Expert in the News - Why Your Paycheck isn't Keeping Up

BW economics professor Veronica Kalich tells the Plain Dealer that new data on Ohio's lagging wage growth is reason for concern. 

"We could be seeing a greater number of people working in lower wage jobs, so even if our employment numbers are improving, it is not necessarily that people are getting better wages." 

BW Talent Abounds at Cain Park Production

Audiences at SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE being staged at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights this summer, are seeing plenty of familiar BW faces on stage and behind the scenes, starting with Scott Plate in the director's seat and Gregory Daniels on choreography. Others in the cast include BW Music Theatre senior Nyla Watson, sophomores Malik Victorian, Ellis Dawson, Julia Hines, Kelly Autry and Dana Bowers, plus alum Katherine DeBoer and adjunct Tesia Benson!

BW Professor Headlines Jazz Concert

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BW saxophone virtuoso Greg Banaszak and the Cleveland Jazz All Stars headlined the opening concert of the Jazz Under the Stars series staged by Ohio Regional Music Arts Cultural Outreach (ORMACO).

From BW to LA to ?? - You Saw it Here First!

Two talented members of the BW family - Alex Syiek '13 and Andrew L. Cooper '15 - staged THE POKEMUSICAL in Los Angeles this summer and earned rave reviews from audiences and critics, like Broadway World!  

"Alex Syiek (book & lyrics) and Andrew Cooper (music) are the creative team behind the show which makes its appearance here at the Hollywood Fringe following an initial production in Ohio earlier this year. The reception has been overwhelming and, if anything, this unlikely sleeper hit just may emerge from the Fringe with enough juice to give it a longer life. And it should." - LA Broadway World

That "Ohio premiere" took place on the BW campus last year and won the pair of Music Theatre majors the Creative Prize at Ovation 2013. Scott Plate was their faculty mentor on the project.

BW Team Bikes for United Way

A group of students, faculty and staff dubbed "Team BW Bee Well" pedaled more than 40 miles from Cleveland to Akron for Ride United, a cycling event that raises funds for United Way of Greater Cleveland.

The BW contingent joined close to 500 other cyclists from corporate and nonprofit organizations throughout the region for the June 23 event.

Team BW Bee Well, led by co-captains Jared Pennington (Physician Assistant) and Lisa Judge (Alumni), was co-sponsored by the BW Wellness Council and the BW Bike Co-Op, which provided free tune-ups to team members to get their bikes ready for the long ride.

Team BW Bee Well from left to right: Ashkon Bahrami, student; Lisa Judge, Alumni Relations; Lynn Schulte, Business Division; Jared Pennington, Physician Assistant Program; Ruth Hancock, Dining Services; Victor Phillips, spouse of Ruth Hancock; Winston Eng, student and leader of BW’s Bike Co-Op; Sandi Hagaman, Advancement Services and Michele Sepesy, Dining Services

BW Expert: Do Social Media Tools Help or Hurt Relationships?

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The Providence Journal newspaper turned to BW communication professor Andy Merolla for a story debating the pros and cons of communications technology in relationships. Merolla, who's conducted research in the area of communication in long distance relationships, is a fan of tools like Skype and FaceTime for their ability to "increase our sense of the other person’s presence.”

But Merolla also raised a caution: “The technologies, in and of themselves, don’t create closeness, which comes from things such as shared experiences, knowledge of one another, appreciation and trust.”

The article was part of the newspaper's "#eWave: The Digital Revolution" series. Read more of Dr. Merolla's insights and the complete article here. 

"SMART" BW Students Featured in Elyria Chronicle-Telegram

A pioneering program, initiated by BW students, that uses music to boost literacy was highlighted in today's Elyria Chronicle Telegram newspaper.

Justin Caithaml '14 told the paper the BW students have poured their hearts into the SMART program. “It’s more than just a 9-to-5. That’s such a cliche phrase, but it really is more than just a day thing to us. Music educators are known for putting their heart and soul into it. It’s not something they can just put away.”

You can also read more about the SMART program on BW's website. 

BW Alum Opens Tony Awards, Celebrates Best Musical Win

BW alum Kyle Post strutted his stuff in the opening number at the 2013 Tony Awards Show, and went on to celebrate with his cast mates, as the feel-good musical Kinky Boots won a leading six Tonys, including best musical, best score and best leading man. 

Leading up the awards night, The Cleveland Plain Dealer recounted the amusing story of how Post landed a role in the acclaimed Kinky Boots, with songs by pop star Cyndi Lauper.

Entrepreneur Tour Gives CIG Interns Distinct Insights

Baldwin Wallace CIG (Center for Innovation & Growth) interns gained valuable insights on an entrepreneurship tour of Team Wendy. The leading protective products company was founded in 1997 by Cleveland-based entrepreneur Dan T. Moore as a memorial to his daughter, Wendy, who passed away from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) following a skiing accident. The interns spent the day with CEO Jose Rizo-Patron, responsible for leading the company’s strategic direction, growth, culture and overall operations.

Service Learning in the Dominican Republic

Ten BW students and an advisor spent late May into June in the Dominican Republic, teaching at an English immersion camp and painting a learning center.

In addition to their service, the BW volunteers had the opportunity to experience Dominican cuisine and culture, including a trip to a market on the Haitian border and dance lessons in merengue and bachata. They also gained a deeper understanding of educational inequalities, Dominican-Haitian relations and themselves!

Paint, Profits & People in the Know - BW Faculty In the News

Thomas Campanella, executive director of BW's health care MBA program, provided expertise for the Crain's Cleveland story, "Another healthy giant is growing - Catholic Health Partners' acquisition of Kaiser adds to its formidable local base." Campanella told the business weekly that he sees Catholic Health Partners' interest in Northeast Ohio as a welcome development for health care consumers.

“Like in anything, in sports or whatever, competition brings out the best in everybody. For the region, it's a real positive situation. There are different players with different models of care."

Meantime, a voice of wisdom on finance and banking, Kevin.Jacques, was heard in Beijing this week. BW's Boynton D. Murch Chair in Finance and former U.S. Treasury Department economist was interviewed by Zheng Chenguang for the People in the Know broadcast in China. Listen in as Jacques analyzes how China's credit rating agencies could become more influential and how the existing top raters might do a better job.


And, BW business professor Mary Pisnar weighed in on "Why Cleveland paint company Sherwin-Williams is on pace to become a $10 billion company." Pisnar told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "First of all, they have an amazing culture. It's one of the few companies that actually likes building talent internally. It isn't unusual to find employees that have been there 25 to 30 years, who've worked their way up."

Pisnar said Sherwin's culture has contributed to a workplace that's also very innovative about creating new products.

Biology/Neuroscience Major Wins Prestigious Scholarship

Kara Gawelek ’14 was one of three scholarship winners at the prestigious, 2013 YWCA Women of Achievement Awards in Cleveland. Gawelek, a Brunswick native, was selected to receive the $1,500 Dr. Jennie S. Hwang Award, which recognizes an outstanding female sophomore or junior student who is majoring in a science, engineering or technology-related discipline. She was chosen from more than 40 student nominees from 12 universities!

Gawelek, an aspiring pathologist who credits her late father with inspiring her to “live up to her potential,” has earned a 3.96 GPA while studying Neuroscience/Biology and Chemistry at BW.

The first-generation college student is head ambassador for BW’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Studies Program, vice president of the Pre-Medical Society and a Choose Ohio First STEM Scholar, as well as a STEM Scholars Leadership Council member. Read more on the Strongsville Patch.

Gawelek (center) at a meeting of BW's STEM Scholars, an innovative BW scholarship program preparing students for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Leading Religion & Innovation

BW religion professor Alan Kolp, who's also active in the Center for Innovation & Growth "CIG" Faculty Fellows, has been asked to take expert leadership roles in both of these areas this summer. He’s a panel member for a symposium focused on entrepreneurship on liberal arts campuses, leading a session with the International Thomas Merton Society and co-leading a monastic experience.