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The �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Bachelor of Social Work degree during the Board’s regular quarterly meeting held March 8. The new degree was developed based on the high demand for licensed social workers within the areas surrounding �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ’s Regional Campuses.

�鶹��Ƶ������ȫ has opened its newest research center, the IC Touch Lab, that will revolutionize the way medical students practice and patients rehabilitate. Headed by Kwangtaek Kim, assistant professor of Computer Science, the lab conducts various research projects involving haptic technology to expand the possibilities of medical and rehabilitation practices. 

Suzy D’Enbeau, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Communication Studies, was recently featured on “Dr. Phil” podcast “Phil in The Blanks” for her expertise on pronouns and the power of language.

�鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University alumnus Earl K. Miller, Ph.D., and his wife, Marlene M. Wicherski, have pledged $2 million to support research programs and students in �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ’s Brain Health Research Institute. The Brain Health Research Institute is a recently established, cross-disciplinary institute that focuses on research and education of brain health across the lifespan.

A �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University alumnus has found a unique way to combine his passions and career after graduation. Nicholas Hunter, a 2020 �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ graduate, recently discovered a way to combine two passions uncovered during his time at �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ: writing and comic books.

�鶹��Ƶ������ȫ alumnus Cooper Moore, '21, was recently elected the President of the Board of Directors for the American Institute of Architecture Students after graduating in the fall. As president, Moore will lead the board during discussions and decisions. His other responsibilities include helping run the organization, marketing and carrying out the organization’s strategic plan. He will serve for a one year term in Washington, D.C.

During a summer research project at �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ Geauga, nursing student Lauren Petrick succeeded in isolating a bacterial virus that shows promise as an alternative to antibiotics in fighting off intestinal bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections, GI tract infections and even pneumonia. By teaming up with �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ Geauga Associate Professor Sanhita Gupta, Petrick tackled this problem through �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) last summer.

When people consider hunger in America, they tend to think of people far away in urban centers. They don’t realize that food insecurity is a very real problem in Geauga County, even among college students. In order to combat this growing and troubling trend, �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University at Geauga is partnering with the Geauga Hunger Task Force (GHTF). �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ Geauga received a $2,500 grant from the GHTF in January 2022 to assist in their mission “ensuring that no Geauga County residents go hungry.”

The PNC Foundation has awarded $75,000 to �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University to help ensure success among students who commonly face barriers in college. This grant aligns with PNC’s focus on addressing economic inequality among Black American and low- to moderate-income communities, and it will provide resources for students that will help them complete college and establish a strong foundation on which to build their careers.

Students across the nation were challenged as the pandemic swept the world. Healing Stanzas, a collaboration between the Wick Poetry Center, the Healthy Communities Research Institute and the Brain Health Research Institute, seeks to combine the science of brain health and public health with the creative energy of the humanities to provide �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ students, staff and faculty with an opportunity to improve wellness through reflective poetry.

DC Comics’ superhero Black Lightning has been part of popular culture, and Black history, for more than 40 years. Since his debut in 1977 as DC’s very first “headline” Black character, Black Lightning has appeared in comic books, animated TV series, video games and, in 2017, a live-action TV series that ran for four seasons on The CW Network. In his secret identity, Jefferson Pierce (shh, don’t tell anyone), he also appeared on the Kent Campus to get his teaching degree. Yes – Black Lightning is a �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ alumnus. 

Tang Tang, Ph.D., professor in the College of Communication and Information at �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University, recently shared her expertise with the New York Times in the article "Beijing Olympic Ratings Were the Worst of Any Winter Games."

�鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University is the sole university in the U.S. to receive the prestigious 2022 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The honor recognizes �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ for overall excellence in integrating international education throughout all facets of the university and its campuses.

�鶹��Ƶ������ȫ alumna, Brianna Gordon, ‘20, developed two interests independently in high school: video production and sports. Now, she spends her days combining those two, working on videos for the Pro Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF) in Canton, Ohio. Gordon is making a name for herself after graduating with a degree in digital media production and a concentration in television from the School of Media and Journalism in the College of Communication and Information.

Society’s norm for men is stereotyped as leaders, providers, and guardians. Society also posits that men cannot speak about their emotions and have to portray a strong persona to be considered masculine and to succeed in these roles. This results in an environment of “toxic masculinity,” which encourages negative self image, negative outward behavior and struggles with mental health among men who feel they have to be strong at all times. An initiative on campus is trying to change that perception.

�鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University has established a new partnership with Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law to offer students two pathways to obtain a bachelor’s degree from �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ and a law degree from CSU in six years. The new 3+3 program will shorten the length of time typically needed to complete both degrees.

Head of textile program at �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ, Professor Janice Lessman-Moss, curated an exhibition of modernized forms of weaving that was recently featured on Cool Cleveland. The new show at �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ’s Center for the Visual Arts, called Line by Line, focuses on six early career artists that are focused on the diverse world of weaving.

Communication Studies Lecturer Aaron Bacue initially doubted how effective he might be teaching under the restrictions of COVID-19, but along the way, he made a big difference.

U.S. News & World Report has named three �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University programs as U.S. News Best Online Programs for 2022. �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ is recognized in the Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs, Best Online Graduate Education Programs and Best Online MBA Programs rankings.

A retired Marine is using his journey to assist others at �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ's Center for Adult and Veteran Services. Recently featured on Good Morning America’s “What You Need to Know” segment, Mark Stillion discussed his experience of adjusting to life after his four deployments and how �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ’s programs have assisted him.