it's all about students

SUMMER 2010 1

YSU Named a Tree Campus USA University

On the CoverYSU’s new president Cynthia E. Anderson has some fun with students and university mascots Pete and Penny Penguin during a photo session in the lobby of Tod Hall. Read more about our seventh president in the cover story, page 8.

———————————

YSU President CynthiaE.Anderson,’73

Executive Director of MarkW.VanTilburg Marketing & Communications

Director of RonCole University Communications

Magazine Editor CynthiaVinarsky

Layout Design Artist RenéeCannon,’90

Photographers BrucePalmer CarlLeet

Assistant Director of JeanEngle,’86 Marketing & Communications

Sports Contributor TrevorParks

Chief Development PaulMcFadden,’84 Officer

YSUBoardofTrustees Chair ScottR.Schulick Vice Chair SudershanK.Garg MillicentCounts DeloresCrawford LarryDeJane JohnR.Jakubek HarryMeshel LeonardSchiavone CaroleS.Weimer Secretary FranklinS.BennettJr. Student Trustees LyndsieHall RyanMeditz

Youngstown State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.

Youngstown State University – A Magazine for Alumni and Friends (ISSN 2152-3746), Issue 5, Summer 2010, is published quarterly by the YSU Office of Marketing and Communications, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555. Periodicals Postage Paid at Youngstown, Ohio.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Youngstown State University, Office of Marketing and Communications, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555.Direct letters to the editor, comments or questions to the address above, call 330-941-3519 or e-mail [email protected].

Youngstown State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or identity as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era, in respect to students and/or to applicants for employment, and to organizations providing contractual services to YSU.

8-001

This majestic white oak on the east side of Maag Library is one of more than 1,800 trees that shade the YSU campus and that helped to earn the university the title “Tree Campus USA University.” The Arbor Day Foundation presented the Tree Campus designation to YSU in recognition of the university’s dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship (see story, page 20). The tree pictured above has been the nesting site for a family of red-shouldered hawks for several years.

issue in th i s

24 ChetCooper– Meet a YSU biology professor who’s also an umpire-in-chief.

27 AlumniSpotlight – Profiles of three exceptional

YSU Alumni.

S U M M E R

4 AroundCampus– News and photographs of what’s

happening on campus.

8 COVERSTORY– MeetYSU’sNewPresident–

Cynthia E. Anderson takes time for a Q&A to share her thoughts, plans and aspirations.

14 Working-ClassStudies–This YSU center has become an information source for journalists and scholars worldwide.

16 EastCampusGateway–Get a look at improvements adding curb appeal to the main campus entrance.

18 MedicalMissions– Nursing students

get hands-on training through medical mission trips to developing countries.

DEPARTMENTS2 President’sMessage20 YSUFoundation21 UniversityDevelopment22 SportsNews25 AlumniNews30 ClassNotes

Check out YSU Magazine's online edition at www.ysumagazine.org

www.ysumagazine.org

President’s Message

A new era of ‘Student Success and Academic Excellence’

Cynthia E. AndersonPresident

As a native of the Mahoning Valley and a proud graduate of Youngstown State University, I cannot begin to express what an honor it is to be president of an institution that has been so very close to my heart for so many years. I take great comfort in knowing that YSU is just as important to all of you – our proud YSU alumni. I guess that is part of what is so special about our university – we truly are one big family.

Over the past several years, our university has grown – in both numbers and reputation. Enrollment is up, diversity has been improved, the campus physical plant has been upgraded, our academic structure has been enhanced, and we have developed strong partnerships across the community, the state and even the world. We will seek to build on those successes as we move forward.

As president, I will also seek, however, to ensure that our focus returns to our historic roots – to develop healthy minds, bodies and spirits. We will do this by putting at the center of everything we do those that have made this university great for more than 100 years – students.

“Student Success and Academic Excellence” will be our mantra. Through the offering of quality academic programs, taught by some of the nation’s best faculty, in state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, and with the support of dedicated advisors, mentors, counselors and other staff, our students are and will continue to be absolutely second to none across the country. Every decision we make – from academic programs to facility improvements – will have students at the core.

This “success agenda” will also mean that we will strive to showcase like never before the achievements of our wonderful students and alumni. The world will know that a degree from Youngstown State University means the bearer of that diploma has completed a rigorous curriculum and is ready for a rich and productive life.

As I told students, faculty, staff and community members who were present at a welcoming ceremony on my first day as president, we cannot accomplish anything alone. All of us – and that includes our more than 82,000 alumni across the world – must join forces in order to ensure “Student Success and Academic Excellence” becomes reality. I thank all of you for your past support and your commitment to our alma mater, and I look forward to succeeding together as YSU moves into the second decade of the 21st century.

Sincerely,

CynthiaE.Anderson President

2 YOUNGSTOwN STATE UNIVERSITY

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, for the new, $34 million home of YSU’s Williamson College of Business Administration. Designed by Strollo Architects of Youngstown in collaboration with Perkins & Will, an international architecture and planning firm, the three-story glass and brick building is located on Rayen Avenue on the far-south end of campus overlooking downtown Youngstown. The building will be open for the start of fall se-mester classes on Aug. 23 and will be featured in the fall edition of the YSU Magazine.

Opening Soon for Business

YSUPresidentCynthiaE.AndersonhasappointedShannonTirone,thefor-merexecutivedirectorofYSUAlumniandEventsManagement,toserveasexecutiveassistanttothepresident.

“I’mveryhonored.I’vealwaysbelievedinDr.Anderson,andIthinkshe’strulyanexampleofwhatwemeanatYSUwhenwetalkaboutstudent

success,”Tironesaid.“Iseethisjobasextremelyexciting.It

Shannon Tirone

Visit www.ysumagazine.org for a video on the WCBA’s new home.

willallowmetoworkwithcommunityleadersandwithfacultyandstaffintheuniversitytohelpfurtherthegoalsofournewpresident.”

AYSUalumna,TironeearnedaBSincommunicationin1994andtwoyearslaterwashiredasassistantdirectoroftheYSUAlumniAssociation,whichwasthenaninde-pendentnonprofit.WhenAlumniwasincorporatedaspartofYSUin2001,Tironebecamedirector,andshewaspromotedtoexecutivedirectorofAlumniandEventsManagementwhenthetwodepartmentsmergedin2008.

Executive Assistant to President Appointed

SUMMER 2010 3

Scott R. Schulick, Chair of the YSU Board of Trustees, announces the appointment of Cynthia E. Anderson as the university’s seventh president after the nine-member board voted unanimously for her selection. Seated at right, Board Secretary Franklin S. Bennett Jr. and Trustee Larry DeJane were part of the standing-room-only crowd of more than 400 students, faculty, staff and community members who attended the special Feb. 17 board meeting at Kilcawley Center, greeting the announcement of Anderson’s appointment with resounding cheers and applause. Anderson is the first woman, the first Youngstown-area native and the first YSU graduate to serve as president in the university’s 102-year history.

http://www.ysumagazine.org

www.ysumagazine.org

4 YOUNGSTOwN STATE UNIVERSITY4 YOUNGSTOwN STATE UNIVERSITY

Fred Owens

YSU, BizVeo Partner for Video Production

YSU’sTelecommunicationStudiesprogramhaslaunchedacollaborationwithYoungstownBusinessIncuba-torcompanyBizVeoLLCtoprovidetelevisionandvideocontent.

FredOwens,professorofcom-munication,saidthisistheCollegeofFineandPerformingArts’firstongoingcollaborationwithanIncubatorcompany.

BizVeoprovidescorporateeducationandcommunicationtoemployeesandcustomersthroughasecureInternetportal.Forexample,throughBizVeo’sproducts,ahospitalsystemcandeliverapersonalizededucationalvideotoapatient,thenprovideadditionalsupportdocuments,conductapatientsur-vey,andlinkthatpatienttoothertrainingvideos.

Underthecollaboration,YSUtelecommunicationsstudentBillRusuisservingaprofessionalresidencyatBizVeo.Rusu,asenioratYSU,isanaccomplishedtelevisionandvideoproduceranddirectorandisprovidingtelevisionandvideocontentusingYSU’sfieldandstudiofacilitiesinBlissHall,aswellasproductionpersonnelfromtheTelecommunicationStudiesmajor.

“ItisnosurprisethatYSUcontinuestoprovideexcellentinternsforcompanieslikeours,”saidTonyAcentis,chiefex-ecutiveofficerofBizVeo,notingthatBizVeoisalsoworkingwithtwointernsfromtheYSUWilliamsonCollegeofBusi-nessAdministration,2010graduateRoseShafferandseniorChuckHousteau.

FormoreinformationonBizVeo,visitwww.BizVeo.com.

AroundC A M P U S

Solar Panel Array Planned for MoserWill Be Among Largest in NE Ohio

U.S.Sen.SherrodBrownandYSUhaveannouncedplanstoinstalla10,000-square-footsolarpanelarrayontheroofofMoserHall–amajorinvestmentinclean,energy-efficienttechnologyoncampus.

“YSUisonceagainprovingtoourstateandourna-tionthatinnovation,jobcreationandenergyindependencecanhappenrighthereinourowncommunity,”Brownsaid.“Withtherightfederalandstateinvestments,ourcutting-edgecompaniesandinnovativepublic-privatepartner-shipscanstrengthenOhio’sroleasanationalleaderincleanenergy.”

Governor Appoints Two to YSU Board of Trustees

Gov.TedStricklandhasnamedDeloresCrawford,communityaffairsdirectoratWKBN,toanine-yeartermontheYSUBoardofTrustees,andappointedYSUstudentRyanMeditztoatwo-yeartermasastudenttrustee.

Crawford,a1968YSUgraduate,replacedJohnPogue,whosetermontheboardhadexpired.Hertermwillexpirein2019.MeditzreplacedStudentTrusteeDanDeMaiolo,whosetermhadalsoexpired.Meditz’termwillexpirein2012.

CrawfordhasbeenatWKBNsince2005andhostsaweeklycom-munityaffairsprogram,“SundayMorningwithDee.”ShepreviouslywasdirectorofMahoningCountyDepartmentofJobandFamilyServices/ChildSupport,minoritycoordinatorfortheYSUUrbanStud-iesDepartment,andvicepresidentofplanningandallocationsfortheYoungstown/MahoningValleyUnitedWay.

Meditzisa2008graduateofCanfieldHighSchoolandisstudyingSpanishandInternationalMarketingatYSU.HeisaUniversityScholarandamemberoftheYSUStudentGovernmentAssociation,AmericanMarket-ingAssociation,SpanishClubandSigmaTauGammaFra-ternity.HevolunteersastheCanfieldHighSchoolBandphotographer,anassistantfortheCanfieldVarsityhockeyteam,aparticipantintheShantytownhomelessnessaware-nessproject,andStreetScape2010.

Delores Crawford

Ryan Meditz

ThesolarpanelarrayisbeingfundedbyCarbonVision,aCleveland-basedrenewableenergydeveloper,atnocosttoYSU.YSUwill,inturn,purchasefromCarbonVisiontheelectricitygeneratedbythesolarpanels.

Theinstallation,thefirstatYSUandoneofthelargestofitskindinNortheastOhio,isexpectedtotakeplacelaterthissummerandearlyinthefall.

ThesolarpanelinstallationisYSU’slatestefforttoimproveenergyefficiencyoncampus.Theuniversityrecentlycommittedto$10millioninenergyefficiencyupgrades,resultinginacampus-wide20percentreductioninenergyconsumptionandsavingsof$500,000peryearinlightingcostsalone.

Theprojectincludesmoreefficientlighting,improvedsteamtraps,increasedinsulationandmoreefficientchillers.Inasingleyear,theimprovementswillsaveYSUenoughelectricitytopower2,000single-familyhomes.

YSUalsohostedthesecond-annualSustainableEnergyForumJune6-8,aninternationalconferencefeaturingpresen-tationsanddiscussionsontopicsrangingfromwindandsolarenergytobiofuelsandcarboncapture.ParticipantsattheforumincludedcontingentsfromChinaandIsrael.

SUMMER 2010 5

YSU Cuts Ribbon to LaunchThird Frontier Research Lab

Gov.TedStricklandwasoncampustocuttheribboninAprilonYSU’snew$2.1millionCenterforAdvancedMaterialsAnalysis,anOhioThirdFrontierresearchfacilitydesignedtohelplocalcompanieswithdevelopingnewproductsandcreatingnewjobs.

LocatedinWardBeecherHall,thecenterfeaturestwonewelectronmicroscopes,onewiththecapabilitytomagnifymaterialsby1.5milliontimestheirorigi-nalsize,allowingresearcherstoanalyzetheinternalchemicalstructuresofmaterials.ItisajointprojectbetweenresearchersintheCollegeofScience,Tech-nology,EngineeringandMathematicsandatFirelineTCONInc.(FTi),asubsidiaryofYoungstown-basedFirelineInc.

“ThirdFrontierishelpingtokeepouryoungpeoplehereinOhiowheretheycanbuildtheirca-reers,”Stricklandsaid,addingthatthelabwillcreatenewopportunitiesforOhioanswhohavealreadybuilttheirlivesinthestateaswell.

TimWagner,YSUchemistryprofessoranddirectorofthenewYSUCenterforAdvancedMaterialsAnalysis,saidequip-mentinthelabprovidesanalysiscapabilitiesthatfew,ifany,predominantlyundergraduateuniversitiesinthenationhave.

Gov. Ted Strickland, flanked by state legislators, tours the Center for Advanced Materials Analysis in Ward Beecher Hall.

“Aworld-classlaboratoryofthiscaliberprovidesanarrayofnewopportunitiesforresearchforourfacultyandthecommu-nity,”hesaid.“Also,ourundergraduatestudentswillgethands-onexperienceworkingonequipmentthatonlygraduateorPh.D.-levelstudentswouldbeexposedtoatotheruniversities.”

Right to Move Reaches Across Income BarriersYSUphysicaltherapyprofessorMarleenIannuccispent

thelastdecadethinkingaboutwaystoprovidephysicaltherapytopeoplewhocan’taffordthehelptheyneed.

Now,she’screatedavolunteerorganizationcalledRightToMovethatisfocusedontheintersectionofmovement,disabilityandpoverty.Thegoal,shesaid,isadvocacy,educationandserviceoninternational,national,stateandcommunitylevels.

“Movementdisabilitycouldmeananydisabilityaffectingaperson’sabilitytophysicallymoveathomeorinthecommunity,”Iannuccisaid.“Wearead-dressingsituationswherethisdisabilityisfurtherconstrainedbypoverty.”

RightToMovewasintroducedtwoyearsagoasapartofYSU’sDoctorofPhysicalTherapycur-riculum.Studentsenrolledintheclassparticipateincommunityserviceprojectsandworktomakeadvancementsthatwillpromotetheoveralldevelopmentoftheorganization.

IannucciiscurrentlypreparingtointroduceRightToMoveasacampus-basednonprofitvolunteerorganization,recruitingprojectsandvolunteersviaitswebsite.Whilethegroupisstillinitsinfancy,ithasalreadytackledseveralprojects.

Community-basedvolunteereffortsthusfarincludeacampaigntohelpnursinghomeresidentsfiletaxreturnsand

aneducationinitiativetoen-couragethehiringofworkerswithdisabilities.

Onagranderscale,RightToMovemadeitsfirstinternationaleffortlastsum-merwhenIannucciaccom-paniedWeiqingGe,assistantprofessorofPhysicalTherapy,andfivethird-yeargraduatestudentsonatriptoChina.Thegroupvisitedanimpover-ishedvillageandassessedtheavailability,orlackthereof,oftherapyoptionsforthedisabled.

“Issuesofpovertyareongoingandoccurevery-where,”Iannuccisaid.“Flash-in-the-paneffortsjustwon’t

doanymore.Weaseducatorsandscholarsneedtolinkintocommunityengagementandhookpeoplethroughwhatevertheyarepassionateabout.”

Around Campus

Professor Marleen Iannucci presents a Pete the Penguin doll to a brain injury victim in a village outside of Xian, China. The girl was one of the patients YSU PT faculty and students assessed during their trip to China last year.


Around Campus

Auto Dealers Auction Benefits YSU Autism Center

TheAutomobileDealersAssociationofEasternOhiogeneratedarecord$47,873fortheRichCenterforAutismatacharityauctionheldthisspringaspartofitsPresident’sGala.

Theamountraisedbringsthe12-yeartotalofcharitablecontributionsraisedbytheannualeventto$399,088.

TheRichCenter,locatedinFedorHallontheYSUcampus,isdedicatedtoimprovingthelivesofindividualswithautismandtheirfamiliesthroughinnovativeeducationalprogramsdesignedtohelptheindividualsachievetheirfullpotential.

Thedealers’organizationannuallyconductsthiscollectiveeffortasawayofassistingothersinthecommunity.ADAEOwasfoundedin1964andincludesnewvehicledealershipsandrelatedbusi-nessesinTrumbull,Mahoning,andColumbianaCounties.

YSU Earns Kudos for Community Service

YSUhasbeennamedtothePresident’sHigherEducationCom-munityServiceHonorRoll,thehighestfederalrecognitionacollegeoruniversitycanreceiveforitscommitmenttovolunteering,ser-vicelearningandcivicengagement.

TheHonorRoll,launchedin2006,annuallyrecognizesinstitu-tionsofhighereducationfortheircommitmenttoandachievementincommunityservice.Honoreesarechosenbasedonthescopeandinnovationofserviceprojects,percentageofstudentpar-ticipationinserviceactivities,incentivesforservice,andtheextenttowhichtheschooloffersacademicservice-learningcourses.

Morethan5,000YSUstudentsparticipateincommunityservicesofsomekind,saidRonShaklee,directoroftheYSUUniversityScholarsandHonorsProgram.About500studentsparticipateinatleast20hoursofcommunityservicepersemester,andthetotalnumberofservicehoursengagedinbyYSUstudentsaddsuptoabout75,000,hesaid.

YSU’shonorrollapplicationhighlightedtheannualShantytownhomelessawarenessproject,developedbystu-dentsintheLeslieH.CochranUniversityScholarsProgram.

TheprojectinvolvestheconstructionofacardboardboxcityneartheLydenandCafarohouseresidencehallswhere

studentsspendaweekendinNovemberlivingashomeless.Sinceitsinception12yearsago,theprojecthasloggednearly23,000hoursofvolunteertimeandraisednearly$36,000inmonetary,food,personalneedsitemsandclothingdonationsforareaagencies.

NewsOutlet Gives Students Real-World Journalism Experience

TheNewsOutlet.orgisanewfacetofYSU’sjournalismprograminwhichstudentsproducein-depth,community-focusedarticles,videoandaudionewspiecesforpublicationandbroadcastinThe Vindicator,Youngstown’sdailynewspa-per,itsWebeditionVindy.comandWYSU88.5FM.

Studentsselectedfortheprogramcancreateclipfilesthatincludefrontpagenewspaperarticles,videojournalism

storiesandon-airradionewsspots.

CreatedinSep-tember2009withthehelpofagrantfromtheRaymondJohnWeanFoundation,TheNewsOutlet.orgisthevisionofYSUjournalismdirectorAlyssaLenhoffandjournalismprofessorTimFrancisco.

“Thenewsmediaischanging,”saidFrancisco,“andweneededtostartbetterpreparingourstudentstoengageinmulti-platformmedia.”

Theprojecthasproducedstories

ontopicsrangingfromlotteryticketsalestorevitalizationeffortsinareaneighborhoods.The VindicatorhaspublishedseveralarticlesbytheNewsOutletteam,manyofwhichhaveappearedonthefrontpage.

“Overall,it’sbeeneverythingIhopedforinthatthestudentsareeagerandfuntobearound,”saidToddFranko,editorofThe Vindicator.“Theday-to-dayaspectscanbeachallenge,butjustwhenadayoranissuebecomesahead-ache,upwillpoparesultfromastudentthatreinforceswhatthismissionisandwhatitcanbe.”

WYSU-FMalsojoinedasafoundingmediapartner.ThestationisincorporatingthestudentreportsintoregularNPRnewsprogrammingsuchasMorningEditionandAllThingsConsidered.

TheprojecthasalsobeennoticedoutsidetheMahoningValley.LenhoffsaidWrightStateUniversityinDaytonisinterestedinusingYSUasamodelforitsownprogram,

Katelyn Carusso, right, a YSU journalism major and member of TheNewsOutlet.org team, works on a project as journalism professor Tim Francisco observes.

Ann Harris

Harold Yiannaki

Harris, Yiannaki receive YSU Heritage Award

TwodistinguishedformerYSUemployees–ProfessorEmeritusAnnHarrisandAdministratorEmeritusHaroldYiannaki–werepresentedHeritageAwardsinMay,themostprestigioushonorbestoweduponformerfacultyandadministra-tivestaffrecognizingtheiroutstand-ingcontributionstotheuniversity.

HarrisjoinedYSU’sDepart-mentofGeologyasanadjunctinstructorin1961andadvancedthroughtheranksovertheyearstoafullprofessorship.Sinceretiringin2000,shehascontinuedasprofes-soremeritus,andsince1977shehasservedasaprofessionalconsultanttomanyengineeringfirmsaswellastolocal,stateandfederalofficialsintheareasofabandoneddeepcoalminestabilizationinMahoning,TrumbullandColumbianacounties.Herbook,Geology of National Parks,hasbeenusedasatext

forcoursesatmanycollegesandissoldinmanynationalparks.

YiannakiservedYSUinvariouscapacitiesfrom1969untilheretiredin2002,includingassistantdirectorofAdmissions,directorofAdmissions,registrar,directorofEnrollmentServices,executivedirectorofCampus2000,part-timeinstructor,andexecutivedirectorofExternalRelations.Afterhisretirementin2002,theYSUBoardofTrust-eesconferreduponhimthetitleAdministratorEmeritus.

Around Campus

andYSUhasbeentradingideaswiththeCityUniversityofNewYorkGraduateSchoolofJournalism.

Students Win Scholarships, Awards and Honors

Forthefifthtimeinsixyears,YSUstudentswonrecog-nitionfromtheprestigiousBarryM.GoldwaterScholarshipprogram.HillaryHoward,adoublemajorinbiologyandmedicallaboratorytechnology,wontheGoldwaterScholarAward,andLisaCurll,adoublemajorinappliedmathemat-icsandbiology,wasselectedforGoldwaterHonorableMention.

ItwasthefirsttimethatYSUhashadmorethanonestu-denthonoredwithGoldwaterrecognitionsinthesameyear,andYSUwasoneofonlyfourpublicuniversitiesinOhiotohavestudentsearnGoldwaterScholarrecognition.

OtherYSUstudentsalsotookhomeahostofawardsandhonorsrecently:

•Forthesecondtimeinthreeyears,YSUaccount-ingstudentsplacedfirstamong20teamsfromuniversitiesacrosstheregionintheBestPracticescompetitionattheBetaAlphaPsiMidwestRegionmeetinginChi-cagothisspring.TarikAwadofCanfield,RyanGarmanofSanduskyandMatthewPollockofLowellvillepresented“Chap-terSustainabil-ity”astheirBestPracticestopic.ThestudentsnowqualifytocompeteatthenationalBetaAl-phaPsimeetinginAugustinSanJose,Calif.

•TheYSUWomen’sClubawardedsixstudentscholarshipsbasedonacademicperformance,financialneedandcommunityinvolvement.Recipientsofthe$1,000scholarshipswere:Jes-sicaCartwrightandJustineCullen,bothofBoardman;JennaHallapyofHubbard;RodneyCarsonofSharpsville,Pa.;Em-maleeToriskofStruthers;andRichardTrimburofGirard.

•LisaCurll,whowontheGoldwaterprogramhonor-ablemention,wasalsooneofnineundergraduatestudentsnationwideselectedtoreceivea2010NationalInstituteforMathematicalandBiologicalSynthesis/UndergraduateBiol-ogyandMathematicsawardtoattendanationalsymposiumonquantitativebiologyundergraduateeducation.

•YSU’sStudentChapteroftheAmericanSocietyofCivilEn-gineersplacedinthetopthreeinfivecompetitions,includingtwo

first-placefinishes,attheannualASCEOhioValleyStudentConferenceattheUniversityofKentuckythisspring.Twen-ty-twoYSUengineeringstudentscompeted,ledbyYSUASCEfacultyadvisorScottMartinandpractitioneradvisorAdamDePizzo.YSUteamscompetedandwonawardsinseveralcivilengineeringcompetitions,includingfirst-placefinishesintheenvironmentaldesignandconcretebowlingcategories.YSUalsoplacedsecondinthesteelbridge-build-ingcompetitionandthirdintheconcretecanoeandtechnicalpapercompetitions.TheYSUSteelBridgeBuildingteamqualifiedfortheNationalSteelBridgeBuildingCompetitionfortheeighthtimeinthelastnineyears.

SUMMER 2010 7

Accounting students who placed first in a best practices competition are, from left, Matthew Pollock of Lowellville, Ryan Garman of Sandusky, and Tarik Awad of Canfield.


YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson is flanked by portraits of her predecessors, clockwise from bottom left, David C. Sweet , Leslie H. Cochran, Neil D. Humphrey, John J. Coffelt, Albert L. Pugsley and Howard W. Jones.

YSU’sPresidentVisit www.ysumagazine.org for video on Dr. Anderson’s first day.

www.ysumagazine.org

SUMMER 2010 9

wasApril1971,andCynthiaE.AndersonwasaYSUsophomorecampaigningtobevicepresidentoftheuniversity’sStudentGovernment.Herplat-

form?Studentrights.Backthen,Andersonandherpresidentialrunningmate

promisedtoworkforaslateofstudent-friendlychanges.Theywantedapass-failgradingsystem,StudentGovernmentcontrolofparkinglots,betterhealthservicesandaday-carecenteroncampus.

Studentslikedtheirideas,andtheywontheelectionbyahealthymargin.

ForAnderson,thatwasthebeginningofapassionatecommitmenttoputtingstudentsfirstthathasdrivenhersuccessful32-yearcareerasaneducatorandadministratoratYSU.

Andnow,asYSU’snewlyappointedseventhpresident,Andersonhaspromisedthatthesamestudent-focusedphi-losophywillbethefoundationbehindeverydecisioninhernewadministration.“StudentSuccessandAcademicExcel-lence”isthethemeofherpresidency.

AndersonmadehistorywhenshemovedintotheYSUpresident’sofficeinTodHallonJuly1.Chosenfromamong300candidatesinanationalsearch,sheisthefirstwomanandthefirstYSUgraduatetoserveaspresidentintheuniversity’s102-yearhistory.ShereplacesDavidC.Sweet,whoretiredJune30afterserving10yearsattheuniversity’shelm.

Andersontalkedaboutherphilosophy,hergoalsandaspirationsaspresidentinthisQ&AwithYSU MagazineeditorCynthiaVinarsky:

Q. When did you first start thinking about the presidency?

A.Theholisticstudentexperiencehasalwaysbeenmyinterest.WhenIfirstbeganmyteachingcareer,Ithoughttheonlywaytohaveanimpactonstudentswasintheclassroom.Then,asImovedintoadministration,IrealizedthatanindividualcanaffectstudentsasadirectorofplanningorvicepresidentforStudentAffairs.Youseethingsthatyouwouldliketoaccomplish,thatyouwoulddodiffer-ently,thatyouwouldconsiderapriority.

Peoplestartedapproachingmeabouttwoyearsago,tell-ingmethatIshouldconsiderthepresidency.Ibeganthinkingtomyself,whynot?Iamastudent-orientedindividual,weareinthebusinessofeducationatYSUandthathasevery-thingtodowithstudents.Idecidedtothrowmyhatintheringabout6monthsbeforetheactualsearchbegan.

Q. You’ve been around the YSU campus for a good share of your life – as a student, a professor and an administrator. How will that help you as president?

A.IthinktheadvantageIhaveisthatIknowthecultureofthisinstitutionandI’mveryproudofthatculture.Iampartofthatculture.Idon’thavetostartfromscratch,lookingtoseewhereourchallengesare.IknowmuchofthehistoryofYoungstownState,beginninginthelate1960s.Thereisalwayshistoryandbackgroundastowhysomethingsweredone,someactionsweretaken,andwhyotherswerenot.

ThefactthatIknowtheculture,thepeople,andthecom-munityplaystomyadvantagebecauseIknowtowhomtogoforanswers.AyearfromnowI’mhopingthatwewillhavemadesomeverysignificant,forwardaccomplishments,ratherthanjusthavingplansinplace.

Q. You’ve said that students will come first in your administration. How will that philosophy be reflected in your presidency?

A.Ibelieveeverypresidenthasastylewhichpersonifiessomethingthatisbothveryuniqueandimportanttothem.Obviously,minehasbeenafocusonstudents,fromminuteone.Idon’tintendtositbehindmydeskinmyofficeatTodHall.Iintendtobeworkingoutintherecreationcenter,attendingStudentGovernmentmeetingswhentheyinviteme,walkingaroundoncampustalkingwithstudentsandmycolleagues.

Whilemypositionattheuniversityhaschanged,mydesiretohelpstudentsreachtheirgoalsandattaintheirdreamshasnotchanged.IhopethatstudentswillstillwanttoknowmeandstopintotalktomeandspeaktomewhenI’moncampus.Ihopethatthecommunitywillseethatallofourdecisionswillbemadeintheinterestofstudents.Themoreopportunitiesthatwecanprovidetoourstudentstotalkwith

KEEPSSTUDENT-CENTEREDFOCUS7thYSU’sPresident

C Y N T H I A E . A N D E R S O N

InstallationCeremonyforYSUPresidentAnderson

1p.m.,Sept.24

Stambaugh AuditoriumPublic Invited


faculty,staff,andthepresident,andexpresstheirconcerns,thebetterwewillbeabletoservetheirneeds.

Q. What is the biggest challenge facing your presidency?A.Unfortunately,it’sthesameonethateveryuniversity

presidentwilltalkabout:Wearegoingtobefacingsomema-jorbudgetarychallengesin2012.Alongwiththosebudgetarychallenges,weareallwellawarethatourfundingformulahaschanged.Thus,ourinstitutionalmindsetmustalsochange.ForaslongasIcanremember,wehavebeenjudgedandfundedbythenumberofstudentsapplyingandregisteringforourclasses.As,weknow,thatisn’tgoingtobethecase.Now,ourfundingwillbebasedonthenumberofstudentswhocompletecoursesandgraduate.AndIdosupportoutcomesfunding.

Whatdoesthatmeanforus?We’regoingtohavetobemethodicalandcognizantoftheneedsofourincomingstudentsoneverylevel.Everystudentcomestotheuniver-sitywithdifferentneeds.We’vedoneawonderfuljobinsomanyareas–inouracademicadvising,oursupportservices,ourfacultywhoareprovidingresearchopportunitiestoourstudents,ouraccessibleonlineadmissionsandfinancialaidregistrationprocesses–butwe’regoingtohavetostepupoureffortsevenmore.Wearegoingtohavetocollaborateacrosscampusinanewway.

Weknowthatstudentswhoareengagedoncampus,whoworkoncampusandwhogetinvolvedaremorelikelytostayandtograduatethanstudentswhoarenotinvolvedandengaged.Apartofourchallengeistoprovidesuchopportuni-tiesforourstudents;andapartofthechallengebecomestak-ingourbudgetandsettingprioritieswithinthatbudgetwhichhelptoensurestudentsuccessandpersistence.

Q. What’s first on your agenda?A. Therearesomeinitiativesthatweneedtopursueand

completequickly.Oneispursuinganewstrategicplan.Thelaststrategicplanwentthrough2010,soI’llbesettingupaworkinggrouptobeginanewplan.Weintendtocallpeopletogetherfromallareasonourcampus,andwe’llbedoingalotoflisteninginmyfirstcoupleofmonthsinoffice,listeningtostrategiesandnewdirectionsforourcampus.

Alongwiththat,Iintendtopursueaone-stopstudentenrollmentcenter.Thatmeanscoordinatingallofourstudentenrollmentservicestogetherinonelocation.We’vemadesomeprogressovertheyears.Formerly,astudenthadtocometocampusthreeorfourtimestobeadmitted,tested,and

registered;andwehadtodevelopaformalfreshmenorienta-tionprocess.Now,I’dliketotakeourenrollmentservicestothenextlevelbycreatingafriendlyenvironmentforstudents,makingthecoordinationofenrollmentservicesseamless.Weareevaluatingseveralcampusvenuesforsuchaloca-tion.Severalenrollment-relatedofficesarecurrentlylocatedinMeshelHall;andasthoseofficesarerelocated,itprovidestheopportunityfortheComputerScienceandInformationSystemsDepartmenttoenhancetheircourseofferingsandservices.

Q. Would you talk about your long term goals?A.Idon’twanttobetheonlyonedecidingwhatour

long-termandshort-termgoalsshouldbe.Ihavemanyideas,butI’dliketomakethatdeterminationcollaborativelywithmycolleaguesandourstudentsacrosscampus.Ofcourse,I’mnevergoingtoswayfrommyemphasisonstudents.Stu-dentsuccesshastobeattheforefrontofourdecisionmakingineverythingwedoatYSU.Andthatcertainlydoesnotstopatgraduation.WeknowthatmanyofourstudentswanttostayinthisareawiththeirfamiliesandtoraisetheirownfamiliesrighthereintheMahoningValley.Wemustcontinuetoworktogetherforeconomicdevelopmenttocreatethejobsinthisareathatwillallowthosestudentstostay.

Ifwewanttoengagestudents,wemustprovideanenvironmentconducivetothatengagement.Thatmaymeanclassrooms,studylounges,services,andactivitieswhichenhancethelearningprocess.Pastadministrationshavedoneawonderfuljobimprovingtheexteriorofourcampusandtheareassurroundingtheuniversity.Ifyoulookoutofanywindowofanybuilding,youcanseewhatagreatjobhasbeendone.Ibelievethattherearesomeinternalandstudentareasinourbuildingsthatweneedtoworkonnextthatwillenhancestudentlearning.

Anothergoalistostabilizeourbudgetsothatweareabletofundnewinitiatives.WorkingtotrulybecomeanUrbanResearchUniversity,we’vegottoincreasethenumberofinternshipsandgraduateassistantshipsandtodevelopsomenewacademicprograms.

Q. What’s your leadership style? A. Iwoulddescribeitascollaborative,andIbelieve

I’maservantleader.Idon’taskotherpeopletodothingsIwouldn’tbewillingtodo.Ialsoputothers’needsverymuchaheadofmyown.I’vealwaysbeenthatway.

Q. YSU recently completed a very successful capital campaign, raising $53 million in contributions. What do you see as the president’s role in raising support for the university?

A.Ibelievethatpeoplegivetoauniversitybecausetheybelieveinthedirectioninwhichtheuniversityisgo-ing,theybelieveinthemissionandtheprograms.I’mveryhopefulthatindividualsinourcommunitywillcontinuetogiveonbehalfofourstudents.Idon’tknowatthispointwhatbuildingswe’llbeconstructinginthenearorlong-termfuture.WhatIdoknowisthatcollegeisbecomingmoredifficulttoaffordformoreandmorestudents,andsoIwillbelookingforcontributionsforstudentscholarshipstomakecollegemuchmoreaccessibleforstudents.Thatwillbemyfocus.

Q. Shortly after you were chosen as president, you made a $100,000 contribution to YSU’s scholarship fund. What motivated you to do that?

A. I’vehadtheprivilegetoserveasthevicepresidentforStudentAffairsforthepast15yearsnowandinthatroleI’veseenfirst-handandheardofthestrugglesthatstudentsgothrough.Iwantedtocomefullcircleandgivebacktotheuniversitythatfacilitatedmysuccess.Infact,IintendtocontinuetocontributeandtoraisefundsfortheLawrenceR.andGarnetP.AndersonScholarshipFund.Mymotherandfatherwouldhavebeenveryproud.

Q. Student enrollment has increased steadily over the past decade. Do you think that trend will continue, and what ideas do you have to make it happen?

A. That’sadifficultquestion.IdobelieveYSUhasputintoplacemanyoftherightenrollment-relatedprogramsandprocesses.Theacademicprogramswhichweoffer,themarketing,theadvertisements,themagazine,ourrecruit-

Career Profile YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson

Anderson chats with retired YSU women’s basketball coach Ed DiGregrio and his wife Edith at YSU's Staff and Faculty Awards Dinner.

11

Education: B.S.inbusinesseducation,YSU - 1973 M.A.inbusinesseducation,Ohio State University - 1976 ED.D.ineducationaladministration, University of Akron - 1990

Employment History: 1995 to July 1, 2010–YSUVicePresidentforStudentAffairs

2000 to July 1, 2010–YSUProfessor,MarketingandPublicRelations

1994 to 2000–YSUAssociateProfessorofMarketingand PublicRelations

1993 to 1995–YSUAssistantProvostforAcademicPlanning

1990 to 1993–YSUAssociateProfessorofBusiness Education andTechnology

1985 to 1990–YSUAssistantProfessorofBusinessEducation andTechnology

1979 to 1985–YSUInstructorofBusinessEducationandTechnology

1978 to 1979–AdministrativeAssistantinMarketing, Ailtech,DivisionofEatonCorp.

1973 to 1978 –BusinessEducationTeacher,Westerville HighSchool

YSU Initiatives that Anderson created or helped to implement as vice president for Student Affairs:• RealignedEnrollmentServicestocreateaone-stopEnrollmentCenter.

• InitiatedOfficeofStudentDiversityPrograms.

• FacilitatedcreationoftheYSUMetroCollege.

• Co-authoredYSU’sStudentRecruitmentPlan.

• EstablishedYSU’sfirstNewStudent OrientationProgram.

• InitiatedthefirstNewStudentConvocationProgram.

• EstablishedYSUOfficeofVeteranAffairs.

• EstablishedCenterforStudentProgress.

• AuthoredYSU’sCradleThruEnrollment RecruitmentInitiativesPlan.

• EstablishedOfficeofStudentOmbudsperson.

• EstablishedOfficeofCampusRecreation andIntramuralSports.

• InitiatedassessmentplanningprocessforDivision ofStudentAffairs.

•CollaboratedwithVPofAcademicAffairstoestablish CommitteeforStudentSuccess.


mentplanandvisits,theadmissionsandregistrationpro-cesses,ourwebsitepresence–theyarealltherightthingstobedoing,andIhopetheywillsustainus.Realize,however,thatwhentheeconomyisstruggling,enrollmenttendstoincrease;whentheeconomyimproves,peopletendtomakeeducationlessofapriority.That’sjustatrend.

Icertainlyhopethatourenrollmentwillcontinuetorise,however,moreimportantly,wemustbesuccessfulinretain-ingourstudentsandgettingthemtocompletetheircourse-workandtograduate.

Q. The state of Ohio has designated YSU an “urban research university.” What does that mean to you?

A. Thereseemtobeseveraldifferentdefinitionsfor“urbanresearchuniversity.”Tome,itmeansfaculty,staffandstudentsworkingcollaborativelywiththecommunityonis-sues,challengesandproblemswhichfaceourspecificregionandbeyond.Thatcanmeaneconomicdevelopment,socialproblems,healthissues,orvariousotherchallenges.

Anurbanresearchuniversitywillneedtohavethegraduateandundergraduateprogramstoreallypushusfor-wardinthe21stcentury,whetherthatbesustainableenergy,technologyandcomputerscience,healthandhumanservicesareas,internationalbusiness,fineandperformingarts–justtonameafew.Weare,absolutelyaresearchengineforthisarea,andIseeopportunitiesforeverycollegeoncampustoplayamajorrole.

Q. This magazine is read largely by our 83,000 YSU alumni all over the world. How do they fit in?

A. Inthecornerofmyoffice,aswellasatmyhome,therearetwoboxesfilledwithlettersfromalums,facultyandstaff,andcommunitymemberswholoveYSUandsentlettersofcongratulationstome.AllofthesepeoplespokefondlyabouttheirmemoriesofYSUandtheirwonderfulexperienceshere.Therewasn’tonenegativeletter.Itisclearthatouralumsareveryproudoftheiralmamater.

OurYSUalumsareourbestmarketingtools.They’vegonethroughtheYSUeducationalprocess.Theyknowourstrongpoints,andtheycanbetremendouslyhelpfulinsend-ingussuggestionsfortheimprovementoftheuniversity,as

wellassendingusprospectivestudents.Theycancertainlymakemanypositivecontributionstotheiralmamater.Itismyhopethatouralumswillvisitthecampusoften.Ihopetheyknowthattheyarealwayswelcome.

Q. You have a home in Liberty Township now. How do you feel about moving into the historic Pollock House on cam-pus, the new presidential residence, after it’s renovated?

A.Whencompleted,itwillbebeautiful,anditwillbeveryconvenienttohostreceptionsandmeetwithstudentsandtheirfamilies.Yearsago,myfamilyownedandoperatedadairyfarminFowler,Ohio,inTrumbullCounty.MyfatheranduncledelivereddairyproductstothefamilylivinginthePollockHouse.

Q. Let’s talk about your family. Who will move into the Pollock House with you?

A.Well,itwillbemybetterhalf,BrianWilliams.Ianticipatehavingournephewsandniecesvisitoften,astheycurrentlydo.Wehavefournephewsandthreenieceswhospendtimewithus.WeareveryproudofAustin,15;Kristen,13;Zachary,12;Brandon,11;Hunter,10;Isabella,3;andOlivia,1.Mostofthemaretallerthanmeandthatreallygetstome.(laughs)IknowmostofthepeopleintheStudentAffairsDivisionknowthembyname.They’vegrownupandbeeninvolvedhereatYSU.

Q. Traditionally at YSU we’ve had male presidents, and their wives have played an important role in the university. Your partner Brian Williams must be wondering what his role will be.

A.Brianownsaconstructioncompanyandisavery,veryhardworker.IbelievethatheepitomizestheworkethicoftheMahoningValley.Heworkssixdays,sometimessevendaysaweek,andbelievesinYoungstownStateUniversityandtherevitalizationofYoungstown.TherewillbemanyactivitiesatYSUinwhichhewillparticipate.Andhe’sinterestedinstartingsomenewinitiativesdesignedtoraisemoneyforstu-dentscholarships.Heisverydedicatedtohisniecesandhisnephewsaswellastohelpingyoungpeoplesucceed.HeisadedicatedsupporterofYoungstownStateUniversity.

SUMMER 2010 13

Members of the YSU Presiden-tial Search Advisory Committee celebrate completion of the na-tional search that began in July 2009 and culminated with the selection of Cynthia E. Ander-son as YSU’s seventh president. Committee members are, from left: front row, Mary Slaven, Scott Schulick (Trustee chair and Search Committee chair), Marilynn Butler (administrative assistant to the committee); second row, Reid Schmutz, Trustee Harry Meshel, Amy Cossentino, Trustee Carole Weimer, Chet Cooper, Trustee Millicent Counts, Don Cagigas (committee vice-chair); third row, Zach Brown, Bill Bin-ning, Peter Kasvinsky, Anthony Cafaro Jr., Nancy White, Ger-maine Bennett, Sunil Ahuja; back row, Student Trustee Daniel DeMaiolo, Franklin S. Bennett Jr. (Trustee secretary and committee secretary) and Phil Hirsch. Committee members not pictured are: James Cossler, Hugh Earnhart, Trustee Sudershan Garg and Diane Vettori. The YSU Board of Trustees appointed the 22-member committee, which was charged with identifying four finalists from among candidates from around the nation who applied for YSU’s top job.

MissionAccomplished:SearchAdvisoryCommitteeCelebrates

Q. What do you do to relax?A.Welikeboating.Welovemusclecars,andwehave

some“hotrods”weenjoyridingaroundin.Idoliketoread–especiallynon-fiction.Currently,I’mreadingabookforthesecondtime,Symptoms of Withdrawal,byChristopherKennedyLawfordwhichfocusesonhisownstoryoftheaddictionstrugglesofhislife.IalsojuststartedBoombyTomBrokaw.

Q. Is there anything else that you’d like our readers to know about you?

A. I’mafairlyopenbook.Whatyouseewithmeiswhatyouget.AndIhopewhatyouseeisapersonhonoredbymy

appointmentaspresidentandreadytoleadourinstitutiontotheforefrontofhighereducation.

IalsowanteveryonetoknowthatIplantoputmymajoremphasisonthestudentsofthisuniversity,andallthatgoesalongwiththestudentagenda–theacademics,theaccess,thesocialandacademicdevelopment–inotherwords,theentirestudentexperience.That’swhatIamallabout.That’swheremypassionis.That’swheremyexpertiseis.Iwillworkvery,veryhardforYoungstownState.Ibelieveinouruniversityandourcommunity.Ibelieveinpeople.MycolleaguesatYSUaretrulymysecondfamily.

Celebrating her first day in office July 1, far left, Anderson walks across campus with her partner, Brian Williams, members of her cabinet and YSU mascots Pete and Penny Penguin. After addressing the crowd of more than 500 attending the wel-coming ceremony, center, Anderson climbs the steps to Tod Hall for a recep-tion in her honor; near left, she stops to pose for a photograph with a group of YSU athletes.


Theblack-and-whitephotoofthreesmilingfemalecoalminers–facessmearedwithsoot,wearingdentedhelmets,graspinglargemetallunchbucketsanddressedinblackenedclothesandbigsteel-toedboots–hangsonthewalloutsideJohnRussoandSherryLinkon’soffices.

Nearbyisanotherphoto–thisoneofagirl,nomorethan8or9yearsold,abraidtrailingdownherback,hertinyfin-gerscarefullyfeedingclothintoanindustrialsewingmachineinatextileshop.

Andacrosstheroomisanotherphoto–fourmalefactoryworkers,long-hairedandbearded,onewearingaHarley-Da-vidsoncap,anopenedcanofPepsiathisfeet.Theysitonadock,staringemotion-lessandreluctantlyintothecamera.

Thesearethefacesoftheworkingclass–pastandpresent.Thecoalminerandautoworker.Themeatpackerandretailclerk.Thewaitressandthehome-healthaide.

Asthefoundersandco-directorsofYSU’sCenterforWorking-ClassStud-ies,RussoandLinkonstudy,listento,advocateforandcelebratethelivesofworking-classpeoplefromaroundthenationandworld.Alongtheway,theyhavecaughttheattentionofscholars,journalistsandothersandcreatedawholenewdiscipline–newworking-classstudies–thatisnowcatchingonatuniversitiesfromCaliforniatoNewYork,GermanytoIstanbul.

“Whatwehavetriedtodoistocre-ateanacademiccommunitythatbridgesthegapbetweenacademeandtherestoftheworldinwhichactivists,scholarsfromalldifferentkindsoffields,laboror-ganizersandallofthesepeoplecancometogether,learnandbetterunderstandtheworkingclassandthechallengesfac-ingthemtoday,”saidRusso,aone-timeautoworkerwhoearnedadoctoratefromtheUniversityofMassachusettsstudyingpublic-sectorlaborrelations.HecametoYSUin1980.

TheCenter,whichcelebratesits15thbirthdaythisyear,startedwith$5,000infundingfromthenYSUProvostJamesScanlon.“Theonlythinghesaidwas–‘Getotherpeopleinvolved,’”Russosaid.Sincethen,hundredsofscholars,studentsandothersoncampusandacrosstheworldhaveparticipatedinCenteractivities.And,theCenterhasreceived

fundingtotalingmorethan$600,000fromtheprestigiousFordFoundation.“Thatcertainlywasavalidationoftheworkweweredoing,”Russosaid.

AmongtheCenter’smanysuccesses:•RussoandLinkonhavebecome“go-to”sourceson

working-classissuesforreportersattheWall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, The Financial TimesandNationalPublicRadio,tonameafew.

•FromKalamazooandOmahatoDublinandJerusalem,RussoandLinkonhavelecturedontopicsrangingfromWal-Marttoworking-classliterature.

‘Youngstown’s story is America’s story’

YSU’s Working-Class Studies: A Source for Journalists and Scholars Worldwide

Sherry Linkon and John Russo, co-directors of the YSU Center for Working-Class Studies, pose among the exhibits at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor.

www.ysu.edu

www.ysu.edu

SUMMER 2010 15

•TheCenter’sannuallectureseries,thelongest-runningofitskindatYSU,hasattractedscholarsandothersfromaroundtheworld.

•The“DeFactoUnemploymentRate,”theCenter’sanalysisoftherealunemploymentrateintheUnitedStates,hasgarnerednationalattention.

•TheCenter’sblog(http://work-ingclassstudies.wordpress.com/),titled“WorkingClassPerspectives,”offersweeklycommentariesfromacademics,journalistsandpoliticalinsiders.

•“SteelValleyVoices,”anarchiveofthestoriesandmemoriesoftheYoungstownarea’sdiversecommuni-ties,includeshundredsofphotographsandwritings.

•TheCenteralsohaspartneredwiththeYSUjournalismprogramtodevelopopportunitiesforstudentjournaliststoreportandwriteaboutissuesfacingworkingpeople.

•TheCenter’sextensivewebsite(http://cwcs.ysu.edu/)gets5,000to6,000hitspermonth.

•AndtheCenterhashosted10visitingscholarsovertheyears,includingJamesRhodes,aSimonResearchFellowandprofessorofsociologyattheUniversityofManchesterin

England,whoisatYSUthroughOctober.“It’samazingandbrilliantandunique,”Rhodes,whose

researchfocusesonthesociologi-calaspectsofYoungstownboxingchampionKellyPavlik,saidabouttheCenter.

“We’vebecomeanorphanage,really,forpeopleacrossthecoun-tryandtheworldwhostudyissuesrelatedtoworking-classcultureandlifeandreallyhadnowheretogotovalidatetheirwork,”Russosaid.

Andthefieldcontinuestogrow.AccordingtoanationalsurveybytheUniversityofChicago,nearlyhalfofAmericansidentifythemselvesasworkingclass.Politicianshavetaggedworking-classpeopleasanimportant

votingbloc.Evenmarketingfirmsareshowingincreasedinterestintargetingworking-classbuyers.

Yetthereremainsnocleardefinitionofexactlywhat“workingclass”is,saidLinkon,whoearnedadoctorateinAmericanStudiesfromtheUniversityofMinnesotain1990andcametoYSUthatsameyear.

“Wetrytoavoidcraftingsimpledefinitions,becauseclassandworkingclassarealwaysevolving,”shesaid.

Income,education,powerintheworkplaceandpowerinsocietyallcontributetoyourstatusasworkingclass.

Linkonsaidpartofthegoalofthecenteristohelptheworkingclassunderstandthemselves,andtohelpothersunderstandtheworkingclass.“Iwantpeoplenottoassumethatalloftheworkingclassareself-deluded,inherentlyracist,allwhite,allmale,allbluecollar,”shesaid.“Iwantthemtounder-standtheincrediblediversityofthisgroup.”

And,Russosaid,there’snobetterplacethanYoungstowninwhichtodothat.

“Youalwaysstartwherepeopleare,”hesaid.“Thisisagreatplacetostudywork,tostudylaborunions,tostudytheworkingclass.Andthere’sagreatsenseofcommunityhere.Aswesaidinourbook,Steeltown USA,Youngstown’sstoryisAmerica’sstory.Forwhatwedo,thisisthecenteroftheworld.”

“I want people not to assume that all of the working class are self-

deluded, inherently racist, all white, all

male, all blue collar.” -SherryLinkon,co-director,

YSUCenterforWorking-ClassStudies

http://cwcs.ysu.edu/


East Campus Gateway Gets Curb Appeal

New and prospective students and other visi-tors to the YSU campus are getting a better first impression, now that a three-year improve-ment project at YSU’s East Campus Gateway is complete. Located at the intersection of Wick Avenue and University Plaza on the East Side of campus, the gateway is YSU’s main entrance.

A new glassed entryway and atrium give a modern look to Tod Hall (right), which houses the university’s administrative offices. The $572,000 project was funded through the state capital budget and private gifts, including a $50,000 donation from the Tod family.

Coffelt Hall (top far right) was renovated to become the home of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, a $750,000 project that was also state funded. A stone-walled entry (center right) and traffic circle, new lighting and landscaping, banners and a new visitors’ park-ing lot were added.

Finally, a fully-digital LED marquee sign out-side Bliss Hall (bottom right) adjacent to the East Campus Gateway entrance will be used to advertise musical and theatrical performances, art exhibits and other events in the College of Fine and Performing Arts.

East Campus Gateway Gets Curb Appeal

SUMMER 2010 17www.ysu.edu

ww.ysu.edu


MEDICAL MIssIonsA N E w A N G L E O N S T U D Y A B R O A D

HollyShalabigotplentyofclinicaltrainingasanursingstudentatYSU,butshesaysthebestlearningexperienceofhercollegecareerwasaweekofprovidingmuch-neededmedicalcaretopeopleinthetinyvillageofSanQuintin,Mexico.

“Itwasatotalshocktoseehowpeopleareliving,toseethemwalk-ingformilestogettotheclinic,andtoseehowthankfultheyare,”saidShalabi,whograduatedinMaywithabachelor’sdegreeinnursing.“Itwas,absolutely,thebestthingIdidatYSU.”

MedicalmissiontripsliketheoneShalabiexperiencedinAprilaregivingawholenewmeaningtotheterm“studyabroad”forstudentsinYSU’sDepartmentofNursing.Facultymembershaveledmedicalteamsonfoursuchtripsinfouryears–onetoNigeria,threetoMexico–andanothertriptoMexicoisscheduledforSeptember.

“Theneedishuge,andourstudentslearnmorethantheycouldeverlearninaclassroom,”saidnursingprofessorPamelaSchuster.“Ourcollege

isreallyfocusingonstudy-abroadexperiencesforourstudents,andthisisanothertypeofstudyabroad.It’sworkingwithpeople,communicatingthroughinterpreters;it’scriticalthinkingandteambuilding.”

ThatexplainswhySchusterandDorcasFitzgerald,alsoaprofessorofnursing,areworkingwithothersintheBitonteCollegeofHealthandHumanServicestoencourageallhealthprofessionmajorstoconsiderpartici-patinginmedicalmissiontrips.“Ouraimistointegratetheentirecollegeintothestudy-abroadprogrammingthatwe’redoing,”saidFitzgerald.

NursingfacultyorganizedthefirstmedicalmissiontriptoMaize,Mexico,in2007andsincethenhavebeenworkinginSanQuintin,apoorfarmingvillageaboutfivehourssouthofSanDiego.FitzgeraldsaidtheyhaveforgedarelationshipwithapastorinSanQuintinwhoallowsthemtousehischurchfortheirtemporarymedicalclinics.

Posing with children from the Nigerian village of Dikenafai are, far left, YSU nursing student Tonja Watkins, back row center, nursing student Amanda Shipsky, and front row right, YSU nursing professor Pamela Schuster. The medical mission team treated more than 1,000 people there in January.

SUMMER 2010 19

weektriptoNigeria,Africa,fornursingandcriminaljusticestudents.Thenursingstudentsandfacultysetupaclinicandtreatedmorethan1,000peopleinthesmalltownofDikena-fai,whilethecriminaljusticestudentsstudiedNigerianlawenforcementservices.

TwomedicaldoctorswhoworkedwiththeteaminNigeriahavesincevolunteeredtoaccompanyfuturegroupsworkinginMexico–onejoinedthegroupthatwentinApril;theother,anoptometrist,planstogoinSeptember.

Financingthemedicalmissiontripshasbeenachal-lenge.Participatingstudentspayafeetocover

theirtransportationandlodgingcosts,buttheteamsmustraiseadditionalcashtopayformedicine,equipment,shippingandinter-preters.They’veusedspaghettidinners,garagesalesandanartshowtoraisefunds,saidSchuster,andhavealsoreceiveddonationsofequipmentandsupplies.

AnnetteEl-Hayek,assistantdirec-torinYSU’sCenterforInternational

StudiesandPrograms,saidthestudy-abroadmedicalmissiontripsarejustone

aspectofanincreasing,campus-wideinterestinlong-andshort-termstudy-abroadexperiences.

TheDepartmentofArt,forexample,offeredashort-termstudy-abroadprograminVenicethissummer,shesaid,andtheWilliamsonCollegeofBusinessAdministrationofferedaprograminLondon.

Short-termtripsofferopportunitiesforstudentswhomightnothavethetimeorresourcestospendasemesterinanothercountry,shesaid,whileencouragingsomeotherstoconsideralongerexperiencenexttime.

“Manydepartmentsacrosscampusaredevelopingnewcoursesandprogramsthatwillallowstudentstoearncredittowardtheirmajorsandtoalsogainsomestudy-abroadexperience,”El-Hayeksaid.“That’swhattheglobalizationofYSUisallabout.”

Nursing student Tonja Watkins, left, checks a patient’s blood pressure in the front yard of a church in San Quintin, Mexico, where a YSU-sponsored medical mission team set up a health care clinic in April.

Below, nursing student Holly Shalabi checks a patient’s blood glucose level inside the clinic.

PeopleinSanQuintingenerallyearnonlyafewdollarsadayasfarmlaborers–thereisnoindustrythere–andthetiny,for-profithospitalintownisofflimitsformostbecauseitacceptsonlycashpayments.WhentheYSUgroupsetsupaclinic,peoplewalkasfaras20milesonthedirtandgravelroadsandwaitinlineforhours,ifnecessary,togetcare.

InApril,themissiongroupof18includedseveralhealth-careprovidervolunteersfromtheYoungstownarea,inadditiontoYSUstudentsandfaculty.Therewasadoctor,adentist,asocialworker,aregisterednurseandaretiredpharmacist.Theteamtreatedmorethan400patients.

“Wehavetoimprovisealot,”saidFitzgerald,describinghowtheteamhadtofindawaytoeffectivelysteril-izedentalinstrumentswithouttheusualequipment.“Weconsultedwiththepharmacisttoseewhatwasap-propriate,andwewereusingbleachandboilingtheequipment.It’snotthesamestandardthatwewoulddohere,butit’sallwehad.”

MouthinfectionsarecommoninSanQuintin,shesaid,alongwithdiabetes,highbloodpressureandvisionproblems.Teammem-bersgenerallyknowonlyalittleSpanish,sotheyusehandwrittennotesandpaidinterpreterstohelpthemcommunicatewiththeirpatients.

SchustersaidtheBitonteCollegeisintheearlystagesofdevelopinganelective,interdisciplinarycourseinconjunc-tionwiththemedicalmissions–todate,nursingmajorsgetclinicalcreditforparticipationbutnocoursecredit.DianeBurkhart,aninstructorinYSU’sDepartmentofForeignLanguagesandLiterature,wasalsopartoftheYSUteamthisspring,andthatdepartmentiscreatingacoursetiedtothestudy-abroadmedicalmissiontripsaswell.

InJanuary,SchusterjoinedChristianOnwudiwe,aYSUassistantprofessorofcriminaljustice,inleadingatwo-

Story by Cynthia Vinarsky

MaryL.Flemingknowswhatit’sliketobeasingleparent,strugglingtogetbyfinancially,jugglinghome,schoolandworkresponsibilitiesinpursuitofauniversitydegree.She’sbeenthere.

NowaYSUalumna,Flemingestablisheda$10,000endowmentin2006toprovidescholarshipsfornon-traditionalstudentspursuingadegree,andmorerecentlyshehascommittedtoadd$50,000moretothatendowmentinincrementsoverthenextfiveyears.

“Iwasthefirstinmyfamilytogetadegree,andIjustcan’tsayenoughaboutthewonderfulexperiencesIhadatYSU,”shesaid.“NowthatI’mableto,Iwanttodothis.”

FleminggrewupinAustintown,marriedearlyandthendivorced.Thesingleparentoftwotoddlers,shewasdeterminedtogetacollegedegree,believingitwouldopenthejobdoorssheneededtosupportherfamily.Butmoneywastight.“ThepeopleinYSU’sfinancialaidofficehelpedmesomuch,”sherecalled.“Theyhelpedmefindgrants,scholarships,whateverwasavailabletogetmethrough.”

Shestartedbytakingtwoyearsofsecretarialstud-iescoursesatYSUandwashiredasanexecutivesecretaryattheGeneralMotorscomplexinLordstown.FlemingstayedatGMfornineyears,butshehadn’tlostherdesiretoearnadegree.In1987,sheacceptedaGMbuyoutandreturnedtoYSUasafull-timestudent,graduatingin1989withabach-elor’sdegreeincommunicationandtheater.

Thedegreepaidoff.FlemingwashiredasamedicalresidentrecruiterforinternalmedicineatForumHealthinYoungstown,whereshealsoservedasaliaisonbetweenForumandtheNortheastOhioUniversitiesCollegeofMedicine.In1991,shemetandmarriedherhusband,Tom

Mary L. Fleming, ’89 BA in communications and theater, has established an endowment to provide scholarships to qualified non-traditional students at YSU.

Fleming Endowment Provides Scholarshipsfor Non-Traditional Students

Fleming.Thecouplecreatedablendedfamily–eachbroughttwochildrentothemarriage–andtheynowhavesevengrandchildren.

HousedintheYSUFoundation,theMaryL.FlemingEndowmentawardsrenewable,one-yearscholarshipstonon-traditionalstudentsattendingYSUfull-timeorpart-timeandwhomaintaina3.0GPAorbetter.Formoreinformation,contacttheYSUFoundation,330-941-3211.

Foundation

YSU designated a Tree Campus USA UniversitySweetduringaceremonyoncampusJune21.SweetretiredonJune30.

Atthesameceremony,SharonLetson,execu-tivedirectorofYoungstownCityScape,presentedtheCityScapeBeautificationAwardtoYSU.CityScapeisanorganizationcommittedtorevital-izingdowntownYoungstownanditsgatewaysthroughbeautification,educationandpreservation.

ArecentinventorybyDaveyTreeExpertCo.identified1,847treesand78speciesontheYSU

campus,withanestimatedvalueof$2.26million.YSUlaunchedaCampusBeautificationInitiativelastyearafter


TheArborDayFoundationhasdesignatedYSUasaTreeCampusUSAUniversityforitsdedicationtocampusforestrymanagementandenvironmentalstewardship.

Withmorethan1,800treesonits145-acreurbancampus,YSUisamongonlyfouruniversitiesinOhioand74nationwidetoearntheTreeCampusUSAUniversitydesignation.

LolaLewis,regionalurbanforesterattheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,presentedtheTreeCampusUSAplaquetoformerYSUPresidentDavidC.

Development

YSU’sCentennialCampaign,themostsuccessfulfund-raisingeffortintheuniversity’s102-yearhistory,officiallycloseditsbooksinJunewithadonationfromYSUalumnusAlanW.CopeofSalem.

Thecampaign,ledbytheYSUOfficeofUniversityDevelopment,raised$53millionforstudentscholarshipsandcapitalimprovements,includingconstructionofthenewbuildingfortheWilliamsonCollegeofBusinessAdministra-tion.Thattotalfarexceededthe$43milliongoalsetforthecampaignwhenitbegansixyearsgo.Thefunddrivefeaturedsixgiftsof$1millionormore,includingleadgiftsof$5millionfromthefamilyofthelateWarrenP.WilliamsonJr.and$4millionfromTonyandMaryLaricciaofBoardman.Inaddition,thecampaignreceived58giftsof$100,000ormore.

“Iamforeveramazedandhumbledbythiscommunity’ssupportforYSU,”saidLariccia,a1966YSUgraduateandchairoftheCentennialCampaignCabinet.“IwanttothankeveryonewhohascontributedtothisimportanteffortandtothecauseofimprovingopportunitiesforyouthandmakingourcityandtheMahoningValleyabetterplacetoliveandwork.”

PaulMcFadden,chiefdevelopmentofficer,saidfundsraisedinthecampaignwillbeusedtoestablishanendow-mentforundergraduatescholarshipsandgraduatefellow-ships,need-basedscholarships,minorityscholarships,endowedfacultychairsandprofessorships.

Inaddition,fundsarebeingusedforstudentfacilities,includingthenewstate-of-the-artWCBAbuildingnowunderconstruction,improvedengineeringandsciencefacili-tiesandthenewWatsonandTresselTrainingSite,anindoorathleticspracticefacilitynowunderconstruction.

Cope’sgift,hissecondtotheCentennialCampaign,alsohelpedtheuniversitymeettheKresgeChallenge.PresidentofCopeFarmEquipment,Copeisa1963YSUgraduate,alifetimememberoftheYSUAlumniSociety,

What a Finale!YSU Centennial Campaign Hits $53 Million Mark

YSU designated a Tree Campus USA University

servesontheWCBABusinessAdvisoryCouncilandisamemberoftheYSUFoundationBoardofTrustees.

InDecember2008,theKresgeFoundationofTroy,Mich.,committeda$1.2millionchallengegranttothecampaign,chargingYSUwithraising$2.4milliontomeetthechallenge.Cope’sgiftputtheYSUportionoverthe$2.4millionmark.

YSU alumna Susan Centorame, ’79, ’95, center, stands with her son Mike, ’07, daughter Katie and grandson Michael Joshua in front of a magnolia tree that was planted in the memory of their late husband and father, Youngstown Police Capt. Kenneth Centorame, a 1974 YSU alumnus. The tree planting was part of the Campus Beautification Initiative. Susan Centorame holds the plaque that will be placed under the new tree.

twosummerstormsin2007and2008destroyed70campustrees.Thegoaloftheinitiativeistoestablishanendowmenttohelppreservecampustreesandgreenspaces.

Donorscangeneratefundsfortheendowmentbyspon-soringmemorialtrees,benchesandbricksforthecampus.InNovember2009,thefirsttwodonortreeswereplantedonthecampuscore,andtwomorewereplantedinJune.

FormoreinformationontheCampusBeautificationInitiative,ortomakeadonation,visitwww.ysu.edu/trees-benches/orcontactUniversityDevelopmentat330-941-3119.

There’s still time to order a personalized brick, now that University Development has extended its Centennial Circle Brick Campaign to Sept. 1.

“we’ve sold more than 400 bricks but we have room for more, so we have decided to extend the campaign,” said Catherine Cala, development director. The bricks are being placed around the bronze sculpture of Howard w. Jones, YSU’s first president, at the entrance to the campus core. Dedication of the site, to be named Centennial Circle, is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 29 during Homecoming weekend. All brick donors will be invited.

Proceeds from the brick campaign benefit the Campus Beautification Initiative to help sustain YSU’s 1,847 trees and its green spaces for future generations. Call Cala at 330-941-2752 for a brick order form or purchase online at www.ysubricks.com.

Brick Campaign Extended, Deadline Sept. 1

SUMMER 2010 21

http://www.ysubricks.com


Developmentsports

AthleticDepartmentLaunchesBrand-NewWebsiteYSU’sAthleticDepartmentwebsite,www.YSUsports.com,hasabrandnewlook.TheSportsInformationOffice

workedwithPrestoSportsofRockville,Md.,toredesignthesite.“Thiswebsitewasenhancedtohelpthemedia,ourfans,alumni,otherathleticdepartmentsandprospectiverecruitsfindanythingandeverythingaboutPenguinAthletics,”saidTrevorParks,YSUSportsInformationDirector.

CafaroFamilyDonates$1MillionforYSUWATTS

Anthony Cafaro Sr., left, presents a $1 million gift to YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson during a July 6 news conference. Also pictured, from the left, are YSU head football coach Eric Wolford, former YSU head football coach Jim Tressel, and Scott Schulick, chair of the YSU Board of Trustees.

TheCafarofamilyhasdonated

$1milliontowardtheconstruc-tionoftheWatsonandTresselTrain-ingSite,anindoorpracticefacilitynowunderconstructionalongElmStreetandtheMadisonAvenueExpressway,onthesiteofYSU’sformeroutdoortrack.

“IthasbeensoimpressivetowatchthegrowthoftheYoungstownStatecampusinrecentyears,“saidAnthonyCafaroSr.,therecentlyre-tiredpresidentofTheCafaroCompanyandsonofcompanyfounderWilliamM.Cafaro.“WearethrilledtocontinueourongoingcommitmenttoYSU.”

ThetrackandthelobbyoftheWatsonandTresselTrain-ingSite,alsoknownasWATTS,willbenamedinhonoroftheCafarofamily.

“ThisgiftrepresentstheCafaro’scontinuedfaithinthefutureofYSU,ourstudentsandintheentireYoungstowncommunity,”saidYSUPresidentCynthiaE.Anderson.

WATTSisan$11.4millionindoorpracticefacilitythatwillbefundedthroughacombinationofprivatedonationsanduniversitybondfinancing.Thefacility,scheduledforcompletionbytheendofthiscalendaryear,willbeusedpri-marilybyYSU’sintercollegiateathleticteams,accommodat-ingteampractices,intramuralsports,campus-wideactivitiesandspecialevents.

TheCafaroFoundationisacharitableentityestablishedbytheCafarofamilyinmemoryofWilliamM.Cafaro,andTheCafaroCompanyisoneofthenation’slargestprivatelyheldrealestatedevelopmentfirms.

TheCafaros’supportforYSUdatestothe1960s.Withthisgift,thefamilyhasdonatednearly$2.5milliontoYSU,includinga$1milliongifttonameCafaroHouseresidencehallonthenorthendofcampus,$250,000fortheconstruc-tionoftheAndrewsStudentRecreationandWellnessCenterin2003anda$100,000gifttotheYSUnursingprogramtonametheBettyNohraRoominCushwaHall.ThefamilyhasalsoannuallysupportedtheWilliamandAlyceandtheJohnCafaroScholarshipattheYSUFoundation.

TheWATTSisnamedafterJimandEllenTresselandEllen’sparents,FrankandNormaWatson,whodonatedacombined$1millionwhenfundraisingfortheprojectbeganthreeyearsago.TresselwasheadcoachofYSU’sfootballprogramfor15years,winningfourNCAAFCSnationalchampionshipsbeforetakingthehead-coachingjobatOhioStateUniversityin2001.

Toseephotos,avideoofthearchitect’srenderingsandalivewebcamoftheWATTSconstructionsite,visitwww.ysusports.com/watts.

http://www.YSUsports.com

www.ysusports.com/watts

www.ysusports.com/watts

SUMMER 2010 23

FoundationFoundation

NewCoachNamedforWomen’sBasketball

TrackandFieldAthletesWinHonors

Bob Boldon

NortheastOhionativeandexperiencedassistantBobBoldonhasbeennamedYSU’ssixthheadwomen’sbasketballcoach.Boldonspentthreeseasonsasacollegiateheadcoachandwasanassistantatthecollegelevelfor10years,mostrecentlyasthetopassistantcoachatDivisionIFloridaGulfCoastUniversityinFortMyers,Fla.

“WhenItalkedwithsomeofCoachBoldon’speersinthecoachingprofession,theyallpraisedhimasanup-and-comerwhojustneededachance.We’reexcitedtogivehimthatchance,”saidRonStrollo,YSUexecutivedirectorofIntercollegiateAthletics.

Boldon,34,grewupintheCanton,Ohio,areaandsaidhe’seagertospearheadarebirthinthewomen’sbasketballprogramatYSU.Inhismostrecenthead-coachingstint,Boldonorchestratedthebestseasoninschoolhistoryin2008-09atLambuthUniversityinJackson,Tenn.Lambuthwastherunner-upforthenationaltitle,andBoldonwasrecognizedastheAssociationofIndependentInstitutionsCoachoftheYear.

YSUSeniorsChoseninMajorLeagueDraft

SeniorsJackeHealeyandEricMarzechadboyhooddreamsfulfilledwhentheywereselectedontheseconddayofthe2010MajorLeagueBaseballFirst-YearPlayerDraftinJune.

Healey,aninfielderfromTunkhannock,Pa.,waschosenbytheHoustonAstros.Marzec,apitcherfromCanton,Ohio,wasselectedbytheMilwaukeeBrewers.TheyarethefirstpairofPenguinplayerstobedraftedinthesameyear.“I’mthrilledforbothJackeandEricforbeingrewardedforallofthehardworkthatthey’veputin,”YSUheadcoachRichPasqualesaid.“TheywillbothrepresentYSUinthemostpositivewayandbegreatambassadorsforourprogram.

Hall-of-FameEventScheduledOct.30

EightalumniwillbenamedtotheYSUAthleticsHallofFameatabreakfastOct.30priortotheYSUfootballgameagainsttheUniversityofNorthernIowa.

Thisyear’shonoreesare:football–AdrianBrown(1996-99)andTimJohnson(1999-2000);volleyball–HeatherLuben(1993-96);baseball–ChrisDurkin(1989-91);basketball–LeslieMajewski(1996-2000);trackandfield–KofiOwusu-Ansah(1996-2000);andformerfootballvideographerPatStrollo(contributor).Formoreinformation,contacttheAthleticDepartment,330-941-7208.

TwoPenguinTrackandFieldathletes,seniorthrowerAaronMer-rillofLeetonia,Ohio,anddistancerunnerSamanthaHamiltonofNorthJackson,Ohio,wonhonorsthissummer.

MerrillwasnamedSecond-TeamESPN the MagazineAcademicAll-AmericainavoteoftheCollegeSportsInformationDirectorsofAmerica.AlsoaThird-TeamAcademicAll-Americaselectionin2009,MerrillisthefirstYSUstudent-athletetoearnAcademicAll-Americaaccoladestwoyearsrunning.Merrill,whowonsixindividualHorizonLeaguetitlesinhisstandoutcareer,graduatedinMaywithabachelor’sdegreeincriminaljustice.

Hamiltonfinishedfifthatthe2010U.S.JuniorTrack&FieldChampionshipsinlateJuneinDesMoines,Iowa,postingatimeof11:29.18intheevent.HamiltonwastheHorizonLeagueOutdoorChampionintheeventasafreshman.

Penguin Football2010Date Opponent TimeSept.4 atPennState NoonSept.11 vs.Butler 6p.m.Sept.18 vs.Central ConnecticutState 6p.m.Sept.25 vs.SouthernIllinois* 4p.m.Oct.2 atMissouriState* 2p.m.Oct.9 vs.NorthDakotaState* 4p.m.Oct.16 atWesternIllinois* 7p.m.Oct.23 atSouthDakotaState* 3p.m.Oct.30 vs.UNI*(Homecoming) 1p.m.Nov.6 atIllinoisState* 2p.m.Nov.13 vs.IndianaState* 1p.m.

* Missouri Valley Football Conference

Jacke Healey

Eric Marzec


Chet CooperBiology Professor, Umpire-in-Chief

ChetCooperwasjustgettingsettledin,readytowatchhis11-year-oldsonplayaLittleLeaguebaseballgame,whentheword

wentout:“Weneedanumpire.”AndeveryonelookedatChet.

Thatday16yearsagoinLeagueCity,Texas,asmalltownbetweenHoustonandGalveston,wasthestartofacareerthattodayseesCoopersuitinguptoumpire70to80gamesayear–LittleLeague,highschoolandevensomecollege-level.

“Sonow,insteadofsittinginthestandsandlisten-ingtoparentscomplain,Istandoutonthefieldandlistentoparentsyellingatme,”hejoked.

CooperwearsmanyhatsatYSU–professorofbiologicalsciences,directoroftheYSUCenterofExcellenceforAppliedChemicalBiology,NationalScienceFoundation-fundedresearcher,chairoftheAcademicSenate,two-timerecipientoftheDistinguishedProfessorAward,facultyadvisortoStudentGovernmentandtheuniversity’sNCAAFacultyRepresentative.And,everyChristmas,hedonshisSantaoutfittoplaySt.NickattheannualFacultyandStaffHolidayBreakfast.

Butawayfromcampus,thehatthatseemstofitbestistheblackcapoftheumpire.“It’sthebestseatinthehouse,”hesaid.“Itgives

methechancetofocusonsomethingcompletelydifferent,anditmakesmeforgettheotherchallengesoftheworkday.”Asumpire-in-chiefforOhioDistrict2,Cooperisin

chargeofallrules,interpretationsandumpireassignmentsduringLittleLeaguetournamentsforathree-countyarea.HehasumpirednearlyadozenstateLittleLeaguetournamentsand,in2005,umpiredbehindtheplateattheLittleLeagueMidwestChampionshipgametelevisedonESPN.He’shopingonedaytoworktheLittleLeagueWorldSeriesinWilliamsport,Pa.

Cooperoncetookafoulballoffhismaskthatnearlyknockedhimout.He’sthrownouthisfairshareofcoachesandevenadmitstoablowncallortwo.Butnomatterhowbadthecall,hesaid,“Thesunalwayscomesupthenextday.”

“Theoldsayinggoesthattheumpireistheonlypersononthefieldwhohastobeperfectfromthestart,andgetbetterasthegamegoeson,”hesaid.

SPRING 2010 25

Eightoutstandingalumnirepresentingtheeightdepart-mentsintheBitonteCollegeofHealthandHumanServiceswerehonoredrecentlyattheannualawardsdinnerinKilcawleyCenterontheYSUcampus.

DeanJosephMoscapresentedDr.DominicA.Bitontewithanawardofappreciationforhisongoingcommitmenttothecollege,anddepartmentchairsrecognizedtheeightalumnihonoreesfortheireffortstocreatesafeandhealthycommunities.Morethan140alumni,friendsandfacultyattendedtheevent.

Thefollowingalumni,listedundertheirrespectivecolleges,werehonoredthisyear:

Criminal Justice and Forensic Science–JimmyF.Hughes,’91,’92,’99,Chief,YoungstownPoliceDepartment.

Health Professions –WilliamE.Brown,Jr.,’77,ExecutiveDirector,NationalRegistryofEmergencyMedicalTechnicians.

Human Ecology–DebraA.Filimon-Demyen,’84,Supervisor,MahoningCountyEducationalServiceCenter.

Human Performance and Exercise Science–Mat-thewKostek,’97,Director,LaboratoryofMuscle&TranslationalTherapeuticResearch,UniversityofSouthCarolina.

Nursing–SharonHrina,’69,’73,VicePresidentofOperations,AkronChildren’sHospitalMahoningValley.

Physical Therapy–TimothyB.DubleJr.,’01,Su-pervisorofInpatientPhysicalTherapy,St.Elizabeth’sHealthCenter.

Alumni honored recently by the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services are, from left, front row: Theresa Swindler, Sharon Hrina and Debra A. Filimon-Demyen; back row: Jimmy F. Hughes, Timothy B. Duble Jr., William E. Brown Jr. and Maj. Gen. Matthew L. Kambic. (The eighth alumni honoree, Matthew Kostek, is not pictured.)

BitonteCollegeHonorsOutstandingAlumniSocial Work–TheresaSwindler,’89,BSW

InternshipCoordinator,YoungstownStateUniversity.Military Science–Maj.Gen.MatthewL.Kambic,’82,

OhioArmyNationalGuard.Nextyear’sBitonteCollegeAlumniAwardsDinner

isscheduledforMay20,2011,intheChestnutRoomatKilcawleyCenter.Callthecollege,330-941-3321,formoreinformation.

VirginiaAlumniCheerontheNorfolkAdmirals

YSUalumnaChelseaKelley,right,poseswithguests,fromleft,JohncyRajanandKristinRho,ataYSUAlumnidinnerinNorfolk,Va.Theywereamong58alumni,friendsandfamilyattendingtheMarchevent,whichincludedaNorfolkAdmiralshockeygame.Kelley,whograduatedin1995withabachelor’sdegreeinbusinessadministration,livesinVirginiaBeach,Va.

InAugust1967,YSUalumnusJamesH.BrahneyflewaU.S.AirForcehelicopterintoadenseVietnamesejungle,bravingheavyenemygroundfiretorescuetwowoundedNavySeals.HewasawardedtheAirForceDistinguishedFlyingCrossforHeroismforthatdaringmission,andnowithasearnedhimaplaceinOhiomilitaryhistory.

Lt.Col.BrahneydiedSept.11,2009,andwasinductedposthumouslyintoOhio’sHallofFameforValoronMay7.

BornandraisedinYoungstown,Brahn-eyearnedabachelor’sdegreeinmechanicalengineeringatYSUin1962,thenenteredtheAirForceOfficerTrainingSchool.HewascreditedwithsavingninelivesduringhistourasanAirForcerescuehelicopterpilotandwasawardedtheVietnamCrossofGallantry,asecondDistinguishedFlyingCrossandsevenAirMedalsformeritoriousachievementinflight.

Brahneyearnedamaster’sdegreeinsystemsmanage-mentattheUniversityofSouthernCaliforniaandadoctorateinhighereducationattheUniversityofPittsburgh,andhewasassociateeditorforAerospace Engineeringmagazine.

WhileastudentatYSU,BrahneywaspresidentofKappaSigmaKappasocialfraternity,andheremainedactivewithagroupofhis1960s-erafraternitybrothersforalmost

Lt. Col. James H. Brahney, ’62 BE, was inducted posthumously into the Ohio Hall of Fame for Valor. The photo below shows him while he was in pilot training in 1963.

AlumnusHonoredPosthumouslyforMilitaryHeroism

50years.BrahneytaughtamanagementcourseatYSU,andhehadseveralotherYSUconnections.Hiswife,theformerCarolynPeluso,andason,ScottMitchellBrahney,arebothYSUgrads;hissister,KathleenBrahneyDragoman,earnedbachelor’sandmaster’sdegreesatYSUandtaughtattheuniversity.

MeetYSU’sNewAssistantDirectorofAlumniRelations


✪

YSUALUMNI:

WilliamsonCollegeofBusinessAdministrationAlumniReception:5 to 7:30p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30. Come tour the new building and learn about the latest innovations. Reservations required, call 330-941-1591.

Homecoming2010,October24–31:Check out some of the Homecoming festivities on the inside back cover.

AlumniTerraceDinners:Served 90 minutes prior to each home YSU Penguin football game. Enjoy a hearty buffet with fellow Penguin fans before cheering the team on to victory. Reservations are required. Call 330-941-3496.

MARKYOURCALENDAR

Mollie(McGovern)HartuphasjoinedYSUasassistantdirectorofAlumniRelations.She’llbemakingconnectionsandplanningeventsforYSUalumni,especiallythosenolongerlivingintheYoungstownarea.

HartupearnedtwodegreesatYSU–aBAintelecommunicationsandgeographyin2002andanMBAin2004.Previously,shewasnewsassignmentmanagerforWFMJ-TVinYoungstownandhostedandproducedaprogramcalled“YounginYoungstown.”

Asanalumna,HartupservesontheWYSU-FMAdvisoryBoard,theYSUMagazineAdvisoryBoardandtheYSUHeritageCommittee,andshehelpedorganizetheall-scholaralumnireunionin2007.

“I’mexcitedtobebackoncampus,”shesaid,“andI’mlookingforwardtoconnectingwithandmeetingasmanyalumniaspossible.”[email protected].

Thereare1,674YSUalumninowlivingintheregionthatincludesWashington,D.C.,VirginiaandMaryland.

Mollie Hartup

MARYLAND625

VIRGINIA

1,005✪

Alumni News

WASHINGTON, D.C.

44✪

SUMMER 2010 27

SpotlighTAlumni

CELEBRATINGACCOMPLISHEDGRADUATES

WhenLashalePughdroppedoutofjuniorcollegemidwaythroughherfirstsemester20yearsago,sheneverdreamedthatonedayshewouldbeauniversityprofessorwithaPh.D.behindhername.

Adifficultjoblosswhenshewasathirty-somethingsingleparentforcedPughtorethinkhercareerpath.Relyingonloans,grants,campusjobsandthegenerosityoffamilymembers,shewentbacktocollegeasanon-traditionalstu-dent,earningbachelor’sandmaster’sdegreesfromYSUandadoctoratefromtheUniversityofMaryland,CollegePark.

NowanassistantprofessoratYSUandoneofthenewestfacultymembersintheDepartmentofGeography,Pughsaidherownlifejourneyhasgivenherapassionforeducationandformakinghergeographyclassescompellingtoherstudents.

“Mychallengeisgettingstudentstoactuallylearnsome-thing.Someareexcitedtobehere,somearejustheretogetthecredits,andsomearetryingtodoaslittleaspossible,”shesaid.“IwantthemalltounderstandthattheycangetaverygoodeducationhereatYSU.Itjustdependsonhowmucheffortastudentiswillingtoputforth.”

PughgrewupinChicagowithamotherwhoencour-agedhertoearnadegree,andsheregisteredatJolietJuniorCollegerightoutofhighschool.Whenhercar’stransmissionblewouttwoweeksbeforefinalsthatfirstsemester,however,shedidn’tthinkaboutnotifyingherprofessorstoworkoutasolution.Thinkingshehadnootherrecourse,shedroppedoutofschool.

Shespentthenext17yearsliving,workingandpartyingintheWindyCity.“It’sprobablynotuncommon,butmuchofmyyouthwasspentpartying,”shesaid.

In1994,corporatedownsizingeliminatedherjob,despiteher15years’senioritywiththecompany.ButPughwasn’ttakencompletelyoffguard.Realizingthatalayoffwaspossible,shehadbeguntoconsidergoingbacktoschool,andbecauseshewasfascinatedwithanimals,shedecidedtomajorinbiology.

Pugh’smotherandstepfatherhadrelocatedtoYoungstown,hermother’shometown,soPughjoinedthemherewithher9-year-olddaughter,JoncquilHope,andsignedupforafull-timescheduleofclassesatYSU.Shewas35.“Atmyage,IknewtheonlywayIcouldgetthroughwastogotoschoolfull-time,”shesaid.

Shetookherfirstgeographyclassasanelectiveandlikeditsomuchthatshetookeveryotheravailableclassinthatsubject,enoughforadoublemajor,andin2000earned

dualbachelor’sdegrees–aBSinbiologyandaBAingeography.

Pughwasn’tinterestedinthekindsofjobsthatwereavailabletoherwithabachelor’sdegree.“Ididn’twanttobestuckinalaballday,”sheexplained.Shedecidedtocon-tinueherstudies,earnedanMSinbiologyatYSUin2002,andthenheadedeasttocompleteaPh.D.ingeographyattheUniversityofMaryland.

Shewascompletingherdoctoraldissertation,astudyoftheWestNileVirus,whenYSU’sGeographyDepartmentin-vitedhertoapplyforanopeninstructorposition.Shegotthejob,movedbacktoYoungstownin2007andbeganhercareerasaprofessorofhumangeography—thestudyofhumanbehaviorpatternsandhowtheyrelatetotheenvironment.Thisspring,shewasrecognizedbyherpeersatYSUwiththeGeographyDepartment’sOutstandingAlumniAward.

PughlivesinCampbell,Ohio,withherdaughter,nowaseniorbusinessmajoratYSU,hergranddaughterJaleahHarris,3,andapuppytheycallTank.Stillintriguedwithanythinginvolvinganimals,Pughlikestospendherfreetimebirdwatching,visitingzoosandaquariums.Profile by Cynthia Vinarsky

Starting Life Over as a University ProfessorLashalePugh,’00,’02

Lashale Pugh


Alumni Spotlight

GrowingupinDennison,Ohio,alumnusSethHookerwasanavidClevelandBrownsfootballfanandadevoteeofTransformers,thepopularHasbrotoylineintroducedinthemid-1980s.Today,hisdreamofdesigninghisownlineofTransformerrobotshasevolvedintoabrightcareerasasoftwaredeveloperforhisbelovedBrowns.

WhenhearrivedontheYSUcampus,Hooker,Classof2003,didn’tknowwhathewantedtomajorin,muchlesswherehiscareerpathmightlead.

“WhenIgottocollegeIdidn’thaveaclueaboutwhatIshouldstudy,”herecalled.“SinceI’dalwayslikedcomputers,IthoughtI’dtrycomputerscienceuntilIcouldfigureoutwhatIreallywantedtodo.AfteraboutayearatYSU,Iwasreallyintoitandrealizeditwasrightforme.”

Hookercreditsanumberofprofessorsandstudentadvi-sorsformakinghistimeatYSU“agreatexperience,botheducationallyandsocially.”Heearnedabachelor’sdegreeincomputerscienceandimmediatelyacceptedapositionwithSOSIntegration,anengineeringandautomationcompanywhereheworkedforfiveyearsbeforejoiningtheBrownsasasoftwaredeveloperin2009.

NFLfranchisesareascompetitiveinfindingeffectivewaystomanagedataastheirplayersarewhentheylineupagainsteachotheronSundayafternoons,Hookersaid.

Anenormousvolumeofstatisticsandotherinformationmustbeprocessedandmadeavailabletocoaches,managersandscoutstogivethemanedgeinmakingplayerrecruitmentandgame-daydecisions.Thatdatamustbedeliveredtofitthespecificneedsofeverycoachanddecisionmaker.ThisiswhereHooker’sexpertiseandhispassionforBrownsfootballhaveserendipitouslycollided.

“Iworkwiththecoaches,thescoutingdepartment,thesalarycappeopleandthemedicalpeople,anyonethattouch-esthefootballsideofthebusiness.Idevelopthesoftwarethattheyuse,”heexplained.“Andit’simportanttomaintainacloseuser/developerrelationshipwiththecoachesandscouts.IfIdevelopsoftwarethatdoesn’tworkforthem,thenit’sjunk.SoIspendalotoftimewiththem,showingthemnewtools,gettingtheirfeedbackandmakingadjustments.

A Browns Fan TransformedSethHooker,’03

Thesystemisconstantlychangingandimproving.Icouldbeherefor30yearsandtherewouldstillbemoreworktobedone.”

Asalifelongfan,Hookersaidtheopportunitytobearoundplayersandcoachesandtohelpthemdotheirjobsbetterisahugeplus.“Ihavealotofcreativefreedom.Ihaveadifferentchallengeeveryday.IreallyamluckybecauseI’velandedinanindustrythatI’mpassionateabout,”hesaid.“EventhoughIreallydolikesoftwaredevelopment,I’mnotpassionateaboutsoftwaredevelopmentingeneral.ButI’mpassionateaboutfootball.SoifIcanapplymyskillsetandknowledgetosomethingIcaresomuchabout,thatmakesmyjobevenbetter.”

Andbeingpassionateaboutwhatyoudoisvitalinpro-fessionalfootball,hesaid.“It’sagrind.Alotisexpectedofyou.Therearelonghours,there’salotofworkandyougiveupthings,”Hookersaid,“butattheendoftheday,ifyouloveit,it’sareallygreatjob.”

WhilehemaynotbedesigningthelatestTransformerrobotline,HookerishopingthathisworkwiththeClevelandBrownsmayhelptransformthemintoachampionship-levelteaminthenearfuture.Whatcouldmakeatruefanandatrueprofessionalhappier?

Profile by Mark W. Van Tilburg

Seth Hooker

PHO

TO C

OU

RTES

Y O

f TH

E C

LEV

ELA

ND

BR

Ow

NS

SPRING 2010 29

Alumni Spotlight

He’saninternationallyknownspaceanddinosaurartistwhoseclientsincludehouseholdnamessuchasNational GeographicandTheHistoryChannel,butJoeTucciaronehasputawayhispaintbrushes.Thesedays,hecreatesartthroughcomputervideoanimation.

“It’slikethedarksidein“StarWars.”Computeranima-tionhastakenmeover,”hejoked.“Ihaven’tpaintedforyears,butI’menthralled.Ihavesomuchfun.It’slikewhatIusedtodo,butthepicturesmove.”

Tucciaronehasbeendrawingandpaintingdinosaursandspaceimagerysincehewasoldenoughtopickupapencil.GrowingupinHubbard,Ohio,hespentSaturdaymorn-ingsinartclassesattheButlerInstituteofAmericanArtinYoungstown.

“Theywantedmetopaintbowlsoffruitandland-scapes,butIwasonlyinterestedindrawingdino-saursandspace,”hesaidwithalaugh.“Icheckedouteverybookatthelibraryaboutdinosaursandspace,readthemandre-readthem.IguessyoucouldsayIwasobsessed.”

Tucciarone’sfascinationwithprehistoriccrea-tures,starsandplanetshasneverfaded.Bythetimehereachedcollegeage,heunderstoodthatasciencedegreewouldbestpreparehimfortheartspecialtyhedesired.

HemajoredinphysicsatYSU,earningaBSinphys-icsatYSUin1976andamaster’sdegreeinphysicsattheUniversityofToledotwoyearslater.Thephysicsbackgroundgavehimtheexpertisetopainthisfavoritesubjectswiththeprecisionandaccuracythatmuseums,planetariums,sciencemagazinesandjournalsrequire.“Eventothisday,IusethephysicsIlearnedatYSUinmyprojects,”hesaid.

Tucciarone’sfirstfull-timeartpositiontookhimtoMemphis,wherehepaintedspacescenesfortheMemphisMuseumPlanetarium.Hehadasuccessionofplanetariumartistpositionsoverthenext25yearsatfacilitiesinRich-mond,Va.,Bradenton,Fla.,andfinallyinCocoa,Fla.,where

helivesnowwithhiswife,Jennifer,andtheirdaughters,April,13,andLily,11.

Butnewerprojectionsystemsanddigitalarthavechangedthewayplanetariumscenesarecreated,andpaintisnolongerpartoftheprocess.“It’salostart,”hesaidofthewayscenesusedtobepainted,thenphotographedandprojectedonthedome.

Tucciaronedivideshistimebetweenhisownhome-basedfreelanceartandvideobusiness,InterstellarIllustrations,andhisjobasanartistattheBrevardCommunityCollegeplan-etarium.Heworksonacomputer,buildingsceneswiththree-dimensionalapplications,andthenusingavirtualcameratocreaterealisticmovement.

Tucciarone’svideoanimationswerefeaturedrecentlyonthreeNational Geo-graphictelevisionspecialsandontheHistoryChannelseries“Universe.”TheSciencePhotoLibraryinLondon

isshowcasinghiswork,givinghiminter-nationalexposure.Mean-while,Tuc-ciaronesellshis

dinosaurandspaceimagery

artanddigitalvideosthroughhisInterstellarIllustrationswebsitewww.joetucciarone.com.“EventhoughIdon’tpaintanymore,mydinosaurartisstillusedregularlybycustomersallovertheworld,”hesaid.

TheYSUBoardofTrusteesrecognizedTucciarone’slifetimeofachievementsinthefieldofscienceillustrationin2000,awardinghimanhonoraryDoctorofScienceDegree.TheButlerInstitutehonoreditsformerstudentthatyear,too,featuringhisworkinanexhibitentitled“VisionsoftheUniverse.”

Tucciarone’sfavoritepastimeisspendingtimewithhisfamilyandenjoyingtheFloridaclimate.“Weridebikestogether,gotothebeachandlocalparksandhavecookoutsinthebackyard–youcandothatalmostyear-roundhere,”hesaid.“AbouttheonlythingImissaboutOhioisiceskating.”

Profile by Cynthia Vinarsky

Video Animation Brings His Art to LifeJoeTucciarone,’76BS

Artist Joe Tucciarone creates space images like this one for clients around the world.

notes60sRudolph“Rudy”A.SchlaisJr. of Sandusky,

Ohio, ’63 BE in electrical engineering, has been named to the board of directors for Viryd Technologies Inc., a Texas-based wind turbine technology company. Schlais is ex-ecutive chairman for China Auto Electronics Group Limited, and previously served as the company’s president and chief execu-tive. He spent more than 42 years in senior management positions at General Motors, capped by his role as president and CEO of General Motors Asia Pacific. He also graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from YSU.

JohnSumansky of Dallas, Pa., ’66 BA in econom-ics, has been named professor of business and chair of the busi-ness department at Misericordia University, where he also serves as director for the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Education. He earned his master’s and doc-toral degrees in economics from Pennsylva-nia State University and previously served as chief information and planning officer at Misericordia.

PaulMeese of Longboat Key, fla., ’68 BSBA, was re-cently presented the Pittsburgh Stock and Bond Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 40 years as a financial advisor for UBS financial Ser-vices. Meese retired

from UBS in 2007 as a financial advisor and branch manager of its Pittsburgh office, and he is a security industry arbitrator for the financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

70sJimGraham of warren, ’72 BSBA, was named

to the warren G. Harding High School Hall of fame in April. Graham began working at the General Motors Complex in Lordstown, Ohio in 1968, and he has been president of United Autoworkers Local 1112 at the plant since 1997.

FredericMorano of Boardman, ’73 BA, re-cently completed his 30th year as a violinist with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.

DanielDunn of Hatfield, Pa., ’74 BS in mechanical engineering, has joined Brooks Instrument in Pa. as director of customer service. Brooks came to the company from Aviza Technology where he was responsible for worldwide customer service, including product support, field engineering, techni-cal training and logistics.

JosephCarsonof westport, Conn., ’75 AB, ’76 MA, was a featured speaker in a Professionals in Residence presen-tation at Hobart and william Smith Colleges this spring, discuss-ing his experi-ence as a wall Street economist. Carson is senior vice president and director of global economic research for AllianceBer-nstein, a New York-based investment firm. Previously, he was chief economist of the Americas for UBS warburg. He earned a Ph.D. at George washington University in washington, D.C.

RobertD.Baird of Miamisburg, Ohio, ’77 BE in civil engi-neering, has com-pleted the process to become a LEED Green Associate under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design program. A registered professional engineer in three states, Baird is an assistant project manager and civil engineer in the Dayton office of Barge waggoner Sumner & Cannon. He joined the firm in 2006.

FrankDixon of New Springfield, ’77 BSBA, has been named to the boards of directors for first Place financial Corp. and first Place Bank. Dixon is a CPA and a partner in Cohen & Company. In 2007, he was named an outstanding alumnus by YSU’s williamson College of Business Administra-tion.

80sWilliamL.Brown

of New Castle, Pa., ’80 BSBA, was named president-elect of the North-western Chapter of the Pennsyl-vania Institute

of Certified Public Accountants. Brown, a CPA, is a sales manager for Precision feed-screws Inc. and an individual practitioner in New Castle. He is also a musician at the New Castle Playhouse and formerly served on the Shenango Area School Board.

JohnS.Gulas of Austintown, ’80 AB, was named president and chief executive officer of farmers National Banc Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary, farmers National Bank of Canfield. He was also appointed to the company’s board of directors. Gulas joined the bank in 2008 as chief operating officer and has more than 25 years experience in bank management. After completing his under-graduate degree at YSU, he earned a law degree from the University of Toledo.

RuthWilliamson of Columbiana, ’80 AAS, ’83 BS in nursing, is a registered nurse in the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation depart-ment at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. Certified in cardiac rehabilita-tion by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, she has been employed at St. E’s since 1980. She is a past member of the Columbiana Board of Education, and her twin children, a son and a daughter, also plan to attend YSU this fall.

KimberlyWardAnderson of Lexington, Ky., ’81 BE in chemical engineering, has been awarded a research professorship by the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees and plans to use the award to expand her research on cells and proteins, specifically investigating the physical properties of cancer cells. ward Anderson, who earned her Ph.D. in chemical engineering and biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, is an engineering professor at UK and was the first female faculty member in its College of Engineering.

WilliamJ.Tarka of Brecksville, Ohio, ’82 AAS, ‘86 BSAS, received a master’s degree in engineering from Case western Reserve Univer-sity. formerly the assistant director of construction services at CwRU, Tarka has joined URS Corporation in Cleveland as su-pervising discipline engineer in the

John Sumansky

class


Paul Meese

Joseph Carson

Robert D. Baird

William L. Brown

John S. Gulas

William Tarka

SUMMER 2010 31

electrical department. He is a registered professional engineer in Ohio and Michigan.

RichardA.Mattiussi of Austintown, ’86 BA, earned a Ph.D. in theology from the Graduate Theological foundation in Mishawaka, Ind. He teaches in the theology department of Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown and as an adjunct professor at walsh University, Canton. His Ph.D. dissertation addressed the need for reconciliation between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, and it has been published as a book by Eastern Christian Publications. His wife, Lisa Mattiussi, (BS ’87, MA ’92) is also a YSU graduate.

SuzanneP.Land of Cincinnati, ’87 BA in eco-nomics and political science, has joined the Dinsmore & Shohl LLP law firm as a partner in the Corporate Department and member of the family wealth Planning Practice Group. Land came to the firm from the law firm Greenbaum, Doll & McDonald, where she was also a partner. Land is an adjunct professor teaching courses in estate plan-ning and gift and estate tax at the University of Cincinnati School of Law and is board chairman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. She earned her law degree from Case western Reserve University School of Law and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America and Ohio Super Lawyers.

90sDeonMiller of Buffalo, N.Y., ’91 BSBA in marketing, was named vice

president of sales, Americas, for Reichert Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of instruments for the eye-care profession. Miller was previously director of sales, critical care, at B. Braun Medical and has more than 15 years experience in the medical products field.

JoAnnC.Green of Tampa, fla., ’92 BSN, is a critical care nursing consultant and clinical education specialist at Tampa General Hospital. She has 16 years of professional experience and previously served as a preceptor for graduate nursing students at florida Southern College. In addition to her YSU bachelor’s degree in nursing, Green has a master’s degree in nursing, with a concentration in clinical and critical care nursing, from the frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case western Reserve University.

KeithSlater of Canfield, ’92 BS in computer information systems, has been promoted to vice president and general manager of Henry Schein Medical Systems, a fortune 500 company, and will be based in Youngstown. He joined Team Schein in february 2009 and assumed leadership of its medical systems division the following September. Slater previously spent more than 20 years working in the health-care sector.

RockyRiviella of Apex, N.C., ’93 BSBA in accounting, recently moved

his family to North Carolina from his hometown in Niles to accept a position as business manager of the McAllister Heart Institute at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Previously, he was employed for 11 years as administrator for Trumbull County Engineer John Latell.

Class Notes

YSU alumna BrendaY.Person of Winter Garden, Fla., ’68 BA in sociology, has authored the book Second Time Around, describing her experiences as a grandmother raising her grandson. The book is available at Barnes and Noble stores and on Amazon.com. Person has a master’s degree in student personnel/counseling services from Slippery Rock University and a Ph.D. in educational administration

from the former Orlando University. She was previ-ously employed as a limited services instructor at YSU and is now a retired parenting education consultant.

WilliamTyson of Walpole, NH, ’72 BSBA, is the author of a new book for higher education entitled Pitch Perfect: Communicating with Traditional and Social Media for Scholars, Researchers and Academic Leaders and published by Stylus Publishing LLC. The book offers

practical guidance on how to successfully com-municate a message to traditional news media and social media. Tyson is the owner of Morrison & Tyson Communica-tions, a national media relations firm serving colleges, universities, policy institutes and foundations.

Richard A. Mattiussi

Suzanne P. Land

Jo Ann C. Green

Brenda Y. Person

William Tyson

Alumni


Class Notes

GOT GOOD NEWS? Let YSU Magazine include it in the Class Notes column. When you write, please in-clude your YSU graduation year and degree, city of residence and a contact phone number or e-mail address. E-mail class notes to [email protected] or mail to: YSU Magazine, Marketing and Communications, Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555.

MikeCochran of Girard, ’94 BA in exercise science, has joined the University of Akron as strength and conditioning coach for the football team. Previously, he held similar coaching positions at Marshall University, Ohio State University and at YSU, where he worked under Coach Jim Tressel. As a student, he played football for the Penguins, and he was named to the YSU Athletic Hall of fame in 2000.

JosephA.Berquistof Twinsburg, Ohio, ’95 BE in chemical engineering, has been promoted to vice president and manag-ing director of Quaker Chemical’s North American operations, where he has more than 13 years experience. Previously, he was senior director of commercial for the company. Berquist earned his MBA from Case western Reserve University.

JustinTerleckiof Minneapolis, ’97 BfA, recently completed the Jerome Emerging Printmakers’ Residency at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking. Terlecki creates stone and plate lithographs using his own sketches of his travels to India and Spain. His latest work and that of the two other printmakers in the residency program, were on display at the Highpoint Center in late July.

BradAllenShonk

of Biloxi, Miss., ’99 BS in education, was named 2010 Mississippi Teacher of the Year in April by the Mississippi Department of Education. Shonk is a fourth-grade math, science and Mississippi history teacher and joined the Biloxi Public School District teaching staff 11 years ago. As the state’s Teacher of the Year, he was awarded a $5,000 salary supplement and will represent the state in the national competition in Dallas.

KristenOlivaWhited of Boardman, ’99 BS in applied science, has been appointed assistant director of nursing at Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman, where she previ-ously served as restorative nurse. She has an associate degree in nursing from Mercy College of Northwest Ohio.

00sJoshuaKollat of State

College, Pa., ’03 BE in civil and environmental engineering, graduated in May from Penn State University with a Ph.D. in Civil Engi-neering, a minor in high-performance computing, and a specialization in water resources. He has accepted a position as a research associate in Penn State’s Depart-ment of Civil and Environmental Engineer-ing. Kollat’s work at Penn State was funded in part by an EPA Science to Achieve Results graduate fellowship, and he has published several articles in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals.

AngelRiveraof Lyndhurst, N.J., ’03 BA in fashion studies, has launched his own collection of bridal gowns, to be available starting this fall at specialty bridal boutiques across North America. The founder of Angel Rivera Couture LLC, Rivera has been designing couture bridal gowns for six years and designed the gown that actress Essence Atkins wore in her Pasadena, Calif. wedding last September.

LeslieWagner of Batavia, Ohio, ’04 BA in American studies, is a curatorial assistant at the Cincinnati Art Museum. She is currently working on an exhibit of circus posters from the Strobridge Lithographing Company, a 19th-century Cincinnati print-ing company.

BenShaker of Orlando, fla., ’05 BA in eco-nomics, is a senior consultant for Navvis & Company, a management consulting firm specializing in the health-services industry.

Brad Allen Shonk

Joshua Kollat

Previously, he was a consultant for Ernst & Young in west Palm Beach, fla. He has a master’s degree in health-care administra-tion from Ohio State University.

JonathanKinserof

wayne Town-ship, Ohio, ’07 MA in history, has received a full scholarship from the History Department at Case western Reserve Univer-sity and plans to begin working on his Ph.D. there this fall. while a graduate student at YSU, Kinser’s graduate research thesis revealed that Clarence Darrow, a celebrated attorney, defended warren gangster James Munsene. Kinser also earned a screenwrit-ing certificate from the New York film Academy, worked as a casting director for the television program “Deal or No Deal,” and recently developed a short comedy film as an employee for Yellow Creek filmworks.

JohnW.Matuneof Mercer, Pa., ’08 MBA, has joined PNC financial wealth Manage-ment as a trust adviser and assistant vice president, serving clients in northwestern Pennsylvania. Matune, who has a bach-elor’s degree from westminster College, was previously employed by first National Bank of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Mercer County Young Professionals and is active with the United way of Mercer County.

Jonathan Kinser

HOMECOMINGY O U N G S T O W N S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y

www.ysu.edu

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.ysu.edu

HOMECOMINGY O U N G S T O W N S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y

SUNDAY,OCT.24through SUNDAY,OCT.31

Formoreinformation,calltheOfficeofAlumniandEventsManagement,330-941-3497,orvisitwww.ysu.edu/alumni.

MakeplansnowtoreturntocampusforHomecoming2010,reconnectwithfriendsandparticipateinthemanycampusactivitiesthatareplanned.Homecomingeventsinclude:

• WCBAAwardsBanquet–6p.m.,Friday,Oct.29

• HomecomingParade–11a.m.,Saturday,Oct.30

• AlumniTerraceDinner–11:30a.m.,Oct.30

• HomecomingGamevs.UNI–1p.m.,Oct.30

• HalfCenturyClubReunion–receptionat11:30a.m.,luncheonatnoon,Sunday,Oct.31

www.ysu.edu/alumni

OfficeofUniversityDevelopmentOneUniversityPlazaYoungstown,Ohio44555-0001

S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

YSU’s new president and alumna Cynthia E. Anderson is among the student leaders pictured in this Student Council photo from the 1971 edition of The Neon, YSU’s student yearbook. Seated in the front row, far right, Anderson campaigned on a student rights platform that spring semester to win a seat on Student Council. She served in the university’s Student Government in 1972 and completed her undergraduate degree in March 1973.

First published in 1931, The Neon chronicled campus life in photographs for 60 years, ceas-ing publication in 1992. After a 12-year absence, The Neon briefly resumed publication in the 2003-04 and 2005-06 academic years.

(To view more historical photographs in the University Archives at Maag Li-brary, visit http://digital.maag.ysu.edu.)

AnybodyLookFamiliar?

it's all about students

Documents

ysu campus

university plaza

ysu office of marketing

ysu president cynthiae

university mascots pete

tree campus designation

exceptional ysu alumni

tree campus usa universityon