JDM Senior Interview with Nick Molnar

Digital Media Production major Nick Molnar likes working in television and video production. During his time with JDM, Nick served as a technical director, audio operator and editor for AUTV 20. His career interest is in working video field production and post-production.

Sing with AAC & ASO for Independence Day

The Ashland Area Chorus invites local singers to join them for the short summer session and to perform with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. The 4-week rehearsal schedule begins on June 3 and continues for four consecutive Mondays, June 3-24, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Ashland University in Room 242 of the Center for the Arts. The session will conclude on Sunday, June 30 with a live performance of light, popular, and patriotic tunes with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra for the Pops In the Park concert at Brookside Park Band Shell. Read more at ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

English Alumni Spotlight: Kelly (Taylor) Strobel

On a daily basis, I still find myself reflecting on the many lessons I have learned from the AU English professors. When building rapport with my students, I think back to the personal touch Dr. Lehman brought to class in sharing his stories about South Africa. When instructing my students to cite details from a text, I recall the arduous task of analyzing a single word in Dr. Weaver’s classes. When teaching students about the message of tolerance and the value of human life in reading The Diary of Anne Frank or how to understand the humorous dialogue in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I remember the insightful discourse from Dr. Saslaw’s Jewish Literature and Shakespeare classes. When leading a discussion, I recall the questioning techniques of Dr. Waterman. When calling on hesitant students to participate, I think back to nervously reading my non-fiction in Dr. Mackall’s class; ultimately, going outside my comfort zone made me a better writer. When planning engaging activities, I remember how much I enjoyed watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and analyzing its title from the line in “Eloisa to Abelard” in Dr. Donatini’s class. Read more at Englishatashland.blogspot.com

JDM Senior Interview with Bree Gannon

Bree Gannon wore many hats in her JDM tenure. She was a sports editor and managing editor of the Collegian newspaper, a host of The Early Bird's Word morning show for WRDL radio, and the AUTV 20 sports producer and anchor for the Sports Break and Sports Update shows. Bree also was the sideline reporter and halftime show anchor for the AUTV 20 and Sports Time Ohio broadcasts of AU sports games. Bree was also selected, by her JDM peers, for the 2018-19 JDM MVP Award. After graduation, Bree will pursue a career as a broadcast sports reporter and anchor.

Philosophy Essay Winners Announced

The Philosophy Club, in conjunction with Phi Sigma Tau, sponsored our 2nd Annual Essay Competition this year. We would like to congratulate this year's winners:

1. Miguel Coronado, "The Consistency of a Self-Caused God in Spinoza's System"
2. Jacob Nestle, "Is Star Wars Manichaean or Thomistic in its View of the Dark Side?"
3. Matthew Reising, "The Ethical Criteria: Aristotle's Real Foundation for How We Know"

We requested short essays that clearly argued for a philosophical position or thesis, between 1,000 and 1,500 words (around 3 pages). Essays were blind-reviewed and independently ranked by the faculty of the Philosophy Department.

JDM Senior Interview with Rachel Ramsey

JDM senior Rachel Ramsey will graduate in May and then move to West Virginia to begin her broadcast news career. Rachel will be a multimedia journalist for WDTV in Bridgeport.

She has served as an announcer and DJ for WRDL radio and anchored the News Break and News Update programs for AUTV 20. This year, Rachel worked as the news editor for The Collegian newspaper.

Part III of English's Spotlight on Seniors

In part three of the AU English's spotlight on their graduating seniors, follow this link to hear favorite memories from the English department and plans after graduation from Naomi Sims and Alyssa Ferrell. Alyssa's memory and plans are:

"My favorite memory of the English department is reading Slaughterhouse-Five in Dr. Waterman’s class. I loved how everyone was trying so hard to make sense out of such a crazy novel! After graduation, I intend to find a job teaching in a local high school."

 More at englishatashland.blogspot.com

Kaitlyn Moore will graduate in May with a degree in Digital Media Journalism. Kaitlyn was the Feature Editor for the Collegian during her senior year and she has written some award-winning stories for the past few years. She also wrote and read weather forecasts for WRDL radio and crewed for AUTV 20 studio-based productions. Kaitlyn interned last summer with the Ashland Times-Gazette. An honors student, she successfully completed her honors capstone project in April.

After graduation, she will travel to Greece for the study abroad program, then return home and pursue a career as a journalist.

Part II of English's Spotlight on Seniors

In part two of the AU English's spotlight on their graduating seniors, follow this link to hear favorite memories from the English department and plans after graduation from Jordan Martin, Zoe Jenkins and Kelsey Wade. Jordan's memory and plans are:

"I love Dr. Weaver's courses. I have taken five of his courses over the past four years, and each class has challenged me to improve my analytical skills. I plan to work as a grant writer for a not-for-profit organization."

 More at englishatashland.blogspot.com

2019-2020 Phi Sigma Tau Inductees

Ashland University's PHI SIGMA TAU, Ohio Mu Chapter, honors students who have demonstrated academic excellence in philosophy. Membership is by invitation, based on significant academic achievement. We would like to present the new members for the 2019-2020 academic year:

• Frances Boggs
• Alec Dunlap
• Katherine Fossaceca
• Sabrina Maristela
• Joshua Reinarts
• Nathan Sims
• Joseph Smith

JDM Senior Interview with Sage Haines

Sage Haines graduated in May with a double major in Digital Media Production and Commercial Art (with a concentration in Graphic Design). Sage has served as AUTV 20's creative director and program director, as well as the president of the Art Club. She won the Art department's Digital and Photography Award in 2018. Sage has been a mainstay of the AUTV 20/Sports Time Ohio broadcast crew while serving as the lead graphics operator. She also produced and performed on the WRDL 88.9 FM program Sleep Tight. Upon graduation, Sage will work full-time as a graphic designer for the Ashland-based company Novatex.

English's Graduating Seniors Share Memories & Plans

In part one of the AU English's spotlight on their graduating seniors, follow this link to hear favorite memories from the English department and plans after graduation from Sydney Ross, Amber Pope, Andrew Potosky, Sarah Rayman and Morgan McCarthy. Morgan's memory and plans are:

"I have many favorite memories, but one of my favorite memories, which I was reminded of during my exit interview, was relating the eggplant emoji to the poem To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell in Seventeenth Century Literature. After graduation, I plan on going to law school next year, where I will study family law. I'm the mean time, I will be working at one of the jobs I've sent my application to."

More at englishatashland.blogspot.com

JDM Senior Interview with Jake Smith

Digital Media Production major Jake Smith will graduate in May 2019, but he is not finished with academic pursuits. In the fall, Jake will be attending the Marshall Law School at Cleveland State University to become a media attorney. He was a Development Director and Production Director for WRDL during his undergraduate career. Moreover, he hosted The Early Bird's Word morning radio show for three years.

Visiting Chinese Scholars Wrap Up Semester at AU

Three professors from Jinzhong University in Shanxi, China spent the spring semester as visiting scholars in the English Department which entailed attending undergraduate English courses for the full semester as part of their research into the pedagogy of teaching literature and writing. Read more at englishatashland.blogspot.com

2019 MFA Summer Residency Updates

The May 15th deadline to apply for the July residency as a new student is approaching! If you are planning to apply, please contact Paige Webb, the Administrative Director (pwebb2@ashland.edu), or Christian Kiefer, the Program Director (ckiefer2@ashland.edu), if you have questions.

The 2019 Summer Residency is July 22 - August 2, 2019.

Read about the Visiting Editors and Writers at  ashlandmfa.blogspot.com

AU Choir Tours to Chicago

All alumni and friends of Ashland University are cordially invited to attend one of the University Choir's upcoming concerts as they travel close to you. The 2019 tour presents concerts scheduled at various churches and high schools in central Ohio and northern Indiana. The following performances are free and open to the public.

Monday, May 6, 7:30 p.m.
Oak Chapel Methodist Church, 4203 W. Old Lincoln Way
Wooster, OH | 330.264.2537

Tuesday, May 7, 7:30 p.m.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 35 E. Stanton Avenue
Columbus, OH | 614.885.4319

Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church, 2610 N. Campbell Street
Valparaiso, IN | 219.462.6660

Five Psychology Students Present Research

Congratulations to Psychology students Dana Awila, Talyah Fogle, Savannah Lewis, Kaylei Ruffing, and Jessica Wilson for recently presented their research at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago. These students were involved in research over the past year that took place in a research methods class, as directed research, or as independent studies, and the students were accompanied to Chicago by Drs. Bonfiglio and Metzger.

Fleming Recives Excellence in Scholarship Award

Dr. Deborah Fleming, Professor of English, was honored with the 2019 Excellence in Scholarship Award for her outstanding record of scholarly achievement. Read more at englishatashland.blogspot.com

Schaller Named Faculty Member of the Year

Congratulations to Dr. Wendy Schaller from the Art + Design Department for being named Ashland University Faculty Member of the Year.