Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Steinhauser

By Kevin Steinhauser, class of 2010, Integrated Language Arts major

...After my first semester at AU, one thing became apparent: I would spend as much time in Bixler Hall as possible throughout the next four years. It was there that I learned that English was much more than reading comprehension checks and weekly vocab. quizzes. It was there that I learned the right question is often much more important than the right answer. It was there that I found my voice. It was there that I found my passion for the content that I set out to teach. FULL STORY

Prince Pippin Searches for his "Corner of the Sky"

Ashland University Department of Theatre continues its 2016-2017 season in "Pursuit of Happiness" with the hard-driving musical fable Pippin which opens Feb. 10. Assistant Professor of Theatre Robert Sean Parker makes his Ashland directorial debut with the show. Parker explains his connection with the musical saying, "I love this show for many reasons, but I mostly love it for its powerful message. It is funny, bold, dark, and mysterious. It lavishly satirizes our fanaticisms and at the same time exposes our vices. It ridicules our obsessions with sex, war, religion, and politics. It also encourages us to look at our own lives." READ MORE

Attention AU Art Students

Entries for the Ashland University juried student exhibition are due February 23 and 24.

Guenther Performs 20th Annual Organ Recital

Dr. Timothy Guenther, University organist, will perform his 20th annual organ recital at Ashland University on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. His concert will focus on North German organ music in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, and in preparation for the Ashland University Choir tour to North Germany in March 2017. READ MORE

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Naomi Saslaw

Learn more about Dr. Saslaw who has taught at Ashland for 47 years...

Q: What are your favorite aspects of being a professor?

A: I very much enjoy discussing different interpretations of literature with the students. I have always loved learning and will always continue to learn. It is a privilege to interact with our students and to both help them to learn and to grow as people. READ MORE

McCoy Publishes Book Chapter

Dr. David McCoy, chair and assistant professor of journalism and digital media, has authored a chapter in the recently published book Social Media and Politics: A New Way to Participate in the Political Process, Vol. 2 (Praeger Press). The chapter, "The Global Impact; Using Social Media to Learn about World Politics," details how the study of global social media can deepen one's understanding of world cultures and politics. READ MORE

Eleven AU Students Selected for OPCICA

Five Ashland University Jazz Orchestra students (Alex Sandwisch, Jaylynn Buchmelter, Derek Rangel, Jason Wolf, Cody Henderson) and six Ashland University Concert Band students (Emily Minns, Emily Dine, Chanel Bluntschly, Nikolaus Psota, Jessica Shrider and Stefan Jonsson) have been selected to perform in the Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductor's Association concert this weekend, January 28 and 29) at Marietta College. More information here.

Roggenkamp Wins First Place

Congratulations to Ashland University Art faculty member Priscilla Roggenkamp on winning first place in  the 2017 FRESH Juried Art Exhibition at Summit Art Space for her piece titled "Refugee." MORE HERE

Drop-In Math Tutoring

Drop-In tutoring is available for Math 208 and Math 224 for the Spring 2017 Semester. Ashland University's Center for Academic Support provides tutors and other tools to help students succeed. Drop-In sessions are available for Math 208 and Math 224 in Kettering 219. Schedule posted here...

Hess Produces Quiz for MLK Jr. Day

A number of media, including Newsweek, ran an op-ed that featured a Martin Luther King Day quiz by Emily Hess, visiting assistant professor of history and academic adviser for the Ashbrook Center's Master of Arts in American History and Government program. The quiz provided an opportunity for people to test their knowledge of Dr. King and the modern Civil Rights Movement as the nation observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 16. See one here...

Study Conducted at AU Warns of Toxic Metals

Researchers at Ashland University and Occupational Knowledge International tested 42 samples of aluminum cookware made in 10 developing countries and more than one-third pose a lead exposure hazard.  The cookware also released significant levels of aluminum, arsenic and cadmium. Published in the February 1, 2017 issue of Science of the Total Environment, the study was coauthored by AU faculty, students and alumni Jeffrey Weidenhamer, Meghann Fitzpatrick, Alison Biro, Peter Kobunski, Michael Hudson, Rebecca Corbin, and Perry Gottesfeld  of OK International. FULL STORY

Faculty Recital: Scott Garlock, Monday, Jan. 23

Ashland University Department of Music's first event of the busy 2017 Spring semester is a faculty recital featuring trombonist Dr. Scott Garlock, Professor of Music, on Monday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. Free & Open to the Public READ MORE

Alyssa Predota Honored as Co-Valedictorian

Congratulations to December Biology graduate, Alyssa Predota, who was honored as the University's co-valedictorian.  Alyssa also minored in chemistry and mathematics, completed an honors program research thesis with faculty member Dr. Dolly Crawford and was a member of our University's Choose Ohio First STEM scholarship program. READ MORE

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Sharleen Mondal

What made you decide to become a professor?

A: My father is a retired chemistry professor who had a long and fruitful career. While his encouragement led me to entertain the idea of becoming a professor, it is my parents’ example that fuels my choice to do this every single day. My father’s humble beginnings in a village without running water or electricity in Bogra, Bangladesh; both of my parents’ survival of the 1947 independence and partition of India and Pakistan; their survival of the 1971 genocide and liberation war in present-day Bangladesh (and the horrendous loss of family members and friends in that conflict); their immigration to Australia and later the U.S. and the blatant, extraordinary racism they survived in both places; and the fact that they began their lives all over again in the U.S. at the age of 40 in a country halfway around the world in which they knew no one, cut off from all of their family and friends, are remarkable enough. READ MORE

Study Abroad in Chile

Sophia Leddy (a double major in International Political Studies and Spanish) studied in Chile in the fall semester:

It is strange to blog about something so important in my native tongue after I had been blogging about it in another language entirely. There is something about being in a foreign country and speaking its foreign tongue that makes that tongue, that culture a part of you. It is in the sharing food and a living space with other people that you can appreciate structure in life while at the same time appreciating the spontaneousness of going out for pizza or drinks. It’s a strange dichotomy that makes perfect sense to those who’ve traveled. READ MORE

Stasick Stages "The Stronger" and Musical Cabaret

Ashland University theatre major Ceyanna Stasick is sealing her college career with a senior theatre performance project scheduled for Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the University's Studio Theatre. As fulfillment for her senior theatre project, Ceyanna will perform August Strindberg's one-act play, The Stronger followed by a contrasting musical theatre cabaret. Ceyanna's goal for her performance is to emphasize Ashland University's philosophy of "Accent on the Individual" o show that the theatre department has created a well rounded performer." Tickets available through the AU Box Office: 419.289.5125.

Coburn Gallery Opens Art Dept. Faculty Exhibition Jan. 19

The Coburn Gallery will feature the works from the Ashland University Art Department faculty beginning Thursday, Jan. 19 with an opening reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit runs through Feb. 19 and highlights the two-dimensional and three-dimensional work of the current faculty as professional artists in their respective areas including Keith Dull, Priscilla Roggenkamp, Dan McDonald, Cynthia Petry, Michael Bird and Janis Mars Wunderlich. FULL STORY

Collegian Named Finalist

Ashland University’s Journalism and Digital Media’s newspaper, The Collegian, is being honored as a finalist in the Ohio Newspaper Association’s Best Website competition. The staff will be recognized at the upcoming 2017 Ohio Newspaper Association Convention on Feb. 9. READ MORE

AU Sciences Receives $650,000 Grant

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Ashland University a $650,000 grant as part of a five-year STEM scholarship program that will provide scholarships and academic support for academically talented science students with financial need. FULL STORY

From Confusion to Clarity

by Madison White

When I came to college back in the autumn of 2014, I knew that I had wanted to double major in Creative Writing and English. I knew that double majoring in these two fields would mean a lot of writing classes and a lot of English classes; that just made sense. What I did not anticipate was the confusion I experienced in my first semester of junior year here at Ashland University. This confusion, though, was bittersweet; my intellectual growth challenged me in many ways. In order to understand each course and what the professor is lecturing about, one has to pay a greater amount of attention to the lectures and thus increase understanding of that class and its content. READ FULL STORY

Register Now: Understanding Our Gun Culture conference

Registration is now open for the Ashland Center for Nonviolence's John D. Stratton Conference focusing on Understanding Our Gun Culture to be held at Ashland University on March 31 and April with keynote speaker Randolph Roth. Take advantage of the early bird rates through Feb. 15. See more at ashlandcenterfornonviolence.blogspot.com

URCA Abstract Workshop, Jan. 17

The URCA Organizing Committee will hold a workshop to assist students with abstract preparation on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 8pm in room 217 Kettering. The deadline for abstracts for this year’s URCA Symposium is Friday, Jan. 27. Example abstracts from previous years are posted on the URCA blog. If you have any questions about URCA or the abstract submission process, please contact Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer at jweiden@ashland.edu.