student experience at Ohio State, university officials said.

The College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE) hosted Campbell Hall’s grand reopening ceremony on Aug. 21.

Renovation of the 110-year-old building began in summer 2023. The $61.2 million project includes university and state funding as well as private donations.

“A three-year renovation has transformed Campbell Hall into a modern facility equipped for a new century of education, innovation, scholarship and community impact,” said EHE Interim Dean Erik Porfeli. “For more than 100 faculty and staff, they will call Campbell Hall their home, continuing the legacy of so many others who have worked in this space.”

The renovation includes:

· Updated research laboratories

· An instructional kitchen

· Faculty, staff and student offices and workspaces

· Auditorium renovations

· Climate-controlled storage and a gallery for the university’s Historic Costume and Textiles Collection

· Modernized interior and exterior accessibility features

· Restoration of the Mirror Lake-facing building façade

· A new three-story community space in the center of the building that can host informal gatherings

“The most important thing is what happens inside the building,” said Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Trevor Brown. “The most important activity is the feeling and the energy it creates in the space to help our students, to help our faculty position our students for the world.”

Collaboration among the partners involved in the project was essential, said Todd Henterly, facilities project management specialist with Facilities, Design and Construction in the Office of Administration and Planning.

“We had the right team that was able to deliver the project within the confines of the resources,” he said. “It's a testament to how much the team really just dug in on this project and worked together.”

The renovation brings together several EHE programs and departments under one roof, including the Department of Human Sciences.

Evan Miller, a doctoral student in the Human Nutrition program, said moving to Campbell Hall has bolstered his enthusiasm for research.

“Having a professional, welcoming space allows us to provide participants with a positive research experience and creates an environment I’m proud to bring them into,” he said. “Being in this setting has strengthened my interest in clinical research and reinforced how rewarding I find a direct interaction between research and participants.”

Campbell Hall now also houses the Department of Educational Studies.

“We need spaces that foster community, connection and creativity. Campbell Hall gives us exactly that,” said Dawn Shrimplin, an educational studies graduate student. “Stepping into these classrooms isn’t just about sitting through a lecture. It’s about entering a space designed to inspire us.”

Campbell Hall also has new workspaces for students in the Fashion and Retail Studies program. Facilities include a 3D printer, a manufacturing-grade laser cutter and industrial glue guns.

The equipment will help students realize their most inventive ideas for clothing and accessories, said Alexandra Suer, a Human Sciences senior lecturer.

“They’re going to have a whole new range of capabilities that they’ve never had before,” she said. “The type of output from this space is going to be really exciting.”

Campbell Hall’s expanded, well-lit workspaces have the potential to promote collaboration among students, said Jonas Rogers, a Fashion and Retail Studies major.

“It’s a great place to be innovative. I feel like there are so many resources here that will bring students together,” he said. “It gives us a sense of community because we’re able to work together and talk to one another and bounce ideas off of each other. It’s a good hub for us.”

Carolyn Ready, a consumer sciences graduate student, said the new space is welcoming, even for students who are not majoring in fashion-related subjects but would like to explore their creativity.

“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for any student. We accept cross-majors,” said Ready, who volunteers as a sewing instructor for undergraduates. “If you need some type of relaxation or downtime, this is one of the things to consider – sewing. We have a lot more equipment and tools here for the students to use and become familiar with.”

The Campbell Hall renovation is a physical representation of Ohio State’s land-grant mission, Porfeli said.

“The academic enterprise of what we do has direct and engaged relevance with students on our campus, who we serve in powerful ways every day to help them navigate the challenges of their lives and overcome them to great success,” he said. “These are things that can happen, certainly, in Campbell Hall.”

Ohio State was officially welcomed as a new member during Entanglement 2026, the MQC’s annual meeting, and brings its membership to eight premier research institutions significantly broadening the region’s collective quantum capabilities.

“For Ohio State, joining the Midwest Quantum Collaboratory represents an important opportunity to amplify the impact of our extraordinary quantum research through strategic regional partnerships,” said John M. Horack, vice president for research at Ohio State. “By working alongside our peer institutions in the Midwest, we can accelerate discovery, expand opportunities for our students and strengthen the nation’s quantum innovation ecosystem.” 

Ohio State brings significant strengths around computing, sensing and networking communications to MQC. These strengths are anchored by university, federal and state investments, including the recent launch of the university-wide Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering (CQISE). This hub unites researchers across physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry and computer science.

“MQC creates a powerful framework for connecting the extraordinary quantum expertise that exists across the Midwest,” said Ezekiel Johnston-Halperin, co-director of CQISE and professor of physics. “Ohio State’s strengths in quantum computing, sensing and secure communications complement those of our partner institutions.”

Some other recent investments include:

• Ohio State is leading a multi-institutional consortium that secured a $4 million National Science Foundation Phase II award through the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory program to advance next-generation quantum sensing. Ohio State is partnering with the University of Michigan, also a collaboratory member, on a second award through this program.
• Researchers have demonstrated the first quantum key distribution link on Ohio State’s campus using in-ground optical fiber. The team is also working on Ohio’s first intercity quantum network that will establish a quantum-secure network between Columbus and Dayton. These projects are supported by the U.S. Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education through the Third Frontier Research Initiative.
• The university is launching the Quantum Graduate Interdisciplinary Program (QuGIP), one of the first stand-alone MS/PhD programs in Quantum Information Science and Engineering in the United States. This work is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation.

“As part of the MQC, it allows our research community to pursue larger-scale research opportunities and create pathways that accelerate scientific breakthroughs while developing the next generation of quantum leaders,” said Ronald M. Reano, co-director of CQISE and professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Ohio State joins other leading academic institutions, including Purdue University, Michigan State University, Indiana University, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern University.

Four decades later, that mission continues.

Ohio State’s Graduate School is celebrating the 40th year of the Summer Research Opportunities Program, or SROP, a Big Ten Academic Alliance initiative that prepares undergraduate students for graduate education through intensive research experiences, faculty mentoring and professional development.

At Ohio State, SROP brings undergraduate students to campus for a summer of full-time research, cohort-based learning and preparation for the next step in their academic journeys. The 2026 program ran from May 26 to July 24, and includes weekly enrichment activities, workshops on graduate admissions and financial aid, networking opportunities, and a culminating symposium where students present their research.

SROP also connects students to a broader summer research community through Ohio State’s Consortium of Undergraduate Research Experiences, which brings together 16 summer undergraduate research programs from across the university. Founded in 2019 within the Graduate School, the consortium was created to help programs collaborate, share resources and build community for undergraduate research participants.

Brianna Davis Johnson, assistant dean for mentoring and strategic initiatives in the Graduate School, said SROP gives students a chance to see graduate education not as an abstract possibility, but as a tangible and supported path.

“It’s an opportunity for students, both who are maybe already at Ohio State or who are coming from places anywhere across the country, to really imagine themselves as graduate students and professional students here at Ohio State,” she said. “We are very proud that Ohio State has had a cohort since 1986, and we have been able to provide 1,000 students with an opportunity to participate in SROP.”

The program’s structure has remained largely consistent over the last four decades. Ohio State’s current SROP model continues to combine intensive research with professional development, community building and mentoring. Students spend approximately 40 hours each week on research and also participate in workshops on topics such as applying to graduate school, writing cover letters, developing personal statements and presenting research.

Mary Stromberger, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, supports the continued efforts of SROP.

“SROP provides promising undergraduate students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a summer research experience,” Stromberger said. “Students receive mentorship from faculty and graduate students, as well as professional development to better prepare them for applying to graduate school. In a nutshell, SROP opens doors to curious minds and provides a path to advanced education, research training and leadership.”

For students, the program can be transformative because it offers direct experience in research environments that may not be available at their home institutions.

Katy McCaffrey, a 2026 SROP participant and senior at Denison University, spent the summer conducting research in animal sciences. Her project examined the proteins and enzymes that are present during the second month of pregnancy and how they help maintain pregnancy.

Her faculty mentor, Rafael Domingues, assistant professor in ruminant physiology in the Department of Animal Sciences, studies animal reproductive physiology with the goal of identifying ways to support pregnancy success in animals and improve reproductive outcomes more broadly.

McCaffrey said SROP offered a different kind of research environment from what she had experienced as an undergraduate at a small liberal arts college.

“Being part of SROP and being able to work alongside graduate students as well as Dr. Domingues has been a really unique opportunity, and it’s provided a lot of key insight into both how life as a PhD student or master’s student would be, and what a long-term career in research looks like,” she said.

Domingues said undergraduate research experiences are important, regardless of whether students ultimately pursue research careers.

“I always have a lot of undergraduate students in my lab,” Domingues said. “I think it’s critical to have them involved in research, whether they want to pursue a career in research or not. That’s when they learn about the basics of why we conduct research, why do we do things the way that we do.”

The mentorship McCaffrey received from Domingues and a PhD student in his lab was central to her experience.

“They are very supportive. They want you to try out all the different things in lab, learn the techniques and kind of work through problem solving, which has been really rewarding,” she said.

For Johnson, that faculty-student connection remains the foundation of SROP’s success.

“We work very closely with faculty mentors who really are the heartbeat of the program,” Johnson said.

The program’s long-term impact is evident in alumni such as Maria Ford, a 2019 SROP participant and Ohio State graduate alumna who is beginning the next stage of her career as an associate clinical trial manager.

“Participating in SROP at Ohio State would be one of the best decisions that you can make in your undergraduate career because it will give you the groundwork for what you need to do to be able to succeed in whatever career trajectory that you choose to take,” Ford said.

Forty years on, SROP continues to connect students with faculty mentors, research communities and graduate school preparation, while advancing the Graduate School’s broader work to expand access, fairness and pathways to advanced education for all students.

Areas of focus include:

• Safety resources
• Getting around campus
• Well-being resources
• Freedom of expression and civic engagement
• AI Fluency

Safety resources

The safety of all Buckeyes is Ohio State’s top priority. The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) has an authorized strength of 78 full-time officers supported by hundreds of non-sworn security personnel, a campus 9-1-1 call center and security technology. OSUPD works closely with the Columbus Division of Police (CPD) to offer increased patrols in the off-campus University District, including through the joint patrol program that pairs four OSUPD officers with officers from CPD to work in the nearby neighborhood where many students live.

While campus is a safe place, crimes do still occur. Police recommend the following safety tips:

• Lock doors and windows and do not allow unknown people into your home or residence hall.
• Utilize public transportation or walk in groups to avoid walking alone, especially at night.
• Report suspicious activity to OSUPD (614-292-2121) or local city police. Always dial 9-1-1 in emergencies.

The Office of Student Life provides students with complimentary safety devices for their off-campus homes, including window and door alarms. These can be picked up at the Willie J. Young Sr. Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement office at the Ohio Union from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To learn about safety resources and more, visit the university’s public safety website.

Getting around campus

Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State offers students discounted late-night rides in a designated area from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. CABS On-Demand is a free service offered to all Buckeyes, providing daytime and overnight service to select buildings. As autumn semester gets underway, campus will be busier than usual. Expect heavier traffic, plan for extra travel time, avoid distractions and watch out for your fellow Buckeyes. Review transportation updates, including CABS and CABS On-Demand changes, the COTA digital pass in the Ohio State app and the university traffic impact map.

Well-being resources

A variety of services are available to help support the well-being of our community. Students can utilize the university’s online Health and Wellness Resource Guide to quickly search for the most appropriate resource. Health and wellness related services are listed alphabetically and can be searched by feature using the specific criteria within the 10 Dimensions of Wellness.

• The Office of Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS) provides individual and group mental health services, workshops and outreach programming to currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and others covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan. CCS on-demand services offer ways for students to get help whenever it’s needed.
• Student Life Disability Services consults with students on a one-to-one basis to: review academic accommodations based on concerns including mental health; discuss concerns with classes or instructors; and refer students to additional campus and community resources.
• The Monda Student Resource Center helps students’ holistic, essential needs through resources and support from campus and community partners.
• Student Health Services offers on-campus health care options to the student population while Recreational Sports promotes living an active life of balance, physical activity and well-being.
• The Ohio State: Wellness app supports students’ mental health and well-being on campus with resources, connections to support, information about setting goals and building healthy habits.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize resources through the Ohio State Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP member portal connects employees with online tools, well-being resources and work-life services that are available to eligible Ohio State employees, their dependents, household members, parents and parents-in-law.

Freedom of expression and civic engagement

The First Amendment and Ohio law expressly protect the rights of students, faculty, staff and visitors at the university to lawfully engage in speech and expressive activities. The Freedom of Expression website is an online hub for support resources, policies and other information to help everyone participate in public discourse and exercise their rights. Ohio State's University Space Standards provide comprehensive information about using spaces on our campus, including the space reservation process and associated rules.

Ohio State expects members of our community to contribute to an environment where trust and respectful dialogue are the expectation — not the exception. To advance this, the university launched an initiative to help members of our community listen and discuss different perspectives productively, build trust with one another, learn how to clearly articulate their points of view and successfully navigate complex conversations. Listen. Learn. Discuss. helps students, faculty and staff draw connections and form skills to engage in productive and respectful dialogue. Visit the Listen. Learn. Discuss. website to find courses, workshops and events that support the practice of civil discourse.

The university remains committed to its motto of “Education for Citizenship” by supporting civic engagement.

• OSU Votes is a nonpartisan, student-led initiative in the Office of Student Life that works to register, educate and encourage other students to vote. OSU Votes can provide resources and facts on the voting process and voter registration.
• Ohio State is implementing a university-wide Asynchronous Learning and Civic Engagement Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, following a resolution passed by University Senate in autumn 2025.

AI Fluency

In autumn 2025, Ohio State unveiled the groundbreaking AI Fluency initiative to integrate artificial intelligence into the Ohio State educational experience and support an educational environment that maximizes learning, creativity and impact. In the second year of this initiative, the university is expanding its offering of programs, courses and resources for students, staff and faculty.

• Colleges across the university have developed academic roadmapsshowing how undergraduates will build and use AI skills within their majors, from the College of Arts and Sciences helping to shape the future of AI to Fisher College of Business forging connections and collaborationwithin its research community.
• The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning continues to expand its AI Fluency support resources for instructors at all levels and launched a fellows program for this fall.

Visit the Office of Academic Affairs for a list of Frequently Asked Questions and subscribe to the AI Fluency at Ohio State newsletter to stay up to date on AI Fluency news and developments. For staff, the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation offers training, educational courses and more, and all available resources are offered on the “Learn to use AI” webpage. Virtual and in-person training can be found on the AI Resources and Events page.

President Ravi V. Bellamkonda welcomed the group with enthusiasm.

“We’re so glad that you’ve chosen Ohio State,” he said. “In my mind, you’re already succeeding because you’ve made one of the smartest possible decisions and that is becoming a Buckeye. By choosing The Ohio State University, you’ve given yourself an extraordinary gift.”

Bellamkonda introduced Trevor Brown, interim executive vice president and provost, who introduced students to the university’s alma mater, “Carmen Ohio.” The song, Brown said, “unites us all as an enduring tradition.”

Members of the men’s and women’s glee clubs and representatives from the university’s community – faculty, staff and students – guided the audience through the song, illuminating each line’s meaning.

Among the speakers were Ohio State University Marching Band drum major Ben Fox and Joy Dunne, current Buckeye and 2026 Olympic women’s ice hockey gold medalist.

“My best advice,” Dunne said, “is to ask for help. We all need it. There are so many resources, not just for student-athletes, but [all] students here. So, take advantage of it. Learn together. [College can be] a lot, but there are so many people that want to help you.”

Melissa Shivers, senior vice president for student life, closed Convocation by getting everyone on their feet to sing “Carmen Ohio.”

“There’s a tiny bit of choreography to know about it and it starts with finding some fellow Buckeyes to stand next to,” she said, encouraging students to stand together and sway to the song, as is tradition.

“On behalf of President Bellamkonda, Provost Brown and the entire senior leadership, faculty, staff and board of trustees of the university, I wish you the very best of luck on your Buckeye journey,” she said.

“We’ll be with you every extraordinary step of the way.”

Before Convocation, Bellamkonda also spoke about some of the initiatives and projects he is excited about as the new academic year begins. He noted students and faculty would be traveling to Florida this week for the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. More than two dozen Ohio State faculty, students and postdoctoral scholars have played a role in designing Roman’s surveys.

“We’ll be announcing an exciting startup program for student startups called BuildX,” he said. “We want 100 investable student startups to come out of Ohio State from our students.”

BuildX is designed to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit of students at Ohio State. The university will tap a $1 million fund to support students and their ideas. Bellamkonda said the program would include academic courses for credit.

“This year, we’re hoping to have 20 startups that will pilot the program as we launch it. And every year, we’ll build more,” he said.

Bellamkonda said he is also looking forward to the second year of the AI Fluency initiative. About 50 new courses are available or in development and 60 faculty fellows will be embedded across campus to support the program.

Hundreds of students and staff assisted new and returning students in moving into the university’s residence halls last week. The well-choreographed process took place over four days on the Columbus campus.

Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda and his wife, Lalita Kaligotla, an associate professor at the College of Nursing, welcomed students and their families as they moved into Houston House on North Campus.

Bellamkonda said move-in is a particularly meaningful time for him.

“I love this time. I just love it because there’s a lot of enthusiasm and some trepidation,” he said. “It just is like renewal. It’s like spring. After winter, you like spring. After students and not as many students being on campus, students coming in, it is spring for the university, even if it’s fall on the calendar.”

Some returning students had an opportunity to talk to the president about the new year, including new initiatives that will start this academic year.

This semester, Ohio State will launch BuildX, a program to help launch 100 investable student startups annually by 2030. Bellamkonda said he wants the university to be known as a haven for entrepreneurship.

“I was excited to hear about [Bellamkonda’s] research and what he’s done prior to coming to Ohio State,” said resident advisor Braden Blackwelder, a second-year chemical engineering major.  “I think it’s awesome that he’s putting a lot of money into the startup, as well. I’m a big fan of research. I spent my whole summer here in a graduate fellow’s program.”

An inaugural BuildX cohort of 20 startups is expected to launch this year to join a summer accelerator program in 2027. It’s one of several signature undergraduate experiences for students this year.

Matt Wisniewski, a third-year pre-dental student and Japanese major, said it was good to meet the president as students were moving in.

“He seemed like a really down-to-earth guy. I mean, he’s only been here for not too long, and he’s already walking around meeting students,” he said. “I think that’s really great. He seemed very interested in research and that’s something that I really like about Ohio State.”

Bellamkonda said he was excited to see the joy from students arriving on campus.

“It’s just great to hear the enthusiasm that they have and the love they have for Ohio State. That’s the bottom line. There are engineers, nurses, environmental science, all sorts of people studying policy, business, but the common thread is they love this place, as do I,” he said. “So it’s wonderful to see that.”

Students at The Ohio State University gained firsthand experience in global business relations this summer by participating in the

Ohio State teamed with the Ohio Department of Development and other colleges around the state to recognize students who completed the internship during Global Trade in Action at the Statehouse last week. The event brought together students, educators, business professionals and legislators.

Ohio State and the Department of Development initially formed the partnership that created OEIP. Program objectives include workforce development, growing export sales and creating jobs at small to medium-sized Ohio companies.

Students who are selected for the program must complete a course that prepares them for the internship, said Dominic DiCamillo, director of Ohio State’s Office of Global Business and the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).

“It’s a full spring semester, three-hour course,” he said. “Once they get through that, they’re then placed in a 12-week internship where they’re helping companies enter new markets or improve on some part of their export plan.”

During the Statehouse event, DiCamillo and Fisher College of Business Interim Dean Aravind Chandrasekaran presented the Ohio State OEIP participants with completion certificates.

OEIP’s main objective is to close the gap between Ohio companies in need of employees who know how to export and students from Ohio universities who have developed global business skills, said Lydia Mihalik, Ohio Department of Development director.

“None of what we’re building in Ohio happens without people. Companies don’t grow, communities don’t thrive and our economy doesn’t compete on the world stage without talented, driven Ohioans who are ready to do the work,” she told students during the Statehouse event.

“Ohio has something really special … incredible universities, businesses hungry to grow and students like you who show up with curiosity and with grit and the work ethic that the state is very well known for.”

Students participate in OEIP internships from mid-May through mid-August. The interns analyze a company’s export readiness and contribute to the development of the company’s export strategy.

Nicole Sciuva, an international business major, said her internship with Columbus-based arcade equipment supplier Shaffer Distributing Co. made her aware of a potential career path that she hadn’t before considered.

“This program gave me the confidence and autonomy to lead projects, strengthened my communication skills and introduced me to the possibilities of a global career in international trade,” she said. “I have also had the opportunity to meet inspirational professionals both inside and outside the classroom, whose guidance and experiences have provided valuable insight and clarity for my next steps.”

Alpha Bah, a logistics management major, said his internship with T.J. Clark International LLC, a Delaware-based water and fuel pump manufacturer, provided him with experience in international business negotiations.

“My greatest accomplishment was coordinating with an international supplier in Italy to obtain a critical component for our project, which demonstrated the importance of clear communication and proactive sourcing in global operations,” he said.

Students who participate in OEIP gain global experience without leaving Ohio, Melissa Torres, an Ohio State alumna, said during her keynote address at Global Trade in Action.

Torres is president and CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad. She previously served as director of CIBER and international programs at Ohio State and was a member of the team that founded OEIP.

“I think this program, in particular, is a shining example of how you can educate students: These students don’t have to leave the country, and they are increasing exports for Ohio companies,” she said. “They are developing their own understanding of what it takes to export. They’re learning marketing skills, manufacturing skills, language skills. … This program creates the next generation of small business leaders for the state.”

Since its initial founding at Ohio State, OEIP has expanded to other universities across the state that teach the preparation course for students from over 18 universities, said Nate Ward, director of the Global Business Center and SBDC Export Assistance Network at Cleveland State University, one of the participating universities.

“Each of these institutions has played a crucial role in preparing students to take on the real-world challenges of international trading,” he said.

“At the heart of this program are Ohio businesses, the small and medium-sized enterprises that welcome these students into their export initiatives. These companies are doing more than growing their businesses. They are strengthening Ohio’s position on the global stage and investing in the future workforce of our state.”

OEIP demonstrates the positive impact of partnerships between the state of Ohio, universities and private industry, DiCamillo said.

“I’m not aware of any other programs that bring together universities, government and businesses to work in such a way. And it’s something that other states have reached out to us to ask, ‘How do we do it?’” he said. “It’s something that really sets us apart from other states around the country.”

Ohio State students who also completed OEIP internships this year are: Sherry Dong, Global Recovery Group; Jackson Reider, Star USA Inc.; Kristine Shaner, Vesco Medical; and Shuto Urabe, Performance Results Plus Inc. Sharonda Exius, a Columbus State Community College and Franklin University student, was also recognized with Ohio State’s cohort at the Statehouse event for her internship with The Janz Corp.

The other participating OEIP universities are Bowling Green State University, Ohio University, the University of Dayton and Youngstown State University.

The Pierre Agostini Prize is the university’s most prestigious award for scholarly and artistic achievement and is presented annually to one faculty member in recognition of their groundbreaking and influential work.

“Professor Janet Box-Steffensmeier embodies Ohio State’s commitment to academic excellence through her extraordinary research, mentorship and service,” said Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “Her scholarship is consequential not only in her field, but across the entire Ohio State community and future generations of scholars who will benefit from her leadership and bold thinking. It’s a distinct honor to celebrate Professor Box-Steffensmeier as this year’s Pierre Agostini Prize recipient.”

Established in 2025, the prize is named for Ohio State Professor Emeritus Pierre Agostini, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2023 for his work to generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electrons.

“The Pierre Agostini Prize is a distinguished recognition of research excellence, and Professor Box-Steffensmeier is a truly deserving recipient,” said John M. Horack, vice president for research. “Her groundbreaking scholarship has advanced our understanding of political behavior and methodology in profound ways, and this honor is a testament to both her individual excellence and the transformative influence of her research.”

The prize recognizes Box-Steffensmeier’s work advancing political methodology and the tools researchers use to study politics. Her interdisciplinary approach brings together mathematics, statistics and political science to examine political institutions, public opinion, elections, courts and political behavior.

Over the course of her career, Box-Steffensmeier has helped advance the use of time series analysis, event history analysis and network analysis in political science. Her work has given researchers new ways to examine not only why political events occur, but when they happen, how long their effects persist, and how political actors and institutions influence one another over time.

She has applied those methods to questions spanning American politics, including campaign spending, partisanship, congressional behavior, interest groups and judicial decision-making. Her methodological work has also reached beyond political science, providing researchers across the social sciences with tools for studying change, timing and relationships within complex social systems.

“I am honored to receive the Pierre Agostini Prize,” said Box-Steffensmeier. “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of a vibrant scholarly community dedicated to advancing knowledge and addressing important questions in political science. I am grateful for this honor and remain inspired by the opportunities to continue learning, discovering and contributing to the field.”

Her academic accomplishments have earned recognition throughout the field. She was named an inaugural Fellow of the Society for Political Methodology, elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has also received the Political Methodology Career Achievement Award and the Warren E. Miller Award for Meritorious Service to the Social Sciences, and twice received the Gosnell Award for work in political methodology. In 2025, Box-Steffensmeier also received the Barry Prize for Distinguished Intellectual Achievement, recognizing her contributions to understanding democratic processes and advancing social science methodology.

Mentorship has been equally central to Box-Steffensmeier’s career. Undergraduate and graduate researchers continue to contribute to projects spanning political science, data analytics and artificial intelligence.

“What I enjoy most is helping students develop as scholars and researchers,” Box-Steffensmeier said. “Much of my work has been done alongside students, and I take great pride in seeing them forge their own paths, whether through creative, influential research that advances our understanding of politics and society or through successful, meaningful and impactful careers in a wide range of fields.”

Her impact as a mentor has been recognized nationally. The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research established the Box-Steffensmeier Graduate Student Award in recognition of her contributions to political methodology and her support of women in the field. She has also received Ohio State’s Distinguished Undergraduate Mentor Award and the Political Methodology Excellence in Mentoring Award.

“Ohio State has been a place where intellectual curiosity and collaboration thrive,” she said. “The support of colleagues across the university and the rich intellectual environment in political science and the social sciences have given me the opportunity to continually evolve as a scholar, pursue interdisciplinary research and explore questions that have shaped my career.”

Box-Steffensmeier was awarded the prize during the Ohio State Board of Trustees’ Academic, Research and Student Life Committee meeting on Aug. 20. She will receive a $50,000 prize, split evenly between a cash award and a research budget. She also received a medallion as a permanent reminder of the honor.

The Agostini Prize medallion features a scarlet ribbon and a polished gray medal and includes five university landmarks: Thompson Library, Orton Hall, University Hall, Mirror Lake and the Wexner Center for the Arts, representing the depth and breadth of the Ohio State experience.

Sonderling joined Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda, Vice President for Research John M. Horack, CDME Executive Director Nate Ames and other university representatives on the tour.

CDME students showed off tools for metal printing, digital design and simulation software, and advanced welding.

The tour concluded in the center’s Artificially Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (AIMS) Lab, where industry professionals, undergraduate students and researchers work together to study and develop manufacturing systems that work with, and are controlled by, different types of artificial intelligence. 

“We have a unique place at Ohio State where we do workforce development, but we disguise it as technology translation,” Ames said. “We use industry programs as a way to lift up the students to ensure they’re ready to work immediately upon graduation.”

CDME works with companies and researchers to translate new technologies into real-world, market-ready manufactured products. These projects give student employees at CDME hands-on experience in integrating new technology while providing customers with the workforce advantage necessary to compete in a global marketplace.

CDME partners with more than 150 companies and has completed over 900 applied engineering projects. The center houses more than $20 million in industrial-scale equipment and employs 40 full-time technical staff and 150 undergraduate students. 

“Most of the students who work in the center have a job years before they graduate. While they're working here, they’re working for the companies that ultimately want to hire them,” Ames said. “So, it’s effectively a four-year interview for both.”

Held earlier this month, SUMMIT welcomed speakers from across the country who covered topics ranging from strategic deterrence to healthcare. In addition, nearly 55 researchers presented posters on topics like plastic and reconstructive surgery and opportunities for veteran farmers in Ohio.

The event was the first of its kind, said organizer David Hibler, researcher at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Hibler, an Army veteran, recently completed his fourth Ohio State degree, a doctorate in evolution, ecology and organismal biology. Having logged so many hours on Ohio State’s campus, he is well-positioned to discuss the university’s growth, he said.

“I have seen Ohio State grow from an institution that was relatively ignorant about its military and veteran students to one that is now prioritizing and highlighting them,” he said in his opening remarks. “It is a place where military students and veterans can come grow, flourish, pursue what they’re passionate about and have real-world impact, now.”

When developing SUMMIT, Hibler said connections were his goal.

“We’re looking at the gamut, the entire spread of work, bringing together people that never knew about what other people were doing in the same areas, making connections, developing new ideas and building new collaborations, not only to make Ohio State one of the strongest engines for military and veteran development in the country but Ohio as a whole,” he said.

“We want to bring all of that work here to the state, all of that work here to Ohio.” 

Brooke Johnston was eager to share her work and meet other researchers during SUMMIT’s poster presentations. A clinical research assistant in the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging, she works under Stephanie Gorka, professor of psychiatry and behavioral health.

Johnston’s research focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and populations at higher risk for developing the condition.

“Veterans are such a high-risk population for developing PTSD, especially the young adults in the military,” she said. “We’re trying to find different neurobehavioral markers so that we can better inform interventions and better find … what differentiates one person from developing PTSD from one who doesn’t.”

Johnston said she was looking forward to finding other opportunities for collaboration.  

“A lot of the studies in our lab could be resources for all the organizations here for veterans.”

This type of collaboration is precisely what SUMMIT’s organizers were envisioning, said Norman Jones, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. In his role, Jones oversees the university’s programming for military and veteran services.

While Ohio State’s size means that the university is the epicenter for so much research and discovery, Jones said, it can also hinder the same things.

“We’re a giant,” he said. “Which is a strength but also a weakness. It’s not always easy for us to connect the dots. We have people doing amazing work in different parts of the university; they don’t always know about each other. We have external partners who do extraordinary things and really want to work with us. It’s not always easy for them to figure out where to connect at Ohio State with the research that could help propel their missions. So, one of the reasons I’m so grateful to Dr. Hibler and everyone else who helped put together this day is that that is one of our goals: making connections.”

Jones reminded attendees that when it was founded, Ohio State had three areas of focus: agriculture, technology and military science.

“We have a long history of supporting military-connected research,” he said. “We do amazing things here at Ohio State.”

“Your journey here isn’t captured by the degree you’re getting alone,” he said. “It has been, and I know from personal experience, an amazing experience to be part of the Buckeye family. In my time here over the last year, that’s what I realized.

“The Ohio State University is not just the buildings, not just the degrees or the campus,” he continued. “It is a total immersive experience to be here. And it’s not just any experience; it’s an extraordinary experience that we share together.”

Speaker Lars Bildsten, the Frederick W. Gluck Chair in Theoretical Physics and director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, shared his excitement in attending the event.

A 1985 Ohio State alumnus, Bildsten missed his own commencement, having already left for graduate school, he said.

“It is wonderful to be here,” he said. “Little did I know it would take me 41 years.”

Bildsten shared advice with graduates: Be patient, listen and serve the community.

“When you have an opportunity to give back, I would encourage you to really dive in and do it,” he said. “Whether it be volunteering in your community, mentoring an early-career person in your discipline or collaborating maybe on projects outside of your immediate expertise, you have a lot to offer. And I can guarantee that you will find it very satisfying and very life-enriching to do that.”

Bellamkonda echoed the importance of serving the community.

“You all have a rich understanding of what it means to use your education for citizenship,” he said. “You have the notion of service in your heart. You are ready to answer the call to serve a greater good.”

Bildsten was also presented with the Joseph Sullivant Medal, awarded every five years to a university community member in honor of their extraordinary achievements and service. Matthew J. Desch received the university’s Distinguished Service Award.

Of the 1,919 degrees and certificates awarded during the ceremony, 298 were doctorates, 678 master’s, 15 professional, and 928 undergraduate and associate degrees and certificates.

Nearly 55 countries were represented in the graduating class, including Australia, India, Peru and Nigeria.

High school students from around Ohio participated in hands-on learning activities in cancer research this summer at The Ohio State University.

The Center for Digital Learning and Innovation (CDLI) at the College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE) collaborated on the initiative with Ohio State Extension’s 4H Youth Development and The James Comprehensive Cancer Center.

As part of the initiative, high school students visited Ohio State’s Columbus campus in mid-July. Among other activities, the students offered feedback on technology that Ohio State researchers developed to engage younger students in medical science.

“The James, 4H and CDLI collaborated to develop interactive, technology-focused learning experiences to help middle school students learn about cancer research and inspire them to consider it as a future career,” said CDLI Executive Director Detra Price.

While on campus, the high school students tested out the new technology, known as Cancer Code Breakers. The technology features classroom activities, including a game that is similar to bowling.

Players use a tablet as a remote control to maneuver a small sphere, with the goal of toppling a stack of plastic cups. The sphere represents chemotherapy and radiation, and the cups represent cancer cells.

The objective of the Cancer Code Breakers technology is to introduce students to the concept of cancer treatment, said Julie Johnson, CDLI community outreach specialist who led the high schoolers through the activities.

“Our whole mission is to work with faculty and staff and students and K-12 classroom teachers and students in bringing technology and innovative voices into the classroom,” said Johnson, who was an elementary school teacher for 30 years before joining Ohio State.

Nora Swerens, an incoming senior at Hilliard-Davidson High School, said she appreciated the opportunity to offer input on the Cancer Code Breakers technology.

“Those were really helpful,” she said of the activities. “I have a sibling who’s in that age range who’d be interested in that.”

Aryan Kaushik, an incoming senior at Pickerington North High School, also said the Cancer Code Breakers activities can interest youth in scientific research.

“I do think middle schoolers will be interested in them, especially the spheres,” he said. “It’s engaging and hands-on. I think that will be really beneficial.”

Also during their campus visit, high school students led presentations on cancer research projects they participated in with Ohio State faculty, staff and students. Swerens said gaining hands-on experience in medical science gave her an opportunity to interact with researchers in cutting-edge fields.

Swerens said she learned “how important networking is early on, especially if you have an interest in something in particular.”

A panel discussion and question-and-answer session with Ohio State researchers presented the high school students with additional networking opportunities. Panelists included Heather Aker, an assistant manager in clinical research at The James; Alexis Mann, a research pharmacist; and Pamela Brock, who works in endocrine cancer-related genetic counseling.

Brock told the students that she first learned about her career in high school at a guidance counselor’s recommendation. She said she worked in genetic counseling for several years at other organizations before finding the right fit at Ohio State.

“I came to Ohio State with the ability to do research and teach and wear these different hats,” she said.

“I couldn’t figure out why my first job [at a different organization] that I loved so much when I started, after 10 years, I didn’t love it anymore. And what changed? Give yourself the grace that your interests may change. Just make the best decision you can at the time. And if it’s not all on one path, that’s OK.”

By attending the panel discussion, Swerens said she saw real-life examples of viable career paths.

“Something I didn’t know about before was genetic counseling,” she said. “I’m considering that as a career now.”

Kaushik also said the panel discussion served as a catalyst to explore new academic and career paths.

“I definitely want to be involved in research in college,” he said.

The initiative to encourage middle and high school students to learn about cancer research has been three years in the making and is part of Ohio State’s broader community outreach efforts, said Margaret Robinson, a project manager with The James Cancer Education and Training unit.

“This is the very beginning. We hope there will be lots more activities and programs for parents, too,” she said. “It’s getting knowledge out there.”

At the PTRC, innovators can find guidance, educational resources and expert support to help them navigate patents, trademarks and other forms of intellectual property protection. As part of a nationwide network of centers designated by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Ohio State’s PTRC helps connect inventors and business owners with the information they need to safeguard their work.

The network includes academic, public and state libraries across the country. What makes Ohio State’s program unique is the diverse areas of expertise from the team, including a business librarian; an engineering librarian; a chemistry and physical science librarian; and a food, agricultural and environmental science librarian.

For Patricia Verdines, engineering librarian, assistant professor and one of the experts supporting Ohio State’s PTRC, success is often measured not by the number of patents filed, but by something even more fundamental.

“I enjoy helping patrons to understand the types of intellectual property protection available in the U.S., and to me, the real success of our services emerges when I see a person that came to us looking for resources relevant to their project ideas,” she said.

One memorable example involved an Ohio State alumnus preparing to present an invention to a group of potential investors. Concerned about protecting his ideas before sharing them publicly, he turned to the PTRC for guidance.

Verdines and her colleagues helped him identify relevant resources, suggesting he consider filing a provisional patent application and draft a nondisclosure agreement before discussing his designs with others.

“He was delighted to see that relevant resources are available for his particular situation at the USPTO,” Verdines said.

While the PTRC is housed within University Libraries, its reach extends well beyond campus. In addition to serving Ohio State students, faculty and researchers, the center supports local inventors, small business owners and members of the public across Ohio.

Megan Powell, chemistry and physical sciences librarian and a member of the PTRC team, noted that the university’s partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Library further expands access to intellectual property education and resources, supporting Ohio State’s land-grant mission while helping strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the state.

Throughout the year, the PTRC offers educational workshops, information sessions and one-on-one consultations designed to help innovators navigate the intellectual property landscape. In the past two years alone, the center has educated more than 745 individuals on protecting their intellectual property.

Powell believes one of the most important functions of Ohio State’s PTRC is helping individuals better understand a process that can often feel overwhelming.

“We can prepare you in understanding how the application process works, give you the tools to conduct a prior art search, connect you with the right people and prepare you to ask the right questions as you consider the IP protection you want to pursue,” she said. “The process is not easy, but working with the PTRC can help your understanding and make the process less intimidating.”

To learn more about PTRC at University Libraries, visit its website or email lib-ptrc@osu.edu.

The Ohio State University’s Office of Academic Affairs has hired longtime central Ohio superintendent John Marschhausen as the inaugural assistant vice provost for academic program pathways, pending Board of Trustees approval.

Marschhausen’s responsibilities will include overseeing the academic programs “pathways pillar” of OAA’s workforce development initiative. In collaboration with OAA and the College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE), he will also partner with companies, local school districts, other universities and technical schools to make connections and build the pathways.

“Ohio State’s Office of Academic Affairs is delighted to welcome John to our team at an important time in our university’s efforts to support Ohio’s workforce development,” said Trevor Brown, Ohio State’s interim executive vice president and provost. “With his wealth of K-12 leadership experience and deep commitment to building strong business and community partnerships, his expertise will be invaluable in leading our pathways initiative.”

Marschhausen brings more than 25 years of K-12 leadership experience to Ohio State.

“I am eager to build on the experiences and relationships I’ve built during a 21-year career as a school superintendent,” he said. “Preparing Ohio’s next generation for the workforce is a passion of mine, and supporting the Office of Academic Affairs in this role at the state’s flagship university is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Most recently, he was the superintendent of Dublin City Schools, the ninth-largest school district in Ohio, with more than 17,000 K-12 students, 100 administrative personnel and 2,000 total employees.

Under his leadership, Dublin City Schools introduced a comprehensive focus on culture, in partnership with Focus 3, Huntington Bank and Ohio State, to develop cultural and value expectations.

The district also began a partnership with the city’s business community to establish Dublin’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC), a state-model partnership that includes leaders from Fortune 500 companies. BAC advises the district on students’ skills development, job readiness and business operations.

Marschhausen has ties to Ohio State. Since 2024, he has served as the Novice G. Fawcett Leadership Fellow in EHE’s Department of Educational Studies, and he was the college’s superintendent-in-residence from 2016-19 under former Dean Don Pope-Davis. Since 2017, he has taught a course in educational administration, and he continues to serve on Gov. Mike DeWine’s Executive Workforce Board.

The students, members of the first cohort of the Buckeye Bridge initiative, filled a ballroom in the Ohio Union Monday evening to learn more about the university and the new program that offers a tuition-free path to finish their bachelor’s degree.

Trevor Brown, Ohio State’s interim executive vice president and provost, welcomed the students and encouraged them to build relationships on campus.

“Thank you for joining us on this journey,” he said. “If I can give you one piece of advice, and you may hear this again, is find a way to get connected. … Hopefully you’ve got connections here with your classmates as you come from Columbus State, but you’re going to find Ohio State to be big but incredibly welcoming.”

Columbus State President David Harrison reminded the students that they share a bond with their peers.

“Look around the room, find somebody that you haven’t met yet, connect with them,” he said. “When you get on this campus, it’s big, and it’s fast-paced, and there’s a lot going on. Having somebody there who’s with you, who you know you can bond with, who you have a shared experience with, is something that’s really important.”

Students at the event learned about on-campus resources including recreational sports and wellness opportunities. They had a chance to ask questions about financial aid – and they learned from former Columbus State and Ohio State graduates.

Nearly 200 students are expected to participate in the Buckeye Bridge initiative. Low- to middle-income Ohioans who earn an associate degree from Columbus State will qualify for the new program at Ohio State, which will cover all tuition and mandatory fees – enabling more central Ohioans to earn their bachelor’s degrees.

One of those students is Samauj Samuel, a Columbus native who will enter Ohio State in the fall after completing his associate degree at Columbus State. Samuel said his dream was always to attend both Ohio State and Columbus State, and the Buckeye Bridge program made that dream affordable.

He said it’s a credit to both institutions that the program illustrates their commitment to access and affordability.

“When you see two institutions, Columbus State and Ohio State, actually go about it and actually do what they claim that they’re about, it speaks a ton about … their commitment to furthering education for all different types of students,” he said.

Brown let the Buckeye Bridge students know that the time and effort they invested in Columbus State and now Ohio State would be worth it.

“I can guarantee you, if you put the time in, you put in the effort, if you get connected, you’re going to have a tremendous experience here,” he said. “You’re going to get a great education. You’re going to be challenged, but you’re also going to be included, and you’re going to be welcomed. So congratulations. We’re thrilled that you’re here and we’re looking forward to the next couple of years as you navigate this big, amazing, exciting place.”

Kickstart Kreyòl: Introduction to Haitian Language and Culture launched in the summer of 2025 as an introductory course designed to help students build a strong foundation in Haitian Creole language, which is not widely taught. The class, which is free and open to any individual over the age of 18, was designed by Joyce.

“This is a course that I designed and organized with primary support from the Center for Latin American Studies, and additional support from the Department of French and Italian, the Center for Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and Ohio State’s Office of Outreach and Engagement,” he said. “It’s responding to the needs that I see in our Ohio State community and more broadly, across central Ohio. The goal is to strengthen cultural understanding and community engagement in Ohio.”

Approximately 50,000 Haitians live across Ohio. Joyce said that the biggest group of students taking Kickstart Kreyòl are K-12 educators who want to be able to better converse and understand their students, many of whom speak the Haitian Creole taught in the course. The course highlights the practical benefits of language learning, providing educators and other participants with skills they can apply in their professional and everyday interactions.

“So many of our participants last year were K-12 educators, who reported during and after the course that there was not actually a lot of training or resources for them to understand Haitian culture or Haitian language,” Joyce said. “I understand that there’s a significant number of Haitian students enrolled in Columbus City Schools alone, and many of those students might have varying degrees of English proficiency. So being able to understand and speak some Creole is important.”

Being able to speak the language is especially important at Mifflin High School, where Nikki Matson teaches French. An educator of 28 years, Matson said she has already recommended the course to fellow educators after completing it over the summer.

“At Mifflin, many students speak Creole, so there was strong interest in learning the language’s basics. Learning a language means more than memorizing words,” Matson said. “It also teaches you about that culture and its social customs. By learning a language, you connect with people more deeply, which helps teachers build the meaningful relationships that are central to effective teaching.”

The course extends beyond language instruction by inviting Haitian community leaders and educators into the classroom, helping participants understand the traditions and history behind the language.

“Every speaker was engaging and informative, and the collegial discussions were especially valuable,” Matson said. “The speakers that Ryan had were excellent and so knowledgeable about the Haitian world. I am looking forward to this aspect in his next class this summer.”

In year two of the course, Joyce is adding a second tier to the language portion.

“Once people have foundational tools, like basic vocabulary and expressions, then we want to build on that toward having more complete, fluent conversations,” Joyce said. “My goal is to ground these lessons in practical, everyday situations. For example, if you went into a Haitian restaurant or had a Haitian neighbor, how could you communicate? These aren’t abstract ideas, but concrete, real-life strategies.”

Joyce said that while the free Kickstart Kreyòl course is still in its infancy, he has ideas of how to expand it down the road.

“This could be developed into for-credit summer class that students can enroll in,” he said. “It would certainly involve more programming around Haiti and Haitian studies. Things like film screenings, conferences or symposiums that would put these histories and Haitian voices at the center of the course.”

Estelle Apewokin and Matthew Wolfe, students at The Ohio State University who are majoring in science-related fields and are also studying French, say they gained valuable academic and work experience by participating in the Students in Life Sciences Abroad (STILSA) internship program over the spring semester.

STILSA is an international education program that offers paid, career-building and credit-earning experiential learning opportunities for Ohio State students majoring in biology-based subject areas. STILSA has partnered on educational activities with universities and businesses in France, the French West Indies, Colombia, Norway, Brazil and Belgium.

The internship provides students with work experience, helping with the STILSA program’s administrative operations and in fostering and strengthening relationships with Ohio State’s international partners, said Professor Patrice Hamel.

Hamel, a professor of molecular genetics, coordinates the STILSA program and administers the internship with Joi Brihm-Spann, Ohio State’s assistant director of experiential learning and opportunities.

“It was designed to provide a meaningful opportunity to experience firsthand how global education initiatives are developed and sustained,” Hamel said of the internship. “The students’ role allows them to actively use their language skills – particularly French – through regular interactions with our French-speaking international partners.”

By immersing students in science on a global scale, STILSA aims to promote students’ retention in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors, smooth their transition into the workforce and equip them with skills for long-term success.

“I thought it was cool that it’s kind of an intersection of life science and French experience as well as offering great opportunities for students,” said Apewokin, a biomedical science major. “I wanted to help other students have those same opportunities.”

STILSA activities are open to all undergraduate and master’s degree students in STEM majors.

“There have always been mixes between the two – science and humanities, the intersectionality,” said Wolfe, a dual major in biology and French. “Language and science education is kind of a perfect fit for me.”

During the internship, Apewokin and Wolfe completed a wide range of assignments. One of their major responsibilities was reaching out to students and informing them about what to expect when the new academic year begins in August.

“That’s one of the big things about the internship, is that it’s something that is very individualized and personalized,” Wolfe said. “I was constantly messaging students about setting up a time for an interview or a date that’s coming up for them. I feel connected to them.”

Apewokin and Wolfe also assisted Hamel with tasks that included replying to emails, scheduling meetings, updating the program’s website and creating marketing materials. They also drafted documents for the program’s French-speaking partners and translated them into English.

“I got to practice communication, and I think it’s really nice because it’s in a professional setting,” Apewokin said. “Usually we’re in a classroom, so you can speak a little more casually. Being able to use [French] in an international business context – a professional context – is something I’ve never really experienced.”

Apewokin and Wolfe said they honed skills that will benefit them when they graduate and enter the workplace.

“I think Dr. Hamel and Joi have been really instrumental in leading me down a path with this internship in terms of career readiness,” Wolfe said.

“There are all kinds of different types of thinking, specifically at Ohio State in the humanities. We learn a very analytical type of thinking and critical thinking in terms of analyzing passages in books. And since Estelle and I are both in the humanities and sciences, that is another type of analytical thinking and numerical thinking. But with this [internship], we’re really doing another type of thinking, more in terms of adaptability and professionalism.”

Apewokin said the internship enabled her to apply concepts she learned in class.

“I think it’s mostly through student organizations or doing internships like this where you get more of that organizational and problem-solving experience and the decision making and figuring out how to solve problems as they arise,” she said. “That’s really been something I’ve learned a lot through this internship, and I think I'll continue being able to learn those skills and apply them in the future.”

“JPMorganChase is a global brand with deep roots in Ohio, making them a natural partner that shares our commitment to innovation, excellence and long-term community impact,” said Ross Bjork, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director at Ohio State. “Together, we have built a comprehensive and historic partnership that reflects the strong commercial strength of the Ohio State Athletics identity and the broader college athletics landscape. This relationship creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes that support the sustained excellence and competitiveness of our athletic programs, while honoring the tradition and values of Ohio State.”

The comprehensive partnership between Ohio State and JPMorganChase is centered on enhancing the student-athlete experience, with a strong emphasis on financial education, student-athlete financial councils, career development, and long-term personal success. Through dedicated programming, student-athletes will have access to financial literacy resources, advisory support, and tools designed to prepare them for life beyond competition.

“Ohio State leads the way in college athletics, and we’re proud to support the student-athletes and fans who power that tradition,” said Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking. “From financial education and resources for student-athletes to exclusive fan experiences and gameday offers, this partnership brings Chase’s unique capabilities to the Ohio State community—on campus, in the stands and beyond.”

The partnership builds on JPMorganChase’s deep and longstanding relationship with central Ohio and Ohio State, spanning student engagement, financial education, commercial banking, career pathways and athletics. Through its established presence across campus and a growing early-careers pipeline that has brought more than 1,700 Ohio State University alumni to the firm over the past five years, JPMorganChase is helping create opportunities that extend well beyond athletics. Ongoing academic collaborations include classroom presentations, mentorships, scholarships, internships, and career fairs.

“Ohio State is a driving force in Columbus, and this partnership is another way we’re demonstrating our commitment to the people and places we serve,” said Becky Griffin, Columbus Location Leader at JPMorganChase. “With 18,000 employees in central Ohio and more than 155 years in Ohio, we’re proud to build on our longstanding relationship with the university, supporting student engagement, financial education and career pathways that create opportunity beyond the game.”

The partnership will enhance the fan experience across Ohio State Athletics through expanded branding at Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center, JPMorganChase’s role as presenting sponsor of the new 1922 Club, and exclusive new cardholder benefits. These benefits include access to special ticket offers, gameday savings, premium experiences and other opportunities designed to deepen fans’ connection to the Buckeyes.

This agreement was facilitated in collaboration with University and Athletics Leadership and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties, the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Ohio State Athletics. “As JPMorganChase’s first investment in college athletics, this partnership speaks to both the power of the Buckeyes brand and the power of storytelling within college sports,” said Cole Gahagan, CEO of Learfield.  “We are proud to facilitate such a significant pairing of two powerhouse, global brands and are thrilled to work with Ross, Ohio State, and JPMorganChase to bring it to life.”

Thomas “T.J.” Beach, an 8-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, is The Ohio State University’s 12th Tillman Scholar. Now, the central Ohio native is merging his experience in the armed forces with his education as an athletic trainer to help law enforcement and others recover from concussions.

“This means I get to join an incredible group of individuals, veterans and spouses, and to see the impacts that they have made in different realms of research with veterans as well as active service members,” Beach said. “As someone that’s been in academia now for the last seven years, going on eight years, I have the opportunity to learn from individuals that have had similar experiences that I have.”

Beach is one of 48 scholars representing service members, veterans and military spouses chosen this year.

The program, part of the Pat Tillman Foundation, supports active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses through education, lifelong leadership development, and a community of peers and mentors to help them impact their community and the world. Tillman, the award’s namesake, was an NFL standout who left his football career to join the Army Rangers in the wake of 9/11.

Beach served in both field artillery and as a Marine security guard. He began exploring research into concussions following his experiences with colleagues suffering brain injuries in the service – and specifically because he worked on cannons, which have a loud concussive blast.

“I want to be that voice from my research, being able to disseminate, being able to talk and being able to be an example to other veterans that it’s OK for us to go into research,” he said.

Following his service in the Marines, Beach pursued degrees in athletic training at Ohio State and the University of South Carolina. He said he was humbled by how openly athletes discussed their injuries and by how readily they allowed athletic trainers to set up care plans.

Beach is now a PhD student in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, exploring the value of embedding athletic trainer care with law enforcement officers (LEOs).

LEOs typically do not have agency-level policies for returning to duty after a head injury, he said. Beach is developing research to show evidence of the longitudinal effects of a brain injury on law enforcement personnel to advocate for policy reform and healthcare interventions to protect those who protect our community every day.

Jaclyn Caccese, an associate professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and a member of Ohio State’s Chronic Brain Injury Program, is one of Beach’s advisors. She said he is a worthy recipient of the award.

“T.J. brings a remarkably rare and valuable perspective to our lab, connecting his firsthand military experience with his research. His work developing TBI recognition, management and return-to-duty protocols for law enforcement is filling a critical gap in first-responder care,” she said. “As a Tillman Scholar, he embodies the exact bridge we need between scientific research and the real-world protection of our community. Receiving the Tillman Scholarship is a well-deserved recognition of his leadership and dedication to protecting and serving those who protect and serve.”

Beach is in his second year as a PhD student. He hopes to refine his research project and work toward graduation in the next three years – and then put his research and experience toward helping law enforcement.

“I feel very similar to them a lot of times,” he said. “A lot of them are veterans. That really helps when I work with this population and I’m able to have that conversation where they’re like, ‘Hey, it’s OK that something is not OK, but we’re here to help you with that process.”

 

The National Endowment for the Humanities grant includes $4 million in matching funds and $100,000 in outright funds to create the Chase National Humanities Endowment for American Civic Thought. This was the largest of the 81 nationwide humanities projects totaling $41.4 million.

The grant was announced during a time of growth for the Chase Center. Now approaching its second year offering courses, the Chase Center is launching its first major: Civics, Law, and Leadership. The center is offering 10 courses this fall, many of which are at capacity, and enrollment already exceeds 440 students for the coming semester.

“Grants from the National Endowment support organizations and scholars working to illuminate and educate about the great ideas and events of the past,” said NEH Acting Chairman William English. “As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary this year, NEH is proud to help foster robust public engagement with our national history, ideals and intellectual achievements through funding for an array of exhibitions, preservation projects, books, education initiatives and advanced research.”

Lee J. Strang, Chase Center executive director, said grants of this magnitude greatly enhance an academic unit’s ability to attract and retain the very best scholars, who will help Ohio State further distinguish itself from peer institutions across the country.

“The Salmon P. Chase Center already has been successful in attracting excellent scholars from diverse academic disciplines, ranging from law, literature and political theory to history and economics,” Strang said. “This NEH grant will enable us to take the next logical step in our maturation as a leader in the field of civic thought.”

These endowed positions will benefit Ohio State students by drawing more world-renowned thought leaders in civic education to the university.

“We are honored that the NEH believed so much in the quality of the Chase Center’s growing academic program that they chose us for this nation-leading investment, which will provide our students even more robust educational opportunities in the classroom,” Strang said. “The faculty we hire for these endowed positions are important to support our rapidly growing course enrollments.”

These two programs of Ohio State’s College of Education and Human Ecology, and their grade descriptions, are:

• Bachelor of Science in Education in Primary Education (P-5): A+

• Master of Education in Primary Education (P-5): A+

The report, Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, spotlights Ohio State for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction.

Specifically, this means the programs prepare aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. The programs also avoid many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.

A child’s ability to read proficiently in the early grades shapes everything that comes next in school and in life. Yet according to NAEP data, 4 in 10 fourth graders in Ohio cannot read at a basic level. Teacher preparation is one of the most direct levers available to change that — but only if it is aligned to the research-based instructional methods that have been proven to help most students become successful readers.

Ohio State is part of a growing group of teacher preparation programs nationwide helping transform how future teachers are trained to teach reading.

“We are grateful that the National Council on Teacher Quality has recognized our faculty and staff for their excellence in preparing our undergraduate and master’s degree preservice students to become highly effective primary education teachers of reading,” said Erik Porfeli, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology.

“Our preservice teachers are prepared to employ best practices in teaching their future students how to read and develop a love for reading based on research showing what works. We are pleased that our graduates will transition into a teaching career, knowing that they are well prepared to support children in their classrooms to become competent readers and knowing that their degree program now has the top endorsement of NCTQ.”

In addition to the primary education programs for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, the college offers a dual licensure program: the Bachelor of Education in Primary Education with Visual Impairment license. In this program, future teachers learn research-based methods for teaching reading to youth experiencing low vision or blindness. These methods include using Braille.

“Every child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,” said National Council President Heather Peske.

“Across the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but Ohio State University is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.”

Binaya Subedi, the interim chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning, where these programs reside, affirmed the college’s emphasis on research-based practices.

“We are very committed to the growth and the quality of our teacher preparation program that serves the state of Ohio and the nation,” he said. “The recognition demonstrates the contributions we continue to make in the area of reading. Our graduates are highly sought after because of their teacher preparation at Ohio State.”

The college’s research informs educator preparation

Many Ohio State faculty have active research programs centered on best practices for teaching reading and writing, said Shayne Piasta, professor of literacies, literature and learning and director of the Early Literacy and Learning Lab.

“We have developed and tested various curricula, interventions and instructional strategies in ways that allow us to identify effective, evidence-based practices, as defined by the U.S. What Works Clearinghouse,” she said.

A few examples:

Laura Justice, professor of educational psychology and director of the college’s Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, led the multi-university Language and Reading Research Consortium, which researched Tier 1 elementary comprehension curricula. Piasta led a study of curricula for Tier 2 students with severe disabilities to improve their early literacy outcomes.

Professor Emeritus Ian Wilkinson researched how discussion improves literacy, and Tzu-Jung Lin, professor of educational psychology, is examining how collaborative reasoning in small groups improves elementary school students’ reading and writing achievement.

Jerry D’Agostino, professor of quantitative research, and Emily Rodgers, professor of reading and literacy in early and middle childhood education, are researching and refining a literacy intervention for 6- to 9-year-olds having great difficulty with beginning reading. They also developed and tested an assessment of oral reading that provides a standard way of evaluating strategies that elementary students use to decode unknown words.

The Genesis Mission is designed to double America’s scientific productivity through DOE’s world-class scientific capabilities, advanced AI, high-performance computing and the nation’s leading researchers. The goal of the mission is to transform how scientific discovery is conducted and continue to grow the nation’s leadership in technology and discovery.

“We are pleased that researchers from two Ohio State-led teams have been selected through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, a groundbreaking initiative that seeks to accelerate scientific discovery through the use of artificial intelligence,” said John M. Horack, Ohio State’s vice president for research.

The DOE invites interdisciplinary teams to leverage novel artificial intelligence models and frameworks to address over 26 national science and technology challenges spanning advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear energy and quantum information science.

Phase one provides small teams with $500,000 to $750,000 to test initial AI concepts, models and workflows over nine months. Leading two of the projects are Ohio State researchers Roland Kawakami, physics professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Han-Wei Shen, professor of computer science and engineering in the College of Engineering.

“America has no shortage of bold ideas or talented scientists, and the response to the Genesis Mission proves that,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. “The remarkable number of high-quality proposals we received demonstrates that America’s innovation pipeline is strong, and it points to even greater opportunities for future investment and continued expansion of the Genesis Mission portfolio.”

Participating research teams were selected through a rigorous merit review process, DOE officials said.

The projects led by Ohio State are:

• AI for Orbital Electronics Materials and Manufacturing. Kawakami is the lead principal investigator and is joined by researchers at the University of Southern California, Yale University and Argonne National Laboratory. Intel joins the team as the industry partner.
• ROBIN-NET: RObust BIdirectional PINNs for Accelerated Complex Flow Modeling and Discovery. Shen is joined by research teams from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The industry partner for the project is NVIDIA. 

Teams selected for phase one are eligible for phase two, which will include the opportunity for $6-15 million in grant funding over three years. Ohio State’s Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) is assisting the teams with the application process.

“These awards underscore Ohio State’s leadership in AI, advanced computing and domain science and demonstrate the vital role our researchers play in accelerating discovery that will benefit Ohio, the nation and the world,” Horack said.

The awards build on Ohio State’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in AI research, innovation and student experience. Recent highlights include:

• AI Fluency, the nation’s leading, groundbreaking initiative to integrate artificial intelligence throughout students’ educational experience. All Ohio State students will become “bilingual” — fluent in both their major field of study and the application of AI in that area.
• Buckeye BioLaunch leverages the university’s scale and research strength to accelerate therapeutic discovery, development and commercialization. Buckeye BioLaunch aims to support between 10 and 20 AI-driven screening projects annually that will drive a robust pipeline of therapeutics advancing toward commercialization.
• AI^(X) Hub at The Ohio State University, a collaborative hub dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence research and innovation across disciplines, including healthcare.

That message was part of a conversation on leadership and other topics hosted by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce this week between Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda and Chamber President and CEO Derrick R. Clay at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

“Excellence is a way of behaving, thinking, and really a way of being, much more than a state,” Bellamkonda said. “So, to me, the conversation we are having within Ohio State is, do we have this confidence to behave as a leader, a true leader? Because we are a great university in a great state, and we are positioned to do amazing things because of the people who went before.”

Bellamkonda said his aspiration is to be the most business-friendly university in the nation. He offered several examples of where Ohio State is leading or planning to expand opportunities in consequential ways to be among the best in the nation.

Ohio State has extended research and development opportunities for local businesses to partner with the university to improve their innovation while protecting intellectual property. Bellamkonda also pointed to executive training opportunities at Fisher College of Business and online courses for small business leaders to improve their knowledge of artificial intelligence.

Supporting state and local businesses is only part of the goal to help the university and the state succeed. Bellamkonda said it is also important for Ohio State to add new businesses to the region.

“We’ll be announcing a program where by 2029-2030, I’d like 100 investable startups to be coming out of Ohio State every year,” he said. “One hundred startups that are not paper startups, not projects for education, but investment-worthy startups every year. This is entirely doable.”

Ohio State’s new president also discussed the efforts to prepare students for the workforce of the future. He pointed to Ohio State’s AI Fluency initiative, the unique, groundbreaking initiative to prepare students to be “bilingual” in the use of AI: fluent in both their discipline and the responsible, intuitive use of AI.

“So we have students at Ohio State that are not just good at solving textbook problems, but [at solving] the complexity of real-world problems, communication skills, the ethic of working hard,” Bellamkonda said. “Combine that with AI fluency. … An Ohio State grad, when you hire them, brings that skill to you automatically because of AI fluency. No matter what major, they’re going to be fluent in the application of AI, and those are the people that will transform your businesses, right?”

Bellamkonda said the region is primed for greater success through partnership.

“The Midwest, I think, has an opportunity with places like Ohio State, the Chamber and all of us working together to reaffirm the narrative of this country and what we’re about: decency, civility, prosperity, hard work. This is not old-fashioned stuff,” he said. “This is the magic through which enduring success is built. And I feel fortunate that we, all of us, get to be part of this community where we can create that.”

Lars Bildsten, the Frederick W. Gluck Chair in Theoretical Physics and director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will deliver The Ohio State University’s summer commencement address. An Ohio State alumnus, Bildsten is the 2026 recipient of the university’s Joseph Sullivant Medal.

Approximately 1,700 degrees will be awarded at the Aug. 9 ceremony at the Schottenstein Center. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

“As one of the world’s foremost physicists, Lars Bildsten has dedicated his career to scientific research and discovery that has transformed our understanding of the universe. He embodies the world-class talent developed here at Ohio State, as well as the commitment to excellence and consequential work of our alumni,” said Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “Dr. Bildsten’s record of impact and service is an inspiration, and we’re looking forward to the message he’ll share with our graduates at summer commencement.”

The Sullivant Medal was created in 1920 by Thomas Mendenhall, one of Ohio State’s founding faculty and a professor of physics and mechanics. Its namesake, Joseph Sullivant, was a member of the university’s first Board of Trustees and greatly influenced the university’s development and educational character.

Awarded just once every five years, the medal is one of the most prestigious honors Ohio State bestows on its alumni and current faculty, recognizing extraordinary scholarly achievement.

Bildsten is a theoretical astrophysicist recognized for his work on the properties and behavior of stars, both when they burn their thermonuclear fuel for billions of years and when they explode as supernovae or emit gravitational waves.

He grew up in Chillicothe before moving to Worthington. He started taking classes at Ohio State as a high school student. He earned his undergraduate degree in engineering physics from Ohio State in 1985 and has maintained close ties with the astronomy and physics departments over many years.

He regularly contributes support to the department’s endeavors, including hosting a public lecture on “Hearing the Stars” in March 2025.

Bildsten was the 2000 Edwin Salpeter Lecturer at Cornell University, the 2004 Biermann Lecturer at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, the 2010 Beatrice M. Tinsley Centennial Visiting Professor at UT Austin, the 2014 Bishop Lecturer at Columbia University and the 2023 J. Robert Oppenheimer Lecturer at UC Berkeley.

He was awarded the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics in 2017, and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2018 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2026. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society and the American Astronomical Society.

More than 1,100 positive Cyclospora test results have been reported in northwest Ohio as a surge in illnesses linked to the microscopic parasite prompts food safety experts at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) to help Ohioans understand the risks and reduce potential exposure.

With no confirmed food source identified, CFAES experts are moving quickly to share research-based guidance on symptoms, testing and food safety precautions. For ongoing updates, visit the CFAES cyclosporiasis resource center.

Ohio State University Extension, CFAES’ outreach arm, has brought together food safety specialists and is using its statewide network to share information as the investigation evolves.

“When this issue became more prevalent throughout the state, we immediately started looking at how Extension can best share information quickly among our staff members and with community members,” said David Civittolo, associate dean and director of Extension.

The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department reports 1,119 positive test results across northwest Ohio, including 638 in Lucas County, thus far. State and local totals may differ because health agencies use different reporting systems and update their counts at different times. The Ohio Department of Health reported 177 confirmed cases statewide as of July 2.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness most often associated with contaminated food or water.

“It is typical to see cyclosporiasis cases surge in the spring and summer months,” said Nicole Arnold, assistant professor and food safety field specialist with Extension.

The primary symptom is frequent, watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea that can come and go for weeks. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, bloating, cramping, weight loss, nausea and fatigue.

The illness typically develops about one week after exposure but can take two weeks or longer, making diagnosis and outbreak investigations more difficult.

“If you see a healthcare provider, it is imperative to ask for testing,” Arnold said. “Any confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis are helpful to the outbreak investigation.”

Cyclosporiasis can be treated with antibiotics, she said.

Why Cyclospora is difficult to trace

The parasite’s life cycle also complicates efforts to identify an outbreak source, said Sanja Ilic, a CFAES food safety expert whose research focuses on the microbial safety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Cyclospora requires time in the environment, often in contaminated water or soil, to become infectious. Fresh produce can then become contaminated through contact with affected irrigation water or soil.

Foods linked to previous outbreaks include leafy greens, cilantro, basil, snow and snap peas, berries, and green onions.

“Cyclospora outbreaks are difficult to trace because the parasite has a long incubation period, making outbreak investigations heavily dependent on patient recall, which becomes unreliable with time,” Ilic said.

Fresh produce also has a short shelf life, meaning potentially contaminated products may be gone by the time illnesses are identified. Cyclospora testing is not routinely performed in many clinical laboratories, Ilic said.

While no specific grower, supplier or product has been confirmed as the source of the illnesses affecting Ohioans, investigators in neighboring Michigan have identified lettuce or salad greens as a potential source of illnesses there. Other foods have not been ruled out.

Reducing risk while the investigation continues

CFAES experts say consumers should use additional care when handling and eating fresh produce and herbs.

“Cook produce and herbs when you can,” Arnold said. “Cyclospora dies at 158 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.”

Consumers should continue washing fresh produce and herbs under clean running water. Washing may reduce risk but does not guarantee the parasite will be eliminated, Ilic said.

Consumers seeking additional precautions may choose to avoid eating raw produce historically linked to cyclosporiasis. Those precautions are particularly important for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems or certain underlying health conditions, Ilic said. Prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration and other complications.

“If consumers or anyone in their family experience symptoms, they should see their healthcare provider,” Ilic said.

Arnold said consumers should also consider potential exposure when eating away from home because restaurants and other food businesses may serve raw produce or fresh herbs.

“The current source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak is unknown,” Arnold said. “You should take additional steps for fresh produce and herbs that you purchase from stores, and you should also take precautions when eating out.”

Extension’s presence in all 88 Ohio counties helps the university quickly translate evolving research and public health information into practical guidance, Civittolo said.

“Our Extension professionals live and work in the communities they serve, and this means we have an existing network of trusted Extension staff members who already know whom to contact within each community,” he said.

That network, combined with Extension’s food safety expertise and relationships with public health professionals, helps CFAES interpret emerging information and provide guidance quickly.

“This was the first survey that we know of that’s explored communication” between parents and children about OMMs, said Keeley Pratt, a professor who teaches in the Couple and Family Therapy specialization under the Human Development and Family Science Program in The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology.

The survey was published recently in Obesity: A Research Journal. 

Prescription medications that treat obesity work in different ways, according to the National Institutes of Health. Some medications, like GLP-1s, help users feel less hungry or full sooner and can offer health benefits beyond weight loss, Pratt said.   

“They decrease appetite and increase satiety,” she said during a recent presentation of her research at Ohio State’s Kirwan Institute. “They decrease the risk of heart attack and decrease cardiovascular risk.”  

Pratt cited data indicating that more than 40% of U.S. adults are classified as obese, resulting in an increased demand for OMMs.

“More adults are looking for these medications,” she said. “The most recent report that we have is that 1 in 8 adults has taken an obesity management medication.”

OMMs are most effective for long-term weight loss when paired with behavioral changes, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, Pratt said.

“It’s important to point out that these medications are effective, just like individuals who lose weight after having bariatric surgery,” she said. “What really makes the difference is when these medications are tapered or eliminated; we often see weight regain for the individuals who don’t change their behaviors.”

The survey found that children may notice changes in a parent’s weight – even if the parent doesn’t tell their children about taking OMMs, Pratt said.

“These medications can be injected discreetly … with parents who often use them in a bathroom where they have some privacy, or they wait until their children go to bed to give themselves their injections,” she said. “The real question is: What is happening between parents and children? … When parents may be losing weight, are they changing behavior at the same time and what does the child pick up on?”

Parents can model behavior for children, even if they’re unaware that children are observing them, Pratt said.

“If they’re eating less but children don’t know why they’re eating less, that could look like dieting,” she said. “We’re curious in how this is playing out, and why we’re interested in this is … because these medications are so popular and are so present right now.”

The survey included 211 parents, 80% of whom were women. The survey found that 50% of parents talked with their child about the decision to take OMMs; of those, 75% talked openly about it.

Parents with older children were more likely to have open communication about OMMs. Parents whose children are also overweight were also more likely to have conversations about OMMS with their children. Children who made comments to parents about their own weight were more likely to notice parents’ weight loss.

The study concludes that greater focus on communication around OMM use and healthy changes in the family may provide increased positive effects to children, while supporting parents in long-term adherence to weight management interventions.  

“The intent behind this particular paper isn’t to shame parents,” Pratt said. “It’s to explore what are they doing and what could be more helpful.”

Co-authors include Selena Gonzlez-Jordan and Sabrena F. Noria of Ohio State and Joseph A. Skelton, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics.

Representatives from Ohio State’s Center for Software Innovation and Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship joined founders, investors and others at the 3,500-square-foot ground-floor workspace in San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood. The new center is in the heart of one of the world’s largest venture capital communities and an emerging AI corridor.

“Ohio State is making an active commitment to support the growth of our builders and founders – across students, researchers, alumni and beyond. The Third Coast Foundry is both a physical presence as well as a bridge between the Bay Area and the Midwest, allowing not only increased access to capital and commercial opportunity, but a showcase of the power of our research and student innovation,” said Shereen Agrawal, associate vice president of student innovation and entrepreneurship and executive director of the Center for Software Innovation.

The location creates opportunities for investors, alumni and other partners to engage through meetings, events and programming.

Partner institutions include the Center for Software Innovation; the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon; Northwestern Innovation + New Ventures (INVO); Purdue Innovates; the Polsky Center at UChicago; the Technology Entrepreneur Center and Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship at Illinois; Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF); and Washington University.

Together, the partner universities account for nearly $10 billion in annual research investment and educate more than 300,000 students, producing one of the nation’s largest talent pipelines.

The celebration also featured the Midwest Deep Tech Demo Day, showcasing early-stage startups emerging from the Midwest’s leading research institutions. Ohio State-based startups included:

• Empower Battery: A new electric vehicle battery technology firm founded by Anne Co, professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
• ForgeNest: An advanced manufacturing AI and robotics startup that is based on technology licensed from Ohio State.
• RedNOx: A climate technology company commercializing ultra-sensitive, solid-state nitrogen oxide sensors. The company is founded by former university researcher Solomon Ssenyange and Prabir Dutta, Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Ohio State.
• Relantic: An emerging AI enterprise founded by Arnab Nandi, professor of computer science and engineering, and Ohio State alumnus Anmol Takiar.

In addition to the ribbon cutting and Demo Day, Ohio State students in the university’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship Summer Catalyst program participated in an alumni event at Third Coast Foundry to help build their networks. 

University President Ravi V. Bellamkonda announced the news today in a message to members of the campus community.

“Through his leadership, Mike has contributed to all that we hold dear at The Ohio State University. His entire career has been devoted to higher education. He is a committed servant to Ohio State, and his leadership has helped fuel the impactful work of the university,” Bellamkonda said. “I know the Buckeye community will join me in thanking Mike for all that he has done to support our relentless pursuit of academic excellence in service to Ohioans and beyond.”

Eicher joined the university in 2012. During his tenure at Ohio State, he has led the university’s efforts to garner support for students, faculty and staff — including the recent Time and Change: The Ohio State Campaign, the most successful fundraising campaign in university history, which raised $5.4 billion from more than 817,000 donors. Earlier in his tenure, he led and concluded the But For Ohio State campaign, which raised more than $3 billion from 750,000 donors. Over the past decade, Ohio State has significantly grown its annual fundraising capacity, supporting increasingly ambitious campaign goals and record-setting results.

He also founded the Advancement Leadership Lab, which began at Ohio State and has since evolved into an international network of more than 20 universities focused on strengthening leadership across the advancement profession.

“What distinguishes Mike’s leadership is not only what he has achieved, but what he built,” said Gifford Weary, chair of The Ohio State University Foundation Board of Directors. “He understood that lasting success in Advancement comes from investing in people, aligning teams around a shared standard of excellence, and creating an environment where meaningful relationships can take root and grow over time. The strength of Ohio State’s Advancement enterprise today reflects that intentional work. It is a foundation that will continue to elevate this university and inspire philanthropy for years to come.”

As senior vice president for external affairs, Eicher currently oversees the offices of Advancement, Government Affairs and Marketing, as well as the university’s Alumni Association.

“It has been a pleasure and great honor to serve a university that means so much to so many. Ohio State offers a world-class education, delivers leading-edge research and makes a substantial impact on the world,” Eicher said.

“Ohio State’s strength has always been its people and a shared belief in what we can accomplish together,” he said. “The campaigns we have completed are a reflection of that shared commitment, but more importantly, they represent the collective generosity and trust of hundreds of thousands of donors who believe in what Ohio State makes possible. I leave with deep confidence in the team, the culture we have built, and Ohio State’s continued ability to inspire philanthropy in service of its mission.”

Eicher’s efforts in higher education were honored last year with the E. Burr Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, for his novel campaigns and mentoring of future leaders.

Prior to Ohio State, he served for six years as senior vice president for external affairs and development at Johns Hopkins University, where he led the Knowledge for the World Campaign, which closed in 2008 with commitments exceeding $3.7 billion. He also served in leadership roles at the University of California, Los Angeles, ranging from associate director of development in the School of Medicine to vice chancellor.

Eicher said he will continue to engage with the higher-education landscape after retiring from Ohio State, devoting additional time to mentorship efforts and nonprofit work.

Details on transition plans will be shared with the university community in the coming weeks.

EHE’s Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center is a project of the college’s Center on Education and Training for Employment, a translational research center within EHE. The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center administers the Family Leaders for Ohio Schools Academy – open to individuals whose children are enrolled in a kindergarten-through-12th-grade Ohio public school.

The five-month program trains parents and caregivers to collaborate with school officials and community members to identify and address local education needs. The program includes online learning modules, virtual meetings and in-person sessions at Ohio State’s Columbus campus, where participants brainstorm ideas and share best practices.

The academy’s 2026 cohort recently celebrated their completion of the program with an event at Ohio State’s Early Advancement and Innovation Center.

“That’s what we do as families, is we help one another do the things that we aspire to,” Barbara Boone, the center’s director, told participants. “We saw it in one another: ‘I think I’m finding that I’m not alone in this, that there’s a whole wealth of families and other caregivers and parents out there who feel this as deeply as I do.’ And I think that is a part of this program.”

Participants shared information about projects they created through the academy. Projects included programs designed to increase involvement with the Winton Woods City Schools parent-teacher organization (PTO) in Hamilton County, streamline communication between buildings about anti-bullying policies in the Upper Arlington Schools, and provide support for students in need of reading intervention in the Grandview Heights Schools.

“You learned about policy. You learned about the very different ways that Ohio school districts and school systems can be structured,” Boone told participants. “You learned about data – diving into, ‘What is data? How do I use it?’ And bringing all of that together and understanding your own school system.”

The academy aligns with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s (ODEW) goal of increasing family engagement in schools, said Kari Jones, the department’s chief strategy officer. ODEW encourages parents to develop relationships with teachers, administrators and school board members to advance student-centered initiatives, she said.

“We can all be connected to our superintendents, to our principals, to other people in our areas,” she said. “They can be influencers if you yourself cannot influence whoever it is whose mind you’re trying to change.”

Delaware resident Maura Atwater said participating in the academy’s 2025 cohort equipped her with the tools to advocate for change in her children’s school district. Putting into practice the leadership skills she developed through the academy, she approached Delaware City Schools officials and collaborated with them to increase parental engagement.

Through conversations with building principals, teachers and district administrators, Atwater found that parental engagement drops off significantly after their children complete elementary school. She worked with officials in several ways to smooth the transition from fifth grade to sixth grade for students and keep their parents involved.

One of those efforts was moving the annual sixth-grade camping trip from spring to the beginning of the school year. Holding the camp early in the middle school experience enables students and parents to get to know each other and begin forming bonds, Atwater said.

“I truly believe there are no ‘other people’s children,’ that committing to work to help my child would probably help all boats rise, all children succeed, and that good intentions on their own do not work out very well,” she said. “If I wanted to help our district accomplish more for the families there, I needed to know more and do more as a parent myself.”

Atwater said she also helped restart the middle school PTO, joined the hiring committee for the new principal at her neighborhood elementary school and is participating in the district’s strategic planning effort. She said increasing her engagement with the school district has also led to professional opportunities.

“Just a few months ago, I decided to take a role at our local health department so that I can serve our most vulnerable in Delaware and also try and advocate for better partnerships at the civic level between the school system and other entities,” she said.

Atwater encouraged the members of the 2026 academy cohort to draw on her experience as proof that they can make a difference in their children’s education.

“Was I at the right place at the right time to get a PTO going in Delaware? Sure,” she said. “But by that logic, anyone committed to improving outcomes at their kid’s public school, that’s all of you. You are at precisely the right place at the right time.”

For more information about the Family Leaders for Ohio Schools Academy, visit the program’s website.

“Lalita and I are humbled by the opportunity we’ve been given,” he said. “To be able to serve this university and this amazing community of scholars, our city and the state of Ohio, it’s a dream realized.”

Since being named the university’s 18th president earlier this year, Bellamkonda has met with students, faculty and staff, as well as alumni, elected officials, business leaders and others in the extended Ohio State community. Those conversations have given him a window into Ohio State’s position as a powerhouse across academics, research, student outcomes, healthcare and athletics – and the opportunities for the university community to reach even higher. 

“Our life-changing patient care, our academic excellence, our Buckeye student-athletes – I want to hear about it all,” he said. “It reminds me that this university truly belongs to all of us. When we work together, our collective impact is transformative.”

Looking ahead, Bellamkonda wants Ohio State to continue this path of what he calls “excellence at scale.” That includes a $1.68 billion research enterprise, which he hopes to grow to $2 billion, as well as the university’s top-ranked medical center and its newly opened hospital tower.

The achievements don’t stop there. The university’s programs in nursing, business and engineering are all top-ranked in the country. A top-30 national ranking in biomedical innovation is proof of Ohio State’s real-world research impact.

That success doesn’t happen in a vacuum, however. It is the university’s people that Bellamkonda considers to be the greatest asset, he said.

“We have the greatest people,” he said. “The people who work here are motivated by our land-grant mission and by a deep care and compassion for each other and the people we serve. They want to have an impact on this community. They give their best and believe that together, we will be a top-ranked, consequential university.”

That land-grant mission includes making education accessible to citizens of Ohio, something Bellamkonda is passionate about.

Programs like the Regional Campus Commitment, which promises a tuition-free education to qualifying Ohio students with a family income of $100,000 or less and demonstrated need and who begin their education at one of the regional campuses, and the Ohio State Tuition Guarantee, which locks in in-state tuition, room and board for four years, make the quality education at Ohio State affordable.

Equally important, Bellamkonda noted, Ohio State offers access to excellence: Students who choose Ohio State can pursue a signature undergraduate experience defined by world-class academic programs and real-world learning opportunities that will prepare them to be successful professionals and engaged citizens.

That quality starts with a commitment to attracting and retaining top talent. Bellamkonda aims to elevate and celebrate Ohio State’s current excellent faculty and their scholarship, including by ensuring more faculty are nominated for prestigious awards and recognition.

He also wants to make Ohio State a destination of choice for even more world-class scholars. The new Game Changer Scholars initiative is bringing two renowned academics to the university: Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, who will be joining the Moritz College of Law, and Kang Xu, a leading expert in battery technology who will join the College of Engineering.

And that’s just the beginning. Bellamkonda also pointed to the Provost’s Endowed Chair Matching Program, a $100 million investment in Buckeye faculty through new and existing endowed chairs. With the program, which will be supported by a combination of private philanthropy and matching university funds, Ohio State will strengthen its academic talent and culture, support groundbreaking research and advance innovation across disciplines.

Bellamkonda said those and other efforts represent a comprehensive commitment to retain and build a faculty with global impact. 

“More than 50 of our active faculty are members in academies of medicine, engineering, science and inventors,” he said. “You become an academic powerhouse by hiring the best and the brightest. We have done and will continue to do just that.”

Members of the university community have taken note of Bellamkonda’s commitment to inviting all Buckeyes to join a “relentless pursuit of excellence.”

“Moving from his position of executive vice president and provost to president of Ohio State, Ravi brings with him a strong personal and professional understanding of our faculty, staff and students,” said Valarie Williams, professor of dance and chair of University Senate Steering Committee.

“His humanity coupled with his research profile allow him to lead with empathy and compassion. Working with him as Faculty Council Chair, I know that Ravi has our best interests at heart. He listens, contemplates and makes swift decisions. Ravi and Lalita are the right people at the right time to lead our university.”

In sports, the Buckeyes continue to excel on and off the field. New Academic Progress Rate data shows that 20 Ohio State programs achieved a perfect single-year score. In the last academic year, 227 Buckeyes were named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.

“When I walk into a laboratory or a studio, I am blown away by what our students are achieving,” Bellamkonda said. “And not just what they are doing, but how they are doing it – with joy.

“That joy sets this community apart. It gives me every confidence that we will move Ohio State forward together as the finest public university in the country, with impact in our state and around the world.”

Buckeye BioLaunch will leverage Ohio State’s scale and research strength to drive biotech growth in central Ohio, fueling job creation, economic development and improved health outcomes for Ohioans.

This is a unique collaborative effort involving the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. The initiative will be under the direction of Deanna Kroetz, dean and professor, and Xiaolin Cheng, professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy, from the College of Pharmacy.

“Ohio State intends to be a national force in therapeutic innovation, where producing new medicines every five to 10 years becomes an expected outcome,” Kroetz said. “To realize that vision, we are committing to empowering investigators, aligning incentives and building the infrastructure needed to move discoveries toward real-world impact through coordinated leadership and strategic investment.”

Anchored in the Innovation District at Ohio State and focused on unlocking innovation and commercialization across the university, Buckeye BioLaunch will support projects across the full continuum of drug development, from genomics to target to molecule to medicine.

“The ‘why now’ is simple: AI is transforming drug discovery at a remarkable speed, and the Wexner Medical Center’s investment in Ohio State Genomic Health (OSGH) gives us the rich clinical and genomic datasets needed to lead,” Kroetz said. “Combined with the College of Pharmacy’s depth in drug development and the College of Medicine’s strengths in clinical and translational research, we are uniquely positioned to advance therapeutic development and provide new pathways for treatment to Ohioans.”

Buckeye BioLaunch aims to support between 10 to 20 AI-driven screening projects annually that will drive a robust pipeline of therapeutics advancing toward commercialization. Progress will be measured through defined metrics, including new composition-of-matter patents, technical development milestones, licenses, startup formation and clinical trials.

This strategic investment is complementary to several new initiatives at Ohio State, including new college-driven faculty hires in computational chemistry, genomics and health data AI through the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Faculty Hiring Initiative Ohio State has also launched the AI^(X) Hub at The Ohio State University, a collaborative hub dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence research and innovation across disciplines including healthcare.

“This effort aligns directly with the Wexner Medical Center’s commitment to deliver the best care to every person, every time,” said John J. Warner, CEO of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and executive vice president at Ohio State. “As a leading public research university with a world-class academic medical center and renowned cancer hospital, Ohio State is uniquely positioned to be a leader in AI-enabled therapeutic development – driving healthcare transformation across Ohio and nationally.”

The funding is helping to bring together top researchers and partners nationwide to push quantum technologies toward real‑world use, particularly in understanding materials and molecules with unprecedented precision.

“This award reflects how Ohio State is emerging as a national leader in quantum research,” said John M. Horack, vice president for Research at Ohio State. “We are building the people, partnerships, and platforms needed to translate powerful quantum ideas into tools that can benefit science, industry and society.”

Ohio State leads a distinguished research consortium that includes the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, University of Iowa, University of California, Santa Barbara, and University of Colorado Boulder, along with external workforce and translation partners QuSTEAM and QuantCAD.

The project, “Distributed-Entanglement Quantum Sensing of Chemical Properties” (DQS-CP), is part of NSF’s National Quantum Virtual Laboratory (NQVL) program.  The team is developing a flexible sensing platform built from three main pieces: the molecule being studied, a thin “spin‑relay” layer that carries information, and a quantum readout. By carefully entangling parts of this system, researchers can push measurement performance beyond conventional limits.

“Our goal is to clearly demonstrate when and how quantum sensing can offer real advantages,” said Ezekiel Johnston-Halperin, professor of Physics and lead principal investigator on the DQS‑CP award at Ohio State. “This project is about building a shared testbed where researchers, students, and end users can work together to turn quantum capabilities into meaningful applications and move those ideas into the marketplace.”

In addition to technical milestones, the project places a strong emphasis on education and workforce development. Students involved in DQS‑CP will train in a highly interdisciplinary environment, gaining hands‑on experience at the intersection of physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.

“This project represents the opportunity for our graduate students to contribute to cutting-edge science with real-world impact,” said Susan Olesik, divisional dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. “Students will learn cutting-edge techniques while also helping to shape a workforce pipeline aligned with Ohio State’s land‑grant mission.”

Through a partnership with QuSTEAM, the team will develop and share educational materials and training pathways to prepare the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers in both academia and industry.  In addition, QuantCAD will provide support to develop a roadmap for quantum sensing and host students for hands-on training.

Tressel becomes the third coach to be honored at Ohio Stadium, joining Paul Brown (1941-43) and Woody Hayes (1951-78). He also becomes the first person added to the Ring of Honor since 2014, when one of his quarterbacks, 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, was inducted.

“Growing up in Ohio, Ohio Stadium was about as special a place as there could be for a Buckeye fan. Then, when you have the privilege of spending so many years on the field as a coach, you never really think about something like this,” Tressel said. “You just try to honor the tradition, respect the responsibility that comes with it, and do your very best each day.”

Tressel said he grew up admiring Brown and Hayes.

“They both meant so much to our family. To be recognized alongside these men is truly humbling,” he said. “Thank you to Ellen and our entire family, our players, our coaches and support staff, TBDBITL and the entire Buckeye Nation for the support over the years. I’m grateful to have been a small part of such a special tradition, and I will be forever grateful to Andy Geiger and President Brit Kirwan for giving us this extraordinary opportunity.”

Tressel took over as head football coach in 2001 and continued Ohio State’s legacy as a perennial national contender. His Buckeyes won at least 10 games in six seasons and reached the BCS Title Game three times, winning it in the 2002 season. That signature year featured an undefeated 14-0 run, as Ohio State downed top-ranked Miami 31-24 in double overtime for the national title. 

Ohio State also played in the BCS National Championship Game in 2006 and 2007. Across his decade leading the Buckeyes, Ohio State made a bowl each season and played in eight BCS games. 

Tressel’s Ohio State teams went 9-1 against Michigan, including a 2010 game that was later vacated by the NCAA. 

In addition to Heisman winner Smith, Tressel coached 67 NFL Draft picks, including 14 first-round selections; 57 First Team All-Big Ten selections; 24 First Team All-America selection; and eight Academic All-Americans. 

“Jim Tressel’s impact on Ohio State is long-lasting and still ever-present on our campus,” said Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director Ross Bjork. “He is not only one of the most accomplished coaches in our school’s history, but in the entire history of college football.”

In addition to his accomplishments on the field, what sets Tressel apart is the way he led, taught and served others, Bjork said.

“Coach Tressel built championship teams while developing generations of young men who went on to become leaders in their communities and professions,” he said. “His commitment to excellence and the student-athlete experience helped define an era of Ohio State football and strengthened the values that continue to guide our department today. His legacy extends far beyond wins and championships, and no one upholds ‘The People, The Tradition and The Excellence’ more, and we are grateful for the lasting impact he has made on this university and Buckeye Nation.”

After leading Ohio State to one of the most successful eras in program history, Tressel dedicated himself to shaping the next generation through public service and higher education, serving as president of Youngstown State University and Ohio’s lieutenant governor. Through the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, he continues to do what he has always done best: coach young people to become stronger mentally, physically and emotionally to reach their full potential.

Tressel’s commitment to character development is a cornerstone of his legacy, said Head Football Coach Ryan Day.

“Coach Tressel’s success on the field was remarkable, but what stands out most to me is how he invested in people. He understood that coaching is much more than the game as it is about developing leaders, building character and preparing young men for the challenges they’ll face in life after football,” Day said.

“We’re building on the legacy he and all the outstanding leaders before us created for this historic program. His legacy will always be measured not just by what his teams accomplished, but by the countless lives he helped shape through his leadership and mentorship.”

Krishna is widely recognized for his work in infrared detector technology, successfully advancing academic discoveries into defense and commercial applications. His leadership will play a critical role in elevating The Ohio State University’s innovation ecosystem and advancing the university’s commitment to bringing research to market.

“I’m deeply honored to take on this role at such an important moment for Ohio State,” Krishna said. “The university has an incredible foundation of innovation, and I’m passionate about working alongside our faculty, staff and partners to translate discoveries into real-world impact.”

Ohio State President Ravi V. Bellamkonda has identified innovation and commercialization as a strategic priority for the university, with a particular focus on increasing the impact of Ohio State research. In alignment with this vision, the university is taking meaningful steps to strengthen how it supports faculty innovators and moves discoveries from labs, studios and offices into practical use.

Over the past year, university leaders partnered with internal teams, including a group of faculty innovators from across Ohio State and the Wexner Medical Center, as well as external collaborators and peer institutions, to take a fresh and comprehensive look at the university’s innovation approach.

In response, Ohio State is reorganizing its innovation and commercialization efforts to better serve faculty and researchers throughout the entire innovation lifecycle, not just at the point of intellectual property protection.

As part of the restructuring, the university will unify its licensing teams, currently in two offices – innovation and commercialization and health sciences innovation – into a “one front door” model. This approach will improve coordination, streamline communication and reduce duplication, while maintaining the deep domain expertise needed to support diverse research areas.

The reorganization will also elevate translation and venture development as core capabilities for the combined group. Recognizing that market readiness requires more than patenting, the university will expand support for translational funding, startup formation and early-stage company development. These enhancements will help bridge the gap between discovery and real-world application.

Additionally, Ohio State is positioning itself to take a more active role in supporting promising innovations through strategic funding approaches. The university aims to guide innovations through early stages of development, ensuring they are not stalled due to risk while maintaining alignment with academic values and public impact.

Under Krishna’s leadership, Ohio State will continue to build a robust, forward-looking innovation ecosystem that empowers researchers, accelerates discovery and delivers meaningful benefits to society.

“I’m incredibly enthusiastic about this next chapter for innovation at Ohio State,” said John M. Horack, vice president for research. “This approach reflects both the strength of our existing team and our commitment to evolving how we support our researchers. Sanjay brings a proven track record as an innovator and leader, and I’m confident that, together with our outstanding team, he will help accelerate the impact of our research and position Ohio State at the forefront of innovation.”

All Pro Dad is a program that strives to help fathers strengthen their family relationships. Participants have access to tips and ideas in daily emails, weekly podcasts, monthly meetings and a yearly All Pro Dad Experience. The annual event, held at multiple professional and NCAA football venues across the country, lets fathers, as well as other guardians, create memories with their children.

In March of this year, Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel announced the event, which was made possible through a partnership between All Pro Dad and the Ohio Department of Children & Youth.

Tressel spoke at the event, saying how happy he was to be back at Ohio State and how important the cause is to him.

“We always want to get all pro players, but what we really want to build is all pro dads,” Tressel said, quoting Tony Dungy, All Pro Dad’s founder.

“People ask all the time, ‘What was your greatest victory?’” Tressel said. “Your greatest victory is watching what your guys do later – what kind of dads they become, what kind of co-workers they become, what kind of citizens they become and what kind of spouses they become.”

Joining the lieutenant governor was Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day. When the Columbus date was announced, Day immediately agreed to host participating families at the WHAC and asked former and current Buckeyes to attend, Tressel said.

“… [W]hat he can do for the community is very important to him,” Tressel said. “… [W]hen he can carve out a minute to help someone, he’s always available.”

Day lost his own father when he was 9 years old. An army of people stepped up to support him, he said.

“I looked at it like an opportunity because I was able to choose the attributes [from] a bunch of men in my community that I wanted to emulate down the road,” he said. “Thank God for my grandfather and my uncles, my father-in-law and the coaches that I had – they stepped in. They were my father. And then from there I wanted to become a good dad for my son R.J., who’s here tonight, [and] for my daughters.”

Guy Bolon attended the event with his son, Devin, and his grandson, Archer. All three are Ohio State fans, even 3-year-old Archer.

“We watch every Saturday,” he said of the Buckeyes. “This has been interesting so far. I’ve enjoyed hearing the speakers.”

Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. said he didn’t hesitate when Day asked him to attend.

“It’s like, ‘Where can I sign up?’” he said. “The kids will remember this for the rest of their lives. It’s a great opportunity to give back.”

The runway show gives students in the fashion and retail studies program in the College of Education and Human Ecology an opportunity to showcase their abilities in garment design and construction. Students organized all aspects of the event, from the clothing designs to the behind-the-scenes production to marketing and fundraising.

The students worked under the guidance of Nancy Rudd, professor emeritus; Carolyn Ready, construction workshop adviser; and Alex Suer, senior lecturer.

“They do the silent auction. They look for sponsorships,” Suer said of the students. “They run social media. They do all the decor for the day of the event, and they also work with and coordinate with the models.”

FPA Co-Presidents Allie Gumeny and Ellie Michaelis, who both graduated in May, said working with their peers to organize the fashion show provided invaluable educational and professional experience.

“This has definitely made the most impact on my college experience, especially for my resume,” Gumeny said. “Not only meeting a lot of talented people that have a lot of the same interests as me, but I’ve also been able to grow within the club and find a lot of opportunities there.”

While some of the students who took part in the fashion show were fashion and retail studies majors, the FPA is open to students from any major. Members share knowledge that is applicable to a wide range of industries, Michaelis said.

“We offer a lot of different experiences, whether that’s working with local companies through corporate sponsorship and the silent auction or developing harder skills through social media or graphic design,” she said. “As leaders for the past few years, we’ve been able to offer advice to a lot of the … members. Our advisers – Alex and Nancy and Carolyn – have been a great resource for us personally to grow within the organization.”

Participating in such a massive undertaking requires students to hone communication and administrative skills that they can draw on when they enter the workforce, Gumeny said.

“You need to make sure everybody’s on the same page about everything – that’s something I’ve definitely learned,” she said. “After a meeting, there’s probably five people I need to text about what we met about. That’s really important, and flexibility, as well: There are a lot of different schedules that you’re working with and lots of different people that you encounter through this role.”

The FPA members also learn the importance of paying attention to the smallest of details, Michaelis said.

“We were having meetings with our [Ohio] Union coordinator four months out from the show – seating arrangements, catering detail, the room setup,” she said. “During the show, each collection has their own lighting, their own music. We do a designer video where they spend a minute talking about what their collection’s about. We also have a lot of other small technical needs.”  

Staging the show involves establishing relationships with the business community.

“Our silent auction chair, Anna [Blocker], spent weeks reaching out to different companies trying to get donations and dedicating her own time to putting together baskets” for the silent auction, Michaelis said.

“Another thing was working with our hair and makeup team. We work with Paul Mitchell students and they come in free of charge. … We had to do a lot of back and forth communication with our program vendor to make sure that we could get [the event’s program] printed in time and we had all the right information.”

Fashion and retail studies students and FPA members go on to a variety of careers, including technical design, product development, marketing, event planning, fashion merchandising and buying, Suer said.

“That’s the wonderful thing about this program and the fashion show,” she said, “is that there’s kind of a home for everybody.”

Gumeny and Ellie Michaelis encourage students to go out for leadership roles in the FPA.

“For me personally, a lot of this leadership has been becoming a jack of all trades and offering guidance or a voice to other people who are still learning,” Michaelis said. “It’s a lot of learning, a lot of helping other people learn.”

“The field is very narrow in France, where I came from,” said Robillard, assistant professor for computational visual design. “It’s a niche thing there. In the U.S., there was a need. That need and my path met.”

Robillard’s class, available to undergraduate and graduate students, is part of a larger initiative at the university. AI Fluency allows students to develop a rich understanding of how AI can be used in their chosen field of study.

“Ohio State is a good example of how a university can transform in the AI era,” he said. “I’m happy to contribute to this dynamic with my course as well as my research in AI, art and design.” 

Before diving into using AI, Robillard will walk students through the technology’s history. The question of using technology in the arts is not a new one, he said.

“This goes back to the 1960s,” he said. “Now, software like Adobe is everywhere. It’s a core component of design. With AI, it’s worth it to ask, ‘Where is my agency as a designer or an artist? How does this relationship work?’ It’s a question we should ask – we shouldn’t forget about it. But that relationship has shifted in a big way.”

Robillard also wants students to grasp the impact of AI and generative media.

“Generative media is spreading on the internet,” he said. “It’s a media phenomenon. So we’re looking at not just AI as a tool but AI as a system.”

Students will complete a series of creative projects that cover skills like developing prompts for AI generators, creating thematic atlases and exploring AI frameworks.

“I want students to be able to design interactions with AI in things like smart watches,” Robillard said. “They will make design choices as to how we relate to AI in our daily life.”

Thywill Olude is a graduate student in Robillard’s class. Working with emerging technologies is one of the reasons he’s studying at Ohio State.

“I have a background in art – I used to paint,” he said. “When I saw this class, I wanted to explore how tools like AI can be helpful in creating art beyond using traditional tools.”

Olude said he and other artist friends used to view technology with some skepticism. As they’ve developed and matured, though, that’s no longer the case.

“One way or another, we’ve always accepted technology, whether we like it or not,” he said. “It’s your reality at the moment. The best you could do is embrace it.”

Joining Olude in the class is Maria Palazzi, Ohio Eminent Scholar in Art and Design Technology and professor of design. She hopes to learn from Robillard’s curriculum and best practices.

“Obviously, AI is going to become an important aspect of the way designers practice,” she said. “I want designers to be able to make informed choices about the way in which they’re going to use AI. That means I have to be informed, too.”

Ensuring that her students are ready for an AI world is a driving force, Palazzi said. Working with AI as developers, instead of just consuming it, will help direct how it should be used in and out of the classroom.

“We want to prepare our students for the future they’re going to face with these new tools.”

The teachers’ campus visit was part of Ohio State’s STEAMM Rising initiative, a collaboration with the city of Columbus and the Columbus City Schools to establish pathways for youth to careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics and medicine (STEAMM).

During this year’s STEAMM Rising Summer Institute, teachers explored how to prepare students for careers in marketing and entrepreneurship, engineering and manufacturing, sustainability and logistics.

During the marketing and entrepreneurship session at Ohio State’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, teachers worked in groups with representatives from across central Ohio. The groups identified a single issue and brainstormed solutions that they can work toward with the support of parents, administrators and community members.

The purpose of the session was to help teachers train students to solve problems with an entrepreneurial mindset, said Bailey Hanley, senior education specialist with the Keenan Center.  

“We’re walking them through this workshop, giving them the assignment of identifying a problem that is meaningful to them that they are experiencing or society is experiencing,” she said. “We spend about an hour and 15 minutes digging all the way into a problem: Who does it affect? What is it costing people? Where is it showing up? And then after getting really intimate with the problem, what are solutions for this and what might those look like?”

A major topic of conversation was how to teach students to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into problem-solving strategies while maintaining their own creativity.

One group discussed methods to teach students to “use AI, come up with a solution. … Then, as a class, poke holes in the solution that AI gives because AI doesn’t have all the details for that solution,” said Austin Owens, Columbus City Schools business and technology teacher. “It will require them to understand that AI can be used as a tool, but you have to use it ethically.”

Shunda Wright, a career and community resource coordinator with the Columbus schools, said her group discussed the importance of partnering with the business community to train students to use AI to produce results while still using their own brainpower.

“By bringing in those business partners, [students] can actually see what’s happening in the real world,” she said. “Our big thing with businesses should be connecting our students in high school to the real world. By having those business partners come in, they can give them a realistic view and an ethical view.”

Other teacher groups explored a range of topics, from providing support services for students experiencing food insecurity and homelessness to help them focus better in class, to soliciting student input for the redesign of one high school’s athletic field and stadium.

Matching teachers from different schools resulted in a wide variety of ideas and strategies, Hanley said.

“It was really important to us to have people move around with people they didn’t know or that they don’t teach with, to have a more well-rounded [perspective], not be siloed into the same problems you have every day,” she said. “It was, ‘How can we make everybody’s world just a little bit bigger today?’”

To some, Ohio State is already familiar. Gabriella Zaragoza, an incoming first-year student, knows the campus from visiting her sister, a rising senior. The Midway, Ohio, native came to orientation with her mom, Heather.

“It’s been their dream to come here since they were in elementary school,” Heather said. “To see it come true, it’s so exciting for me.”

Gabriella and her sister are two of eight children. For Heather, it’s a relief to know that her daughter’s dream school is affordable.

“Out of all the in-state tuitions she was offered,” Heather said about Gabriella, “this ended up being the cheapest. I was shocked but relieved as well.”

Ohio State is the second-most affordable among Ohio’s six selective public universities, while U.S. News & World Report ranks the university first in Ohio and 15th among all public universities in America.

For in-state students like Gabriella, the Ohio State Tuition Guarantee locks in costs for four years, and the effective annual tuition increase is 0.7% – far below the annual inflation rate. 

Rami Traboulssi is also following a sibling. He and his father Mourhaf drove from Cleveland for orientation. He is planning to study biology to set himself up for medical school.

“Ohio State is good for my major,” he said. “It’s also close to home. Far enough that I’m technically far, but not so far that I can’t go back home. A few of my friends go here and my sister does, too.”

Mourhaf is happy his son is getting a good deal at Ohio State.

“There is a significant savings for us at Ohio State [because of in-state tuition],” he said. “The more important thing is the value of your education, what you pay and what you get. We feel strongly that Ohio State is a good balance there.”

Ohio State students received nearly $542 million in financial aid in fiscal year 2026, up more than $16 million from fiscal year 2025. Seventy-nine percent of in-state students receive financial aid. The aid makes an impact: The share of students graduating without student loans continues to increase, with 58% of bachelor’s degree recipients reporting zero student loan debt – far better than the national average. 

Augustin Martinez also chose Ohio State for its affordability balance. His mom, Laura Burelli, said that her son, who wants to study electrical and computer engineering, was accepted at Purdue University and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as Ohio State.

“Berkeley didn’t give him a scholarship. At Purdue, they gave him a scholarship, but the culture was the issue,” she said. “The social part, a big school, having different opportunities and interacting with people doing different things, all of those things played a big part in the decision.”

Augustin feels good about his choice, he said.

“I’m so excited,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

Nicole Craven, director of First Year Experience, is aware that costs, even for orientation, are front of mind for families.

“Several years ago, the university moved several of the associated charges to the student’s fall tuition statement,” she said. “That means financial aid can cover them. Overnight accommodation, if they’re staying in a residence hall on campus, any of the meals they use from the meal package, all of that gets charged to the fall tuition statement. It’s a big improvement.”

Still, there are families who can’t afford the trip to Columbus. Those students don’t miss out on the orientation help and experiences, though, Craven said.

“We have a make-up orientation right before classes start, just as students are moving in,” she said. “And students can work with their advisor over email or Zoom to get registered for classes over the summer.”

Craven hopes families walk away from orientation feeling like Ohio State supports students in a number of ways personally, academically and professionally, all while being a sound financial choice.

“We reassure them throughout the orientation that Ohio State is a place where students can succeed – without breaking the bank,” she said.

“The launch of the Institute on Aging marks an exciting moment for Ohio State,” said John M. Horack, vice president for research. “By bringing together faculty and clinicians from across disciplines, we are creating a collaborative environment that will accelerate scientific discovery, enhance the quality of care, and prepare the next generation of leaders in aging research while delivering meaningful impact for individuals and their families.” 

Approved by University Senate and the Ohio State Board of Trustees, the effort builds on Ohio State’s strengths in science, medicine and community engagement, connecting more than 50 faculty members across 13 colleges and more than 25 centers, programs and collaborative initiatives. 

Ohio is among the fastest-aging states in the nation, increasing demand for more effective approaches to conditions such as dementia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, mobility loss and complex chronic illness. At the same time, advances in longevity science are reshaping how researchers understand the biological processes that influence health across the lifespan. 

“Establishing an Institute on Aging represents a bold investment in discovery, a commitment to improving the lives of aging adults, and creating a defining legacy for both Ohio State and Ohio communities we serve,” said Ashley Rosko, MD, medical director of oncogeriatrics, professor of hematology and co-director of the institute. 

By aligning expertise in medicine, engineering, neuroscience, public health and the social sciences, the effort will accelerate interdisciplinary work that links fundamental discovery with real-world application. That includes expanding clinical trials, improving models of care for older adults, strengthening caregiver support strategies, and advancing prevention-focused approaches that help reduce the burden of disease. 

Initial priorities include supporting pilot projects, expanding shared scientific infrastructure, enhancing data integration, strengthening partnerships with healthcare systems and community organizations, and preparing competitive proposals for major funding opportunities through the National Institutes of Health and other partners. 

“Leveraging the depth and breadth of aging science expertise at Ohio State, the institute will drive a holistic approach to long-term health, driving innovation from every angle to deliver transformative solutions,” said institute co-director Christin Burd, PhD, professor of molecular genetics and cancer biology and genetics. 

The initiative will also contribute to workforce development by creating new training opportunities for students, clinicians and researchers focused on aging-related challenges, while supporting innovation that can be translated into practice across communities. 

"This is a chance to really advance aging-related research and health at Ohio State and across the State of Ohio," said Carolyn J. Presley, MD MHS, and institute co-director. "This required a lot of visionary leaders to unite around a shared mission to improve how we think about healthy aging and healthspan rather than lifespan.  We are incredibly honored to serve as its inaugural co-directors.  This is also the first university institute to pilot a rotating leadership structure to keep the institute's creativity fresh and innovative for decades to come.”

Two hundred rising sophomores from Beechcroft, East, Walnut Ridge and West high schools visited Ohio State’s Columbus and Newark campuses last week for the Careers in STEM Summer Experience. The event included hands-on activities related to each industry.

The campus visit coincided with the launch of career-based programs at the high schools, said Philip Gibert, a career navigator with I Know I Can.

“We have four new academies within in-demand fields in Ohio,” he said. “These students will matriculate into those programs to be able to get career experience within an in-demand field, as well as making sure that they have on-hand training, experiential learning, and connecting careers and classrooms.”

Students in the manufacturing pathway visited Ohio State’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) on the Columbus campus. The students toured the facility and participated in activities that demonstrated manufacturing processes.

Mark Wilson, CDME lead engineer, guided the students through an activity in which they produced handmade metal items, such as a sign with raised letters spelling out O-H-I-O.

In addition to highlighting careers in manufacturing, the exercise was designed “to make them aware of any kind of thing that’s outside of the box, outside of their normal experiences, to show them the world is a big place and there’s a lot of stuff to learn how to do,” he said. “The more they’re … exposed to things, the more likely they’re going to find a positive path in life. That was the whole point.”

West High School student Heaven Boyd said the metalmaking exercise provided a behind-the-scenes look at how products are made.

“I did find that making this metal was actually pretty interesting to me – melting it, weighing it and then banging the sand off of it,” she said. “My experience was pretty fun.”

Terron Teasley, who also attends West High, said touring the CDME made him aware that modern manufacturing facilities are high-tech operations.

“I had a fun time experiencing walking around, looking at new things I never looked at before,” he said. “I got to do some things I’ve never done before.”

Boyd said participating in the metalmaking exercise helped him realize that a career in manufacturing is an option.

“I would love to do this one day,” he said.

A major objective of the Careers in STEM Summer Experience is to develop a talent pool for Ohio’s workforce in the coming years, Gibert said.

“A lot of our baby boomers are leaving or retiring,” he said. “It’s important to have these types of programs [for students] to see the value in person and talk to people in the field and get hands-on experience where they’re able to adapt and feel and want to be in those professions.”

“I wish Dean Howard tremendous success in her next endeavor as president of Spelman College,” said Trevor Brown, interim executive vice president and provost. “I have been privileged to work with Dean Howard since her arrival at the university in 2021, and I know that her commitment to excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship will be a tremendous asset to the students, faculty and staff of Spelman.”

An accomplished roboticist, entrepreneur and educator, Howard became dean of the College of Engineering in 2021. During her tenure, the college launched several engineering research centers, including three NSF-funded centers: AI Edge Institute, AI Institute for Intelligent Cyberinfrastructure with Computational Learning in the Environment (ICICLE), and Imageomics Institute.

Also under Howard’s leadership, the College of Engineering has significantly improved its financial position and strengthened its fundraising efforts while also focusing on bolstering faculty eminence. In 2024, three faculty members were selected for the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the largest cohort in university history, and two were named to the NAE in 2023.

In addition, the college has set new records for first-year undergraduate retention and has improved its six-year graduation rate.

Ohio State’s undergraduate engineering program ranked 28th overall and first in Ohio, according to U.S. News & World Report. The graduate program ranked 28th overall, once again first in Ohio and 14th among public universities, according to U.S. News.

The university is ranked among the top 25 best value engineering bachelor’s programs by Value Colleges. The College of Engineering ranks fourth in the country for industry research and development expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation. 

“I am excited for this opportunity to serve the students, faculty and staff at Spelman College as their new president, and I want to thank the incredible community at Ohio State and in the College of Engineering for the success we have achieved,” Howard said.

Howard will join Spelman as the 12th president in the college’s history.

Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, it became Spelman College in 1924. A historically Black college, Spelman is a global leader in the education of women of African descent, is dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, and the intellectual, creative, ethical and leadership development of its students.

More will be shared about transition plans soon as Ohio State prepares to conduct a national search for the next dean of the College of Engineering.