Criminal Justice Club Hosts Guest Speakers

The Criminal Justice Club recently hosted Nicolle Valentine and Tim Batdorf from ThreeC Counseling. They spoke to the group about bridging the gap between criminal justice and psychology through methods of drug and alcohol counseling. READ MORE

Turkish Musician Presents as 2016 Gretchen French Visiting Artist

Turkish singer, composer and scholar Latif Bolat has been selected for the 2016 Gretchen French Visiting Artist Series in Music at Ashland University. Bolat will visit Ashland University on October 31 and November 1 to present two workshops and a concert. All of the events are free and open to the public. READ MORE

Ashbrook Senior Fellow to Address ISIS, al Queda

Dr. David Tucker, a senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, will speak on the topic of “What is the Best Way to Deal with ISIS, al Queda and Similar Organizations?” at the Ashbrook Center Colloquium on Friday, Oct. 28, at 3 p.m. in the Ashbrook Center. READ MORE

25th Environmental Lecture Series to Focus on “In Our Backyard” Theme

Ashland University’s 25th annual Environmental Lecture Series features the theme of “In Our Backyard, Year 2” and will kick off Thursday, Oct. 27, with a presentation by Dr. Lisa Rainsong, professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Dr. Rainsong will speak on the topic "Crickets and Katydids: Research by Ear" at the 7:30 p.m. event in Ronk Lecture Hall of the Schar College of Education. All events in the series are free and open to the public.

2017 URCA Abstracts Due Jan. 27

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium Committee is pleased to announce the Call for Abstracts for the Eighth Annual College of Arts and Sciences URCA Symposium. This event will highlight the research, scholarly, and creative activities of students throughout the College of Arts and Sciences, and will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.The deadline for submitting abstracts is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2017.

Fall Choral Concert, Oct. 30

The Ashland University Choir, Chamber Singers and the Women's Chorus present their fall choral concert on Sunday, October 30 at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. The performance is free and open to the public.

With a program featuring selections from the Baroque period to contemporary pieces by living composers, the concert will bridge the old with the new by celebrating Dr. Rowland Blackley's 20-year tenure as Ashland University's Director of Choral Activities and Kimberly Wolbert's inaugural concert directing the Women's Chorus. READ MORE

10-Minute Play Auditions, Oct. 24

 The Theatre directing class is hosting auditions for their 10-Minute One-Act Festival on Monday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in CFA Room 101. The performance will be held Dec. 13. The student-directors have chosen eight fantastic 10-minute plays which are funny, serious, thought-provoking. They include many roles for men and women. READ MORE

Dr. Randall-Griffiths Presents Paper

Dr. Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, presented a paper titled "From Menarche to Menopause: Practical Implications for Healthcare Providers" at the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender annual conference in Oak Park, IL.

JDM Students Attend Radio Student Scholars Conference

It is not every day that a college media student receives a scholarship to attend a national professional conference. In fact, the chances that two students from the same university academic program garner this honor is very rare. However, Journalism and Digital Media majors Callan Pugh and Sean Honaker are the exceptions to this rule. Callan and Sean received two of only two hundred registration scholarships given to collegiate undergraduates and graduate students for the Student Scholars Program at the 2016 Radio Show conference. READ MORE

Why Study English at AU?

By María Cardona, Creative Writing major

As I start my senior year here at Ashland University, I can’t help but think of my time here and all the great memories that I’ll always treasure. I’ve made great friends, I’ve grown, and changed, and matured and I owe a lot of that to the English Department. I’ll be honest—in my first years here I wasn’t as involved with my Department as I should have been, but I finally began to click with it my junior year and I found a home. FULL STORY

Theatre & Art Collide on Friday, Oct. 21

Just in time for the holiday season, the first-ever, student-run Art Pop-Up Shop will be held in the Coburn Gallery located in the Center for the Arts building on Friday, Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will allow customers to browse and purchase the artful handcrafted items created by AU art students and faculty. The Art Pop-Up Shop coincides with AU Theatre’s opening night performance of "The Autumn Garden." Cash or checks are accepted for all purchases.

Criminal Justice Club Tours Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility

"Going on this trip made me realize that there is more than just the few careers I had in mind.  I decided to major in Criminal Justice because I wanted to be a prosecutor for a long time. Since majoring in this, I've changed my mind several times. I love all the options in Criminal Justice. This was beneficial because the gang investigation and corrections was very interesting to me. Seeing it hands on in person was very special."  --Dominique Ciehanoski, freshman criminal justice major READ MORE

Listening to Veterans

by Emily Wirtz

It’s difficult to overstate how much genuine human connections contribute to our well-being in all facets of life. I am learning that this is especially true of veterans. When people—often very different people—come together to share and to listen, great things can happen. FULL STORY

Mackall, Guest Blogger for The Art & Craft of Creative Nonfiction

"Whenever I’ve spent too much time wondering if what I’m writing is an essay or memoir or literary nonfiction or anything else really, bad things start to happen. First I’ll stare at the screen as if it’s a divine oracle, and what I need to do is wait patiently for the answers to all my writing problems. When that fails, I gaze out my office window, watching the squirrels, wondering how they all stay so damn busy." Joe Mackall FULL BLOG POST

Political Columnist to Speak at Ashbrook Dinner

Cal Thomas, one of the most widely syndicated political columnists in America, will be speaking on the topic of “How We Got Here and Where We are Going if Things Don’t Change; What Works: Common Sense Solutions for a Stronger America” at the Ashbrook Center’s Major Issues Lecture Series on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Myers Convocation Center. FULL STORY

Partnership with Conversa, Costa Rica

“Ashland University and the Conversa Language Institute have a long standing relationship and this is the next natural step toward allowing students from all over the world to complete AU coursework in Spanish online or residentially through the Conversa Language Institute in Santa Ana,” said Dr. Dawn Weber, dean of the AU College of Arts and Sciences. “We are proud of this project, which is just one of many international partnerships the university is pursuing under the direction of Provost Dr. Eun-Woo Chang.” FULL STORY

2016 Math & Computer Science Newsletter

The 2016 Math and Computer Science Newsletter is now available on the Math and Computer Website. Stay up to date on the latest student, alumni and faculty news including updates on competitions, presentations and honors including the actuarial program's ranking in the Top 40 programs in the country. NEWSLETTER HERE

Dr. Jamieson's Reviews Published

 The Self-Propelled Voyager, written by Dr. Duncan Jamieson, Professor of History at Ashland University, was recently reviewed by Bill Sund, Professor Emeritus of History at Stockholm University. The review is available on the Nordic Sport Science Forum. Dr. Jamieson's reviews of cycling-related works were also published recently.  READ MORE

"The Autumn Garden" Opens Friday, Oct. 21

The Department of Theatre opens the 2016-2017 season with Lillian Hellman's drama The Autumn Garden on Friday, October 21. As explained by director Teresa Durbin-Ames, "Hellman’s play has given the cast and audience an opportunity to explore complicated characters, most of who are not being honest with themselves and others." Along with theatre majors, the cast and crew also include representation from several other departments across campus including forensic biology, psychology, history, education, sports communication, Spanish and French. Travel back to 1949 with AU Theatre to the deep south for this annual reunion of old acquaintances in their forties. FULL STORY

A Focus on Korean Wave Culture

The Department of Global Education will host a presentation by Dr. Young-Hwan Park on October 17 at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium. Korean Wave Culture has become widely popular in Eastern Asia, such as China, Japan and Taiwan since the late 90s. Dr. Park will address how this has impacted Asian cultures and spread across the globe.

High School Art Award Winners Announced

Marguerite Mitchell &
Ashland HS Art Educator Carmone Macfarlane 

The award winners have been announced for the Ashland County High School Juried Art Exhibition that will run through November 6 in the University’s Coburn Gallery. Marguerite Mitchell from Ashland High School was awarded Best in Show and People's Choice for her ceramic sculpture entitled Marina. Honorable mentions were awarded to Emily Stevens and Camryn Hall from Crestview High School, Skylar Hildebrandt of Mapleton High School and Audra Gilespie of Ashland High School. Two juror mentions were awarded on technical qualities to Peter Zimmerman and Ellie Harlan of Ashland High School.

AU Credited for Solving Problem 334

The Ashland University Problem Solving Group received credit for submitting a correct solution to Problem 334, in the September, 2016 issue of Math Horizons. Grace McCourt was the primary author of the solution.

AU Students to Present at OCA Conference

This week, Ashland University will be hosting the Ohio Conference Association’s (OCA) 80th Annual Conference, the theme of which is Strong Roots – Branches of Communication.  The following students from AU will be presenting this year:

"I Vow…" A PSA on Domestic Abuse in Intimate Relationships by Natalie Antonio, Megan Salatino, Sami Solanics, Sarah Van Wagnen, Allison Vredenburgh

Relationships in Sports and their Correlation to Success by Allison Vredenburgh

Heineken Dog Fighting Rumors by Haley Pittman, Corbon Angermeier

Heironimus Excels at the Medina Gazette

Digital Media Journalism May 2016 graduate Halee Heironimus is working as a reporter for the Medina Gazette covering local news in northern Medina County, Ohio. Heironiumus was the former managing editor of The Collegian, a sideline reporter for the WRDL and AUTV 20 broadcasts of Ashland University football and basketball games and the originating producer/anchor for the AUTV 20 News Break program. She was also a two-time JDM academic scholar.

Art Alum Painted Live at AU Homecoming

Alumnus Robin Roberts ('82) painted on the front lawn of Founders Hall at AU Homecoming this past weekend. He broadcasted his painting live on Facebook and sold the finished painting of Founders Hall at the silent auction that evening. Many thanks to Robin for sharing his talents.

O'Rourke Presents at Second International Conference

Dr. Dan O'Rourke, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, was one of five Americans selected to present at the second International Conference on the Superhero in Oxford, England. Representatives from 12 countries explored themes of the heroic narrative, gender identities, ​heteronormative behavior, changing visions of the heroic icon, and the duality of identities in comic books. The success of the conference has secured a third iteration next year and the possibility of one or more books forthcoming from collections of the conference presentations.

Biology Major Spends Summer as a Dolphin Care Intern

Senior Biology major Cortney Kourie had the unique opportunity to spend this past summer in Key Largo, Florida taking care of and training Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Cortney's experience as a researcher at Ashland University with faculty mentor Dr. Dolly Crawford helped her secure this opportunity, along with her strong application materials. READ MORE

Jazz at the Nest, Oct. 11

Led by Dr. Scott Garlock, Professor of Music, the award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) will present a free public concert on Tuesday, October 11 in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center’s Eagles Nest at 7:30 p.m. Audience members are welcome to grab a snack, enjoy a beverage and relax to the live music at this free public concert. The concert will feature vocalist Gracie Fumic on several Rosemary Clooney favorites along with other selections will including "Sebastian's Bop," "Song for Bilbao," "Central City Sketches No. 4," "Love for Sale," and "Count Bubba."

With a Twinkle in His Eye: John Stratton, Educator

By Becky (Myher) Schaaf, class of 2004, English major

...I remember how fascinated I was with the dynamics of a husband and wife co-teaching a course. It was entertaining to see their love expressed through annoyance and amusement, irritation and agreement, frustration and acquiescence as they each shared their respective opinions. Perhaps it was so interesting to me as a young, unmarried person to see two such different people sharing their passion for a course and for life and yet holding their ground in the areas most important to them. FULL STORY

Do Atoms Exist?

Most of us in this day and age consider our belief in atoms as old news in the ontology of the universe.  Why would we ever question their existence?  Yet if you think carefully about the history of science, the principles of induction, and the practical evidence we have available to us, we ought to wonder for just a moment: Why do we believe that atoms exist?  More specifically, what evidence do you have--your average educated person--for belief in the existence of atoms? Read more and watch Dr. Mancha's video discussion at ashlandphilosophynews.blogspot.com.

Gisclon Co-Authors New Policy Brief

Ashland University alumna Megan Gisclon wrote a senior thesis on military-civilian relations in Turkey. After working on her masters at a university in Turkey, she now works as an editor at the Istanbul Policy Center, a public policy think tank. She experienced the recent coup attempt and has now co-authored a policy brief on its consequences. 

Coburn Gallery to Host High School Student Exhibition

The Ashland County High School Juried Art Exhibition opens on Thursday, October 6 in the Coburn Gallery with a reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the event is free and open to the public. Awards will be announced at 6:15 p.m. On display through November 6, the exhibition will showcase 53 artworks from 38 student artists from Ashland High School, Crestview High School and Mapleton High School. READ MORE

Lemon lands job at The Blade

Journalism and Digital Media 2016 graduate and former managing editor of The Collegian Zack Lemon began his professional journalism career months before his May graduation as reporter for the Mansfield News Journal while still writing for The Collegian and finishing his Ashland University coursework. Recently, Zack moved to the Toledo Blade as a general assignment reporter. He covers local issues of interest with the same dedication and craftsmanship he demonstrated as an award-winning student journalist at AU.